Dying Mon River towns (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: real estate, 2009, homes)

[italianbluesboy]

Emptiest neighborhoods in Pennsylvania:
Blight compounds itself in Rust Belt | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/11/2009

Why don't these old mill towns - Donora, Webster, Charleroi, Monessen, Belle Vernon, Speers, Allenport, Roscoe - why don't they all merge into Monriver City? Is there any sense in trying to maintain separate municipal governments?

Same with Braddock, Homestead, McKeesport, Rankin, Duquesne, Clairton, Elizabeth - just pool your resources and merge.

[Bazzwell]

The story is just one side of the picture though. Indeed the valley has some sad areas but each of the towns you mention also have much going for them. Yes, even Donora and Monessen.

This is all natural progression, as simple as having more items on the shelf than there are customers to buy. Or, more real estate than the area can fill. It really is much more complicated than just having everyone put their swords down and saying let's partner up.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Bazzwell

The story is just one side of the picture though. Indeed the valley has some sad areas but each of the towns you mention also have much going for them. Yes, even Donora and Monessen.

Such as?

[Bazzwell]

Originally Posted by Drover

Such as?

Such as? What do you want, a complete rundown? These are all active communities with families, businesses and industry. Life goes on here for those who chose to stay and participate. Residents understand they aren't the crown jewels of the area anymore but see no reason to take the "welcome to our town" signs down anytime soon.

[Drover]

Wow, that's impressive. I can see how the Mon Valley has such a bright future now.

Anyone out there who can actually answer the question?

[RedBall]

Bazzwell answered your question, bro. Families/communities still exist in these areas, despite of anything else.

[Drover]

So I guess the premise is, until these places are completely abandoned ghost towns, they still have "much going for them"? Compared to what/where?

[Copanut]

There was a time when you could graduate high school and get a job that would support you and a family with physical labor. All up and down the rivers that was part of the American Dream. Take a drive along those rivers now. Nothing but ghosts towns. Even the much touted Homestead Works area. Great, replace about 30 thousand good paying jobs with 10 bucks plus tips service workers, yeah, the Pgh area is recovering. LOL

[BrianTH]

To be brutally honest, I'm just not sure every former steel town, particularly the ones at a relative distance to Downtown, can really survive Pittsburgh's transition to a smaller city with a different economy.

[PeterRabbit]

We're ignoring the OP's question. Merger seems to be a good idea. Considering the hard times and nothing getting better in these towns, why have 6 chiefs of police/fire depts., mayors, tax collectors, etal.? What would be some of the obstacles that need to be overcome?