Issue One: Litter in the City

Unbelievable!

It's pretty amazing how a guy like Paul McCarthy can be cited for littering when all he was trying to do was redd up after litterbugs ("Litter Vigilante Cited by City for -- uh -- Debris," July 29). Here you have a guy with cancer who goes out of his way to do the job that public works should be doing and he not only gets a citation for his effort but also Public Works Department Deputy Director Rob Kaczorowski accuses him of doing it to aggravate him and his team! Unbelievable!

Maybe Mr. Kaczorowski needs to get himself over to a local fast-food joint, get an application in and get on with his life's work! Apparently, his job is a bit too aggravating for him. I'm sure there will be less aggravation from city residents now as fewer will raise a finger to help redd up!

TOM KERIN
Bethel Park

City ignores me

The July 29 article concerning Paul McCarthy and his own personal litter patrol enlightened me! I thought e-mailing the city's 311 form would help resolve the trash issues here in my little corner of Observatory Hill, Vinceton Street, but I see now I actually have to start going out and creating a nuisance to get the attention of the Public Works Department, while risking getting a citation.

I keep e-mailing that 311 form regarding a "neighbor" who over two months now has recyclables piled by the fire hydrant, but the city will not pick up his trash because ...

1) He doesn't live there.

2) He hasn't paid for any city services.

3) He refuses to put this trash in bags; it's just piled up in cans and crates.

I could go bag all this trash myself, but who will hold this deadbeat accountable? Why isn't the city handing him a citation for all this trash piled by the hydrant, for his overgrown, abandoned property?

I have also complained about the construction debris, shingles and household discards being dumped on Menlo Street, on both sides of the road -- no response or even acknowledgement of my e-mails.

Yes, I know it's not the best neighborhood in Pittsburgh, but there are hard-working people living on this street who take care of their property and pay their taxes and are tired of the sad blighted look of this neighborhood.

The city will spend money for a two-day G-20 event but will not take care of the average taxpayer

CINDY PACE
Observatory Hill