Wilkinsburg residents frustrated by massive hole left behind from home demolition
A recent home demolition left a deep hole, creating a safety and sanitary issue.
The problem is that the hole is filled with stagnant water, raw sewage and debris. It's been here for a couple of months, and people living in this Wilkinsburg neighborhood along Ross Avenue want to know why it hasn't been filled in.
"It's sewage. You can smell it and you can see it. And you can see where some of the cones they had fell into the hole," resident Keith Jones said.
Neighbors say the whole thing became an issue about eight weeks ago when a nearby home was demolished.
"They knocked all of [the house] down, put half of the dirt in the truck, and left," resident Lynda Scott added.
Since then, the hole turned into a deep puddle and an open sewage pit.
"I felt like the devil himself came out of that hole. Nothing good is going to come from this," Scott said.
Scott lives across the street from the mess, and Jones lives next door.
"And we have kids in this neighborhood. Plenty of kids," Jones said.
"I don't even like standing this close. We don't know what we're breathing in," Scott said.
Scott says she's voiced her concerns to a bunch of people and agencies.
"Every time I talked to someone, it was, 'Oh, it's the borough. Oh, it's the city.' I don't care if you put concrete there. Just fill it."
Wilkinsburg code enforcement says they were supposed to and have capped the sewage line. Now, they're waiting for the Allegheny County Health Department's plumbing division to inspect it, and then they can fill it back in, and the problem will be solved.
The big question is: when is that going to happen?
Allegheny County officials told KDKA-TV that they are aware of the issue and understand residents' frustrations, and they will be addressing the problem.
Scott, meanwhile, says she hopes it's sooner rather than later.
"I will keep complaining. That's all I know to do," Scott said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
2 minutes ago
- Washington Post
3 Sept. 11 victims' remains are newly identified, nearly 24 years later
NEW YORK — Three 9/11 victims' remains have newly been identified, officials said this week, as evolving DNA technology keeps making gradual gains in the nearly quarter-century-long effort to return the remains of the dead to their loved ones. New York City officials announced Thursday they had identified remains of Ryan D. Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old currency trader; Barbara A. Keating, a 72-year-old retired nonprofit executive; and another woman whose name authorities kept private at her family's request. They were identified through now-improved DNA testing of minute remains found more than 20 years ago amid the wreckage of the World Trade Center after the al-Qaida hijacked-plane attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 , the city medical examiner's office said. 'Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time,' chief medical examiner Dr. Jason Graham said in a statement. 'We continue this work as our way of honoring the lost.' Keating's son, Paul Keating, told media outlets he was amazed and impressed by the enduring endeavor. 'It's just an amazing feat, gesture,' he told the New York Post . He said genetic material from part of his mother's hairbrush was matched to DNA samples from relatives. A bit of his mother's ATM card was the only other trace of her ever recovered from the debris, he said. Barbara Keating was a passenger on Boston-to-Los Angeles-bound American Airlines Flight 11 when hijackers slammed it into the World Trade Center. She was headed home to Palm Springs, California, after spending the summer on Massachusetts' Cape Cod. Keating had spent her career in social services, including a time as executive director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Middlesex, near Boston. In retirement, she was involved in her Roman Catholic church in Palm Springs. The Associated Press sent messages Friday to her family and left messages at possible numbers for Fitzgerald's relatives. Fitzgerald, who lived in Manhattan, was working at a financial firm at the trade center, studying for a master's degree in business and talking about a long-term future with his girlfriend, according to obituaries published at the time. In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed when the hijackers crashed jetliners into the trade center's twin towers, the Pentagon and a field in southwest Pennsylvania on 9/11. The vast majority of the victims, more than 2,700, perished at the trade center. The New York medical examiner's office has steadily added to the roster of those with identified remains, most recently last year . The agency has tested and retested fragments as techniques advanced over the years and created new prospects for reading genetic code diminished by fire, sunlight, bacteria and more. 'We hope the families receiving answers from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner can take solace in the city's tireless dedication to this mission,' New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, said in a statement Thursday.
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
3 Sept. 11 victims' remains are newly identified, nearly 24 years later
NEW YORK (AP) — Three 9/11 victims' remains have newly been identified, officials said this week, as evolving DNA technology keeps making gradual gains in the nearly quarter-century-long effort to return the remains of the dead to their loved ones. New York City officials announced Thursday they had identified remains of Ryan D. Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old currency trader; Barbara A. Keating, a 72-year-old retired nonprofit executive; and another woman whose name authorities kept private at her family's request. They were identified through now-improved DNA testing of minute remains found more than 20 years ago amid the wreckage of the World Trade Center after the al-Qaida hijacked-plane attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the city medical examiner's office said. 'Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time,' chief medical examiner Dr. Jason Graham said in a statement. 'We continue this work as our way of honoring the lost.' Keating's son, Paul Keating, told media outlets he was amazed and impressed by the enduring endeavor. 'It's just an amazing feat, gesture,' he told the New York Post. He said genetic material from part of his mother's hairbrush was matched to DNA samples from relatives. A bit of his mother's ATM card was the only other trace of her ever recovered from the debris, he said. Barbara Keating was a passenger on Boston-to-Los Angeles-bound American Airlines Flight 11 when hijackers slammed it into the World Trade Center. She was headed home to Palm Springs, California, after spending the summer on Massachusetts' Cape Cod. Keating had spent her career in social services, including a time as executive director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Middlesex, near Boston. In retirement, she was involved in her Roman Catholic church in Palm Springs. The Associated Press sent messages Friday to her family and left messages at possible numbers for Fitzgerald's relatives. Fitzgerald, who lived in Manhattan, was working at a financial firm at the trade center, studying for a master's degree in business and talking about a long-term future with his girlfriend, according to obituaries published at the time. In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed when the hijackers crashed jetliners into the trade center's twin towers, the Pentagon and a field in southwest Pennsylvania on 9/11. The vast majority of the victims, more than 2,700, perished at the trade center. The New York medical examiner's office has steadily added to the roster of those with identified remains, most recently last year. The agency has tested and retested fragments as techniques advanced over the years and created new prospects for reading genetic code diminished by fire, sunlight, bacteria and more. 'We hope the families receiving answers from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner can take solace in the city's tireless dedication to this mission,' New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, said in a statement Thursday.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Yes, Money Buys Happiness — If You Spend It on These Specific Things
Your odds of being more content can be boosted with the right spending. Show me a person who thinks money can't buy happiness, and I'll show you someone who has never been completely broke. Ask the man who is up to his gills with debt and child-support payments, or the single mother who is struggling and on food stamps, hitting dead end after dead end. They'll have strong opinions on this subject. Money can buy happiness — but only in some cases. Here are 5 things to focus your spending on if you care about being happier. 1. Cutting off time leeches I took pride in mowing and caring for my own lawn. I was the only person in my neighborhood who did it. Then, after a few years, lawn work morphed from meditative exercise to burdensome chore. I live in Florida and it's hot. I had minimal free time. My neighbors had amazing lawns so there was a standard to uphold. I'd groan, 'God damn it. I have to mow this lawn again. I'm looking like the white trash neighbor.' I've finally given in and outsourced lawn care at my new home. It's amazing. It saves me from getting dirty, smelling like gasoline, having to take another shower, getting on my hands and knees, pulling weeds. I'm not rich. But the first thing most wealthy people do is buy their time back. Free time is powerfully correlated to health and overall wellbeing. If you aren't enamored with fancy toys and objects, make it a goal to buy off a chore. Rather than save up for an over-priced luxury car, have someone clean your house once or twice a month, or get a babysitter to allow for dates. One study by Dr. Ashley V. Whillans at Princeton University that adults who spent their money on time-saving purchases reported greater levels of happiness versus those who spent it on objects. My spouse and I have a cleaning lady who comes twice a month. No, I wasn't initially thrilled to be spending the money on this as I'm quite frugal. But I'll concede that it has been a big boost to our relationship and the stress of us pointing fingers over the state of our home. It feels like a needed gift we give ourselves. 2. The U-shaped curve of happy and sad people On average, our happiness drops after age 21 and continues to lag until we retire (or get close to it). Our dissatisfaction is driven by the demands of careers and child-rearing. Unsurprisingly, this statistic impacts women the most. It reminds me of this funny people-watching trend in my old neighborhood. There was this beautiful green park with a nice playground on it, where I rarely saw dads with their kids during the weekdays. Yet on Sundays, there were dozens of dads. Most of them looked bored, pushing their kid on the swing while checking their phone. It was clear that this was their 'one day' to watch the kids. I could envision the fights with their wives that eventually landed them in this park. They were getting a taste of what it was like to be a parent. And good on them. They were smart men: A woman's happiness is more important than her husband's when it comes to lasting marriages. Women are more likely to file for divorce first. Men will stay unhappy for longer before filing. Money is the leading cause of stress in relationships. I know this intimately because it was a factor in my own divorce. When there are financial problems, it drips into everything: how you use your time, where you are working, your discretionary spending. Every minor life decision carries the potential for a battle royale in your living room. It may seem obvious, but this is why you should use your money to immediately reduce financial pressures and stressors. Consider shopping smarter, packing your lunch, and alleviating the sources of those fights. 3. Altruistic happiness If by chance you find yourself extremely, filthy rich, one of the low-hanging fruits of contentment and joy you can buy is, ironically, giving your money away. Researchers found that people who are emotionally and behaviorally compassionate, live longer, happier lives, conditionally that their altruism didn't overwhelm them. Sure, philanthropists put their name all over stadiums and buildings to fulfill their ego. But they are doing something that also brings them immense satisfaction. Even if you don't have mounds of cash to give, small acts of generosity provide a 'helper's high'. For example, I volunteered as a coach for the Special Olympics swimming team and those memories live on inside me. I smile anytime I think back on those moments. 4. The issues you can't resolve One of my friends was going through depression and recently decided he needed to see a therapist. Unfortunately, due to the abyssal nature of the United States' healthcare system, it wasn't covered under his insurance. Fortunately, he is successful and can pay out of pocket. He considers it an investment in himself. I can confirm there has been a marked change in how he's doing. Just having someone to talk to about his problems and putting in weekly 'assignment work' on his mental health made huge strides. He's a different person. If you have the money or the insurance coverage, don't be afraid of pursuing mental health treatment, and speaking with a therapist. It doesn't always involve medication. It's incredible what having a professional, who is a fantastic listener and advisor can do. 5. Kick everyone off of your paycheck Years ago, someone smarter than me said, 'Whatever you do, get rid of all debt. It clears the runway for you to live and thrive." He wasn't talking about ridiculous credit card debt. He meant the basic stuff: car payments, mortgages, student loans. Paying interest is the equivalent of burning money. He said, 'Get their name off of your paycheck.' I invested aggressively and saved, and finally achieved that goal. I don't owe on my house or car. Everything I own is mine. I cannot plead with you enough: Live below your means and get rid of your obligations. It's the most freeing feeling I've ever had. There's no worrying. I can buy stuff and invest and do things I want to do. Studies have proven that debt negatively impacts happiness. I can remember having only $100 and having to get to the following Tuesday with that money. It was awful. This life is so much better. The goal of removing debt made me more motivated at my job too. You don't need to be a billionaire to be happy. Yet if you step back and realize that money is that singular, magical thing that can provide you with shelter, food, freedom, power, it shouldn't surprise you that it confers happiness. Money can help you be happy. But the endless pursuit of money will make you miserable. Recap for memory: 5 ways money buys happiness It reduces financial stress in relationships. You won't feel like you are negotiating every minor purchase. Buy back your time. Outsource chores. Indulge hobbies and get more quality time with your partner. Give away your money to those who need it. Or donate your time. Get mental health treatment or counseling. Get debt-free and kick everyone off your paycheck. Money can't buy happiness but it can delete things that cause sadness.
