Letter to Chancellor
Patrick Gallagher
September 22, 2014
Although the University of Pittsburgh is a public institution,
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher has not provided an email address for community
use, so this letter was hand-delivered. The Chancellor has again chosen
not to respond. Marches will continue in front of the Cathedral of Learning
and elsewhere.
Dear Chancellor Gallagher:
On September 5, 2014, I delivered a letter requesting a meeting with you, but you did not respond to my inquiry. This is now the second time I am requesting a meeting with you.
I read about where your grandfather, almost 101 years old, lived and I certainly hope that he and your grandmother had neighborhood experiences that were relatively devoid of stress. Unfortunately far too many longtime residents of Oakland suffer continuously at the hands of the University and its massive presence in the community. I asked former Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and his administrators (through written communication only, because in 18 years he never once granted me an audience) for support in ending that suffering. If Chancellor Nordenberg had offered his assistance, I would not need to be writing to you now. Progress to end our community's problems has been woefully inadequate.
My mother, who passed away in March, and a countless number of exceptional longtime Oakland residents were never able to experience a new beginning for the community. Will my father, nearly 99 years old, and other elderly longtime residents of Oakland suffer the same fate? Do you care?
Let's meet and implement solutions to heal this community.
Thank you,
Carlino Giampolo
Founder, SOUL (South Oakland Urban Litter)
Update: Chancellor Gallagher responded in a letter dated October 15,
and a meeting was held on October 28 with Chief of Staff Reynolds Clark,
Vice Chancellor Paul Supowitz, and Assistant Vice Chancellor John Wilds.
OaklandDignity.com |