What pieces of the puzzle does Pittsburgh lack to be a great city? (Butler: rent, price)

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by JimboPGH

(Except for those lily white Northwestern cities: the next Oregonian who preaches to me about racial tolerance is getting punched in the face)

Hipster tolerance is a bigger issue in Oregon

Actually, I would think the hispanic community is growing out west pretty fast, as agriculture is huge. Sure someone will have the stats to demonstrate/refute this

[Clint.]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

You know that highway between Pittsburgh International Airport and Monroeville? It desperately needs to be upgraded to modern Interstate standards. And speaking of the airport and Monroeville, there need to be T extensions to both places as well.

Does that mean 3 lanes in each direction? If so...if that project started planning tomorrow it would be finished in about 35 years and cost 150 billion dollars. That estimate reflects the faith I have in leaders around to actually get anything done bigger than paving 10 miles of city streets a year.

The sad thing is I can imagine locals thinking that would be a great use of $150 billion, too.

[SteelCityRising]

Thanks for posting those statistics, HeavenWood. It's quite depressing to see that only ~20% of African-Americans in Pittsburgh are either middle-class or upper-middle-class while ~80% are living either in poverty or not far above it. I think Pittsburgh's next mayor (Peduto, barring an alien invasion) really needs to take greater steps to address why Pittsburgh's African-American community is so impoverished relative to their Caucasian peers.

[gg]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Thanks for posting those statistics, HeavenWood. It's quite depressing to see that only ~20% of African-Americans in Pittsburgh are either middle-class or upper-middle-class while ~80% are living either in poverty or not far above it. I think Pittsburgh's next mayor (Peduto, barring an alien invasion) really needs to take greater steps to address why Pittsburgh's African-American community is so impoverished relative to their Caucasian peers.

I don't know what you are talking about? The difference between Pittsburgh and other cities isn't that great and it is what it is. I don't think outsiders would make some difference. Money doesn't equate to happiness. Some folks might be quite happy regardless of income levels. Numbers are just numbers and if anyone wants to change their situation, they certainly can in Pittsburgh. Plenty of labor jobs can even get you out of poverty. Lots of trades out there that pay VERY well once you pay your dues.

Anyway, some mayor isn't going to magically change poverty rates. For the most part people live how they want to and just because someone is making $20K a year or even less doesn't mean they hare unhappy.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Thanks for posting those statistics, HeavenWood. It's quite depressing to see that only ~20% of African-Americans in Pittsburgh are either middle-class or upper-middle-class while ~80% are living either in poverty or not far above it. I think Pittsburgh's next mayor (Peduto, barring an alien invasion) really needs to take greater steps to address why Pittsburgh's African-American community is so impoverished relative to their Caucasian peers.

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I don't know what you are talking about? The difference between Pittsburgh and other cities isn't that great and it is what it is. I don't think outsiders would make some difference. Money doesn't equate to happiness. Some folks might be quite happy regardless of income levels. Numbers are just numbers and if anyone wants to change their situation, they certainly can in Pittsburgh. Plenty of labor jobs can even get you out of poverty. Lots of trades out there that pay VERY well once you pay your dues.

Anyway, some mayor isn't going to magically change poverty rates. For the most part people live how they want to and just because someone is making $20K a year or even less doesn't mean they hare unhappy.

City-Data, the way it used to be.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Thanks for posting those statistics, HeavenWood. It's quite depressing to see that only ~20% of African-Americans in Pittsburgh are either middle-class or upper-middle-class while ~80% are living either in poverty or not far above it. I think Pittsburgh's next mayor (Peduto, barring an alien invasion) really needs to take greater steps to address why Pittsburgh's African-American community is so impoverished relative to their Caucasian peers.

The reason why is pretty obvious. Pittsburgh still has a fair number of down-on-their-luck neighborhoods filled largely with African American residents.

If areas like Homewood Brushton were to transform into middle class communities, more affluent blacks would move in and the poorer African American residents there now would move on- and the stats you are citing would improve.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I don't know what you are talking about? The difference between Pittsburgh and other cities isn't that great and it is what it is. I don't think outsiders would make some difference. Money doesn't equate to happiness. Some folks might be quite happy regardless of income levels. Numbers are just numbers and if anyone wants to change their situation, they certainly can in Pittsburgh. Plenty of labor jobs can even get you out of poverty. Lots of trades out there that pay VERY well once you pay your dues.

Anyway, some mayor isn't going to magically change poverty rates. For the most part people live how they want to and just because someone is making $20K a year or even less doesn't mean they hare unhappy.

So you feel that Fox Chapel should step up to the plate and build section-8 housing?

[JimboPGH]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Thanks for posting those statistics, HeavenWood. It's quite depressing to see that only ~20% of African-Americans in Pittsburgh are either middle-class or upper-middle-class while ~80% are living either in poverty or not far above it. I think Pittsburgh's next mayor (Peduto, barring an alien invasion) really needs to take greater steps to address why Pittsburgh's African-American community is so impoverished relative to their Caucasian peers.

Unless Peduto can magically end the war on drugs and launch a massive public works and job training project that targets impoverished black neighborhoods, all he can really do is trim the branches: the root of black poverty is a national issue with relatively simple, but very expensive and time consuming solutions.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

...Money doesn't equate to happiness...

...For the most part people live how they want to and just because someone is making $20K a year or even less doesn't mean they hare unhappy.

There is quite a bit of research that suggests you are wrong. As a jumping-off point: Money Does Buy Happiness, Says New Study - Forbes#

The idea that people living in abject poverty are as consistently happy as people making $75k+ a year is a ridiculous way to rationalize turning a blind eye to them. How in the world could a person be cheerful and contented when your day-to-day survival, economically and physically, is constantly in question? There are neighborhoods where people are beaten to death over a $15 drug debt -- this doesn't strike me as the act of a jubilant person. I don't think that growing up or living in an environment in which that sort of thing regularly happens breeds a lot of optimism or strong feelings of free will (i.e., "living how they want to").

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by steindle

There is quite a bit of research that suggests you are wrong. As a jumping-off point: Money Does Buy Happiness, Says New Study - Forbes#

The idea that people living in abject poverty are as consistently happy as people making $75k+ a year is a ridiculous way to rationalize turning a blind eye to them. How in the world could a person be cheerful and contented when your day-to-day survival, economically and physically, is constantly in question? There are neighborhoods where people are beaten to death over a $15 drug debt -- this doesn't strike me as the act of a jubilant person. I don't think that growing up or living in an environment in which that sort of thing regularly happens breeds a lot of optimism or strong feelings of free will (i.e., "living how they want to").

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to steindle again.

Somebody?