Pittsburgh officials work on plan to correct rat problems, other issues at city buildings

Raw sewage, rat infestations and mold are just a few of the issues plaguing some buildings where Pittsburgh fire and police officers work.

"Some of the guys said they saw a rat in the fire station. And if you sit around a while, mice will run back and forth. And that's how they have to live," said Pittsburgh city councilwoman Darlene Harris.

Harris toured the city fire station in Spring Garden and found peeling paint, a leaking roof, and a run-down kitchen in the building where firefighters live and work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"But you now are remodeling the offices in the Mayor's Office, you are remodeling IT, you are remodeling parks and recreation, and people are sitting in mold and roofs that are leaking. There's no excuse for this," said Harris.

Just days after that tour, the city began a month-long blitz to fix the most pressing issues at 42 fire, police and EMS stations.

"You have firemen who are out there keeping us safe, who come back into kitchens and there's paint peeling. Completely unacceptable. There's sewage in the basement coming up. Those are going to be our priority properties that we attack," said Kevin Acklin, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff.

The mayor has said he knows there are many issues and the city is working on a master facility plan to evaluate every building. But he also defended the work done at his office.

"[The conditions] were horrible. We had raw sewage that flowed directly into our communications director's office, cockroaches that came out of the sink, toilet and shower in the mayor's office," Peduto said.

The administration said the poor conditions at many of its buildings are the result of years of abuse.

"I don't think it's unfair to say that the way the city has handled its capital maintenance obligations is anything but a failure," said Acklin.

Acklin blamed Pittsburgh's financial struggles over the years. In an effort to change that, the city plans to use proceeds from the sale of buildings and property for the maintenance and upkeep of others.

Cox Media Group