News and Updates
Still waiting, and they are still coming to smoke. This isn't over yet folks....
Welcome
This site has been organized to support the efforts of the residents of Aspinwall who are interested in changing the policies of UPMC St. Margaret's Hospital and stemming the flow of smokers onto the streets of our community.
The individuals who continue to bring their habit to Aspinwall are simply adhering to UPMC's policy, which is eroding the quality of life for others. We will do the needful to demonstrate that this needs to change, and we only hope UPMC hears us and takes the appropriate action sooner rather than later...
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Trespassing: UPMC patients and staff are often found sitting on personal property such as retaining walls and steps along Delafield Avenue. Some are confrontational and even belligerent when asked to move.
Trespassing: UPMC patients and staff are often found sitting on personal property such as retaining walls and steps along Delafield Avenue. Some are confrontational and even belligerent when asked to move.•Littering: Within a one hour period, 3 kids and 2 adults collected over 700 cigarette filters on Delafield Avenue. Cigarette lighters and cigarette packaging were also collected.
Littering: Within a one hour period, 3 kids and 2 adults collected over 700 cigarette filters on Delafield Avenue. Cigarette lighters and cigarette packaging were also collected.•Property values decrease: The presence of smokers walking up and down the street, standing on corners or sitting on the curb dressed in hospital gowns or professional uniforms are an obvious deterrent to potential home buyers.
Property values decrease: The presence of smokers walking up and down the street, standing on corners or sitting on the curb dressed in hospital gowns or professional uniforms are an obvious deterrent to potential home buyers. •Bad impression for kids: Watching medical personnel smoke down Delafield led a four year old to remark: “Why are the doctors smoking?” Kids are left with the impression that it is ok for health professionals (and others) to smoke.
Bad impression for kids: Watching medical personnel smoke down Delafield led a four year old to remark: “Why are the doctors smoking?” Kids are left with the impression that it is ok for health professionals (and others) to smoke.•Gives Aspinwall and St. Margaret’s a bad image: Residents of Aspinwall are proud of their neighborhood and follow numerous rules to ensure the neighborhood is a clean, safe and an enjoyable place to live. The steady presence of smokers on Delafield and other streets tarnishes our reputation. Similarly, St Margaret’s prides itself in being a responsible part of this community and a good neighbor. Pushing smokers off of St Margaret’s grounds and into Aspinwall is irresponsible, unfair and is creating a public nuisance.
Gives Aspinwall and St. Margaret’s a bad image: Residents of Aspinwall are proud of their neighborhood and follow numerous rules to ensure the neighborhood is a clean, safe and an enjoyable place to live. The steady presence of smokers on Delafield and other streets tarnishes our reputation. Similarly, St Margaret’s prides itself in being a responsible part of this community and a good neighbor. Pushing smokers off of St Margaret’s grounds and into Aspinwall is irresponsible, unfair and is creating a public nuisance.•Increased homeowner liability: More pedestrians on the sidewalks increase the potential for accidents (cars backing out, etc.), and raises the issue of the hospital’s culpability for damages as a consequence of the UPMC policy.
Increased homeowner liability: More pedestrians on the sidewalks increase the potential for accidents (cars backing out, etc.), and raises the issue of the hospital’s culpability for damages as a consequence of the UPMC policy.•Second-hand smoke: While it is a common belief that smoking outside does not affect others, the fact is that smokers along Delafield are so close to private homes that the smell of smoke lingers on porches and is difficult to avoid when walking on the sidewalks. Residents are discouraged from sitting on porch swings with their small children because of the constant smell of smoke.
Second-hand smoke: While it is a common belief that smoking outside does not affect others, the fact is that smokers along Delafield are so close to private homes that the smell of smoke lingers on porches and is difficult to avoid when walking on the sidewalks. Residents are discouraged from sitting on porch swings with their small children because of the constant smell of smoke.Actions we have taken:
•Developed a website, which includes pictures of offenders, copies of petitions and other information for Aspinwall citizens to register with the campaign.
Developed a website, which includes pictures of offenders, copies of petitions and other information for Aspinwall citizens to register with the campaign.•Discussed potential options to redress the situation at an Aspinwall Borough Council meeting, and encouraged Council members to continue the dialogue with the hospital. Raised the question of the municipality’s (and resident’s) legal recourse in the matter.
Discussed potential options to redress the situation at an Aspinwall Borough Council meeting, and encouraged Council members to continue the dialogue with the hospital. Raised the question of the municipality’s (and resident’s) legal recourse in the matter.•Secured a petition protesting UPMC’s policy with about 150 resident signatures.
Secured a petition protesting UPMC’s policy with about 150 resident signatures.•Published article in The Herald highlighting the problem.
Published article in The Herald highlighting the problem.•Prepared flyers for circulation to raise awareness about the issue and draw new visitors to the website.
Prepared flyers for circulation to raise awareness about the issue and draw new visitors to the website.Actions we plan to undertake:
If we are unable to reach a lasting solution, we intend to mobilize in increasingly more public ways to gain community-wide support. This is likely to include:
•Organizing a major citizen’s protest to involve media coverage and a large group of residents near St Margaret’s campus.
Organizing a major citizen’s protest to involve media coverage and a large group of residents near St Margaret’s campus.•Publishing advertisements in The Herald and on local billboards making others aware of the situation.
Publishing advertisements in The Herald and on local billboards making others aware of the situation.•Contacting other local news organizations
Contacting other local news organizations•Seeking legal council to address the loss of property value and other consequences of the UPMC policy
Seeking legal council to address the loss of property value and other consequences of the UPMC policy•Distributing flyers raising awareness about the issue and the website.
Distributing flyers raising awareness about the issue and the website.•Setting up a table at the weekly flea market to educate our neighbors.
Setting up a table at the weekly flea market to educate our neighbors.•Posting signs on Delafield Avenue.
Posting signs on Delafield Avenue. We are aware that St. Margaret’s staff have made some attempts to correct the situation (e.g. security guards periodically appear to check what is going on but then seem to vanish after a time), however it is our feeling that the measures thus far constitute a band-aid approach to the problem. Communications to hospital staff go largely unheeded given the persistent foot traffic. Educating patients and staff is not effective as there are new patients in the hospital every day. The no-smoking campus signs near Delafield only drive smokers across the street to Aspinwall.
We believe that an effective solution must involve a change or exemption from the UPMC corporate policy that requires a smoke free campus, and the establishment (or re-establishment) of a designated smoking area on the campus of St. Margaret’s, with signs directing smokers where to go. Anything short of this is unlikely to have a real impact on the situation that the UPMC policy has inadvertently created. We will continue with our efforts to modify this policy until a satisfactory resolution is achieved.
We'd like to try again to make this as plain as we can - we do not oppose smoking, or those who choose to do it. As one reader put it so well, our beef is not with the employees, patients or visitors of St. Margarets - it is with the UPMC policy that forces those who smoke to flow onto the streets of our community.
With the help of Representative Preston and members of the Aspinwall government, we seem to have persuaded the hospital to deliver the solution we have long been seeking. This is the most exciting news we have had so far in this campaign, and only hope that the commitment we have heard will materialize. It will not take long to find out. The press still wants our story and this time it's city-wide - read the Post Gazette this week to learn more. And you know what? It seems that if you contact the Board of UPMC directly, they really will listen!
The Post Gazette picked up our story (front page of the "North" Section), and it seems to have made it out to the wires too... The Borough Manager will be discussing the situation on WTAE tonight as well.
Here's the link to the PG coverage:
(We can't wait to hear what goes on in the chat rooms now !! :)
Here is yet ANOTHER article on the situation - we really do have to thank the press for giving our story the attention it deserves - read on to learn more:
Well - it seems there's another article in the press on it - this time in Harrisburg. And we are hearing that folks in Sewickly are having the same problem and want our advice.
The end of the 30 day period for the changes to be put in place is drawing very close, and we are hoping the hospital folks keep their word....
