Three Downtown McDonald's that police consider hubs for drug dealing will get upgrades in surveillance and security, officials said after negotiating Thursday with Allegheny County prosecutors.
District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., who threatened court action that could have closed the restaurants, declined to release specifics about the security plan.
"We have an agreement to assist law enforcement to rid the area of nuisance crimes. Everything I thought was necessary was put into place," Zappala said.
McDonald's representatives, who hired former U.S. Attorney J. Alan Johnson to assist in negotiations, released a written statement from Albert Seecharan, vice president of the Pittsburgh region, saying that operating safe restaurants is a priority.
"We will be enhancing security protocols and procedures at these McDonald's locations to ensure that we continue to provide a safe restaurant environment for all of our employees and customers," the statement said in part.
Zappala said McDonald's employees will receive training to better identify drug dealers and users in and around the eateries. The franchisees will pay for security upgrades, Zappala said.
Zappala has touted efforts to rid Downtown of drug dealers in order to help attract development. Since Oct. 18, police have made 119 arrests in and around the restaurants and, Zappala said, 75 percent of those dealt with prescription pills.
The efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Market Square developer Lucas Piatt said it helps his business in selling retail and living space.
"Just around Piatt Place, the graffiti has stopped, there's no more homeless around. It's made a huge difference," Piatt said. "We haven't had to clean graffiti off the building for months."
Piatt, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and several others involved in redeveloping Market Square, including Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation President Arthur Ziegler, gave a tour of redeveloped buildings that are expected to be ready by late summer.
Ziegler criticized previous redevelopment plans that suggested demolishing several old buildings. He agreed that public safety improvements have helped.
"These buildings were all scheduled for demolition," he said, pointing to some more than a century old that are being refurbished. He said the city allowed buildings to deteriorate almost until they were unsalvagable.
Zappala has said he wants to push crime out of the Golden Triangle. He closed at least three businesses that were deemed nuisances. His threat to do so to McDonald's followed Monday's arrest of a restaurant employee on charges of dealing pills.
