Watch CBS News

City Of Pittsburgh Launches 'Burgh's Eye View' Application

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Remember Mrs. Kravitz on the TV show 'Bewitched'?  She was the nosy neighbor who always knew what was going on.  The City of Pittsburgh is using the "nosy neighbor" concept for the greater good with a new website application called 'Burgh's Eye View.'

"Up until today, this information wasn't given to the public. It was but you would have to show up at a police zone, make a request, wait for a paper form to be given to you or call a public department," said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

Burgh's Eye View is the latest way the city is promoting transparency by sharing city data with the biggest purpose of connecting people for positive change.

"I see this as a very powerful tool to be able to really improve the collaborative relationships between community members who want to take a stake in public safety in their neighborhoods and the police officers themselves," said Pittsburgh Chief of Police, Cameron McLay.

The application contains data the city supplies on a daily basis to the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center.  Burgh's Eye View includes things like police and public safety information, 311 (non-emergency) service calls, and building permits and code violations

You can use search tools to view maps, find crime incidents by date or by neighborhood, and look up complaints for things like broken sidewalks or noise.  Residents we caught up with have mixed reactions.

"I think that a lot of neighborhoods in major cities, even the smaller ones actually, should have some kind of app where everyone can be easily informed like that," said Julie Byrnes.

"If you're on Facebook anything that goes on in any said neighborhood is already on social media so I wouldn't find that app would enhance anything that Facebook doesn't already enhance or Twitter," said Eugene Love.

Burgh's Eye View was developed through a joint collaboration between Mayor Bill Peduto and the City Department of Innovation and Performance.

To check out 'Burgh's Eye View,' visit the City of Pittsburgh's website here.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.