The Shame of a University

City Council Testimony, September 6, 2011

We should never question who Pittsburgh’s authorities are. But when speaking of issues that concern the community of South Oakland, there is a discrepancy in authority. It seems that Pitt and UPMC have taken control of matters in South Oakland while the mayor and the Pittsburgh City Council stand idly by, allowing Pitt and UPMC to do things that should be brought into question.

I will give six brief instances of the City Council’s and the mayor’s indifference regarding Pitt’s and UPMC’s doings in South Oakland. The City Council and the mayor have:

1) Refused the community’s request for an honest and comprehensive Impact Statement while giving Pitt virtually unlimited expansion rights in our community.

2) Refused to investigate Pitt’s illegal Homecoming Week fireworks display that took place in 2009 and threatened the health and well-being of the residents of the Oakland community.

3) Refused to support the community in ending this dangerous fireworks display, which originates in the heart of our community.

4) Refused to conduct a thorough investigation of the illegal dumping of materials in our community resulting from Pitt’s dormitory expansion project.

5) Refused to strongly support residents in their attempts to obtain funding from Pitt and UPMC for an environmental program that would end the litter and trash problems that are caused and exacerbated mainly by Pitt’s student population.

6) Refused to voice their beliefs regarding a Community’s Bill of Rights that focuses on the many injustices caused by Pitt and UPMC.

If the priorities of the City Council and the mayor include allowing unlimited expansion by Pitt and UPMC and earning money at the expense of the people of South Oakland, then this seeming alliance between Pittsburgh’s representatives and the university will, unfortunately, continue the injustices.

But if the priorities of the City Council and the mayor include the dignity and welfare of the people of South Oakland, then it is time for self-examination and change. It is time to put an end to the domination of Pitt and UPMC.

Our community continues to hope for this change, as we have been doing for longer than is ethical. We have taken many actions to end this domination. It is now time for the members of this Council and the mayor to do the same. It is now time to change the course of history for the community of South Oakland.

Carlino Giampolo