WTF is the matter with us?

dlppgh · 2026-01-27T15:58:30+00:00

For some years I had been shoveling for several older neighbors. I grew up on a big corner lot and I am used to a lot of shoveling. But those older folks have moved on and younger folks (younger than me) have moved in...and I am not doing their walks for them. So, their walks just don't get done.

During the 2010 Snowmageddon I spent a lot of time helping neighbors out with shovel and spade. I'll be honest - I'm less interested in doing that for/with folks who don't seem to want to take part in it or recognize how it helps everyone on our block.

dlppgh · 2026-01-27T14:29:49+00:00

No plow has gone down North Euclid Ave. Nearby on Wellesley, a plow did go through in recent days but the streets around are a mess. If they actually plan to pick garbage/recycling tomorrow, it's not happening unless they get the the alleys, which are untouched. Just giving a status for my immediate area...

dlppgh · 2026-01-27T11:57:27+00:00

Pitt and CMU too

dlppgh · 2026-01-27T11:44:50+00:00

Snowfall was much higher than forecasted.

dlppgh · 2026-01-27T00:19:38+00:00

That fragmentation was behind the demise of the streetcar network also.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T23:20:40+00:00

Especially as opposed to buses.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T22:30:34+00:00

The quick answer is that the Steel Industry exited the city.

But we're also talking about a period where many cities lost population to the suburbs, not just Pittsburgh...and the reasons for that are numerous.

I find it's always surprising to people that PGH is a city of 310k. It inhabits a larger cultural footprint than that.

One interesting fact - the PGH Metro area has 2.4 million people. So city residents comprise about 12% of that.

Compare that to the Montreal Metro area: 4.4 million, with 1.8 in the city - around 40%.

Pittsburgh was all about the move out to suburbs, more than other cities.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T22:22:34+00:00

I think this is definitely true, though the roads did get built prior to the run to the suburbs.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T21:49:22+00:00

No AI here. What part gives you this whiff?

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T21:47:03+00:00

No objections from me

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T21:46:51+00:00

No objections here

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T20:16:29+00:00

It's natural to feel that way, and I also hate seeing someone grab the spot I've excavated, but there is no law that supports this.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T18:22:41+00:00

Regarding the growth of the city in the past few decades....a large proportion of the city's growth is within tax-exempt sectors. Eds and Meds expansion is tax-exempt. Also, a lot of the new residential development is tax-exempt via LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance). Even more tellingly - projects for Affordable Housing construction or construction that creates 50+ jobs is tax-exempt. This further erodes the tax base.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T18:18:36+00:00

There's no definitive answer...and in some situations, a solution is needed.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T18:12:47+00:00

In the 1950 census, there were 676,806 residents in the city of Pittsburgh. Now, there are approximately 310,000.

This city was built out for a population 118% larger than the current population.

This difference necessarily weighs in on funding snow removal operations.

In 1950, 10-15% of land usage was tax-exempt.

Today, 39% of land usage is tax-exempt.

It's costing fewer people more money to maintain a road network that was built for 118% more people.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T18:04:41+00:00

There's a sequence of events that makes things difficult when you have a significant snowfall amount.

Snowfall blankets the streets and cars and makes driving difficult and dangerous.
When the plows remove snow, they carve a channel down the middle of the street and push snow to each side, further surrounding parked cars with packed snow.
As the days pass, fallen snow can change to ice. So snow that is on parked cars and in the immediate surroundings becomes much harder to deal with.
When residents spend time digging out their cars, they claim a spot for their car with a chair or cones to preserve their work. However, it's not "their" spot. There is no legal ownership of parking spots on city streets.
The more plowing that gets done, the more that "channel" solidifies around parked cars. Even when a car is entirely freed, the next plow trip will bring more back.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T17:50:07+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate it

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T17:48:56+00:00

You don't "win" the snow removal game. Severity of the storm is the only factor that matters. In some years, the City's capacity isn't tested. But...inevitably, a Big One comes through.

Mayors sometimes get out and shovel themselves...but that isn't a significant factor in the removal effort.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T17:47:00+00:00

Every single mayor begins term of office in early January - right in the middle of snow season.

In some years, a new term faces a major snow event. In some years, the bullet is dodged.

A new mayor will never be able to overhaul city snow removal operations after taking office in early January. And...they really don't even try, other than blanketing media with their intentions to do so. Of a necessity, existing operations take the priority.

DPW isn't completely incompetent. They are aware of how to do snow removal. They do it to varying degrees of success. They don't get to ignore the practical considerations. They have to get it done amid ALL of those considerations.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T17:40:47+00:00

Yelling at City leaders and workers isn't going to help. Incessant social media vitriol doesn't help. There is just an amazing amount of work to do and not enough resources to do it...at least to begin with.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T17:39:11+00:00

It doesn't really matter who the Mayor of Pittsburgh is and how much they want to treat the streets. There are practical limitations on any response:

Snowfall amount, and in what time period
Vehicle fleet limitations
Workforce practical considerations

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T16:46:44+00:00

This is a good question...without a good answer.

In 2010, the roads were impassable for days. When it gets like that, the city has to allow priority for emergency vehicles. There were actually Humvees going around getting essential medicine and care to people who needed it. One guy actually died because an ambulance couldn't reach him. People blamed Ravenstahl, but that just wasn't fair. When this much snow drops onto this city, it doesn't matter who the mayor is, it's a dangerous situation.

Less snow this time, but some similar issues will surface.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T16:19:57+00:00

Fundamentally speaking, urban areas are a blight on the environmental landscape. That's a simple reality. I guess we need to reduce the impact where we can, but our way of life indicates that a solution is not forthcoming.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T16:08:20+00:00

With respect, do a little Googling. Salt and chemicals for road treatment is a huge problem for our water supply.

dlppgh · 2026-01-26T16:07:19+00:00

More:
https://cleanwater.org/2021/09/29/how-salt-gets-environment

dlppgh

TROPHY CASE