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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 113 No. 48 Two Sections
NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2022
Black community providing tips, which are leading to arrests Mayor Gainey applauds community for getting ‘violent criminals off the street’ by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Charron Troutman. Jaylone Hines. Shawn Davis. Hezekiah Nixon. Pittsburgh Police said the four African American males are responsible for two shooting incidents on the North Side in the past six weeks, and while there could be other suspects atlarge, their arrests are indicative of what happens when Pittsburgh’s Black community tells what they know to the police. “I thank the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, but I also want to thank the community,” voiced Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey at a news conference at police headquarters, Nov. 2. “Because this is the first time I’ve heard of, that so many tips are coming in. So many people from the community are calling, saying what is going on. And I thank you for that. Because it’s helping us out, to get leads and continue to solve cases. I’ve told you from Day 1, we can’t do it alone. We need
the community, we need the rest of the judicial system; there’s a lot of pieces that go into making sure we are the safest city that we want to be.” Mayor Gainey then thanked the neighbors, “not just the ones that called in, but the ones that reached out via social media who said, ‘Hey, we heard X, Y and Z,’ the ones that continue to reach out and provide information. I’m happy you’re doing that, and I’m going to ask you to continue, because that’s the type of cooperation we need in order to ensure we’re doing a great job and making sure we take these violent criminals off the street.” Police and the mayor have been adamant that the community speaks up if they know who’s committing the violent crimes in the city. They said it following the Oct. 15 shooting on the North Side near a gas station and Allegheny Commons along Cedar Avenue, which claimed the SEE BLACK COMMUNITY A5
PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY speaks in Brighton Heights, Oct. 28, after six people were shot during a funeral. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
Activist Celeste Scott dies at age 46 Led effort for more affordable housing in Pittsburgh
It was ‘Bill Neal Day’ in Penn Hills, Nov. 22 Longtime Courier sports columnist honored for community work by Smokin’ Jim Frazier and Rob Taylor Jr. For New Pittsburgh Courier
CELESTE SCOTT (PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION)
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Celeste Scott never took “no” for an answer when it came to improving the
lives of African Americans and other people of color. The 46-year-old would often be seen and heard at Pittsburgh City Council meetings, demanding
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that there should be more affordable housing in the city. These days, the city’s Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) pours millions of dollars into affordable housing in Pittsburgh each year, and Scott, as housing and justice organizer for Pittsburgh United, was largely responsiSEE SCOTT A4
Apparently it’s true what they say… “You can always go home!” As was the case on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when Penn Hills lifelong resident and longtime Courier sports columnist Bill Neal was honored by Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese and Council during its budget meeting. Neal, a 1970 Penn Hills High School graduate and member of the Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame, was recognized and honored for his 48 years (and counting) of dedicated community service both in Penn Hills, the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Specifically in Penn Hills, Neal has hosted the Armon Gilliam/Leroy Freeman Memorial Hardwork Basketball Camp at the Penn Hills YMCA for the past 10 years. Neal also joined forces with the Elite Corvette Club of Pittsburgh, Mayor Calabrese and Councilman Frank Pecora to sponsor “The Great Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway” at the Penn
BILL NEAL, with Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese. Hills Eat ‘n’ Park, where over 400 turkeys were distributed. And let’s not forget about the “Toys for Champions” toy giveaway where Mayor Calabrese, state Senator Jay Costa and Jerry Chipinelli were on hand to help give out over 2,000 toys to families in need. The 12-hour
event operated on a year the day after a four-inch snowstorm, but still witnessed a traffic backup of 400-plus cars, serving over 1,500 boys and girls. Many will recognize Neal for his 40-plus years operating recogSEE NEAL A10