Tube City Almanac

November 04, 2011

A Swift Kick

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By

I am utterly disgusted with Mon Valley defeatism.

Years ago, The Valley Mirror ran a list of "top 10 ways for Homestead to stop being a depressed mill town." One of them was "Prozac in the water supply."

I laughed at the time, but lately I don't know if Prozac would do the job in the McKeesport area. Maybe each and every one of us just needs a swift kick in the butt.

. . .

You run into Mon Valley defeatism in many different places. It's the attitude that "nothing will work, don't try anything new." Or, in the words of that great philosopher, Homer Simpson: "You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is: Never try."

I've heard a lot of it recently regarding the new flyover ramp into the industrial park. You'd think something as obviously beneficial as a ramp into an industrial park would be non-controversial, but you'd be wrong.

What are the gripes? "It's too steep." "It cost too much." "Who wants to put a business in McKeesport, anyway?" "What's the point? McKeesport's dead."

My favorite might be: "Why did they take away parking spaces from Eat 'n Park to build a ramp?" Well, you know, that Eat 'n Park is about to get an entirely new parking lot as part of a major renovation project which was spurred by the construction of the ramp.

But talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees! You have to be pretty short-sighted to argue that we shouldn't open up an industrial park for development because it might temporarily displace some parking at Eat 'n Park.

. . .

Some of the folks who do the complaining also love nostalgia about the good old days. They love to reminisce about Rainbow Gardens and the Famous and the Memorial Theater.

Nostalgia is fine, but anyone under the age of 50 has no memories of those places. Personally, while I love history, I care more about what's going to be here five years from now and 10 years from now. And I'm not terribly religious, but I remember that Jesus commanded his followers to "let the dead bury the dead."

. . .

How about focusing on the living once in a while? There are a lot of institutions in McKeesport that aren't faded memories ---- the Carnegie Library, the McKeesport Little Theater, the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, the YMCA, the LaRosa Boys and Girls Club, the McKeesport Art Group, the McKeesport Little Tigers.

Never mind the relative pluses or minuses of any of these organizations --- sure, you may not like classical music or art or sports. Find something else to get involved with! There are plenty of groups that can use your support and participation before they disappear. (I'm told McKeesport doesn't have an active Boy Scout troop any more. That's a sad commentary on our civic life.)

There also are plenty of local businesses that could use your money. Remember, stores didn't disappear from Fifth Avenue because of some mysterious outside force. They disappeared because we weren't shopping in them. It takes some nerve to wax nostalgic about shopping in Downtown McKeesport when you didn't patronize the stores we had.

(Oh, I know the excuse --- it's because you have to pay to park. We'll pay $25 to park at a Steelers game, but can't afford 25 cents to support local merchants. We sure have our priorities straight.)

. . .

We need a little more interest from young people (or active retired people) with good ideas and a long-term view and a willingness to pitch in and change things.

And yes, we need a lot less knee-jerk complaining and defeatism. And if I need to start delivering swift kicks in the butt, the line forms on the right.

. . .

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Your Comments are Welcome!

Unfortunately, those who have tried, have gone up against the same brick wall you speak about. How many exciting new local businesses have we seen come and go becuase no one cares? How about the bike shop that this very website tried to help with publicity moving itself to Versailles?

Also, the local elected officials have been on the wrong side for years, going back to the 80’s. I know of 2 Medium size McKeesport businesses that asked the city for help to keep thier companies here and were told, “Sorry, we can’t help you.” Thus, the businesses went out of business and money, and jobs were lost. Or, look at the welding shop on Walnut Street that is being kicked out.

I no longer live in the city, but try to recommend businesses there whenever possible. MANY current problems in the city are due to the rental clientele. People who rent houses in McKeesport don’t send thier boys to scouts, go shopping without their ACCESS cards, or participate in local arts. It’s a shame, but it is true. They also don’t remember what this community USED to be like, becuase, frankly, they didn’t live here.

Those of us who do, have moved where there are similar like minded people.

Currently my house is for sale in the city (Good deal if anyone cares), I had 2 people from out of state look at it, who were moving to Pittsburgh for a job. They said everything they read about McKeesport was bad. All they kept asking was about the neighborhood, and they both said, there are alot of crappy looking houses around here.

Well, sorry to continue with the same old story, but untill people change, McKeesport is an uphill battle.

BTW, that new ramp is pretty steep.
Adam Spate - November 05, 2011



> Well, sorry to continue with the same old story, but untill people
> change, McKeesport is an uphill battle.

But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? People need to change. How do we change the people? And that’s not a McKeesport-centric problem. It exists all up and down the valley —- Munhall, West Mifflin, Glassport.

> BTW, that new ramp is pretty steep.

LOL! It kind of has to go over the train tracks. You’d think that would be obvious to folks.

I don’t think it’s any steeper than the ramps that get into the Waterfront in Homestead.
Webmaster - November 05, 2011



> They said everything they read about McKeesport was bad.
> All they kept asking was about the neighborhood, and they both
> said, there are alot of crappy looking houses around here.

There are a lot of crappy looking houses around here.

All you used to read about East Liberty and Point Breeze was bad, too. It took a core group of people to turn things around in those neighborhoods. (Not that they don’t still have a long way to go.)
Webmaster - November 05, 2011



What’s happening in East Liberty is brilliant! Five years ago most people wouldn’t drive through if not for Penn Ave. Now the place is bustling with young folks and new business. You’re right we need that core group to make McKeesport the next East Liberty! No one can say it can’t be done, if they do drive them through the circle in East Liberty! Yeah the ramp is steep! Pretty fun to drive over in the ladder truck!
Jeff Tomo - November 05, 2011



McKeesport isn’t all run down and ugly,there are still neighborhoods that care about where we live,Highland grove used to be one of those places,where everyone knows each other,you can walk around and talk with all your neighbors,You kow all the kids by there first names.Slowly we are losing all of that.Most people here take care of there propertys and still look out for their neighbors.Then you have the slum lords that dont care about the neighborhood or the people that accually live here,They only care about the dollars that they get for their over priced shacks that no one takes care of.And what kind of person rents a place like that,that you can clearly see should be condemned.Someone needs to help us save our neighborhoods,how do we do it??Where do we start??
Scared in Highland Grove - November 07, 2011



I am very proud to be from McKeesport. Yes,I remember what it used to be like and I know what it is like now. I still attend church at the same church I have been a member for too many years to count. While I agree with some comments made there are a few that I disagree with. There are a few groups trying to focus on cleaning up and getting involved with the community in general. I hope these groups can stick with it. The demise of the city didn’t happen overnight,and so it will take time and involvement of those concerned to see it through. God bless the ‘Port!!!!
laura mccuaker - November 07, 2011



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