At the last commission meeting, John Bendel was the only commissioner opposed to replacing bricks with asphalt on Rae Avenue. His reason? He was concerned about preserving the integrity of that neighborhood.
In the Trib's article Mt. Lebanon residents opposed to loss of brick roads, Bendel was quoted as saying, “The brick streets, they give our neighborhoods character, and preserving them is key to preserving the historical nature of those neighborhoods.” What a hypocrite.
A few months ago, I contacted the Mt. Lebanon Historic Preservation Board regarding the fields in the historic district of Mt. Lebanon. See Dear Mt. Lebanon Historic Preservation Board.
Recently, I had sent this to the Historic Preservation Board.
My frustration is that you are speaking to the Commission and asking them to spend $140,000 more for bricks on Rae Avenue, in order to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood, while looking the other way while the Commission spends $800,000 to destroy the integrity of our historic fields, one of the last green spaces in Mt. Lebanon, as you described in your application. You could have had a portion of the unassigned funds for bricks, had you gotten involved. Do you even know how Wildcat got its name? I lived in Mt. Lebanon most of my life and have a passion for preserving the integrity of our community. Where's your passion?After further communication from Historic Preservation Board member Bill Callahan, I questioned their silence concerning preserving the historic fields on Cedar Blvd.
Your commission liaison, Mr. Bendel, has not informed you of these plans. Why is that?This is another example of commissioners' friends staying quiet on the artificial turf project. We have a bunch of "sheeple" on our Boards now.
The Parks Advisory Board and the Environmental Sustainability Board has weighed in on the artificial turf, yet the Historic Preservation Board has been silent. Your chair person has gone to the podium on several occasions concerning bricks, yet never once commented on the removal of one of our last green spaces in Mt. Lebanon. Surely, you have seen the signs all over Mt. Lebanon about artificial turf. Have you even questioned your municipal liaison, Susan Morgans or your commission liaison, John Bendel about this project? Why is that?
I have sat at Commission Discussion Sessions where you and the Board Chair have discussed the application for the National Register. I have seen your picture with Dan Miller, but never once has the subject of artificial turf changing the integrity of our historical fields been brought up. Why is that?
Again, I ask you folks, where is your passion to preserve the integrity of these historical grass fields on Cedar Blvd.?
Update August 21, 2014 7:58 AM Meanwhile, players are threatening legal action over artificial turf at the 2015 Women's World Cup.
Players threaten legal action over artificial turf at Women's World Cup “Consigning women to a second-class surface is gender discrimination that violates European charters and numerous provisions of Canadian law.”
Players retain legal counsel in fight against artificial turf at 2015 Women's World Cup
“We’ve worked so hard as female athletes – not only here in the United States, but internationally – to grow the game and in my opinion I think this is taking a step back. All of the men’s international players around the world would argue the same point. A lot of these guys will not play on an artificial surface because it is an injury-prone surface and I don’t blame them.”
Update August 21, 2014 10:48 AM A Lebo Citizens reader sent me this photo and note:
These injuries are from playing soccer on turf. This women is a World Cup player. Men World Cup players won't play soccer on turf because of this type of injury. Can you imagine if kids came home with these types of injuries from Lebo turf?
Update August 24, 2014 4:20 PM
Alex Morgan upset about 159 degrees temps on turf field
From Twitter: 159 degrees on soccer field
| Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) | |
|
The temperature of the Turf field today. How is this healthy for us??? #Grass2015#GrassNotTurf pic.twitter.com/YEnnVApra3
| |
