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WHEREAS, the safety and security of all Pittsburgh residents is of the utmost importance to this City Council; and
WHEREAS, criminals often seek to gain entry into homes by posing as utility workers with the intent to rob or harm the homeowner; and
WHEREAS, the issue of imposter utility workers is faced by all utility companies, necessitating a partnership across industries to bring this matter to the attention of the public; and
WHEREAS, such incidents are happening with increasing frequency, thereby making it incumbent upon public figures to ensure that the general public is aware of danger posed by imposter utility workers by informing residents about the proper rules and procedures followed by legitimate utility workers; and
WHEREAS, by keeping the public readily informed of the dangers posed by imposter utility workers, the frequency of these dangerous incidents can be reduced; and
WHEREAS, state lawmakers in Harrisburg are partnered with utility companies to raise awareness of such hazards by designating the week of June 8 through June 12, 2015 as "Utility Imposter Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, it's in the best interest of the City of Pittsburgh's public safety to work to spread awareness about imposter utility workers and work collaboratively with utility companies, law enforcement, community organizations, and individual members of the public to prevent dangerous incidents involving imposter utility workers.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Pittsburgh supports House Resolution No. 341 and its overall goal of keeping residents safe and secure in their homes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the week of June 22, 2015 shall be "Utility Imposter Awareness Week" in the City of Pittsburgh.