Latest news with #RichCupka
CBS News
9 hours ago
- CBS News
Pittsburgh police, other law enforcement agencies called to disperse large crowd on South Side
Pittsburgh police say they had to call in extra help from neighboring law enforcement agencies early Sunday morning to safely disperse a large crowd of people who had gathered on East Carson Street. No one was injured and no property was damaged, but before that, the South Side Entertainment Patrol made several arrests. Some were gun-related, others had to do with fights. Citations were given for public intoxication, underage drinking, and public urination. Big crowds on East Carson are nothing new at 2 a.m. for South Side neighbors. "I didn't bat an eyebrow about it," a resident who goes by Vinny said. Vinny says the crowds pick up each weekend after he and most others are already asleep, around the time bars close up. "It happens because everyone is intoxicated, everyone's drinking," he added. In Sunday's case, police had to call in help from surrounding departments to clear out what they estimated was a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 people, with some of them fighting each other. Once help from other departments arrived, police were able to quickly clear the crowd, a statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety said. "It's a shame because this has been going on for five years. We know where and when it's happening, and the city can't stop it," said business owner Rich Cupka. "We have a lack of police. We're 150, 200 short." Cupka says the fact that the police couldn't clear the crowd on their own proves his point. "Law and order would take over if you had enough police to police the area," Cupka added. Then-Police Chief Larry Scirroto said in September 2024 that the problem on the South Side isn't due to a lack of officers, but rather bars aren't being held accountable. "I'm thankful that we have a level of cooperation to hold problematic business owners accountable," Scirotto said in September. "For far too long, some of the businesses over there, and there are just a few to be quite honest, that operate in a manner that they don't take accountability for the actions and behavior of their patrons, as if once those individuals get outside, it's the responsibility of the police and not the responsibility of the bar ownership to regulate the type of client they solicit and more importantly, their behavior." Cupka disagrees, saying that while certain bars are an issue, the lack of police is the main problem. "I don't see any relief in sight," Cupka said. On the weekends, 25 police officers are assigned to the South Side in addition to the 10 that are part of the Entertainment Patrol. Business owners say overall crime on the South Side is down, and Vinny believes the unfortunate reality is that the South Side has gotten a bad rap. "Everybody just have a drink. Come to the South Side. It's all good down here," he said, adding that visitors shouldn't let what happens late at night keep them from visiting.
CBS News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Crime is down on Pittsburgh's South Side, but the number of vacant storefronts is increasing
While crime is down, business leaders say Pittsburgh's South Side is struggling to make a comeback While crime is down, business leaders say Pittsburgh's South Side is struggling to make a comeback While crime is down, business leaders say Pittsburgh's South Side is struggling to make a comeback The South Side business district has struggled in recent years as the scene of late-night fights and sporadic shootings. Business leaders say crime is down, but the number of vacant storefronts on East Carson Street is growing. The closing of Nakama, a once hot-ticket sushi restaurant, has raised alarms about the state of the South Side business district and the mounting number of empty storefronts along East Carson Street. Bar owner Rich Cupka knows the reason behind the exodus. "These business owners have been here for years — decades. They didn't just forget how to run a business. It's because of the crime and the violence and the lawlessness," said Cupka. Cupka has compiled a list of some 29 bars and restaurants that have closed in recent years because of what he sees as an ineffective response to crime and violence. He says the nighttime incidents of fights and sporadic gunplay have led to the closure of daytime businesses as well. "All these things have led to where we're at with 35% vacancies, shops closing, and what's worse is there's nobody buying the closed shops, so it's like a downward spiral," Cupka said. "Even more so than the crime itself, the perception of crime has major detrimental impacts on the economy," said Councilman Bob Charland. Shootings and fights hit new highs on the South Side two years ago and police responded with barricades and saturation patrols. Charland says the public needs to know the district has become safer and more welcoming. He says there are far fewer incidents and the dedicated police patrol on Thursday to Sunday night is far less militaristic. "East Carson Street is safe. We patrol it effectively," Charland said. And while Charland and the South Side business associations put the vacancies at 20%, they concede that number is still far too high. To that end, they say some 14 new leases have been signed by businesses looking to open in the next few months. Owners hope this is the start of a new trend to make South Side a nighttime and daytime destination again. "Continues to move in the right direction, is able to attract interest from business owners from across the city, be wildly competitive with any other district in the city," said John DeMauro of The Urban Tap. The closing of Nakama could represent a bottom, but the hope is that South Side will bounce back with new businesses and a new public image to help turn this neighborhood around.
