Oakland landlords get help

Scheduling conflicts prevented representatives of the Student Government Board from attending… Scheduling conflicts prevented representatives of the Student Government Board from attending last Wednesday’s meeting of the Oakland Landlord Committee.

Kelly Wawrzeniak, who works with the committee as the community organizer at the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, invited board member Ryan Haddad to the June 25 meeting weeks in advance.

“We definitely want to get [SGB] on board for future meetings,” said Wawrzeniak.

Haddad, who could not attend the meeting because of his full-time job Downtown, forwarded the invitation to board member Ryan Very, who also could not attend.

About half the board is in Pittsburgh for the summer, but full-time jobs and course work prevented board members from attending.

Haddad expressed interest in attending future meetings but will be unable to attend July’s because he will be on vacation with his family.

“It’s important that SGB be in attendance to serve as a voice for the students in these discussions,” said Haddad.

Haddad said that landlords and student tenants must talk to one another.

“Unless both parties are able to sit down and have a fair, honest discussion, very little can be fixed.”

Last semester, Haddad started to work to resolve problems with mail delivery in South Oakland.

Haddad said that students were having their mail stolen because their houses in South Oakland lacked the proper facilities to keep mail secure.

“Off-campus students deserve the safe and secure mailing that they were afforded on campus,” said Haddad.

Cameras not to be in South Oakland

Pitt police spokesman Ron Bennett said that the Pitt police will not be placing surveillance cameras on private property in South Oakland because of problems with placing University equipment on private property.

For the same reason, the placement of emergency call boxes in South Oakland is also on hold.

Landlords tour renovated apartments

Landlords from the committee toured apartment buildings at 3530 and 3510 Louisa Street.

The apartments had recently been renovated and are under the management of Forbes Management.

“We were impressed with what we saw,” said Wawrzeniak.