Residency requirement is lifted for city police (Pittsburgh: for sale, chapels)

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

An unfortunate reality is that many suburbanites look at the city with disdain (and vice versa of course). I really don't want people that are in control of my freedom automatically have a lower opinion of me due to my geographical location.

This is exactly how I feel and I disagree with the current policy we have in Erie:

"Need not be a resident of the City of Erie, but must be able to move within a fifteen (15) mile radius of the City of Erie; time will be allotted for the applicant to do so."

Recruitment

[pman]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

An unfortunate reality is that many suburbanites look at the city with disdain (and vice versa of course). I really don't want people that are in control of my freedom automatically have a lower opinion of me due to my geographical location.

Not to mention, I wouldn't doubt that neighborhood such as Lincoln Place would decline as higher income earners leave so that they can send their kids to decent schools.

plenty of city residents have disdain for other city neighborhoods

[Evergrey]

I see no reason for a neighborhood like Lincoln Place to continue to exist... it was essentially a haven for police officers who REALLY wanted a suburban lifestyle but were forced to reside within the boundaries of the city. Now, with the residency requirement gone... it has no appeal whatsoever.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I see no reason for a neighborhood like Lincoln Place to continue to exist... it was essentially a haven for police officers who REALLY wanted a suburban lifestyle but were forced to reside within the boundaries of the city. Now, with the residency requirement gone... it has no appeal whatsoever.

To be clear, it was originally part of West Mifflin. It seceded in the 1920s because West Mifflin refused to build a new elementary school. Pittsburgh built the school, and the rest is history.

I can't say I see the appeal of Lincoln place (and my wife's grandmother had a house there up until recently, so I've seen a lot of the area). That said, given how bad Steel Valley and West Mifflin schools are, this might be one of the only areas (outside of say the Woodland Hills border with the city) where people choose the city over the immediate suburbs nearby.

[doo dah]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zman63
I didnt give a timetable but why stay? Taxes are high and public schools suck. 25 air miles gets you well out of allegheny county. Good for the cops. Hopefully all city employees get the same option.

Cleveland and philly lifted residency requirements a few years ago.

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Did Cleveland suffer the same apocalyptic fate you are envisioning for Pittsburgh?

[crickets]

[fat lou]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm confused. Haven't you said before the City is the only good part of Allegheny County, and the rest is stagnant and dying? If so, why are you rubbing your hands with glee at the ability of people to move out of the city (including yourself, IIRC).

You haven't realized yet that this person doesn't make a whole lot of sense?

[Copanut]

My guess is a lot of cops will move out of the city when their kids go to 7th grade, can't blame them. The City schools are lousy. BUT, most twp/boros require their employees to live there. Don't have a problem with that.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I see no reason for a neighborhood like Lincoln Place to continue to exist... it was essentially a haven for police officers who REALLY wanted a suburban lifestyle but were forced to reside within the boundaries of the city. Now, with the residency requirement gone... it has no appeal whatsoever.

There are some beautiful 1920s -1930s homes in Lincoln Place. They have large, well-maintained yards, and the neighborhood is clean and attractive. It may not have appeal to you, for whatever reason, but it's a nice neighborhood.

[youngabe]

So the police department is a department of 1,092 if my information is correct. How many of them, realistically, are going to move? Plenty of them own homes in the city, plenty of them are single and don't give a hoot about the district, etc. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that 50% or more city cops will stay in the city limits. I live not even 3 miles from Downtown. There's no chance in Hell that I would up and move to some suburb to start commuting all over again. Granted, I don't have children to consider and don't plan on having children, so I live in the city for convenience and by choice.

I had another thread when this was on the ballot with a poll. The poll even favored city cops living in the city. With that said, I'm not going to get into why I disagree with this, but, it will be interesting to see what, if any change on the city population this has. I know of a lieutenant who is single and owns a home--I highly doubt he's going to rush off to Cranberry--just because. I also know of a cop who has a family with a house in Shaler, but an apartment in Brookline. With that said, a cop living in Shaler doesn't bother me. You can be in the city limits in minutes. In Cranberry, however, different story.

As another poster pointed out, I wonder how this will effect vehicles. I do have a real problem with a city vehicle being driven clear to Cranberry for non-business purposes.

[PreservationPioneer]

The good news about all of this is maybe prices will come down on city real estate now.