Increased Police Presence Begins On Pittsburgh's South Side
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police increased their presence on Pittsburgh's South Side Friday night as part of the city's plan to cut down on petty crime and chaos in a neighborhood that's known for late-night partying.
Friday night on the South Side is a time when things can get a little out of control, and that's why the City of Pittsburgh is cracking down.
"We hear all the noise all the time, people yelling and screaming, breaking bottles and stuff all the time, horns honking," John Puffer, of the South Side. "It's wild; it's pretty crazy."
This weekend, police are stepping up roving patrols on Carson Street.
I mean, it gets a little bit crazy, but I think you get what you pay for when you get down here," said Evan Riccard, of the South Side.
The crackdown is part of the Pittsburgh Sociable City Plan, but coincidentally comes less than a week after a police chase through the South Side that ended in gunfire.
"It's never been like this from what I heard, so like in the past; but you know, something had to be done," added Puffer. "It's getting a little too crazy."
Police will be looking for drunk drivers and public drunkenness. They'll be issuing fines for littering and towing those parked illegally. The fire department will also issue citations to overcrowded bars.
It's good news for businesses like Gennaro's Pizza where employees watch the chaos outside.
"Just drunk people getting loud and obnoxious and stumbling and falling and fights – those are fun – you know, random screaming matches in the middle of the street. Always exciting," said Brittany Fetterman, an employee at the pizzeria.
Whether the crackdown will help remains to be seen. But city leaders hope it will be a step in the right direction.
"I'm always careful," added Riccard. "I don't want to mess around, don't want to get in trouble, so I stay out of all the stuff that goes on down here when I can."
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