Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Minutes May 18, 2016 Present: Hanson Kappelman, Michael Medwed, Officer Johnson, Blair Kossis, Wanda Wilson, Elena Zaitsoff, David Manthei, Mark Oleniacz, Liz Gray, Camille Burgess, Janice Lorenz, Ken Eckenrode, John Tokarski, Daniel Becky, Tim Zundel, John Wilds, Allison Harnden, Officer Leshen, Officer Pauley, Hersh Merenstein, Evelyn Stafford, Jeremiah Brooks, John Basile, Barb Ruprecht, Commander Herrmann, Officer Shifren Ms. Zaitsoff brought the meeting to order, thanked the Jewish Federation for hosting the meeting, read the Oakwatch mission, and led introductions. PA State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Officer Zundel provided an overview for the group of the ways the bureau works to enforce liquor law violations. They work mainly on furnishing liquor to minors at liquor stores and bars. They have minors who work under cover at these establishments. Here in Oakland, we have what he characterizes as “nontraditional speakeasies” and works with Oakwatch to address furnishing to minors and selling without a license via “selling a cup” types of operations. The bureau is complaint-driven and is most effective on community concerns when they know about an event in advance. This way they can deploy the officers that are needed. They do not have sufficient staffing to patrol just looking for violations. They do deploy creative techniques to identify issues – websites, Facebook, twitter, etc. Officer Zundel described several cases where he cited violators or stopped an event beforehand using this information. Many people now are not advertising alcohol and not giving an address – events just pop up. This makes enforcement difficult, but we can all use regular vigilance to address the challenge. The bureau works with Zone 4 Police. Q: What is your action plan for the fall semester? A: the bureau will deploy officers the first couple of weekends. The community can help by giving information in advance as they do not have officers on call. Q: Is the age compliance program utilized for non-traditional speakeasies? A: no, that is only in bars – licensed establishments. In bars, they have knowledge of the space. In houses they don’t know the environment and too dangerous of a situation to send a young person undercover. Also, to enter a residence, the bureau would need probable cause, but for a bar, they do not. Q: do you have authority that the Police do not have? A: with bars, yes, if the noise is beyond the property line, for example. Also, they do not need a search warrant for a bar if it is open. For houses, the BLCE would have only the liquor law: furnishing and selling without a license, same as police. Q: if one sees kegs going into a house prior to a party, what do you recommend? A: BLCE would need more info that they will be selling alcohol or furnishing to minors. If there was a social media advertisement, a sign for $5, will there be minors there, etc. Q: how do you tell someone is underage? A: BLCE are experts at this. Pitt Student Conduct office receives LCB reports. Officer Zundel provided the direct line to call them: 412-548-2050. When you leave a message, provide a timeframe for the occurrence you are reporting or the event that is planned. Q: do you monitor beer distributors? A: yes, BLCE watches them. Q: do you follow up on fake IDs? A: yes, they have a system for determining validity of IDs. Pitt Police
April report
123 incidents; 47 off campus
2 aggravated assault arrests 1 defined trespass 3 disorderly conduct 4 marijuana 7 drug violations 7 DUI 1 violation of PFA order 3 vandalism 1 panhandling 4 public drunkenness citations 2 public urination 2 receiving stolen property 2 terroristic threats 15 underage drinking citations 1 warrant arrests 20 J board citations – marijuana and alcohol Impact detail activity: 32 parties. Shut down 23 parties. Warned 9 loud noise. 5 drug citations. 1 underage. 1 noise ordinance. 1 public drunkenness. 1 public urination. Traffic detail activity: 335 stops. 97 citations. Q: Can Pitt Police share the addresses of the impact detail parties with OPDC to distribute to the landlord roundtable? A: will go through proper channels. Mr. Eckenrode stated that landlords have provided their email addresses for this purpose. If they know about disruptive activity at their properties, then they can address the issues with their tenants. Q: Trash from parties is a problem as well. A: Pitt Police talk to tenants about this during impact detail activity. Zone 4 Police 23 non-traffic citations. See table below.
4/3/16 128 Ward St noise citation 4/3/16 0219 hrs 400 block Semple. Amplified noise citations issued. 4/10/16 0001 hrs Sennot and Oakland public urination citation. 4/16/16 0151 hrs Dawson and Semple. Public drunkenness, public urination citations 4/17/16 0036 hrs 300 block of York Way. Public urination citation 4/17/16 0225 hrs 3800 block Dawson disorderly conduct. Large party, noise citations 4/17/16 0200 hrs 400 block Semple assault, cited public intoxication 4/18/16 2206 hrs Stack’d on Forbes. Public intoxication, disorderly conduct. 4/22/16 2320 hrs 200 block Atwood. Public drunkenness 4/22/16 2315 hrs Welsford. Noise, people on roof 4/23/16 2335 hrs 219 Atwood, public intoxication, disorderly citations
4/24/16 0134 hrs 3200 block Dawson underage drinking 4/29/16 0212 hrs Joncaire/Bouquet, public drunkenness citation Mr. Tokarski stated that the Zone 4 Public Safety Council is transitioning to leadership by residents. The meeting is tomorrow. The focus will be training and education such as CPR class. Q: Can you provide information on the recent shootings in the neighborhood? A: Commander Herrmann provided an update. 3/31/16 at Dan Marino field, shots fired. Bullets entered homes. Five people involved, one was the target. It was a crime of opportunity. Officers found a pistol, so the target was likely armed and got rid of the weapon but did not discharge it. No one came forward with information, so they are unlikely to solve this. Gorman Way off Cato – homicide victim was 42-year-old male, two children and their grandmother were also in the home. Police believe the victim spoke at his place of employment about an income tax refund check, possibly bragging about it. Police had three suspects. Two had alibis; the other was put in a line up but not positively identified. They collected DNA evidence at the scene. Commander Herrmann provided an analysis of crime in South Oakland – there have been 2 homicides in the last 14 – 16 months, 6 rapes, 9 robberies, 4 aggravated assaults for 22 total incidents from January 2015 through April 2016. For the same time period, there were 144 incidents in South Side Flats. This comparison as well as looking at other parts of the city shows that crime in South Oakland is pretty low. He has assigned bike officers to South Oakland as part of the violent crime response protocol. They move around to various locations in Zone 4. Q: the car dealership building on Boulevard of the Allies is not secure. A: Commander Herrmann stated that it is sealed when he walked around the structure. Property Progress Report 3401-3421 Bates & 392 Coltart Streets in housing court on Thursday June 16. 3319 Juliet Street – abated 443 Atwood Street – abated; HVAC permit acquired. No further complaints filed by neighbors. Frazier Street vacant lots – first notice sent 3224 Blvd. of the Allies – OPDC in touch with owner. City Council District 8 Mr. Merenstein provided an update on the process to recertify Residential Permit Parking Program Areas B, D, and M. See attached handout. Legislation introduced by Councilman Gilman will have licenses last 365 days from the date of issuance. Thanks to all who contributed to the teddy bear drive; they have 3200 available to comfort children in crisis situations. Nightime Economy Ms. Harnden provided an update. She is gathering data about liquor licenses. Department of Public Works will hire an inspector to work at night to enforce regulations related to sidewalk cafes. The event review committee is considering adding a community representative. Other items/Announcements