Summer jobs for Pittsburgh kids

With the help of the state, the City of Pittsburgh is growing its Summer Youth Employment Program to include more kids and place more officers on the streets. Public safety officials say crime spikes in the summer as children get out of school and warm weather lures everyone to the street. The program gives department of public works jobs to14 to 18 year olds and funds one additional beat officer in each police district Sunday through Tuesday and two additional officers Wednesday through Saturday. The officers will stay oin the streets through the end of September. Last year 800 applications were received for the 197 job openings. This year the city has 250 positions to fill. The jobs are awarded by lottery in each of the city’s zip codes. For the first time this year the program will include and educational component where kids can get help catching up academically if needed.