Oakland Community Bill of Rights

April 11, 2011

QUALITY OF LIFE – The creation of a new vision for Oakland’s community must begin by improving the quality of life for its long-time residents. These upstanding citizens deserve to live with dignity in a clean, healthy, and safe environment, free from the domination of Pitt and UPMC.

LEADERSHIP – The University of Pittsburgh chancellor and UPMC CEO must exhibit greater caring and compassion for the well-being of long-time residents, and must communicate directly with them to resolve concerns.

GREATER FINANCIAL SUPPORT - The University of Pittsburgh, with its vast resources, must drastically increase the Direct Funding it gives to the Oakland community. The yearly Direct Funding for the Oakland community must never be less than the yearly salary of the chancellor.

MORE TRANSPARENCY – University administrators must provide to the Oakland community the University email addresses for members of the Board of Trustees. They must also not be secretive about matters that affect the community of Oakland.

GREATER FACULTY SUPPORT – Faculty members must become more involved and show greater support in helping the Oakland community resolve the problems caused by the University’s presence.

EXPANSION MUST CEASE – The University’s dormitory expansion in Oakland must cease. The University can expand its number of students by focusing more on online classes.

CONTROL STUDENTS – There must be a University policy of zero tolerance for illegal drinking by students and the operation of illegal speakeasies in the Oakland community.

FIREWORKS MUST END – Pitt’s Homecoming Week fireworks display, originating within the Oakland community, adversely affects the property, health, and well-being of long-time residents and must be moved to another venue outside of Oakland.

BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS – The addition of greenways to the bike trail going through the Oakland community, placement of cultural historical markers, and the on-going maintenance and enhancement of community hillsides and parks must become long-term commitments of the University. Presently the University is concerned mainly with the areas surrounding its own properties.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – On October 22, 2007 in the Pitt News and on January 8, 2008 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette our grassroots movement placed messages entitled “Enough is Enough.” Today that cry can be heard throughout the Middle East and Africa, and dictatorships are beginning to crumble. In the same light, long-time residents of Oakland must be free to live with the opportunity for greater dignity and the freedom to control their own destinies.

Compiled by Carlino Giampolo