\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity members, business leaders, parents, teenagers and public safety officials gathered Tuesday night to discuss solutions to violence in Market Square.The public safety forum comes after an increase in violent incidents involving teenagers, including fights, weapons complaints and a deadly shooting Monday near Market Square.Officials said the meeting was intended to open a broader conversation about long-term solutions and clarify why the city recently enacted a temporary chaperone policy for Downtown.\u201cThis is a large conversation, and this was not intended to be a permanent solution. It\u2019s a stopgap measure,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said. Under the policy, minors in Market Square must be accompanied by an adult from 3 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday.Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams said the restrictions are aimed at behavior, not young people themselves.\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about people in the space,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019s about the behavior of people in this space.\u201dPolice said officers have responded to more than 1,000 calls in Market Square so far this year. Those incidents include large fights, trespassing complaints, illegal weapons and other disturbances. Officials also said police have issued twice as many citations in the last three months compared with the same period last year.\u201cAt a certain point, it felt to me that doing nothing was irresponsible,\u201d said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.Community leaders said solving the problem will require more than increased police presence. Many speakers stressed the need for adult involvement, mentorship and more opportunities for teenagers outside of school.Cornell Jones, a group violence intervention specialist, described what he said has become a troubling culture surrounding violence downtown.\u201cPeople are coming down there to fight, to take their phone and be able to set up fights between people that they didn\u2019t set up in advance, to be able to make the destruction of our community entertainment,\u201d Jones said.Some parents at the forum also called on adults to take accountability.\u201cThe adults \u2014 we are the problem. We failed our children,\u201d Tanika Harris said.Teenagers who attended the meeting said they feel the actions of a small group are negatively affecting others who simply want a safe place to gather with friends.\u201cIt\u2019s really unfair for them to make Market Square specifically 18 and older,\u201d said 18-year-old Martez Council. \u201cI feel like if y\u2019all was really going to make these events, where\u2019s what\u2019s best for the kids? For the kids, I feel like there should be more programs, maybe even after-school program.”Leaders said the goal is not to permanently limit access to Downtown spaces, but to create an environment where everyone feels safe.\u201cSuccess to me in this space is not this limited access,\u201d Waldrup said. \u201cSuccess to me is fewer violent incidents. It\u2019s less of a need for police intervention. It\u2019s a Market Square where teens can be, where families can be, where the workers can be.\u201dThere is currently no timeline for when the chaperone policy could end.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Community members, business leaders, parents, teenagers and public safety officials gathered Tuesday night to discuss solutions to violence in Market Square.<\/p>\n
The public safety forum comes after an increase in violent incidents involving teenagers, including fights, weapons complaints and a deadly shooting Monday near Market Square.<\/p>\n
Officials said the meeting was intended to open a broader conversation about long-term solutions and clarify why the city recently enacted a temporary chaperone policy for Downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a large conversation, and this was not intended to be a permanent solution. It\u2019s a stopgap measure,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said. <\/p>\n
Under the policy, minors in Market Square must be accompanied by an adult from 3 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams said the restrictions are aimed at behavior, not young people themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about people in the space,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019s about the behavior of people in this space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police said officers have responded to more than 1,000 calls in Market Square so far this year. Those incidents include large fights, trespassing complaints, illegal weapons and other disturbances. Officials also said police have issued twice as many citations in the last three months compared with the same period last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a certain point, it felt to me that doing nothing was irresponsible,\u201d said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.<\/p>\n
Community leaders said solving the problem will require more than increased police presence. Many speakers stressed the need for adult involvement, mentorship and more opportunities for teenagers outside of school.<\/p>\n
Cornell Jones, a group violence intervention specialist, described what he said has become a troubling culture surrounding violence downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are coming down there to fight, to take their phone and be able to set up fights between people that they didn\u2019t set up in advance, to be able to make the destruction of our community entertainment,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
Some parents at the forum also called on adults to take accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adults \u2014 we are the problem. We failed our children,\u201d Tanika Harris said.<\/p>\n
Teenagers who attended the meeting said they feel the actions of a small group are negatively affecting others who simply want a safe place to gather with friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really unfair for them to make Market Square specifically 18 and older,\u201d said 18-year-old Martez Council. \u201cI feel like if y\u2019all was really going to make these events, where\u2019s what\u2019s best for the kids? For the kids, I feel like there should be more programs, maybe even after-school program.”<\/p>\n
Leaders said the goal is not to permanently limit access to Downtown spaces, but to create an environment where everyone feels safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuccess to me in this space is not this limited access,\u201d Waldrup said. \u201cSuccess to me is fewer violent incidents. It\u2019s less of a need for police intervention. It\u2019s a Market Square where teens can be, where families can be, where the workers can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
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