Pittsburgh's good times carry a corporate asterisk (Philadelphia, Harrisburg: credit, law school)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by pman

actually cities like pittsburgh are usually the biggest beneficiaries. carnegie lived in nyc and hired someone to manage his factories. of course at 2.5 hours it isnt difficult to get to ny for a meeting with shareholders.

Isn't that sort of analogous to the PG's suggestion of what is happening now? The big money people head off to NYC while the basic operations remain in Pittsburgh? I don't see how Pittsburgh is benefiting. Carnegie certainly wasn't going to take the steel mills to NYC. He wanted to get away from them. Alcoa top management moved to NYC so Pittsburgh wasn't the beneficiary. This is not a positive trend. I doubt Rochester is excited that Bausch and Lomb top management went to New Jersey either.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by pman

in a normal country pittsburgh would be a 2.5 -3 hr rail ride from nyc

CEO types usually don't ride trains in the 21st Century, particularly for a trip of that length. Its quicker and more private to take the company jet.




But even among the very wealthy, places like Pittsburgh can be preferred. Although Frick moved to New
York- his very wealthy daughter Helen Clay Frick came back here after his death preferring this city to live in.

[zman63]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Once again, they are saying it's in Whippany, N.J but really that's code for NYC. Executives with very high pay expect a certain level of city infrastructure and amenities. Pittsburgh might be falling short on that high-end stuff and therefor more suitable for middle and lower management.

The general trend is for people to move from rural to urban areas. Airline hubs are concentrating in the larger cities. Corporations want to be midst of all that growth and energy. Places like Atlanta are on the positive side of that trend while Pittsburgh is probably on the downside. Pittsburgh might have a place as 2nd tier city in all this. Some Pittsburghers want those "free-loaders" Pitt and CMU to pay their "fair share" of taxes. But really, CMU and Pitt help to keep Pittsburgh world-class.

I agree with you 100 percent.....

[zman63]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Wouldn't make a bit of difference. CEOs can fly in less time and in more comfort on a private jet or at least 1st class or business class on a commercial jet. Besides, they wouldn't want to invest that time and effort when it's easier to live near NYC 24/7.

Companies were in Pittsburgh because they had to be near the factories. Today, with so much better communications and jobs much more portable, what is the case for living in Pittsburgh? Want the culture, worldwide connections, and the hang with the important and famous people? You have to go to where they are.

This is why I believe have 5 or 9 fortune 500 hq does not measure the true economic growth of a region. I keep going back to Columbus, OH. A city that has 1 fortune 500 company, smaller airport and fewer flights than Pittsburgh. Yet it is growing and expanding its population. They are more than twice the size city wise and will probably pass the pittsburgh metro in size with the 2020 census.

Columbus is doing it because it does a much better job than Pittsburgh when it comes to small business startup and growth. So many people on here want to hold onto the past. Yes, heinz is and always will be an important part of this city's history. If we can hold onto the HQ that is great. However, big corporate HQ is not in Pittsburgh's future. This region needs to focus more on growing small businesses and creating a better atmosphere to start one.

This is the only hope to grow pittsburgh. We will never be the same corporate HQ as in 1950, but we can be much more stable with more economic diversity.

Pittsburgh keeps thinking New York, Chicago, LA, Philadelphia when it should be thinking Raleigh, Columbus, Portland or Salt Lake City.

[pman]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

CEO types usually don't ride trains in the 21st Century, particularly for a trip of that length. Its quicker and more private to take the company jet
But even among the very wealthy, places like Pittsburgh can be preferred. Although Frick moved to New
York- his very wealthy daughter Helen Clay Frick came back here after his death preferring this city to live in.

id say that depends. thats probably true of a company like bayer where the ceos may be immigrants but its not really true as a whole that executives dont ride trains except in the us. in other countries when they build a line like , say , ny chicago , the place in the middle that gains quick access to these places, sees a large benefit. its not really debatable. why? in 2.5 to three hours youre in midtown , thats competitive with flying on a private jet.
anyway , zman , thats the impetus for my thread that mebtions lucas piatt. its important to make it as easy as possible for new small businesses to form

[pman]

related
The Surprising Cities Leading America's Start-Up Revolution - Richard Florida - The Atlantic Cities

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

CEO types usually don't ride trains in the 21st Century, particularly for a trip of that length. Its quicker and more private to take the company jet.

This is especially true of the CEOs in question that want to be closer to the playground for the rich (NYC), which truly is the only reason in the 21st century that one 'needs' to have executive operations there.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by pman

id say that depends. thats probably true of a company like bayer where the ceos may be immigrants but its not really true as a whole that executives dont ride trains except in the us. in other countries when they build a line like , say , ny chicago , the place in the middle that gains quick access to these places, sees a large benefit. its not really debatable. why? in 2.5 to three hours youre in midtown , thats competitive with flying on a private jet.
anyway , zman , thats the impetus for my thread that mebtions lucas piatt. its important to make it as easy as possible for new small businesses to form

All depends on where you are in Pittsburgh and where in New York you want to be, as to whether or not its a benefit to take a train.

Downtown Pittsburgh to Midtown New York, you're right.


Sewickley Pittsburgh to Howard Beach New York City, its much easier to take a flight.

Getting to and from the train station may or may not be easier than getting to or from the airport, depending on your final origin or destination.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

All depends on where you are in Pittsburgh and where in New York you want to be, as to whether or not its a benefit to take a train.

Downtown Pittsburgh to Midtown New York, you're right.


Sewickley Pittsburgh to Howard Beach New York City, its much easier to take a flight.

Getting to and from the train station may or may not be easier than getting to or from the airport, depending on your final origin or destination.

Of course that's right, but entirely besides the point since the downtown to downtown travel demand is doubtlessly much greater. You could argue all airports would be downtown but for the lack of space. In a related note, it's easier to get from PIT to JFK by plane as well.

[Geeo]

We're not likely to see a George Westinghouse or Henry Heinz again. These people built companies based on their love of invention and the product. Same with Thomas Edison. They had loyalty to their towns (and Westinghouse even built one for his workers). They had loyalty to their employees, as well. (Not so much Carnegie and Frick, but that's another story).

Today's CEOs are from the "greed is good" school. They have huge egos and massive insecurities. They're armed with their Harvard MBAs and jump on the CEO circuit from one company to the next, slashing costs, increasing margins, moving locations, and creating more wealth for their shareholders. Built in to their plans are generous golden parachutes, then it's off to their next conquest. They have no loyalty to any city - it's all about them.

This is not unique to companies in Pittsburgh. Sadly, it's pretty standard for the business world today.