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WHEREAS, on the evening of April 27, 2010, as members of the Poale Zedeck Congregation completed the Minchah service and began to gather on the steps of the building, the quiet evening was violently disrupted as an out of control car careened down Shady Avenue, came across the sidewalk and crashed to a stop on the steps of the historic landmark synagogue; and,
WHEREAS, startled members of the congregation, not knowing whether this was a traffic accident or a targeted attack on a Jewish institution, quickly assessed the damage to their beloved building and at the same time, watched the car's two occupants running from the scene; and,
WHEREAS, with disregard for their own safety, several congregants chased and tackled the driver while others held the passenger at bay by pinning his arms behind his back, patting him down for a weapon and taking his shoes to prevent his escape; and,
WHEREAS, in spite of the driver's declaration that God told him to drive fast, officials determined this not to be a hate crime ; and,
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the crash, Councilman Douglas Shields will lead efforts to make the intersection safer and protect the Poale Zedeck Congregation building with architectural and traffic innovations to prevent further damage to the historically registered landmark building while singling out those individual congregants of Poale Zedeck who risked life and limb to capture those responsible for the accident and the damage; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby acknowledge the members of Congregation of Poale Zedeck who on the evening of April 27, 2010, participated in the apprehension of the individual who crashed his car into the steps of the Congregation of Poale Zedeck Synagogue. Their concern and action in participating in public safety is appreciated by the city and should serve as a model to others.