Why you should NOT move to Pittsburgh (Washington, Butler: property taxes, budget)

[supersoulty]

Originally Posted by vwscottie

After living in Erie for over 36 years, I tell everyone down here how much better the roads are taken care of. There are whole neighborhoods in Erie, and mind you, very nice, upper middle class neighborhoods, that have their streets go untreated and plowed for the whole winter. The crews that take care of Frick Park do a better job of salting the walkways into the park than the sidewalks are taken care of in Erie.

And I honestly don't know how anyone can complain about plowing in Metro Pittsburgh anyway. Since I've lived here for a year and we'll say three months, I can remember two, maybe 3 at the most, situations where any plowing was necesary to begin with.

Thanks for the back up. If you don't mind my asking, what part of Erie did you live in? What did you do up there?

BTW... I know exaclt what you mean, most of the 4th Ward was never plowed all winter, in spite of the fact that it was the location of much of Erie's social upper crust. Hell, the downtown areas on State Street, Peach, 6th and 12th were usually only plowed every other day.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by supersoulty

Thanks for the back up. If you don't mind my asking, what part of Erie did you live in? What did you do up there?

I just PM'd you.

[oktaren]

Originally Posted by supersoulty

Again, we are just gonna have to agree to disagree. From what I have seen here thus far, and what I know of Erie, I would have to say all the city services, plowing included, are better.

Yes, you are right, the city services are all better in Erie.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by oktaren

Yes, you are right, the city services are all better in Erie.

You are flat out crazy if you believe that. Like I said in my posts, there are whole neighborhoods in Erie that go all winter without being treated or plowed. I walked up through Frick Park a while ago and Ben Hur street has so much salt on it felt like you were walking along a creek bed. And if you are going to talk about city services........try calling the Erie Police on a Friday or Saturday night when all NINE officers are patrolling the city.

[supersoulty]

Originally Posted by oktaren

Yes, you are right, the city services are all better in Erie.

Obviously not what I meant. There is really no need to act all juvenile about this.

When I was up in Erie, beyond just what I experienced personally, in terms of how unresponsive the city plowing services, water authority, police dept, and emergency services were (the Fire Dept was pretty good, though), I also sat in a a few dozen city council meetings were these issues were being discussed. Any time city service management came up the council went dead, and it cam up often. They just didn't care. Most of the depts were loaded with political lackies, anyway. The water authority was a place where people in the city who had political power sent their flunky kids who had no potential elsewhere so that they would have a decent job. The current mayor's father was a strong political force who sent his son (the current mayor) to work in the water authority... I will go no further.

Through the many conversations I had over the years, when people would bring up how terrible trash collection was, and how often people were delayed going to work because the streets weren't taken care of, the immediate response was "that stuffs not so important anyway and Erie natives don't notice anyway... we need to focus on a broad vision and bring in business". I would often remind those expressing this view that often times corporations will send advance teams to check a city out before they move in, and one thing they look at is how well city services work for their prospective employees. This would be met with a response that was usually something vague about the budget, to which I would say that you have to fix the pipes before you put in new fixtures. And then... stone wall on the other side.

If that sounded a bit disconnected sorry, but you get my point. Seeing it it from all angles, as I have, city services in Pittsburgh would have to meet a sharp decline in the next few months, from wat I have already seen, to be as bad as those in Erie.

[alleghenyman]

Just writing to say that the original poster has never been to a major city, and thinks Pittsburgh's problems in areas of taxes, crime, and parking compare to New York's or Philly's, which is ridiculous.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by alleghenyman

Just writing to say that the original poster has never been to a major city, and thinks Pittsburgh's problems in areas of taxes, crime, and parking compare to New York's or Philly's, which is ridiculous.

The OP is no longer a member, FWIW.

[PIT]

I feel so very sorry for you and my heart aches for you despite the fact that Pittsburgh is one of the most affordable and safest places to live. One suggestion - Move.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by PIT

I feel so very sorry for you and my heart aches for you despite the fact that Pittsburgh is one of the most affordable and safest places to live. One suggestion - Move.

Who are you referring to?

[magyar4321869]

Wow! The Burg is that bad huh?