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‘I find that un-American’: Pennsylvania woman says building’s ‘safety pledge’ crosses a line

PITTSBURGH — Where is the line between public safety and personal privacy?

That’s part of the “new normal" facing many people as states reopen and they head back to work.

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The access card used by Dawn Takacs, owner of Elite Casino Events, to get into her office at PPG Place was deactivated. After three years with her downtown office, she told WPXI-TV she was blindsided when her property management company sent her and other businesses a “safety pledge.”

“This is just a violation of our constitutional rights, you're stepping over the line,” Takacs said. “It’s crossed the line between business and personal.”

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The safety pledge said she and her guests would be required to sign it before being allowed on the premises. It would also require her to do things like social distance, wear masks and even have her temperature taken.

Takacs told WPXI-TV she was fine with those requirements, but then it said they would also collect her personal health information – which she said crosses a line.

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Takacs said she wants to be safe but still believes this goes too far.

“I absolutely love my office and want to keep it, but you’re asking me to keep my office or give up my rights,” she said. “I find that un-American, for lack of a better word.”

Industrious is one of the largest property management companies in the country, with 95 locations in 45 cities.

The company’s general manager for North America told WPXI-TV that its policy is to require businesses to sign the safety pledge.

“We are requiring it, much as the building itself is requiring it and every community is thinking about it to keep tenants healthy and safe,” said Anna Squires Levine. “While I understand this may not work for everyone, we have heard that community behavior is the number one concern for our members.”