Laurels & lances: Advocacy & asphalt

Laurel: To taking steps. Bill Russell and Jim Rieker are among the roughly 500,000 people who have survived bladder cancer.

The numbers for doing so are good. The five-year survival rate for bladder cancer is about 77%. For cases identified when the disease is still contained only to the bladder, it can be as high as 96%, according to the American Cancer Society.

But the statistics can always be better. The best way to address that is through advocacy and education to prevent new cases. The worst risk is from smoking, but exposure to chemicals in some occupations is another threat.

That’s why Russell and Rieker are working to spread the word by participating in the Pittsburgh Walk to End Bladder Cancer. The event will take place May 31, which Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has proclaimed Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Day.

“We are trying to get the word out,” said Rieker. “Our message is one of hope. We are all survivors.”

Lance: To being in the hole. A lot of people are unhappy with Namdar Realty Group.

The New York-based company owns the Pittsburgh Mills shopping complex in Frazer. Among those disgruntled by Namdar’s failures are drivers who have to deal with the crumbled pavement of potholes dotting the parking lot and roadways.

Then there are the business owners, some of whom have paid for their own repairs to get deliveries made safely. Fraser officials have filed a lawsuit. In April, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office filed public nuisance charges claiming the conditions constitute a public safety hazard. A preliminary hearing on those is set for June 2.

Jessica Jones, president of Patch Management Inc., says Namdar owes her company $21,000 for the small amount of hot asphalt spray work done recently.

“We fulfilled our contract for what they requested, but they haven’t responded to any communication,” Jones told TribLive.

We understand. They didn’t respond to us, either. Frazer officials say the same. Maybe the courts will have better luck.