Pittsburgh's Net Casts Wide

In today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bill Toland writes of a "Pittsburgh Manifesto" co-authored by bloggers Mike Madison, Jim Russell and Jim Morris.

Their goal? To capitalize upon the emotional attachment most ex-burghers feel for the Steel City and convert that emotion into progressive change -- in effect, self-improvement from the (geographic) outside-in.

Toland seems skeptical, if not completely dismissive, of the idea. It's easy to see why: how many times in the past 20 years have we heard how Pittsburgh is "on the cusp" of becoming a major player on the national stage, only to watch it backslide into mediocrity?

But the manifesto, high-minded as it may be, addresses the issue from an untapped (to the best of my knowledge) angle -- the collective resources and knowledge of those who have ventured beyond the Golden Triangle, and who now feel the need to infuse those gifts back into their point of origin.

In a nutshell, the manifesto can be summed up in its third paragraph:

The principles are general. They are animated by a single, overarching idea. The future of Pittsburgh depends on the region’s recognition of its dependence on other cities – and regions – and countries. And it depends on their corresponding recognition of their connections with Pittsburgh. In the 21st century, connectivity is key and king, and in that connected world, Pittsburgh has a unique asset, which we call the Pittsburgh diaspora: the thousands of people who live around the world yet who still identify closely with the Steel City. They grew up in Pittsburgh, worked in Pittsburgh, or have family in Pittsburgh. By identifying with Pittsburgh they energize it emotionally. We believe that it is possible to translate that emotional energy into economic energy. Pittsburgh can, should, and must recapture and benefit from the intellectual, economic, and cultural capital associated with the Pittsburgh diaspora. That capital is distributed geographically, but it can be invested locally.

Here at STBD, we're well aware that a large number of our viewers are either current Pittsburghers or ex-Pittsburghers who need to reconnect with images of their former hometown. Something about this city creates lifelong "citizens," regardless of where they move. Perhaps it's the city's almost New York-like dissection of "neighborhoods," its history of blue collar labor, or its geographic proximity to pretty much everywhere else that helps foster that kinship.

Or, perhaps it's the notion that Pittsburgh is forever almost a first-tier city, nearly able to run with the big boys (like Philadelphia, our more successful cousin across the state). Pittsburgh has an underdog quality about it, and that sense of having to prove its worth to the country at large is a hard image to shake. It doesn't erode simply by moving away -- and that's what the manifesto is hoping to capitalize on:

No matter where you live, if you're from Pittsburgh, you still call Pittsburgh home.

So... how, exactly, do we DO that? I think I sense a PodCamp Pittsburgh session in the making...

Photo by i_r_e_n_e via Flickr.

Pittsburgh Is America's Most Livable City

If you haven't heard, the rest of America just validated what we here in Pittsburgh have known all along: Pittsburgh is America's most livable city.

(Okay, that's partially a lie -- we here in Pittsburgh tend to nitpick every little aspect of life in the 'burgh, so we had NO IDEA we were the most livable. But, when compared to other cities, it makes sense: for as much as we'd like to see improved around here, nearly everything about Pittsburgh is pretty good as-is.)

How did Pittsburgh make it to the top? From the article (bolded text is ours):

"There are nine categories: housing affordability (cost of living); transportation; jobs; education; climate; crime; health care; recreation; and ambience (museums, performing arts, restaurants and historical districts).

The seven-county area that makes up Pittsburgh failed to finish in the top 20 in any of the categories, ranging from a competitive 21st in recreation and 29th in education to a less-than-stellar 111th in housing and 135th in climate. But when the numbers are added up, the one that counts is the final total."

Hmm. So we won by being NOT PARTICULARLY BAD in any area?

We can live with that. After all...

"This is the seventh edition of the "Places Rated Almanac," and Pittsburgh hasn't always finished first, dropping as low as 14th in 1997 and 12th in 1999, the last year that the listings were done. But the city is the only one to finish in the top 20 every time."

New possible Allegheny County slogan -- "Pittsburgh: we're always decent."