A current series of articles in the Pittsburgh
“Post-Gazette” is highlighting issues around immigration to Pittsburgh in the
new economy, and rightly so. Immigration
is one of this country’s seminal political issues and one that is central to
the Pittsburgh region’s economic success.
But written between the lines of this and so many other
pieces on Pittsburgh’s shortcomings is the subtext that, in fact, Pittsburgh’s
situation is the result of some self-inflicted wounds and “the region should
have known better”. After all, look at
how other regions have done it better, prima facie, their growth outstrips ours. As usual in these pieces, there are quoted
experts in the appropriate fields: everything from social sciences to economic
development to corporate leadership and all of them have theories as to what
Pittsburgh could have done better.
I have to question the ages and backgrounds of these
people. After reading the first two
pieces in the “P-G” series I realized how old I am and how long ago was the
time of Pittsburgh’s great economic upheaval – the complete death of the steel
industry. I suspect that many of the
experts, especially those located in Pittsburgh, are too young to have lived
through that era. So despite the fact
that I’m about to give a hint at my age, let me say I did and ….
Pittsburgh in 2014 is a modern miracle! Detroit’s debacle in 2014 is nothing compared
to the decimated economy that was Pittsburgh.
It was literally an economic collapse of “Great Depression”
proportions. I cannot exaggerate
the shadow that was thrown over daily living; even the weather seemed grayer. And yet, Pittsburgh survived. And then it stabilized. And now it is growing again. The past is not prelude. Great societies revive and renew and reinvent
themselves. Great people do as well. As do great, truly great cities. That’s happening in Pittsburgh now. With acknowledgements to Santayana and
exhortations from Gautama Buddha to enjoy the present moment. Peace out for
now.
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