Public safety meeting held by Pittsburgh city leaders in Brookline
People who live in Pittsburgh's Brookline neighborhood had a chance to pose questions about public safety directly to city leaders on Wednesday night.
Pittsburgh councilman Anthony Coghill hosted the meeting at the Tree of Life Open Bible Church along Brookline Boulevard in Wednesday.
The meeting comes following a rash of crimes in Brookline, including an attack on an employee of a dry cleaning business and vandalism of the church's nativity scene.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt and city police officers also listened to concerns from people who live in the neighborhood.
"It's ridiculous how the city is using money," one person said. "I mean, as far as money goes, they take from every program there is, but the programs that are most necessary, they cut short. I think public safety got cut by $500,000 or something like that, something ridiculous out of your budget. It just ain't right and that's what it all boils down to. When the election comes, you better start making some choices. Do you want this to continue or do you want something to change?"
City leaders say a lot of the issues are tied to a severe shortage of police officers.
Coghill says the city's police force has lost 25% of its officers in the last two years.