Pittburgh/ Allegheny county merger (Pittsburgh, Allentown: loans, buy, public schools)

[supersoulty]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

I guess "Brooklyn" is a little more known than "Beaver Falls, PA". My friend in DC says she always says "Beaver Falls" when people there ask her. OTOH, I know a guy from out here from Sharon and he says he's from Pittsburgh!

I admit my analogy with Brooklyn limps a bit.

Anyway, it is different for everyone. I am just making a general assessment of what I and others I know have experienced. The definition of "Pittsburgh" tends to be quite broad when people are self-identifying.

And speaking of self-identifying... you would be amazed how many people around the country hate it when Pittsburghers self-identify with the Steelers. But it is something almost everyone who is a fan in this city does. It's not "The Steelers are gonna win", its "We're gonna win... n'at" ha. Drives other people up a wall, but it once again emphasizes how much people identify with this city and all that which symbolizes it.

[SewickleyPA]

Originally Posted by supersoulty

It is true that, in the short term, it would cause tax hikes in places like Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel, etc... but to say it would not help the suburbs is a gross simplification based only on short term gains or loses.

1) Consolidation would be a major indicator to large corporations and investment groups that Pittsburgh has its act together. Anytime it has been done else where, people have been quick to take notice.

2) Pittsburgh would be instantly vaulted from the 52nd largest city in America to the 6th... that would be huge for media exposure, but also big for certain kinds of federal funding, such as homeland security funding, which would help with some of the cities bills.

3) Government could actually come up with a united formula for future planning, further facilitating the adoption of a regional vision/strategy. This would be an incalculable asset to the area and help grow Pittsburgh in the future.

4) Taxes for everyone would go down for almost everyone in the long run, as the city would have a larger tax pool to draw from for its needs.

I second this post.

[pittsburgh1816]

[Hopes]

No! Keep your grubby hands off the suburbs.

If you need to increase your part of the county's population, start having sex!

[Craziaskowboi]

[pittsburgh1816]

Originally Posted by Hopes

No! Keep your grubby hands off the suburbs.

If you need to increase your part of the county's population, start having sex!

its better than a full merger...

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by pittsburgh1816

its better than a full merger...

Most of those inner-ring suburbs function more like city neighborhoods anyway. They don't say "Suburb" in anyway.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Most of those inner-ring suburbs function more like city neighborhoods anyway. They don't say "Suburb" in anyway.

They don't function as city neighborhoods. They have their own local governments and police stations. Police who actually know the residents and actually do something instead of staying in their cars.

How many of you living in the city actually know all of your police officers? We do in the suburbs. We talk to them, know who they are, know where they live, know their wives and children, etc.. Heck, sometimes we even went to school with them and know their parents, brothers, sisters, and cousins. That's nothing like how the city neighborhoods function.

If these towns were annexed by the city, many families with children would move to get away from the city school district. Others would move because of the loss of a real police presence in their neighborhoods.

If you want what the suburbs has, don't take it away from us. Find a way to get it for yourselves. If you want suburban level of police protection, don't rotate officers from precinct to precinct. Mandate they not only live in the city but live in the actual neighborhood they work. If your school district isn't good enough to keep quality officers who have children, improve your school district.

For a larger population, my idea is the perfect solution. All they need to do is start having sex, get pregnant, give birth to large Catholic-size families, and send their children to city schools! It's the best solution because it brings young people into the city's demographic. Win, win. There are drugs, like Viagra, if they need help fulfilling their dream of a densely populated city.

[doo dah]

People in the suburbs should stop saying they live in Pittsburgh. There should be a naming-rights tax.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by Hopes

They don't function as city neighborhoods. They have their own local governments and police stations. Police who actually know the residents and actually do something instead of staying in their cars.

Please! You bring anyone from outside the region to here... and they would think Bellevue, McKees Rocks, Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, Millvale, Etna, Wilkinsburg, Churchill, Homestead, Mt Lebanon, Dormont, Edgewood, Brentwood, Whitehall, GreenTree are City Neighborhoods. These locations, don't give off a "Suburb" vibe like an Oakmont, Penn Hills, Wexford, Monroeville, Moon, Emsworth, Coraopolis, Bridgeville do. They feel like City Neighborhood regardless of Police Stations and separate government. Anywhere else they would be City Neighborhoods.

And most of these locals use "Pittsburgh PA" on their mailing addresses, all zip codes with 152-- are designated "Pittsburgh, PA" by the United States Postal Services. Locals with 151-- zips are the true "Burbs" of Allegheny County.

This in lies the Problem in Allegheny County. There's TOO MANY damn governments. A lot of these Boroughs are struggling keeping their heads above water because their tax-bases are so inadequate for the level of services they provide.