As Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local”. Whether he was referring to trains and parks is disputable but those are topics at the forefront of the Allegheny West political scene.
On Monday, February 4th , more than 40 neighbors attended a meeting to learn more about Norfolk Southern Railroad’s plans to run double stack trains through Pittsburgh’s Northside. The presentation focused on the potential negative impacts, and it was alarming. From derailments and explosions to degradation of air quality – this is a serious situation and we need to be engaged to advocate for our community. We’re lucky to have John DeSantis and Ashley Webb serving on the Northside Leadership Conference Bridge Committee, but please consider what you can do to help, too. Local and state elected officials are working with the Bridge Committee and your input, via in-person conversations, phone calls and emails, will encourage them to keep this issue front and center. Right now there is a call for volunteers to install equipment to help monitor changes in air quality, to monitor and report idling trains and to assist in developing a website to centrally disseminate updates.
Specific details on how to volunteer will be posted on the Allegheny West website and e-Newsletter in the coming weeks.
On Tuesday, February 12th, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy listening tour comes to Allegheny West. The majority of the February AWCC Membership meeting agenda that night will be devoted to the Parks team. (The meeting is held at 7:30 pm at the Calvary United Methodist Church, at 971 Beech Avenue.) During this community meeting, the Parks Conservancy will be gathering feedback on what neighbors love about their parks, and what they would love to improve – please join the conversation and make your voice heard.
Ann Gilligan
President, AWCC