A Bold New Vision for OaklandThe following letter was sent March 17, 2022 Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) Re: A Bold New Vision for Oakland The Oakland Crossings project, like the Mon-Oakland Connector project, started from a process of moral turpitude. Such an immoral, unethical, and unjust process, regardless of how it might be amended, will only create future destruction for Oakland, and pain and suffering for the residents whom the project impacts. In seeking initial approval for this project, Walnut Capital and former Mayor William Peduto admitted in media interviews that Oakland is a student community. In resolving a problem, the first step is admitting the problem exists. Neither the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) nor others can deny the tragic fact that the once-thriving residential community of Oakland is now a student community. It is most ironic that the very entities that created this tragic problem, mainly the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and their developer partners, are now saying to OPDC: Let us show you how to rebuild your community. That unprecedented arrogance indicates not only a total lack of respect for OPDC, but a certain confidence that giving limited concessions to OPDC will result in the organization's approval of the project. This lack of respect for OPDC is also shown by the Oakland Business Improvement District. They have now expanded their sphere of influence into the residential neighborhood to give greater support for this project. However, years ago when they were asked to help with the cleanup of the litter problem in the residential neighborhood, they refused to give support, stating that it was beyond their business district boundaries. These two actions clearly indicate that they value economic profit for their members over the dignity of our residential community. You have a strong ally in Mayor Ed Gainey. His administration and Walnut Capital have proposed an updated version of the Oakland Crossings project based on what his administrators sincerely believed OPDC wants. However, I hope this version is not what OPDC wants. Instead, here are suggestions of a bold new vision for Oakland:
My grandparents' generation trusted the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University when it welcomed them into the community at the start of the last century. They believed the universities would be good for the community. They never realized their beloved residential community would be decimated and turned into a student community. The above four suggestions necessitate actions from OPDC that go beyond anything that has ever been done before. Those actions will first require from the leadership a new system of beliefs and attitudes, thoughts and feelings, choices and decisions, desire, imagination, and expectation. Oakland Planning and Development Corporation is at a defining moment in its history as whether it will approve the Oakland Crossings project. You are strongly urged to create a new beginning for Oakland, and to never again allow outsiders to dictate our community's destiny. |
TRIUMPH! TRIUMPH! TRIUMPH!February 18, 2022 Panther Hollow residents extend their deepest gratitude to Mayor Ed Gainey for his decision to abandon the Mon-Oakland Connector project that would have constructed a roadway through Panther Hollow and Four Mile Run, to connect Hazelwood Green to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Truth and justice have prevailed. That important decision signifies a new consciousness at City Hall that upholds the dignity of city residents. Should Mayor Gainey continue on this Pathway of Dignity, he will surely be remembered and revered as one of the great mayors of the City of Pittsburgh. We extend our deepest gratitude to all those individuals who saw the injustice of this project from the very beginning and provided support. They helped us to move forward even when the outlook seemed insurmountable. We are most grateful to the courageous Four Mile Run residents who cared just as deeply for their neighborhood as we stood together in solidarity, and for organizations such as Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Their fearless and continuously strong actions were vital to this triumph. We are also grateful to those who opposed us, and to those who chose silence and offered no support. They only strengthened our resolve and determination to end the injustice. The means to an end is more important than the end itself. When individuals are confident in their own abilities to achieve success, they proceed with harm to none. Words were the primary means to the end to achieve this triumph; thousands of words were used from the very beginning when this project first became known to the community on August 29, 2015, in an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The next step is for Oakland organizations to unite with one another, as well as with the mayor and his administrators, to demand hundreds of millions of dollars or more in compensation, from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, for the severe impact they have had on their host community. The monies received will be used to realize the shared vision of residents, and of the mayor and his administrators, for a new beginning for Oakland's community. (Visit our website at www.PantherHollow.us) |
It Is a Student Community
The following letter was sent November 21, 2021
By Carlino Giampolo
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher
University of Pittsburgh
Re: It is a Student Community
(For the past two decades, you and your predecessor have never provided a direct email address. I trust your secretary will forward this to you.)
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher,
“It is a student community.” That sentiment about Oakland was expressed numerous times in recent articles in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Mayor William Peduto, Walnut Capital President Todd Reibord, Oakland Business Improvement District leaders, and others. They unwittingly expressed that truth in a Pitthetic rush to justify the disgraced Oakland Crossings development project.
“It is a student community.” When you became chancellor in 2014, I met with you personally and suggested, “Let’s create a new beginning for the people of Oakland.” You had a choice between beginning the healing process to end the devastation of Oakland’s residential and business districts, or continuing the Pitthetic destructive actions of your predecessors. You chose the latter.
“It is a student community.” You have always masked, denied, and ignored the inglorious truth. You take no responsibility for the decimation of our residential and business districts, and attempt to pass the shame of your actions on to your enablers. Other leaders at the university emulate your actions. However, your own personal shame, and the Pitthetic shameful legacy that you could have ended for the University of Pittsburgh in its host community, will be with you constantly.
“It is a student community.” My grandparents’ generation welcomed the university in 1909 because they honestly believed the university would be good for the community. They never imagined the destruction and the Pitthetic Legal Rape of the Land of Oakland that would follow the university's move into our community.
“It is a student community.” During my grandparents’ generation, and part of mine, Oakland had the most spirited and vibrant residential community in the city, supported by a business district that fulfilled the needs of the residential community. That lifestyle was destroyed by avaricious and glory-seeking university administrators who possessed the destructive consciousness of domination, manipulation, and instilling of fear. You are an integral part of that ongoing Pitthetic university consciousness.
“It is a student community.” During the 14 years of our grassroots movement, William Peduto as councilman and mayor, and members of the Pittsburgh City Council, had the power to enact laws to protect Oakland and to stop the uncontrolled, destructive expansion of the university in our residential and business districts. Instead, they chose to be puppets and enablers of the university’s policies. The Pitthetic shame of the university has been passed on to each one of them.
“It is a student community.” It is well known among Pittsburgh residents that the university has always been a master at manipulating the media. Administrators are silent when negative issues reveal the shame of the university, but they are readily available when something positive arises about the university. Incredibly, throughout the history of the university in Oakland, the media never attempted to investigate the uncontrolled and destructive expansion of the university into our residential and business districts. The university has deftly passed on their Pitthetic shame to the men and women of the media.
“It is a student community.” Every university faculty member knows the truth of the decimation of Oakland’s residential and business districts due to the university’s presence. However, a culture of fear within the university muffles them totally silent about that truth. The Cathedral of Learning has become the Cathedral of Shame for what the university has done to Oakland’s residential and business districts. Faculty members are an integral part of the Pitthetic shame of the university.
“It is a student community.” The Board of Trustees’ members impact the lives of Oakland residents everyday with their decisions. In a further act of the lack of transparency at the university, you refused to provide university email addresses of board members for the community to express their thoughts and feelings to them. Some board members may be clueless as to their impact on our community, while others may choose deliberate ignorance. Regardless, they cannot escape responsibility for their decisions. The Board of Trustees’ members are an integral part of the Pitthetic shame of the university.
“It is a student community.” The Hazelwood Green foundation owners willingly chose to become involved in the sordid and sleazy world of city politics. They attempted to destroy neighborhoods just to further the expansion of the university in our residential and business districts. Neither the grandiose developments at Hazelwood Green nor the donation of hundreds of millions of dollars for the university’s expansion can undo the tarnishing of the names Heinz, Mellon, and Benedum. The Pitthetic shame of the university’s presence in Oakland has been passed on to each of the leaders of those foundations.
“It is a student community.” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald fully supports your position to further destroy our residential and business districts simply because of the belief that the university is the economic engine of the city. He values economic profit and glory for the university over the dignity of Oakland residents. His mother-in-law’s family lived in Panther Hollow, yet he adamantly wanted to destroy the neighborhood by supporting the building of a roadway through it from Hazelwood Green to your university. The Pitthetic shame of the university has been passed on to him for the lack of caring for the dignity of Oakland residents, especially the elderly, longtime residents.
“It is a student community.” Oakland Planning and Development Corporation members are fully aware of the betrayals, dishonesty, and moral corruption of the Oakland Crossings project. Yet they refuse to take legal and bold actions against university administrators, and others, who support that project. Over the years, they have far too often aligned with the administrators in the university expansion plans, against the wishes of many in the Oakland community. The Pitthetic shame of the university has been passed on to each one of them who has allowed the further decimation of our residential and business districts.
“It is a student community.” Oakland has the dubious distinction of having the worst environmental litter and trash problems in the city, caused mainly by students who do not care. When a program to end those problems was proposed to you, you refused to support it, even though the cost would have been equivalent to only $4 per student. Many Oakland residents, especially the elderly, longtime residents, died waiting for your support that never came. Would you have made the same decision if your parents or loved ones lived in the community? That’s a Pitthetic shame you bear for ignoring the dignity of Oakland residents, especially the elderly, longtime residents.
In the November 17, 2021, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the BioForge project at Hazelwood Green, you mentioned that Pittsburgh can become the city that heals the world. You had the opportunity to heal Oakland, but you deliberately and tragically failed. Regardless of your accomplishments, that’s a Pitthetic shame you will carry forever.
It is well beyond the time for you to resign. It is well beyond the time for the Pitthetic University of Pittsburgh to begin to leave Oakland.
Pitthetic
Noun - a university, organization, government entity, or individual that negatively impacts a community by action or inaction.
Adjective - pathetic as a direct result of a university, organization, government entity, or individual's negative influence.
The Decimation of an
Urban Community – South Oakland
By Carlino Giampolo
September 4, 2018
It is not hyperbole to say that no urban community in America has been as severely impacted by a university's presence as South Oakland has.
The policies of the University of Pittsburgh administrators have affected the residential and business districts of South Oakland in a profound and devastating way. Since 1968, the longtime residential population has declined by approximately 80%. On one residential street, the decline is far greater. South Bouquet Street has declined 98%, from over 200 longtime residents to presently only two, while the student population has increased from about a dozen to nearly 800.
As we will see below, the business district has been similarly decimated.
SOUTH OAKLAND – 1968
(Forbes Avenue & Fifth Avenue from Halket Street to Craig Street;
South Bouquet Street; Oakland Avenue; Atwood Street; Meyran Avenue;
Semple Street; Bates Street)
In 1968, the above eight streets in South Oakland were home to:
16 Family Restaurants (Employing waiters and/or waitresses. Hotels excluded.)
12 Barber Shops
11 Gas Stations & Auto Repair Shops
11 Dry Cleaners and Alteration Shops
9 Beauty Salons
9 Men & Women's Clothing Stores
7 Shoe Stores & Shoe Repair Shops
7 Grocery Stores
3 Flower Shops
3 Bread & Bakery Shops
2 Supermarkets
2 Movie Theaters
2 Hardware Stores
1 Bowling Alley
In addition:
Syria Mosque – Demolished by UPMC in 1991 and property sold to Pitt in 2016.
Forbes Field – Demolished by the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.
16 Family Restaurants – Black Angus Restaurant, Canter's Restaurant, Scotty's Diner, Cicero's Restaurant Lounge, The Clock Restaurant, Gustine's Restaurant, Lasek's, Burnett's Restaurant, Hungarian Village, Bamboo Garden Restaurant, House of Chiang, B & G Restaurant, Lincoln Pancake Kitchen, Home Plate, Joey Diven's Oakland Cafe, Henry Henry Restaurant.
12 Barber Shops – M & J Barber Shop, Chuck's Barber Shop, Guy Cozza Barber Shop, Schenley Barber Shop, Jerry's Barber Shop, Edwards Barber Shop, Jack's Barber Shop, Al's Barber Shop, Tech Barber Shop, Enrico's Barber Shop, Abe Rosenthal Barber, Joe Bellisario's Barber Shop.
11 Gas Stations & Auto Repair Shops – Spohn Amoco Station, Oakland Gulf Service, Stuckert Esso Service, Tamburi's Sunoco Service, Weston's Atlantic Service, Oakland Auto Service, Forbes Field Garage, W & S Auto Repair, Ernie's Auto Body Repair, Peetz Auto Repair, Heglas Auto Body Shop.
11 Dry Cleaners and Alteration Shops – One-Hour Martinizing Cleaners, One Hour Dura Cleaning, Daniel's Cleaners, Crandall McKenzie Dry Cleaners, Art Cleaning and Tailoring, Charley The Tailor, Sam Ross Tuxedo Rental, Cherubin Cleaning Pressing & Alterations, Simeone Tailor Shop, New Oakland Tailor Clothes Cleaning, Mannarino's Alterations.
9 Beauty Salons – Studio de Creste, Starlite Beauty Haven, Claffey's Beauty Shop, Victor's Fifth Avenue Coiffures, House of Heaton Beauty Shop, Violet Touch Beauty Salon, Marcel Beauty Salon, Meyran Avenue Beauty Shop, Rose Marino's Beauty Salon.
9 Men & Women's Clothing Stores – Leonard's Men's Shop, Price's of Oakland, Tweed Shop, Maxine's Womens Clothing, Dorothy's Millinery, Fashion Hosiery Shop, The Men's Sports Wear Pro Shop, Klothes Kloset Used Clothing, Oakland Haberdashery Shop.
7 Shoe Stores & Shoe Repair Shops –Wally's Shoes, Oakland Star Shoe Store, Atwood Shoe Service Repair, Russo & Son Shoe Repair, Mike's Shoe Service Repair, Oakland Shoe Repairing, Medical Arts Shoe Service.
7 Butcher Shop & Grocery Stores – Dan Snider Butcher Shop, Atwood Grocery, Bellanca's Market, Atwood Oriental Food Store, Modern Food Market, Howard's Market Grocery, Leff's Market.
3 Flower Shops – Georgetson's Flower Shop, Thompson Flower Shop, Gidas Flowers.
3 Bread & Bakery Shops – Cibrone Breads Bakery, Kunst First Class Bakery, Oakland Bakery.
2 Supermarkets – A & P, Giant Eagle.
2 Movie Theaters – Strand Theatre, King's Court Theatre.
2 Five- & Ten-Cent Stores – Autenreith Five & Ten, Forbes 5-10-25 Cent Store.
2 Hardware Stores – DeBroff's Hardware, Oakland Hardware & Toy Company.
1 Bowling Alley – Cicero Strand Lanes.
Syria Mosque – Demolished by UPMC in 1991 and property sold to Pitt in 2016.
Forbes Field – Demolished by the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.
In addition to the above, there was a vast array of establishments that supported an eclectic multi-ethnic residential community, such as children's toys and clothes, fine jewelry, gifts, novelties, electrical appliances, wallpaper, and paint.
Business Establishments in 2018
In 2018, the number of businesses that supported a longtime residential community has declined tremendously. Today, there are no supermarkets, movie theatres, bowling alleys, hardware stores, shoe stores and shoe repair shops, dry cleaners and alteration shops, bread and bakery shops, children's toys and clothes stores, novelties and gift stores, electrical appliances, wallpaper, and paint stores.
The two main streets in South Oakland's business district (Forbes Avenue & Fifth Avenue) now have only seven business establishments, other than restaurants in the categories shown above, that support a longtime residential community: One gas station (Stuckert's Exxon), three barber shops (Supercuts, Sport Clips, Enrico's Hair Cutting for Men), two clothing shops for men and women (Rue 21, Whimsy on Fifth), and one flower shop (Gidas Flowers).
The administrators of the University of Pittsburgh have made conscious choices leading to the decimation of the residential and business districts of South Oakland. What is equally tragic is that Pitt's 5,000 faculty members are silent enablers.
Neither the chancellor and his administrators, nor the university's faculty, can answer this question in a positive manner: When the streets in the heart of our business district are predominantly dormitories, student housing, and university-owned buildings, how can we grow an eclectic, multi-ethnic, longtime residential community?
Every story has two sides. The story of how Oakland’s two largest universities benefit a community has already been told. OaklandDignity.com shows the story of how these universities’ domination, insatiable greed, broken trust and silence are a deadly combination that can slowly lead to the near extinction of that same community; they can control others like puppets on a string. This website focuses on the devastating impact of the University of Pittsburgh on South Oakland, though the impact of Carnegie Mellon University on North Oakland is nearly as devastating. No community in America that hosts universities deserves such an experience.
Panther Hollow, one of Pittsburgh’s first Italian neighborhoods, is located in Oakland. Its longtime residents’ efforts to protect and preserve that sacred legacy are on the website www.SavePantherHollow.com.
Carlino Giampolo
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher Must Resign
What: Gathering in front of the Cathedral of Learning
When: Daily on September 9-13, 2019
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Why: Chancellor Patrick Gallagher Must Resign
We held a similar gathering on February 4-8 earlier this year. A brief explanation as to why the chancellor must resign is below.
To those individuals who support the University of Pittsburgh's never-ending expansion and destruction of Oakland's residential and business districts, and who care very little about what happens to Oakland residents about this social injustice, no explanation will suffice for them to support our efforts. To those individuals who understand this injustice, place a high value on human dignity, and draw courage from their convictions to take action, no explanation is necessary. They will be there in body or spirit.
The domination, manipulation, and instilling of fear by university leaders will only cease when there are no more enablers, puppets, or victims to allow that kind of consciousness to exist.
We are at the pinnacle of a crucial moment in the history of Oakland. The very existence of Oakland as a residential community for our generation and for generations to come will be determined by the actions we take today. Our positive actions of ending the destructive consciousness at the University of Pittsburgh will also greatly benefit other neighborhoods beyond Oakland and throughout Pittsburgh.
Carlino GiampoloChancellor Patrick Gallagher Must Resign
February 4–8, 2019
 Photo by Christopher Pasquinelli |
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher took office in 2014. The longtime residential community of Oakland genuinely trusted he would end the destructive policies of his predecessors that decimated the business and residential neighborhoods of Oakland. That trust has been broken.
The chancellor's expansive purchases of properties and support of developers, the recently proposed massive Institutional Master Plan, and the plans to make Oakland an Innovation District are indicative of his choices to further destroy the university's host community.
One such destructive policy is his support of a roadway from Hazelwood Green, through Panther Hollow, and to Pitt. This policy is reminiscent of Chancellor Edward Litchfield who, in 1963, sought to destroy Panther Hollow by building a 21st Century Research Park. Today, in order to make Oakland an Innovation District, Gallagher's support of the roadway will bring massive development that will destroy this historic neighborhood and give him the glory that had eluded Litchfield.
The university's lack of transparency goes well beyond its exemption from the state's Right to Know law, lack of oversight of the university by city, state and federal agencies, and the media's unwillingness to investigate the university's impact on Oakland. Together, these are an elixir for the tragic decimation of the university's host community.
Oakland's generation at the turn of the 20th century never imagined that the university's seemingly innocent move from the North Side to Oakland in 1909 would bring such massive destruction. It is not hyperbole to say that no community in America has ever been more decimated by a university's presence than Oakland.
Next week, every day from noon to 1 p.m., there will be a gathering in front of the Cathedral of Learning to call for the chancellor's resignation. Those who want to participate are most welcome. Anyone who knows about wrongdoing at Pitt can contact District Attorney Stephen Zappala (412) 350-4400 or U.S. Attorney Scott Brady (412) 644-3500.
Communities are destroyed by silent compliance. Accept the responsibility to choose what positive action you will take to end this tragic social injustice.
Carlino Giampolo
February 2, 2019
Additional information is on the websites: www.SavePantherHollow.com www.PantherHollow.us
P.S. You most likely know the melody to the 1970 song by Steam that goes:
Na Na Na Na / Na Na Na Na / Hey Hey-ey / Goodbye
Join us next week as we adapt the words and joyfully sing:
Na Na Na Na / Na Na Na Na / Galla-gher / Must Resign
Hostile Climates in Higher Education
A former University of Pittsburgh professor wrote an essay on sexual harassment and discrimination against people of color in the university's Department of Communication. View the essay at:
The following is just one of numerous comments made about the article:
As a former tenured faculty member in the School of Medicine at Pitt, I can say that the immoral culture extends across campus and beyond sexual harassment and gender-based pay discrimination. In addition to hearing complaints over the years from student, medical residents and fellows regarding sexual harassment, I experienced the pattern of administrative coverup and harassment following my reporting of extensive research misconduct by a male colleague. All effort and expense directed by the administrative “boys’ club” was brought to bear to force my departure and protect the male faculty member, no matter the egregious level of admitted misconduct. Like you, I was able to bring these charges to light because I was tenured and successful in my position. I share so much of the experience you have written about: being dragged through the mud professionally and finally deciding to leave the toxic environment because the retribution would likely never end. I continue to seek correction of this through litigation, but as you correctly state, Pitt has deep pockets and unfortunately local judges who are Pitt Law faculty members. I applaud your efforts to continue to bring light to this toxic, immoral culture.
OaklandDignity.com |