A Pittsburgh councilman whose district includes the troublesome East Carson Street entertainment district is mulling strategies to curb unruly crowds there, from asking bars to voluntarily close earlier to using horse-mounted police more frequently.

Councilman Bob Charland, D-South Side, acknowledged that violent incidents in the area over the past few weekends have put some on edge. The raucous behavior includes people firing guns and throwing fireworks at officers and police vehicles.

Charland still believes the situation is better and safer than it was a few years ago, but he’s looking for ways to further improve safety, cut down on crime and change people’s perceptions about a stretch of East Carson Street known for its sometimes problematic nightlife scene.

Among the efforts is a plea to restaurants and other businesses to shut down at 2 a.m. when bars shutter for the night.

“When we formed the police lines, as we’re pushing, those food establishments have been a barrier to clearing the street,” Charland said, describing the tactic officers have used of stretching in a line across Carson and forcing people out of the area after bars close. “Most of the food establishments and vape shops have been agreeable, but I don’t think we’re at 100% compliance.”

He also pitched the idea of asking bars to voluntarily close earlier or rotate among earlier closing times in an effort to thin the crowd before throngs of people pour out from the bars and into the streets at 2 a.m.

There hasn’t been much buy-in for that plan, the councilman said.

Emily Bourne, a Pittsburgh public safety spokeswoman, said police also are trying to identify bars that serve alcohol to underage customers. Officials are working to label those establishments as nuisance bars and pursue legal penalties.

The city has bolstered its police presence along East Carson Street on weekend nights, but officers are far outnumbered by the crowds who flock to the area from around the region, Charland said.

Workhorses needed

The police mounted unit was helpful in controlling crowds there on St. Patrick’s Day, Charland said, but they’re not a steady presence in the area. Charland said he’d like to see more mounted officers patrolling East Carson Street at peak times.

“If we’re going to have a mounted unit, we need them to be workhorses and not just show horses,” Charland said, alluding to criticisms some have raised that the mounted unit’s focus is more directed to community engagement than policing.

Whether the city will continue to have a mounted unit at all is unclear.

This year’s budget funds the unit only through the first half of the year.

Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said he struck a deal with public safety officials to keep the mounted unit at least until City Council’s upcoming summer recess ends in mid-August.

Bourne said the unit’s funding comes from the police operations budget, and the city won’t run out of money to care for the horses.

Because the unit is not designated as its own line item in the budget, it is difficult to definitively track how expensive the unit is or how much money it has spent so far this year.

Coghill said the mounted unit could be a key tool for controlling rowdy crowds like the ones that have been “taking over the street” when South Side bars close on weekends or in other areas where residents want to see a stronger public safety presence.

“When we have a 1,200-pound animal in the middle of the street, they’re effective,” Coghill said. “They’re very intimidating.”

Gainey weighs in

Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement many of the challenges the South Side experiences stem from visitors who come in from beyond city limits.

“We recognize the challenges currently being faced and are committed to addressing them, and thus are working closely with local law enforcement, community partners, businesses and regional leaders, not just from within the city but also from neighboring municipalities where these visitors reside, to ensure that everyone can enjoy the South Side responsibly and are calling on all patrons to disperse safely at the end of the night.”

Charland said it will take more than closing some bars a little earlier or flooding the streets with more police to make the strides he wants to see.

“We can police our way out of it (only) so much,” Charland said. “The thing that will actually change the South Side is changing the economy, bringing more daytime and dinnertime establishments, bringing in sustainable retail, bringing in a better clientele.”

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