Pittsburgh again rated "Most Livable" (New Castle, Beaver: credit, employment)

[SueJ999]

AOL has been citing "Dirtiest Cities". This was compiled by the American Lung Association! Los Angeles came in at Number 1... Pittsburgh came in at Number 2! http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/los-angeles-ranks-first-in-air-pollution/20070501082309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 (broken link)

Forbes.com has shown America's Dirtiest Cities (in no particular order that I can figure out) in pictures, http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/21/ame...hisSpeed=15000 but I was hoping it was misguided information until I saw the list from the ALA.

All this as Pittsburgh has gone through such a great clean-up since the steel mills, etc. This one really took me by surprise!! Especially after having been voted (I'd second that vote) as Most Livable!!

[OutaFL]

I don't care too much about the Lung Association rating of Pittsburgh. I looked at the best according to them, and I wouldn't move to any of those redneck towns. If ou want to live in a real city, then get realistic about what that includes.

[OREGONRAIN]

I have seen Pittsburgh listed as one of the better places to live in various publications, and then yesterday I saw it listed as number 2 out of a list of the 5 most polluted cities, The number one city was LA, what is the reason for this, seems strange.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by OREGONRAIN

I have seen Pittsburgh listed as one of the better places to live in various publications, and then yesterday I saw it listed as number 2 out of a list of the 5 most polluted cities, The number one city was LA, what is the reason for this, seems strange.

It seems strange because it's absolutely untrue.

Pittsburgh is continually ranked among the cleanest cities in the world!

Here's a 2007 ranking by forbes magazine placing Pittsburgh the 10th cleanest city in the world!

http://www.thetartan.org/2007/4/30/news/green

A 2002 survey done by William M. Mercer, a San Francisco-based consulting firm, ranked Pittsburgh 17th cleanest city in the world!

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pi...5/daily41.html

These studies compare many environmental factors, not just one.

[guylocke]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07122/782605-53.stm

Some good news before a reality check! Pittsburgh officially has 80 million in it's bank account, more than it's seen in at least two decades. However, the city still owes a lot of debts (not unlike a great many US cities).

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by OREGONRAIN

I have seen Pittsburgh listed as one of the better places to live in various publications, and then yesterday I saw it listed as number 2 out of a list of the 5 most polluted cities, The number one city was LA, what is the reason for this, seems strange.

The Lung Association was ranking particulates from auto pollution and ozone. The area in the study is also called Pittsburgh/New Castle -- that's a pretty wide swath. So this isn't a true picture of the area -- it's more a push for mass transit and looking for electric alternatives to coal, and not driving every where. And most of the other areas are also close -- and how can you say who's air is whose? Air moves...

[Katiana]

The Lung Association has more credibility in the air quality department than Forbes Magazine, which is about finance.

[Drover]

The metrics and methodology is more important than the source. And in any case it's not like Forbes went out and measured air quality themselves.

[AlphaBravoCD]

There are some good posts in another thread about this "dirty distinction". (Down from 12 to 8 air monitors in our region, the ALA takes the worst readings. One of the monitors is right next to US Steel's Clairton Coke Works, the largest in the country and basically the only remnant left from the "old days".) It's almost funny how Pittsburgh can't throw off it's "dirty old steel mill town" image from the past. Anyone who comes here is shocked and surprised by how clean the air is and how green it is. Maybe we should just keep it as Pittsburgh's little secret how clean we are?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by AlphaBravoCD

There are some good posts in another thread about this "dirty distinction". (Down from 12 to 8 air monitors in our region, the ALA takes the worst readings. One of the monitors is right next to US Steel's Clairton Coke Works, the largest in the country and basically the only remnant left from the "old days".)

Furthermore, the lung association is just measuring the air (and inaccurately since monitors aren't properly balansed), whereas other studies have compiled a variety of data (water quality, etc.) to conclude Pittsburgh is one of the cleanest cities.

Originally Posted by AlphaBravoCD

It's almost funny how Pittsburgh can't throw off it's "dirty old steel mill town" image from the past.

It's especially funny when ex-Pittsburghers embrace the "dirty old steel mill town" mentality.

Originally Posted by AlphaBravoCD

Anyone who comes here is shocked and surprised by how clean the air is and how green it is. Maybe we should just keep it as Pittsburgh's little secret how clean we are?

I think we should keep it a secret! Pittsburgh won't remain such a desirable place to live if it gains a booming population because that would raise the cost of living and the pollution in Pittsburgh.