Comments
ScratchMoore t1_jdie8vh wrote
True. That’s like the most important part of this entire issue, and they don’t report it.
Vesty t1_jdier2r wrote
Yeah I can’t really think of any significant security differences between what the park does and say the stadiums. If they’ve taken steps to address the fence line I don’t know what else he could be asking for. I can’t help but think this is re-election “tough on crime” grandstanding.
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdig2nz wrote
I think the bigger issue is he's not law enforcement nor is he a legislator, thus he has no authority to make demands. It's one thing if they treated this like a nuisance bar, which we have laws to deal with. But he's looking to sue them for not bending to his will, which is overreaching.
Distinct_Username t1_jdigmo9 wrote
Between this and the other thing, he’s not having a great news day.
throwaway01002030405 t1_jdigu6b wrote
“This is non-negotiable”
As I say in all comments about zappala: Fuck you, Steve.
Safety is important; Kennywood has enacted new safety standards. This is just Steve being a douche.
James19991 t1_jdii8gu wrote
Yeah, it's time for him to go
DaRiddler70 t1_jdiio9x wrote
He's asking parents not to dump their shitty kids at the park to cause trouble, but he's doing it by making Kennywood deal with the problem.
It's called trying to solve a problem by the symptoms.
Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_jdiiuca wrote
this is his M.O. Make all sorts of demands, forces companies into making changes, and then takes the credit.
Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_jdij9ba wrote
>Zappala said the iconic West Mifflin amusement park is unsafe and has been uncooperative with his office since a Sept. 24 shooting at the park left three people wounded. No one is charged in connection with the shooting.
so.... uncooperative since Sep 24th but waits until 2 months before the election to call a news conference about it.
TheSpeedyBee t1_jdiji5m wrote
Not really the DAs place to make such demands, reasonable or not.
AntiStatistYouth t1_jdikhc7 wrote
>No one is charged in connection with the shooting.
He should probably be working on those charges rather than complaining about Kennywood's security measures.
Ryan1006 t1_jdikhl7 wrote
Going up against Kennywood isn’t going to win him any votes.
shawnwingsit t1_jdilrx7 wrote
What other thing?
DaKaSigma t1_jdim18z wrote
He’s courting suburban Democrats who think Kennywood is unsafe regardless of security. He’s taking his page from the GOP: scare people about crime to vote for you, bust don’t actually do anything about it.
DIY_Creative t1_jdim1fh wrote
Almost as if an important primary is coming up...hmmmm...
This is overreaching imo. And his delivery and tone is so douchey.
bobkmertz t1_jdim964 wrote
I happen to think maybe attacking Kennywood is a smokescreen to keep people from finding out about the other thing.
mistergrime t1_jdima3d wrote
You can always tell it’s an election year when you’re hearing from Steve Zappala.
Distinct_Username t1_jdiman3 wrote
There are allegations that he’s kept prosecutors from making offers and/or dismissing cases based on electoral considerations after he didn’t get the Democratic Party endorsement.
bobkmertz t1_jdimaw9 wrote
shawnwingsit t1_jdiogq7 wrote
Ohhh, that ain't good.
Whiplash_666 t1_jdiot73 wrote
The Duquesne Disney
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdiq1to wrote
>He’s taking his page from the GOP: scare people about crime to vote for you, bust don’t actually do anything about it.
Both sides of the aisle are guilty of doing this
Ceramicrabbit t1_jdiqcbe wrote
Why doesn't he show a similar level of concern for other shootings?
Ceramicrabbit t1_jdiqfts wrote
>democracy itself is at stake!
Ready_Panda t1_jdiqxc8 wrote
He wants the entire park covered by a net to stop drones
ballsonthewall t1_jdiraig wrote
let me know when they actually do something to a nuisance bar lmfao
poodog13 t1_jditu2e wrote
Unless they are breaking an actual law, why would he have the authority to prevent them from opening?
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdityn0 wrote
A North Side nuisance bar was shut down early last year, a South Side one closed late last year when their liquor license got revoked, and there's one in Westmoreland (iirc) that's just been closed down temporarily. Don't mess around with the PLCB/PSP's BLCE.
Regardless of action/inaction, my point was there are laws in place to deal with problematic places, whereas the Kennywood issue appears to be Zappala just having a tantrum because someone didn't do what he wanted. He has no legal authority to just order people around.
throwaway01002030405 t1_jdiv0bh wrote
There are differences in scale and implications, and just saying everyone does it is unhelpful
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdiv7s4 wrote
Not excusing it. Just point out the bias.
Edit: there's the typical r/pittsburgh - called out bias that happened to be left-leaning and got downvoted.
WestEndFlasher t1_jdiwbzf wrote
i'll vote for the DA that makes them re-open the logjammer and the old mill.
nsairwinpa t1_jdiwds5 wrote
Yes, let’s target one of the biggest youth employers in the region because some bad youth did something bad. If only there was a way to improve their communities, education and job opportunities that would somehow encourage good behavior.
dshd66 t1_jdiwpu7 wrote
Zappala is a cunt
HerpDerpinAtWork t1_jdiwytr wrote
He doesn't. This is less than a nothing burger from a shitbag who likes it when his name is in the news. Well, except for when it's in the news like this.
the1999person t1_jdix2mb wrote
Actually a dome would be better. Something that blocks out the UV rays so you don't have to worry about being sunburned for being at the park all day.
PersonalAd2039 t1_jdix2ol wrote
Other parks have dealt with this by limiting and significantly increasing prices of season passes. removing local discount tickets(school tickets, Shop n save etc.) and removing food packages.
One of the parks stated they had to increase prices above local day care costs.
Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_jdixc36 wrote
And we have experience with snow domes over some Pittsburgh neighborhoods
js_kwfb t1_jdixd7x wrote
100% a political stunt he's using to make himself try and look good. If he actually cared about safety he would have went to the part five months ago and spent the off season giving reccomendations, not a month before opening. Kennywood already did their part to improve security, why not worry about the SOURCE of the problem, which is all the gangs and hoods in Homestead and West Mifflin? All this is going to do is potentially screw employees like myself out of their paycheck if this goes through. I have coworkers and friends who are saying that if this goes through they're going to have to cancel plans because they won't have the money for it.
Open my park.
StarWars_and_SNL t1_jdixdii wrote
It also happens to be two months before the park is scheduled to open.
Additional_Swan_6531 t1_jdixdx1 wrote
If this is an issue now, why was kennywood still open for the remainder of phantom fright nights and holiday lights, this prick didn’t say anything then.
Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_jdixlo6 wrote
His answer is always "security cameras" and major screening at entrances.
StarWars_and_SNL t1_jdixnx4 wrote
The park security has definitely decreased in the last few years.
It used to be that all bags had to be checked, etc. The process to get through the gate is a breeze now.
Not that gate security would have done much to prevent last year’s violence.
Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_jdixqnm wrote
Just one. April 22 is the first day.
StarWars_and_SNL t1_jdixwxe wrote
Pittsburgh is too cold for that shit.
milkmanrichie t1_jdizezp wrote
They did upgrade the metal detector, which was supposed to stream line the process and be safer. I can not confirm if it is in fact safer.
Vesty t1_jdj1uqn wrote
Because they started using the new style detectors that don’t require bag checks. Disney and other parks also use them these days. Even the Pirates just announced they’re switching to them and don’t require bag checks anymore. Don’t see the DA threatening to shut down the Pirates opener.
xxdropdeadlexi t1_jdj3o53 wrote
Are people dropping off 4 year olds at Kennywood? The daycare statement is confusing because if they're old enough to be dropped off, they're too old for daycare.
PersonalAd2039 t1_jdj4u7x wrote
You don’t come to the mon valley often
Eta
LostEnroute t1_jdj5lst wrote
Downvoted for not adding anything to the conversation, probably.
Excelius t1_jdj7b99 wrote
Zappala has managed to accumulate a seemingly unusual amount of power for a District Attorney.
The DAs office has been funding security cameras all around the county for years. I don't even understand how that is even a thing that a DA has a budget for.
anonymouspoliticker t1_jdj85xd wrote
I think there's one really obvious significant security difference between the stadiums and the park: the park had a shooting inside it a few months ago.
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdj9a30 wrote
Well when they're negotiating plea deals left and right, and/or just cutting people loose, I guess they're saving costs on time that would've been spent in court. Then, you have to spend the money or have your budget cut next year.
Only random speculation, and slightly sarcastic
anonymouspoliticker t1_jdja0zs wrote
Just based on the article, it took two months to launch a criminal investigation, conclude a security review, and draw up security recommendations (as the park is actively being used!), then three months for Kennywood to review and implement them in the off-season. Finally, a week to review Kennywood's changes and conclude they are insufficient. What do you think is a reasonable timeline for everything to happen?
throwaway01002030405 t1_jdjclf1 wrote
You weren’t calling out bias you were creating a false equivalency
ImplementBrief3802 t1_jdjephx wrote
Plea deals are how they keep their numbers up.
matt5001 t1_jdjezlv wrote
The other thing is why he announced this today.
Current-Pianist1991 t1_jdjfc1i wrote
Going "but but but muh both sides" doesn't make it any better.
JustHereForTheSaul t1_jdjgb3s wrote
The timing is super suspicious, but is closing Kennywood really gonna win him votes?
JustHereForTheSaul t1_jdjgl0j wrote
>suburban Democrats who think Kennywood is unsafe regardless of security
Is this a real and substantial demographic? It's honestly the first time it's ever occurred to me to think of that as an identifiable group.
LockelyFox t1_jdjgnmp wrote
I recall from when the shooting happened, a bunch of people who worked there said those detectors either didn't work properly or the employees aren't trained to use them.
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdjhrg6 wrote
That would be true if I was trying to say something was acceptable, which I'm not. Merely pointing out that the "page from the GOP" comment was unnecessarily biased in this instance (and generally unnecessary in the conversation).
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_jdjhv0j wrote
So calling out unnecessary bias is bad. Got it.
Current-Pianist1991 t1_jdjiop4 wrote
I mean, both parts are unnecessary for the larger conversation. Going "haha he's copying the GOP" doesn't accomplish or contribute much (and trust me, I can't stand the GOP either). So is the "both sides" argument, and its inherently dismissive, by going "yeah but both sides do it!" Implies that if the original person WAS making a factual statement about the "GOP playbook", that it would be completely acceptable because "hey the other side is doing it too!". Overall very unproductive conversation for everyone involved and poor word choices
Sufficient-Wait2205 t1_jdjkcwc wrote
Sufficient-Wait2205 t1_jdjknmr wrote
He needs to chill is all i’m gonna say
Clerk18 t1_jdjneps wrote
It would smell so bad!
the1999person t1_jdjofjx wrote
It already smells bad, people sweating in the heat. Pissing or shitting themselves in line for the Raging Rapids.
feed_the_bumble t1_jdjs9lk wrote
Suburbanites are the only demographic that still like him. In the last election, he got walloped in the city, by an independent to boot
AKoolPopTart t1_jdjs9sy wrote
Maybe you should start tackling the gangs and gang violence instead of bickering with an amusement park. Lawful gun owners aren't the ones walking around with illegal full auto switches (which by the way is a federal crime)
AKoolPopTart t1_jdjsrbv wrote
Do you really want to know?
Yomama-22 t1_jdjswpl wrote
Its not the venue that’s the problem, it’s the few teenaged bastards that have to ruin it for everyone. If there was a shooting at Walmart the certainly wouldnt put up a fence and have guards and metal detectors at the door. The bigger problem in that area is the goddamn Speedway nearby. At least one accident per week. 4 car crash on Thursday. It’s a hazardous location.
AKoolPopTart t1_jdjsy9z wrote
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-F
[deleted] t1_jdjzc6s wrote
WellTimedPoop t1_jdjzn0a wrote
It’s going to be 70 degrees tomorrow
bobkmertz t1_jdjzpq1 wrote
Your edit kinda shot yourself in the foot. It turned you from a benign comment to a butthurt one.
h3mip3nultim4te t1_jdk1ebm wrote
This is bad enough, but he’s using it to hide the story about him directing the office not to make plea deals after he lost the endorsement and before the primary. Fuck this guy completely. Vote for Matt Dugan.
gldmj5 t1_jdk2r5y wrote
Someone once told him "Kennywood's open" and he's still not over it.
Fooka03 t1_jdk5wvm wrote
Is it too late to run against him? Ffs there's so many things our da should focus on but all he cares about is his fop friends and the tough on crime facade come election year.
VidGamrJ t1_jdk6svb wrote
What kind of world do you live in where everyone has to fit neatly into some little box society has made for them? Is it really so hard to believe that suburban people who vote Democrat are worried about the periodic violence at Kennywood?
Jump_Like_A_Willys t1_jdk7bzs wrote
>”You will do these. It’s not negotiable,” Zappala said at the news conference.
And if they don’t? He’s the DA. He has no power to compel them.
He’ll have a very difficult time making Kennywood’s security response to the shootings into a prosecutable crime.
waitforit55 t1_jdkmqga wrote
Fuck this DA.
"Do this or else..."
They have a right to operate their business.
Lil_Phantoms_Lawyer t1_jdknif4 wrote
Idk but the poll in the article says 52% feel unsafe at Kennywood which is nuts to me. But that's the same demographic reading the trib I guess.
JustHereForTheSaul t1_jdkoy4k wrote
Not at all; it just hit me weird that he was naming this demographic in the same way a pollster might name "professional women over age 35". I just thought it was an unusual combination of traits to identify a group with. I dunno, looking at it again, maybe it wasn't him, maybe it was me.
Inthebeaver t1_jdkp7ne wrote
There is someone running against him.
jafomofo t1_jdkrmuv wrote
no, kennywood started this mess by doing those season passes so now the park is filled with unsupervised teenagers and its not a place you would actually want to go unless you are a teenager.
RedModsSuck t1_jdkw9ht wrote
> I think the bigger issue is he's not law enforcement
You have a serious misunderstanding of law enforcement in the state. He is the chief law enforcement officer in the county.
Hokiecivil t1_jdl0m6s wrote
This guy is such a douchebag, please vote him out. Kennywood, for crissakes.
the_real_xuth t1_jdl1kkp wrote
This is a really twisted and non-standard usage of "law enforcement". His purpose is to prosecute crimes. No police officer is supposed to answer to him professionally. Quite the contrary, the police are supposed to be independent of the prosecutors and investigate suspected criminal cases without bias while the prosecutor is by definition in an adversarial role. The shitty thing is when police and the DA's office see themselves as partners which is where all kinds of problems crop up.
omgwouldyou t1_jdl3g55 wrote
You seriously don't find it a weeee bit coincidental that this timeline just so happened to lead to the big news grabbing headline of a press conference like 48 hours after his office was busted for playing political games with prosecution decisions?
I mean. Let's flip this around. Is there any particular reason this press conference couldn't have happened next week either?
And finally. He makes official decisions based off politics so god damn regularly that his staff felt comfortable telling a Jude that is what they are doing in some casual side comments. Why should we not assume that this is a political decision as well?
omgwouldyou t1_jdl3on1 wrote
He might think he's doing that, admittedly. But over in the reality the "fuck Kennywood" vote block in the county is really small.
There is no constituency of any size looking for local politicians to shut down Kennywood. Meanwhile, the constituency of people who'd get pissed off is quite real.
omgwouldyou t1_jdl48k3 wrote
I'm also confused why the DAs office would have jurisdiction here.
Their job is to prosecute crime. Is not implementing whatever policy recommendations the DA has for a private business a crime now? Under what grounds is he going to get a court order for closure? The grounds that he just kinda is annoyed at them? I'm seriously at a lost what crime the park could possible be committing.
omgwouldyou t1_jdl4tw5 wrote
Could you cite the law being violated when a private business doesn't implement a policy change the DA of a county recommended to them?
Do you also think that Zappalla could shutdown his local Giant Eagle because they refused to carry his favorite brand of chips after he requested they do so?
Material_Cable_8708 t1_jdlcjwq wrote
jmcburney3589 t1_jdlg0ho wrote
Asset Forfeitures are used for many of these programs.
anonymouspoliticker t1_jdlhvlb wrote
I don't think you can conclude anything connecting the press conference to events from the last 48 hours without knowing when the press conference was scheduled. Even if you had that info, just knowing that last Saturday was when the County went to the park to review everything really takes the wind out of the sails of any conspiracy...
Why this week instead of next? Kennywood now has 4 weeks to address the remaining concerns instead of 3. And look at the top-level comment, they rouse suspicion for having the conference 2 months before the election- pushing it back a week lends more credence to them!
VictoriousssBIG23 t1_jdltpv3 wrote
I thought the Old Mill was back?
SparklesLuvsScotch t1_jdlvi32 wrote
SparklesLuvsScotch t1_jdlvp5z wrote
Right!?!? I'm looking at you, Aces & Deuces. . .
Amaranthous t1_jdlz2np wrote
Kennywood is ratchet. I won't ever go again
BachataKnight t1_jdm44d0 wrote
I'm confused. Is Kennywood owned by a government? How does anyone believe they have the authority to prevent it from opening when they want to open.
Fooka03 t1_jdm4p7x wrote
Yeah I know, Dugan is definitely getting my vote. Just trying to express my anger and frustration with Zappella.
BurghPuppies t1_jdm6gur wrote
Since when does a DA get to dictate what steps a private enterprise MUST take on security? Seems to me like that’s a legislative function or code.
DaKaSigma t1_jdm791t wrote
Absolutely. He also (successfully) pushed the negative story about him from the front page. I doubt anything will come of it. He’d have to prove that Kennywood is a “nuisance,” which would be a heavy lift. But the negatives from them not opening, both for their private owners and the region as a whole (wages, taxes) would be compelling.
IClight69 t1_jdm900w wrote
Yet UPMC don’t pay no taxes…..
Sunglassesatnight81 t1_jdmf0gj wrote
Good!
Sunglassesatnight81 t1_jdmf4ko wrote
And at the stadiums they actually check your bags etc.
Sunglassesatnight81 t1_jdmfg0j wrote
Not doing anything about is the Democrat way. Look at gainey.
omgwouldyou t1_jdmg50o wrote
Alright. So the guy who regularly and routinely orders his staff to make prosecution decisions based around what he thinks will help him politically totally by coincidence happened to have a big news story he thinks will help him politically within 24 hours of being caught up in a major ethics scandal.
And you are sticking to that story.
Alright then. Oh hey. As a side note. I have a great investment opportunity for you. It's this bridge in Brooklyn. Send me a private message and I'll get you a quote. My price is extremely fair for such a great bridge.
RedModsSuck t1_jdmybum wrote
I did not say that he is has the authority to make Kennywood do anything, I was just correcting the statement made by the poster.
RedModsSuck t1_jdmz0lk wrote
Apparently the state and just about every DA disagrees with you. This same statement appears on the website of dozens of DAs in PA:
"The District Attorney, as the chief law enforcement officer of the county, is mandated by law to sign all bills of indictment and conduct in court all criminal and other prosecutions in the name of the Commonwealth."
The only one twisting things is you.
the_real_xuth t1_jdnklqc wrote
Yes, this is their method of PR.
SonofLeeroy t1_jdnwbpy wrote
wait Dugan and Associates Mike Dugan? the with D-U-G-A-N gag?
Fooka03 t1_jdnwkd4 wrote
No, Matt Dugan, the lead public defender.
SonofLeeroy t1_jdnx142 wrote
ah thank you, i didn’t even know the public defenders name tbh
_scott_m_ t1_jdodpqp wrote
It's been back for like three years now, idk where the hell this guy has been.
RedModsSuck t1_jdsqpuz wrote
You do know that DA offices often have their own officers, right? That redneck that shot the jogger in Georgia had been one. That is why the DA tried to cover up the case.
the_real_xuth t1_jdua0rp wrote
I don't know about Georgia, but certainly not in Pennsylvania (nor Allegheny county).
cooldude_4000 OP t1_jdid4d6 wrote
Hard to tell if this is a reasonable ask or not. I'd like to know what "security measures" he's demanding, but it sounds like he just wants to come off like a tough guy.