Unsanctioned youth gatherings have recently caused significant safety concerns in Market Square and elsewhere around town.
A large-scale disturbance occurred on Friday, when several hundred teenagers congregated in Market Square during the city's Juneteenth celebrations.
The Director of Public Safety for the city of Pittsburgh, Sheldon Williams, addressed this issue on the Big K Morning Show.
“We have had some more serious issues . . . where some weapons and the like have been recovered, but it is a smaller percentage of the individuals yet we cannot allow that type of behavior to continue for the safety of those that are in the space and those in and around, so when we start observing certain behavior, that’s when we have to intervene,” said Williams.
Williams adds they’re working toward a solution, but didn’t get into specifics.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership maintains a policy requiring visitors under the age of 18 to be accompanied by an adult.
This is in effect from 3:00 PM to midnight, Thursday through Saturday.
Williams says he was extremely proud of the professionalism displayed by public safety personnel over the weekend.
