Thursday, July 01, 2010

Overboard Kraus

"We elected Bruce Kraus to be our city councilman because of his promises of 'Safe, Clean and Green.' Instead, Mr. Kraus has become our neighborhood dictator and is attempting to run the place into the ground."

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1 comment:

Mark Rauterkus said...

full letter:

Councilman went too far

I am a lifelong South Side resident and never have I seen things so out of hand.

We elected Bruce Kraus to be our city councilman because of his promises of "Safe, Clean and Green." Instead, Mr. Kraus has become our neighborhood dictator and is attempting to run the place into the ground.

Vogt Hardware has been selling flowers every summer for the past 30 years. The amount of tomatoes that have fed South Side families that grew from Vogt’s plants I imagine is in the tens of thousands. Thanks to Mr. Kraus, however, they are no longer allowed to sell plants on the sidewalk.

In those past 30 years I’ve watched as the men at Vogt have helped our community by sweeping the sidewalk and spraying dirt and debris off of their store front (as well as neighbors). I read in disbelief at Vogt’s front counter a letter from the City of Pittsburgh that threatened them with citation.

"It is the responsibility of every property owner, tenant and business to keep the City of Pittsburgh clean and vibrant. Businesses, landlords and tenants must share in their responsibility to keep our city clean, safe and healthy. The City of Pittsburgh can no longer turn a blind eye and wait for you to respond to the continuing litter that accumulates in front of your property," the letter stated.

What gull do they have!

Obviously Pittsburgh’s city government has not one blind eye, but two. In what world are flowers not "vibrant" and considered "litter"?

I’m sure Mr. Kraus will try to counter that Vogt remains allowed to sell plants inside, but let us not forget that plants require sunlight to live!

Carol Dankis

South Side

July 01, 2010 6:14 PM

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