The Allegheny County District Attorney race
WTAE Listens: The Allegheny County District attorney race
Matt Dugan challenges longtime incumbent Stephen Zappala in the Nov. 7 election.
Updated: 11:30 AM EDT Oct 22, 2023
WELCOME TO WTA WTAE LISTENS. I’M JANELLE HALL. THIS MORNING WE’RE FOCUSING ON THE RACE FOR ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT attorney BETWEEN INCUMBENT STEPHEN ZAPPALA AND CHALLENGER MATT DUGGAN. DUGGAN, THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, DEFEATED ZAPPALA IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, BUT ZAPPALA RECEIVED ENOUGH WRITE IN VOTES TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION. WE DREW NAMES TO SEE WHO WOULD GO FIRST. AND WE BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH INCUMBENT DISTRICT attorney STEPHEN ZAPPALA. WE ASKED HIM ABOUT PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT. HIS OPPONENT AND HIS TAKE ON HOW TO TACKLE KEY ISSUES LIKE CRIME, SAFETY AND PITTSBURGH’S HOMELESS POPULATION. I THINK ONE OF THE BIG HEADLINES FOR VOTERS IS, IS THE PRIMARY. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT A SURPRISE TO YOU WHEN YOU LOST THE SUPPORT FROM THE DEMOCRATS IN THE ELECTION? AND HOW DO YOU THINK SWITCHING PARTIES NOW THAT YOU’RE RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN WILL THAT CHANGE ANYTHING? ANY POLICIES THAT YOU HAVE? WE WERE DEFINITELY SURPRISED IN THE PRIMARY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAME IN FROM OUTSIDE OF PENNSYLVANIA. I THINK MY OPPONENT’S CAMPAIGN WAS FUNDED PROBABLY TO 90% OR MORE THAN 90% OF WHATEVER FUNDS HE RAISED. WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT THIS MORNING ARE NOT TRUE. IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO COUNTER THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHEN YOU’RE BEING OUTSPENT THREE AND ONE HALF, 4 TO 1. YOU MADE THE DECISION TO COME BACK SWITCH PARTY. TELL ME ABOUT THAT. AND HOW DOES ANYTHING THAT YOU PLAN TO DO IF YOU’RE REELECTED CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THAT? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I HAVEN’T SWITCHED PARTIES. I’M A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT AND I’VE BEEN NOMINATED TWICE NOW BY THE EXCUSE ME, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. AND THAT’S WHAT THEY DID. THEY NOMINATED ME. THEY ASKED ME IF I WOULD RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET FOR DISTRICT attorney, BUT IT REALLY DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE I’M NOT A POLITICIAN. I’M A PROSECUTOR. SCHAFER SO THE PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF POLICE IS FORMING A COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL TO REVIEW OFFICERS DECISION WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF FORCE CASES. TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH REGARD TO THESE CASES AND HOW CAN YOU ENSURE THAT THE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THIS USE OF FORCE IS BOTH FAIR TO POLICE AND TO THE PUBLIC? AND THIS GOES BACK TO 2015, 2016, AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS CHANGING THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF POLICE ALL ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA AND ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BODY CAMS AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RECORDING CUSTODIAL INTERROGATIONS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND IT WAS A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN HOW WE DO BUSINESS VERY FEW ENCOUNTERS NOW BETWEEN A POLICE OFFICER AND A CIVILIAN. THERE IS NOT OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. SO IT’S CHANGED THE ANALYSIS BECAUSE I CAN PUT I CAN PUT ANYBODY RIGHT THERE. WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED SO I DON’T HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT. YOU CAN SEE IT FOR YOURSELF. I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW HOMELESSNESS IS AN ISSUE IN THE COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE OR WILL DO DIFFERENTLY TO HELP COMBAT HOMELESSNESS? I THINK IT’S A MAJOR ISSUE. THE LAST TIME I IMPACTED DOWNTOWN EXCUSE ME, I WAS REQUESTED TO DO SO BY MAYOR O’CONNOR AND MAYOR RAVENSTAHL, AND BOB HAD COME TO ME. HE WAS JUST ELECTED AS MAYOR IN THE CITY AND HE SAID, STEVE, THE PERCEPTION IS MY SCHOOLS ARE FAILING, SO I WANT TO GROW MY TAX BASE. AND THEN HE PASSED UNTIMELY. HE JUST HE PASSED IT QUICKLY. AND THEN MAYOR RAVENSTAHL CAME IN AND IT WAS MORE ABOUT G-20. HE WANTED THE WORLD TO SEE PITTSBURGH AS A WONDERFUL PLACE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, AS AS A WONDERFUL PLACE. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE MAYBE ABOUT 225 PEOPLE THAT CONSIDERED THEMSELVES HOMELESS. MAYOR PEDUTO GOES TO I DON’T KNOW WHAT CITY WAS, AND HE BECAME ENAMORED WITH US BECOMING A SANCTUARY CITY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT NUMBER ROSE TO MAYBE 1000 OR MAYBE MORE. IT’S NO LONGER THE SAME TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT’S PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME HERE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, POSSIBLY AS AN OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET, BECAUSE I’M SEEING A LOT MORE OF THAT WHEN WE IMPACTED THE CITY BACK IN THE G 20 TIME SEQUENCE, WE MADE ABOUT 360 LOWER LEVEL DRUG ARRESTS IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALL OF THOSE ARRESTS CAME PROXIMATE TO SUBOXONE CLINICS AND WERE TIED IN WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY SCHEDULES WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING IN FROM METHADONE CLINICS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. AND BASICALLY THEY HAD CREATED AN INDUSTRY DOWNTOWN. WHAT CAN YOU AS DISTRICT attorney, IF YOU’RE REELECTED, DO TO HELP CHANGE THAT DOWNTOWN? YOU COULD SEE THEY STOPPED ENFORCING PROPERTY CRIMES ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. MOST PROPERTY CRIMES, NUISANCE CRIMES, QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES LIKE OPEN LEWDNESS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE A UNIVERSITY RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF OF THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE LIKE POINT PARK, THAT IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC. HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF CRIME SPECIFIC WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON DOWNTOWN? WELL, I THINK I THINK THE MAYOR GOT AN EXTENDED HONEYMOON PERIOD AND EARLY ON, I ASKED HIM WHAT HIS PLAN WAS. AND THEY WERE VERY POLITE. BUT THEY SAID, I HAVE TO I HAVE TO WE HAVE TO HAVE A CHIEF OF POLICE, YOU KNOW, TO GET OUR GET OUR THAT DIVISION OF GOVERNMENT TOGETHER. AND THAT PASSED. AND THEN THERE WAS NO PLAN. I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS TO IMPACT THE CITY. SO WHAT I DID WAS AND WHAT THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE CAN DO IS WE IMPANELED WE WE CREATE TASK FORCES, BUT THOSE ARE TASK FORCES THAT ARE NOT COMPOSED OF THE PITTSBURGH POLICE. BUT THAT’S NOT A CRITICISM OF THE PITTSBURGH POLICE. IT’S JUST WE KNOW THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE. AND BUT AT THE SAME THING WITH VIOLENCE AS WE’VE ASSEMBLED, WE ASSEMBLED TASK FORCES, THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW WE COULD TAKE OFF THERE IN THE BUSINESS OF BEING CRIMINALS, WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE. WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO. AND IF I CAN’T TAKE YOU OFF OF THE VIOLENCE, I’LL TAKE YOU OFF FOR THE DRUGS. SO THAT’S WHERE TO. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO WTA LESSONS DISTRICT attorney STEPHEN ZAPPALA TALKS ABOUT ADDRESSING YOUTH VIOLENCE AND A RECENT DRUG CASE THAT FORCED CHANGE. THERE’S A STORY THAT WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RECENTLY ABOUT THE MAN FROM NEW YORK, YAN CEPEDA, WHO CAME IN ALLEGEDLY BRINGING A MILLION AND A HALF WORTH OF FENTANYL INTO TOWN. HE COMES IN, HE IS GOING TO COURT. HE IS RELEASED ON AN UNSECURED BOND. HE SKIPS HIS HEARING. WAS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THAT THE DA’S OFFICE COULD HAVE DONE WITH REGARD TO THIS CASE? SO THE COURT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO A MAGISTRATE, ANOTHER DIVISION OF THE COURTS. THE MAGISTRATE DECIDES IF HE’S GOING TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION. 90, 95% OF THE TIME IT’S YES, OKAY. THE TIMES THAT THEY DON’T, THEN USUALLY THE COURTS WILL COMMUNICATE THAT IMMEDIATELY TO MY OFFICE. AND THEN WE TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS. WE TALK TO THE VICTIMS, WE TALK TO THE POLICE INVOLVED. WE TALK TO THE OFFENSE ON THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. AND WE MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THAT WASN’T DONE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE. IT WASN’T UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS LATER. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE WORKED OUT SOMETHING WITH COURT ADMINISTRATION. THERE’S AN APP THAT WE’RE GOING TO USE NOW. I DON’T NEED THEM TO TELL ME ANYMORE. YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE. WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES YOU FACE WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING THE FREQUENCY OF THESE KINDS OF CASES? THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SHUMAN DETENTION CENTER, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT’S BEEN CLOSED FOR A FEW YEARS. BUT HOW CAN WE TACKLE THIS PROBLEM? WELL, YOU YOU DO NEED SOME KIND OF A DETENTION. I THINK THE NAME SHUMAN HAS TO DISAPPEAR. I THINK THE CONCEPT UNDER WHICH SHUMAN WAS CREATED, IT WAS BUILT AS A PENITENTIARY BACK IN THE 70S LONG TERM HOUSING FOR YOUNGER OFFENDERS. I DON’T THINK THAT WORKS ANYMORE. I AND QUITE QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, I RECOGNIZED THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH, THESE ARE DRIVING FACTORS THAT BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WHAT WE’RE PROPOSING RIGHT NOW IS A FORENSICS SIDE OF THIS THAT DEALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH FORENSICS MEANS YOU CAN’T WALK AWAY THIS INPATIENT TREATMENT, BUT YOU’RE GOING TO BE TREATED. AND IF WE GET THE SAME RESULTS WE GET IN THE ADULT SYSTEM, WE GET IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM, THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE TREATED UNDER THAT UNDER THAT TRACK, ONLY 10% WOULD BECOME RECIDIVIST. SAME THING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. BUT I THINK THE THIRD COMPONENT HAS TO BE EDUCATION, BECAUSE MOST OF THE KIDS THAT COME INTO THE JUVENILE PROCESSES, THEY’RE ONE AND DONE. AND I WOULD SAY ABOUT 80% OF THESE KIDS, THEY’RE JUST THERE’S SOME PROBLEM IN THEIR LIFE. THERE’S SOME ISSUES THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS, PEER PRESSURE, POSSIBLY EARLY. BUT THEY’RE THEY’RE BRIGHT, THEY’RE MOTIVATED, AND THEY CAN DO VERY WELL. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY. AND SO I THINK IT’S FAIR FOR ME TO ASK YOU, WHEN YOUR SON RECENTLY FACED A BRIEF CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THAT WAS LATER DROPPED, CAN YOU TALK IS NOT A PUBLIC FIGURE. WHY DO YOU WHY DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIM? WELL, I JUST THINK IT’S A QUESTION THAT SOME VOTERS WANT TO HAVE. MY I’M GOING TO FINISH MY QUESTION JUST TO SAY WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, DID YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM DIDN’T INFLUENCE THIS CASE AT ALL IN CASE THERE IS ANY QUESTION AT ALL. I THINK THAT WAS A MATTER THAT WAS HANDLED BY THE attorney GENERAL’S OFFICE. SO I DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. THAT’S ALL. I JUST THINK THAT IN CASE THERE WAS EVER A QUESTION, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THAT. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CRITICISM ABOUT YOUR OPPONENT AND WHAT’S THE ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE IF YOU’RE REELECTED? I DON’T THINK HE’S CAPABLE OF BEING DISTRICT attorney. I THINK THAT ALONG WITH THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY HE’S RECEIVED FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE, AND MOSTLY IT’S FROM ONE PAC, A GUY NAMED GEORGE SOROS, THERE’S ALSO A PLAYBOOK. AND SO HE MEETS THE MOLD. IT’S THE SAME POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY WITH SOME OF THESE JUDGES WHO ARE BEING ELECTED. THEY’RE ACTIVISTS, POLITICAL JUDGES. THEY POLITICIZED THE BAIL PROCESS. WE GET BAD RESULTS MORE OFTEN THAN WE SHOULD. THEY THEY WANT TO ENFORCE CRIMES ON AN ARBITRARY BASIS. WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME OR WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU? AND THAT’S NOT YOUR OATH. MY OATH IS TO FOLLOW THE LAW. MY OATH IS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS SO AS AND WHAT’S ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU’RE REELECTED? THE MOST IMPORTANT IS PROBABLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR POLICE. I THINK THERE HAS TO BE MORE TRUST WITH THE POLICE, AND IT WAS MY HOPE THAT TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY BODY CAMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, OR TO SEE A POLICE OFFICER WORK, I THOUGHT THAT WAS CRITICAL AND YOU COULD SEE A DEFINITE MOVEMENT. COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOWN 95% SINCE BODY CAMS BECAME BECAME IN USE AND THE POLICE DON’T HAVE TO USE THEM BY THE WAY. THEY WANT TO USE THEM BECAUSE THEY THEY WANT TO SHOW THE PUBLIC EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO. AND THEY’RE PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO. THEIR FATHERS, MOTHERS, HUSBANDS, WIVES. I MEAN, THEY’RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE. AND THEY WANT TO BE THEY WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HARD WORK. NEXT ON WTA, LESSONS ARE SIT DOWN WITH SEPPALA’S CHALLENGE TEACHER MATT DUGAN. WELCOME BACK TO WTA LESSONS SWITCHING SIDES IN THE COURTROOM AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, MATT DUGAN NOW WANTS TO BE THE TOP PROSPECT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. HE TELLS ME WHY AND TALKS ABOUT THE CHANGES HE HOPES TO MAKE IF HE’S ELECTED. I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT THE PRIMARY ELECTION. STEPHEN ZAPPALA HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOD? WE WERE WE WERE OBVIOUSLY VERY HAPPY, VERY EXCITED. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING AROUND ALLEGHENY COUNTY TALKING TO VOTERS, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MY EXPERIENCE AS AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER WORKING IN THE SYSTEM LED BY STEVE ZAPPALA FOR 16 YEARS AND AND REALLY JUST CONNECTING WITH FOLKS, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE SYSTEM COULD BE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IT IS. AND YOU KNOW, WE BUILT A LOT OF MOMENTUM. AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AROUND OUR CAMPAIGN AND IT OBVIOUSLY CULMINATED WITH A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT VICTORY IN MAY. TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE COURTROOM AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID YOU SEE THAT URGED YOU TO JUMP TO THE OTHER SIDE, IF YOU WILL, TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? SURE. SO I SPENT 16 YEARS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HAVE EVERY SINGLE JOB IN THAT OFFICE. AND AS I PROGRESSED THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE AS CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, I WAS ABLE TO WORK ON MORE SYSTEM WIDE. YOU KNOW, REFORM EFFORTS AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REALLY DIG IN AND YOU SEE THE INEFFICIENCIES AND REALLY A LOT OF THE WAYS THE SYSTEM CAN BE INEFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THAT’S REALLY WHAT PUSHED ME TO DECIDE TO TO RUN FOR DISTRICT attorney. WHAT WAS WHAT’S INEFFECTIVE. RIGHT NOW IN YOUR EYES? HOW WE START PROCESS AND FINISH CASES. IT’S IT TAKES TOO LONG. THE DISPOSITIONS WE SEEK AREN’T ALWAYS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE’RE REALLY GOOD IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY OF OF CYCLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR THROUGH OUR SYSTEM LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS, YOU KNOW PUTTING THEM THROUGH THE SYSTEM, CONVICTING THEM OF CRIMES, PLACING THEM ON PROBATION, BUT NEVER ADDRESSING THE CORE ISSUES THAT DRIVE PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM. IN THE FIRST PLACE. RIGHT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS WE SEE ON A DAILY BASIS ARE LOW LEVEL, NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS WHO ARE THERE BECAUSE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND REALLY JUST GENERAL INSTABILITY DUE TO POVERTY. WE’RE GOING TO PLACE FOLKS ON A PERIOD OF SUPERVISION WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE RESOURCES AND WE CAN PROVIDE HELP. AND IF THEY IF IF IF FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SERVICES, IF FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, THEN WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHEN SAFE AND APPROPRIATE DIVERTING THOSE FOLKS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO THERE’S STILL ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE’S STILL SUPERVISION. IT’S JUST THIS END GOAL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE FOR SOME FOLKS. AGAIN, WHEN SAFE AND APPROPRIATE. AND THAT WILL WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR CASES. A LOT OF THESE CASES DOWN AT THE LOWER LEVEL, AT THE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE OFFICE, WHERE THERE’S MORE, THERE’S MORE OVERSIGHT. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME TO SOMETHING THAT STEVE ZAPPALA SAID YESTERDAY. HE TALKED ABOUT HE BELIEVES THE REASON THAT YOU WON THE PRIMARY IS BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING YOU RECEIVED. AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, A HUGE CHUNK OF THAT COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNTY. THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THAT ELECTION LIVE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. WHEN WE STARTED OUR CAMPAIGN IN THE FALL OF 2022, ALL WE HAD WAS OUR MESSAGE. THAT’S ALL WE HAD. AND THAT MESSAGE WAS BORN OUT OF MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ALL OF THE SOLUTIONS AND ALL OF THE POLICIES AND ALL OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE’VE MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THEY’RE ALL SPECIFIC TO ALLEGHENY COUNTY. BORNE OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE. SO YEAH, WE WE YOU KNOW, WE WE GARNERED THE ATTENTION OF A LOT OF NATIONAL PARTNERS, RIGHT? A LOT OF NATIONAL FOLKS. BUT THAT’S ONLY BECAUSE WE BUILT THAT COALITION, THAT GRASSROOTS SUPPORT HERE LOCALLY AND AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY VIABLE. THE VOTERS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY VOTED STEVE ZAPPALA OUT. WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE LIKE GEORGE SOROS HAD AN INTEREST IN YOUR CAMPAIGN? BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH LOCALLY, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE THAT WE WERE GOING, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THAT WAS UNIQUE TO ALLEGHENY COUNTY, YOU KNOW, SAFETY MINDED REFORM, IT WAS ONE OF PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST, YOU KNOW, THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN HOW WE CAN NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IF WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER, IF WE CAN INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY, THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE I THINK THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO REALLY, REALLY GOOD THINGS HERE WITH REGARD TO REFORM, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND DOES THAT AT ALL INVOLVE LESSENING THE NUMBER OF POLICE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS? NO. IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THIS THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, I’VE TALKED ABOUT GIVING MORE TO POLICE, BEING PROVIDING MORE ASSETS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE TO HAVE ALTERNATIVES TO TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM. AS DISTRICT attorney, YOU KNOW, WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE NEED AND OPPORTUNE CITY, REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTY’S HISTORY TO HAVE A DISTRICT attorney WHO WANTS TO PARTNER, WHO WANTS TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT. THAT INCLUDES OUR NEXT COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, ALL 129 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WE HAVE. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED IS A DISTRICT attorney WHO UNDERSTANDS AND ACCEPTS THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH THE TITLE OF CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. IF YOU IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHO’S IN CHARGE OF THE CITY, THAT’S THAT’S YOU KNOW, THAT’S YOUR PREROGATIVE. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU THEN CAN’T WORK WITH THEM. AND THAT YOU CAN’T MAKE PROGRESS AS THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE. YOU NEED WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. AND WE’VE SEEN WE’VE SEEN SORT OF LIKE THE DOWNFALL OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WHEN YOU ACTIVELY WORK AGAINST SOMEONE. LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. HOMELESSNESS IS A VISIBLE ISSUE. WHAT CAN THE DA’S OFFICE DO TO HELP WITH THAT PROBLEM? NUMBER ONE, IT STARTS WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS BEING PRESENT DOWNTOWN. WE WILL HAVE A TEAM OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. WE WILL BE ON CALL IF NOT IN THE CITY, ACTUALLY PRESENT IN THE CITY 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN INCIDENT DOES OCCUR, THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE IS THERE TO WORK WITH POLICE TO ASSIST POLICE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE MAKING REALLY GOOD DECISIONS AND STRONG DECISIONS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. WE’RE GOING TO PLACE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AT PITTSBURGH MUNICIPAL COURT WHEN ARRAIGNMENTS OCCUR. SO WHEN WE DO SEE BIG CASES COME THROUGH, WE’RE PREPARED TO HANDLE THEM IMMEDIATELY. WE CAN’T HAVE GUYS TRAFFICKING $1.6 MILLION WORTH OF FENTANYL COMING THROUGH AND WALKING OUT THE DOOR. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE LISTENS. IF HE’S ELECTED AS THE NEXT ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT attorney MATT DUGGAN TELLS ME HOW HE PLANS TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY’RE ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING. PLUS, INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE DA’S OFFICE. YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT 1.6 MILLION OF FENTANYL. THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY TRAFFICKED THROUGH DOWNTOWN WHERE A MAN FROM NEW YORK WAS CHARGED, SKIPPED OUT ON HIS COURT APPEARANCE. AND YOU WERE VERY CRITICAL OF THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE. DO YOU THINK IT WAS AN ERROR ON THEIR PART OR WAS IT AN ERROR ON THE JUDGE’S PART? IT WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH. IT WAS A SYSTEM WIDE BREAKDOWN, HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN CURED. RIGHT. IS IF THE DISTRICT attorney HAD A PRESENCE AT ARRAIGNMENT COURT IN PITTSBURGH, MUNICIPAL COURT. AS PUBLIC DEFENDER, I STAFFED THAT WITH LAWYERS, SO I KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE. SO IT’S POSSIBLE FOR THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE TO BE THERE. LISTEN, WE’RE WE HAVE 50 PLUS JUDGES WHO SIT ON A ROTATING BASIS AND ARRAIGN INDIVIDUALS IN PITTSBURGH, MUNICIPAL COURT. SOME ARE REALLY GOOD AT SETTING BOND, SOME STRUGGLE. RIGHT. SO YOU CAN’T LEAVE TO CHANCE WHEN YOU HAVE A ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRAFFICKERS OF FENTANYL ALLEGEDLY IN OUR COUNTY’S HISTORY. YOU CAN’T LEAVE TO CHANCE WHO’S GOING TO BE SITTING THERE AND MAKING THAT BOND DECISION. LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE AND THE NUMBER OF DEADLY CASES THAT WE’VE SEEN INVOLVING YOUTH. WE’VE SEEN THE SHUMAN DETENTION CENTER CLOSE. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN OR WHAT DO YOU THINK A GOOD APPROACH WOULD BE TO TRY TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE IN THE COUNTY? WELL, YOU KNOW, I’VE SAID THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF OUR CAMPAIGN, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED A LOCKED DOWN, SECURE FACILITY FOR FOR OUR JUVENILE YOUTH. I’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE SPECIFICALLY. AND THEY AGREE WE NEED A LOCKED DOWN FACILITY. SO I KNOW THAT THERE’S A CONTRACT PENDING. IF THERE’S IF THIS FACILITY IS OPEN IN 2024, I WILL UTILIZE IT. YOU HAVE BEEN THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER. YOU’VE BEEN ON ONE SIDE OF THE LAW. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT YOU’RE READY TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES? I UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN POLICE AND THE DA’S OFFICE AND AND PRETRIAL SERVICES AND ALL THESE SYSTEM WIDE ACTORS. WHEN THE SYSTEM WORKS BETTER, WE’RE SAFER. YOU KNOW, I’VE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BEING FRONT AND CENTER IN OUR CAMPAIGN AND HOW WE CAN MAKE REFORMS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICE DECISIONS INVOLVING POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR USE OF FORCE, WHAT CHECKS AND BALANCES DO YOU THINK THE DA’S OFFICE SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE FAIR BOTH TO THE POLICE AND TO THE PUBLIC? WHAT’S WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL DO? WELL, FIRST, IT STARTS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY OF OF THE OFFICE ITSELF. RIGHT. AND THAT STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY. AND WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT EXISTS NOW WITH OUR DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE. SO WHAT WE HAVE OFFERED IS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC OUR OUR CHARGING DECISIONS. WE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WHERE CASES ARE COMING FROM, HOW WE RESOLVE THEM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICE DECISIONS INVOLVING POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR USE OF FORCE, WHAT CHECKS AND BALANCES DO YOU THINK THE DA’S OFFICE SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE FAIR, BOTH TO THE POLICE AND TO THE PUBLIC? WHAT’S WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL DO? WELL, FIRST, IT STARTS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY OF OF THE OFFICE ITSELF. RIGHT? AND THAT STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY. AND WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT EXISTS. NOW WITH OUR DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE. SO WHAT WE HAVE OFFERED IS WE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC OUR OUR CHARGING DECISIONS. WE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WHERE CASES ARE COMING FROM, HOW WE RESOLVE THEM. IF I’M NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, I THEN CAN’T APPLY THOSE SAME STANDARDS TO POLICE. WHAT’S THE ONE CRITICISM THAT YOU HAVE OF YOUR OPPONENT AND WHAT’S THE MAIN THING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON IF YOU’RE ELECTED? AND HE’S NOT PRESENT IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THAT ANY TIME THAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ADVANCE THE SYSTEM IN ANY WAY FROM OUR COURT PARTNERS, WHEN WHEN WE HAVE BUY IN, IT’S ALWAYS A WORK AROUND WITH THE DISTRICT attorney’S OFFICE. JUST BECAUSE HE’S NOT PRESENT. THERE’S NO LEADERSHIP IN THAT OFFICE. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE’RE SEEING IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. I THINK THAT’S WHERE THAT GROWING FRUSTRATION SETS IN. AND I THINK ACROSS THE COUNTY, WE DON’T HEAR FROM STEVE ZAPPALA. WE DON’T SEE STEVE ZAPPALA. HE’S NOT IN THE GAME. SO FROM DAY ONE, I’M GOING TO SHOW UP. I’M GOING TO COME TO WORK. I’M GOING TO SUPPORT THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHO ARE TALENTED BUT HAVE BEEN UNDER SUPPORTED FOR YEARS. I’M GOING TO WORK WITH OUR SYSTEM PARTNERS AND OUR POLICE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, CASES ARE BEING GIVEN THE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED AND POLICE HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FROM THE DISTRICT attorney’S THAT THEY NEED. AND DESERVE. WE NEED TO REBUILD TRUST AND I THINK THAT’S THAT’S A HUGE PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES ALONG WITH BEING THE DISTRICT attorney. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. TELL US ABOUT WHAT’S WRONG AND WHAT’S RIGHT. SO WE CAN LISTEN. SEND US AN EMAIL TO WTAE WTAE LISTENS AT FIRSTCOM. TOM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. I’M JANELLE HALL.
WTAE Listens: The Allegheny County District attorney race
Matt Dugan challenges longtime incumbent Stephen Zappala in the Nov. 7 election.
Updated: 11:30 AM EDT Oct 22, 2023
It’s one of the most talked about and highly anticipated races this election cycle: Allegheny County District attorney.Incumbent Stephen Zappala has held the office since 1998. In May, he lost the Democratic primary to former chief public defender Matt Dugan. However, Zappala will appear on the ballot in November after accepting the Republican nomination.WTAE Listens goes one-on-one with both candidates to talk about some of the big issues in Pennsylvania’s second-most populated county, including concerns about downtown Pittsburgh, violence among juveniles and police accountability.Each candidate also states their case to the voters for why they are the best choice for the job and why their opponent falls short.Watch the full episode of WTAE Listens in the video player above.
PITTSBURGH —
It’s one of the most talked about and highly anticipated races this election cycle: Allegheny County District attorney.
Incumbent Stephen Zappala has held the office since 1998. In May, he lost the Democratic primary to former chief public defender Matt Dugan. However, Zappala will appear on the ballot in November after accepting the Republican nomination.
WTAE Listens goes one-on-one with both candidates to talk about some of the big issues in Pennsylvania’s second-most populated county, including concerns about downtown Pittsburgh, violence among juveniles and police accountability.
Each candidate also states their case to the voters for why they are the best choice for the job and why their opponent falls short.
Watch the full episode of WTAE Listens in the video player above.
attorney-race-stephen-zappala-matt-dugan/45586085″>Source link
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