Favorite Pennsylvania Mid-sized city (Pittsburgh, Erie: club, garden, vacation)

[GuardianSensor]

Originally Posted by pj3000

^ ^ Sorry, I misunderstood you. I don't frequent this forum too often, as it seems there is nothing but bickering and A LOT of false information. I read your post and assumed the worst... with your clarification, I see what you're saying. But people have generally moved into Millcreek from the city over the years not because they can't afford to live in those particular neighborhoods, but due to the reasons the entire nation shifted to suburbia over the last 50 years (more property, lower taxes, perceived safety, better schools, etc.).
I agree that Erie should annex Millcreek (it's ridiculous that they are separate municipalities, but that's PA for you). Lawrence Park and Wesleyville should also be included in the city of Erie (those are two completely urban municipalities that border Erie... at least Millcreek is suburban in structure and layout). Maybe Harborcreek eventually too.

I agree totally.

[Ohiogirl81]

Lawrence Park and Wesleyville should also be included in the city of Erie

And have to live with Erie's inept government? Never. Both are small towns at heart whose voters wouldn't cotton to all that big-city (such as it is ) bullcrap.

What possible benefit would the people of Lawrence Park or Wesleyville --or Millcreek for that matter -- realize if they were to be enveloped into the city?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

What possible benefit would the people of Lawrence Park or Wesleyville --or Millcreek for that matter -- realize if they were to be enveloped into the city?

The city would have a large population and be eligible for a greater chunk of state and federal funding. I have long advocated for similar annexations here in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro, where we have nearly 200 municipalities in our tri-county area!

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

The city would have a large population and be eligible for a greater chunk of state and federal funding.

Yeah, more money for the city to mis-appropriate. Swell.

I'm trying to imagine you explaining your views to my mom and her pals in the Lawrence Park Garden Club ... They'd look at you like you'd sprouted broccoli out your nose.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

What possible benefit would the people of Lawrence Park or Wesleyville --or Millcreek for that matter -- realize if they were to be enveloped into the city?

Better question: What possible liabilities do those same municipalities realize if the city's tax base is further eroded and its infrastructure increasingly strained by its suburban neighbors?

As the city of Erie goes, so do its neighboring suburbs.

[GuardianSensor]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

And have to live with Erie's inept government? Never. Both are small towns at heart whose voters wouldn't cotton to all that big-city (such as it is ) bullcrap.

What possible benefit would the people of Lawrence Park or Wesleyville --or Millcreek for that matter -- realize if they were to be enveloped into the city?

The benefit's are as follows:

Millcreek, Lawrence Park, and Wesleyville residents who think they can do better than the current politicians, can run for election!!

Those annexed municipalities could maintain their names, such as NYC is 5 Boroughs which are one city, we to could have the same thing!

People in the Erie Metro Area need to understand this isn't a Erie Vs. Millcreek economy....no one knows who Millcreek is they only know of Erie, so it's a Erie Vs. Buffalo...Erie Vs. Cleveland economy.

If the Erie Area is to prosper then we have to realize that our borders are allowing others to win out.

Cities like Louisville,KY and Indianapolis, IN are results of urban consolidation. Same with Houston, which just gobbled up most of it's metro area and is now the 4th largest city in the U.S.!


Can Erie do it? Can we grow better?
In the words of Bob the Builder (not the socialist that stole it...) "YES WE CAN"





On to more benefits...

Reduction in duplicated departments/offices = $$$ SAVED

Unified Police force = BETTER PROTECTION.

Unified Fire department = full time protection that Millcreek doesn't have seeing as it's an all volunteer department in a municipality LARGER than Harrisburg!

Unified Government = One voice to business' looking into our region to relocate and developers would have an easier time with building codes with a unified Goverment/Oversight.

But on an every day basis of living NOTHING WOULD CHANGE FOR YOU!!

Your neighborhood is already open for ANY type of person to move into....so it doesn't matter to have that superficial border huh?

Being a part of the City wouldn't depreciate your home, it might actually go up.

Urban consolidation = EFFICIENCY!

EFFICIENCY = PRODUCTIVITY

PRODUCTIVITY = ACCOMPLISHMENT

ACCOMPLISHMENT= a better quality of City living.

[BevoInPA]

State College is top ranked but it is NOT a city. It is a borough. On top of that the total metro area is so small that it could not support Penn State's medical school; hence Penn State Milton Hershey and essentially has one employer. It is not reasonable to compare State College to the list of other cities. I went to PSU in UP undergrad and it is NOT a city, does not even feel like a city. It is a borough and a college town. If State College appears on the list then so should Gettysburg.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Yeah, more money for the city to mis-appropriate. Swell.

I'm trying to imagine you explaining your views to my mom and her pals in the Lawrence Park Garden Club ... They'd look at you like you'd sprouted broccoli out your nose.

This post illustrates the problem perfectly, serving as a metaphor for the larger, behind-the-times mentality.

Your mother and her garden club would obviously be overwhlemingly against this, as the idea represents change to the system that their generation created. What, I wonder, is the average age of the Lawrence Park Garden Club? Maybe somewhere around 70?

[GuardianSensor]

Originally Posted by pj3000

This post illustrates the problem perfectly, serving as a metaphor for the larger, behind-the-times mentality.

Your mother and her garden club would obviously be overwhlemingly against this, as the idea represents change to the system that their generation created. What, I wonder, is the average age of the Lawrence Park Garden Club? Maybe somewhere around 70?

An out of date political divisive governing system that keeps people distracted from the real problems the region is facing, by making them think it's a City Vs. Suburb economy, and I'll say it again: IT'S NOT! It's a City of Erie Vs. City of Buffalo,NY or City of San Fransisco.

And again, the "CITY" would no longer be just the current City of Erie it would be the 4 of them together, with a NEW Mayor and NEW council, dealing with what is now Erie, Millcreek, Wesleyville, and Lawrence Park...TOGETHER!

The combined population.... 165,000...would increase State and Federal monies to Erie....OR whatever new name that could be appropriate!


Speaking of which....what kind of name for the new city?
I would vote that each of the 4 would become Boroughs, like NYC's 5 borough's....and would retain their name but would be under a new name that would unite their identities to the world.

Names like....

Flagship City

Four Boroughs (just a joke)

Gem City

Greater Lakeland

New Argos

Hazard City (Oliver Hazard Perry...General)



Oh,Well...more on that later!

[pj3000]

^ I'd stick with the name Erie