In Oakland, a dedicated group of residents and enforcement officials work collaboratively each month to enforce city codes and make the neighborhood safer and more beautiful. Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project emerged in 2011 when hundreds of Oakland residents created The Oakland 2025 Master Plan and named code enforcement as a top priority for implementation. Since then, Oakwatch has successfully reclaimed vacant lots, engaged landlords in neighborhood beautification projects, and reduced friction between long-term residents and the more transient student population. This brand of civic engagement exemplifies how resident participation in public processes generates positive results. Oakwatch has gained city-wide recognition as an effective model for collaborative public safety advocacy and code enforcement. Recently, with some Allegheny Cleanways networking help, Oakwatch helped bring a long-known illegal dumping site up to code.
Last summer, residents on Parkview Avenue reported a white pick-up truck regularly unloading cement blocks, wood chunks, and other construction debris onto the hillside. A neighbor snapped a photo of the truck and shared it with 311, Oakwatch, and City Council. Oakwatch did some research and found that the truck belonged to a construction company affiliated with the property owner. Both Oakland’s City of Pittsburgh Building Inspector and Pittsburgh Police Community Relations Officer met with the property manager to outline a plan to clean up the hill. Many dumpster loads later, the hillside is clean. When the violations were heard in Housing Court, neighbors attended to testify and show support for enforcement. Since then, the owners have built a fence around their dumpsters to keep trash secure.
To report concerns, Oakwatch always begins by contacting 311. Calling, tweeting @Pgh311, or filling out the online form is the best way to bring a code violation to the appropriate city department’s attention. From there, the group prioritizes the most egregious violations and shares these violations with enforcement partners by way of Property Progress Report. Before monthly public meetings, Oakwatch sends the Property Progress Report out to enforcement partners so they may come prepared with updates on specific addresses. Oakwatch also invites guest speakers to enhance each meeting with education on a relevant matter. At the October 2014 meeting, Allegheny CleanWays’ own Dumpbusters Coordinator Joe Divack told how illegal dumping affects every neighborhood and advised on how to be part of the solution.
Oakwatch relies on strong partnerships with many organizations: City of Pittsburgh Council Districts 3, 6, and 8; University of Pittsburgh Police and Community and Governmental Relations; City of Pittsburgh Police; the Bureau of Building Inspection; Department of Public Works; the Allegheny County Health Department; and Mayor Peduto’s office, among many others. Oakwatch credits its successes to collaboration among these enforcement partners and the dedicated combination of long-term residents and tenants alike.
The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety has the motto of “Safer Together”. Although “Code-compliant Together” is not very catchy, it rings true for Oakwatch. Through reporting to 311 and organizing to ask for accountability, a higher quality of life is maintained in Oakland.
To read previous meeting minutes or find information on our next meeting , visit www.opdc.org/oakwatch or email oakwatch@opdc.org
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