Neighbors divided: Highland Park duplex showcases political differences

Along a thoroughfare in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood, there sits a house divided — and not just because it’s a duplex.

One side of the duplex features yard signs in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, and the other other side features yard signs in support of former President Donald Trump, including giant cardboard cutouts. It’s hard to miss for pedestrians or motorists in the neighborhood.

Deborah Bogen — on the Kamala Harris side — and neighbor Eric Jackson Lurie — on the Trump side — live in the duplex on North Highland Avenue near Hampton Street, which has garnered attention from admirers in person and online over the years.

With a presidential election on the horizon this fall, they both chose to speak out publicly for the first time, shedding light on their living situation.

Bogen, 74, moved to the home from California 23 years ago. She’s held various jobs over the years: stay-at-home mom, paralegal, poet and novelist. She’s published multiple poetry books, and now, she paints “all the time.”

Lurie, 52, is an attorney at his own law firm. He said he only puts his Trump signs up during presidential elections, whereas Bogen keeps hers up all year.

When Lurie and his family purchased their side of the duplex, he said he was well aware of Bogen’s views thanks to her signs. They didn’t deter him “in the slightest” from moving in.

“I love conviction. I might not agree with someone else’s conviction, but I love conviction,” he said. “We might have different paths, but we care about America and this great country we live in.”

Coexisting in opposition

The two families have been living in the same duplex for over 17 years, and both agreed that they make good neighbors.

“I don’t think people think a lot about the difference between being good neighbors and being best friends,” Bogen said. “Those are two totally different things.”

Though Bogen and Lurie have “many values in common,” such as music, Bogen said there are certain views in which they “really differ.”

“I would say we both think that people ought to be able to express themselves, and so Eric’s fine with what I do, and I’m fine with what Eric does,” she said of the plethora of yard signs. “So, we’re both just trying to put forward points of view that we think will make things better for people.”

Lurie, who has his own syndicated rock ‘n’ roll radio show across the country, said music instantly bonded the families.

“These houses are really, really well made … so like, you can’t hear anything between the houses, but my neighbors are wonderful musicians, and we’re a big music family,” he said. “It was a connection for us right away — right out of the gate.”

Living with just one wall separating her from Lurie, Bogen said she recognizes that he’s “not trying to be evil.”

“If I needed something in the middle of the night, and I called them, they would just be here,” she said. “Absolutely, they would be here.”

Lurie agreed.

“I think a lot of people think we don’t get along — we have wonderful neighbors,” he said.

Lurie said he’s heard many rumors over the years, including that they’re related, they hate each other or don’t speak to each other.

“We help each other; we care about them,” he said. “We just are in different sides of the aisle.”

Bogen said Lurie’s family helps them take their garbage or recycling down their numerous steps to the street. Bogen’s neighbors use her garage for working out with boxing equipment.

However, Bogen, not to be mistaken for state Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen, said being good neighbors doesn’t mean there’s never any tension.

“The first day he put up his billboard sign last election, I would say my blood pressure went up,” she said. “If you move into a house you share with someone else, and you think you’re always going to get your way and have everything be the way you want, well, that’s silly.”

A couple years ago, the two families realized they needed to replace the roof on their duplex, according to Bogen.

“There’s two ways to do a new roof,” she said. “One is you can each do your own side, or the other is you can cooperate — you can build one roof.”

They decided to build one, as it would better prevent leaks, Bogen said.

Bogen works with the local political grassroots organizing network in Pittsburgh focused on electing progressive candidates titled Order of the Phoenix, and she has helped canvass in previous elections and participated in lots of demonstrations.

“The number of votes it takes to win can be a small number, so we have to care about every one,” she said.

In Lurie’s opinion, the last four years have been “really tough on everyone,” citing high gas and grocery prices.

“I have children who eat like wolves,” he said, laughing. “Everybody is struggling.”

During the Trump administration, Lurie said he didn’t feel that way.

“Everyone was doing financially really well,” he said. “We also were in a more peaceful time.”

However, Lurie said he believes the country doesn’t have to be so divided.

“If we’re divided over wanting the best for our country in two different pathways, seems to me we should all be getting along after the election and working together as one,” he said. “I know the last election didn’t go our way, but President Biden is my president, you know, and I want him to do the best job.”

Despite the late switch from President Joe Biden to Harris on the ballot, Bogen said she’s supportive of Harris’ campaign.

“But the exciting thing about Kamala’s rise was nobody was ready,” she said.

In Harris, Bogen said, she was looking for a sense that she’s “competent” — who could “head a really big ship.”

“I’m praying for people that are smarter than me … we don’t have those skills, you know,” she said. “I actually think it matters that Harris has been in public service for so many decades.”

Expressing political views

Though Highland Park skews Democrat, Bogen said there are still a lot of Trump supporters in the neighborhood.

“Some people, I think, are a little scared to put out Trump signs here, which is too bad — it’s too bad that people feel fearful about expressing views,” she said.

Lurie said he’s received anonymous flowers with notes that say “Go Trump” before, and he’s even gotten some letters in his mailbox from supporters.

“Thank you for your signs, and especially your bravery,” one card read, according to Lurie. “We’re closeted Trump voters living in Shadyside. Sad to say, we don’t have your bravery.”

He spots people stopping to take photos all the time. On weekends, traffic slows down in front of their duplex.

“I kind of feel like it adds to some identity to this neighborhood,” Lurie said. “I’ve actually heard people talk about this house — not knowing that I lived in this house.”

Expressing political views through yard signs is effective because it’s visual, according to Bogen, and she tries to convince other people to put some up as well. Though many are reluctant, Bogen said she ends up having “really great” conversations with people because of them.

“I literally cannot come home from the grocery store and unload the groceries from my car without somebody walking over to me — not someone I know — just someone who walks up … to talk about the election,” she said.

For Lurie, putting the signs up is fun.

“When we’re on our porch, you hear people talking about it. You hear people laughing, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “We need to laugh and smile more because we’re very blessed in this country, and I think we forget that.”

Putting up political yard signs is about expressing support — no matter the candidate, according to Lurie.

“I love passion, conviction,” he said. “I’ll defend to the hilt my neighbor’s ability to do that.”

Bogen said Lurie takes his signs down “the minute the election’s over.”

“After Biden won last time, they didn’t make a big deal,” she said. “They weren’t like at all different with us, so there wasn’t a problem.”

However, Bogen said the families don’t really talk about politics — or talk much at all.

“We’re neighbors; we’re not buddies,” she said. “We’re good neighbors, but we don’t socialize together … we just wish each other well.”

In the future, Lurie said he’s hoping for “prosperity” — as well as for gas and grocery prices to come down.

“(I’m) hoping for things to be easier for Americans,” he said. “I would love to see a lot of the discord disappear and a country come together.”

Bogen said she will be relieved when the election is over.

“But … it will not change anything between us as neighbors … we’ve been through too much together.”