Category: Another Viewpoint || By

(The following is a submitted commentary. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the board of directors of Tube City Community Media Inc. To respond, write to tubecitytiger@gmail.com, visit our Facebook page, or send a letter to Tube City Online, P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134.)

. . .

McKeesport, Pa. --- glorified in old for untold miles of pipe, resented in more recent times for becoming an embarrassment of bad management!

A rather interesting (and yet none-too-unique in gist) quality of this previously fine city is that it arose from a ferry port on insect-infested river banks --- if early adventurers' travelogues are to be trusted --- to a sterling example of a thriving, bustling metropolis peopled with the hardest-working, upstanding-ist folks this side of popes and politicians.

Barges brought materials, mills milled, and those hard-workers worked. My very own paternal grandfather (or Pap Pap as we McKeesporters like to say) was a pipe inspector for National Tube Works for his entire working life, I believe --- notice how "work" and its variations are noticeably present in this paragraph? Industry boomed like it had no bounds, commerce and high-times were plentiful!

Then came the bust, which almost invariably follows any boom worth its weight in iron.

Now I am surely no expert on local history, industry or human nature. But I am, beyond a reasonable doubt, an expert on my own recollections and the memories I've retained or concocted since my initial first-hand experiences. I am a literal child of the '70s --- born in McKeesport, in 1970 precisely.

My parents were both born in McKeesport, in 1940 and 1943 respectively. With the exception of my maternal Grandma who moved to McKeesport with her family in 1916, from way out (that's how she saw it, anyway) in the Sheraden neighborhood of Pittsburgh, (and who also proudly worked the mimeograph machine in the original G.C. Murphy's in McKeesport), I am a third-generation McKeesporter.

And as such, I do consider myself able to comment free of the restraints of being thought of as an outsider.

With my credibility accounted for, I now have to admit that I removed myself from McKeesport as soon as possible. "Well, why would you do that?" you might ask.

And I would simply answer: "Because there was no reason to stay. It was feeling unsafe and sad when it could muster the energy, and comatosely stagnant when it couldn't."

I would dare to say that's the answer nearly every person who's participated in the population decline would give. Unless they're the optimistic sort, in which case they might reply with "I wanted to be closer to my
job."

. . .

So why would yet-another-former-resident take the time to take your time to focus attention on the twitchy spasms of a mostly comatose small town whose laurels have been withered for three decades? Because for whatever reasons, the City of McKeesport is asking to be noticed. I heard it, and now feel obliged to pass it along.

I have no intentions of creating conflict, offending anyone or causing so much as one ruffled feather by "spreading the word," but I'm pretty sure it will happen --- that's the nature of McKeesport in the 21st century (Imagine what John McKee would think of that kind of staying power.)

McKeesport should be positively overflowing with activity. It's not. And frankly, there's not a valid reason to be found.

Excuses, yes. Reasons, not so much.

. . .

It's true, the heavy metal foundation was stripped away, in much the same fashion as the earlier coal mining industry collapsed. Thousands of jobs were lost in a very short time. As difficult as those days were, it's beyond time to temper the warm glow of resentment --- it needs to fade away just as certainly as the sulfur-scented, red skies of my childhood.

McKeesport is still the second largest city in Allegheny County, McKeesport is still conveniently located between the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers. It still has plenty of structurally sound --- and in some
cases architecturally valuable --- buildings. There are still young people!

All the usual trappings of a functioning city remain; fully-staffed fire and police departments, a hospital, a library, schools. It even has the beautiful Renziehausen Park which boasts "the second-largest rose garden in Pennsylvania"!

So how does McKeesport continue to waste away long after many nearby municipalities that shared the same boom and bust cycle have been all but consumed? Because people still care.

And to answer that same question in the other direction: Because the people that still care lack the know-how to fix it or the intestinal fortitude to stick a fork in it and move on.

. . .

I somewhat recently had the opportunity to attend a meeting about the cultural aspects of McKeesport and its surrounding region. In preemptive defense of the slings and arrows that may soon head my way, it's in my best interest to explain up-front, that I see value only in "meetings" which are called for planning purposes.

Meetings designed for mutual appreciation of some subject or another, or as an excuse to write off a business deduction are fine and dandy, but I tend to regard those types of meetings as social "get-togethers" or tax evasion.

At this particular meeting I was introduced --- or rather we each in attendance introduced ourselves to one another --- to some very nice people who are interested in "revitalizing" if you will, the grand old Tube City.

Now with all due respect and appreciation for what these nice people are doing and would like to do for the area, I was disappointed. It was great to hear about the new classes at the library and to learn that there is a full schedule of events slated for the beautiful Renzie Park this summer! It was good to know that the City may get grant monies for playground construction and improvements!

And it surely was positive news that the Council (or at least the Councilman present) wants to organize some sort of event that will be located precisely where the blight isn't visible from coming in on that one road.

. . .

Most of all it was nearly inspiring (perhaps inciting is a more accurate description) to find out that there are some folks who genuinely want improvement and just might be willing to get their hands dirty to make it happen.

But we all know getting dirty doesn't necessarily mean getting things accomplished. Time, effort and money are usually in short supply for most folks, so the concept of "working smarter, not harder" needs to be
applied --- and in this particular instance, working faster looks like a good idea too.

Each decade there are approximately 5,000 less people in McKeesport. With a current population hovering around the 19,000 mark, the figures don't bode well for the future. The surrounding communities aren't on the road to prosperity either. Logic (and basic math) dictate that whatever's in place isn't working. It's time for something different.

McKeesport was recently the subject of a short film and apparently an entire project known as "McKeesport 2013." The film itself is a fairly balanced snapshot of the locale. It features a few downtown businesses which remain, a few which hope to launch, and the sentiments of some current and former residents.

. . .

On the whole, it's sentimental and sad. And that, my friends, is the problem with McKeesport in a nutshell. Sentimentality should be reserved for school reunions and funerals. The past is the past and only holds value for how it affects the future! Stop the crepe-hanging!

Let us move on.

McKeesport has an age distribution that practically dictates a bright future --- 79 percent of the population is below the age of 65! What do people beneath retirement age need? Jobs! They need jobs that will enable them to remain in the city.

What does a city need to create jobs? Businesses! Businesses establish where it's affordable to do so, where there are available employees and where there is steady access to customers.

You know where this leads ... McKeesport has land, buildings, and in the neighborhood of 8,000 working-age residents. The bridges alone provide passage for more than 200,000 vehicles per day. Through the Pennsylvania Keystone Opportunity Zone program, business are eligible for significant incentives to set up shop. Someone needs to let the potential job and tax-bringers know that there's a sweet spot just waiting to be taken advantage of. Hang a sign, fly a flag, communicate it in any and all ways!

. . .

Communication in this River City is a problem in its own right. It's time for a technology overhaul. Websites exist to provide information. Information is provided so that interested parties can take action. And if there's one thing above all others that McKeesport needs, it's action.

There really are many positive things happening in McKeesport, it's just that nobody knows about them. Revamp the websites. Create accessibility and encourage everyone to interact!

Nearly all of the local organizations --- government and otherwise --- have "homes" on the internet. Most even have social media pages. Use them and use them well.

Motivate the youth --- put them to work! All people need purpose and a sense of ownership. If a young person doesn't feel invested in their community they'll abandon it faster than yesterday's pop culture reference. Give that 4,000-count bundle of energy some direction.

. . .

Yes, gird your loins, I'm suggesting a "street team." Instead of the McKeesport Message Committee printing yard signs and having essay contests (of which the prizes are time away from McKeesport), why not spend that money on some t-shirts for a group of students who are able and willing to reach out to more young people?

Let them know about the good things that are happening and give them something productive to do. Give them an understanding of pride, dignity, respect and hope instead of textbook definitions.

Give the older generations a platform. Age equals experience and experience is full of information about what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change. Invite the residents to voice their opinions and in the most democratic fashion, create a plan of action based on what the bulk of the opinionated population needs and wants. If you don't know how to make a particular thing happen, find someone who does.

If an individual believes their concerns are considered and their ideas are taken seriously they'll be motivated to act for the betterment of themselves and their community.

. . .

In theory, it's all very simple. In practice it may prove a bit more difficult, but bearing in mind the true meaning of "practice," something usually has to be attempted repeatedly until it works well. And for something to be repeated, it has to be attempted in the first place.

"Hard work" has been a long-standing source of pride in McKeesport's history. It's time to ensure that it always deserves to be.

--- Jenni Dangel is founder of the WIP Arts Project
. . .

The preceding was a guest commentary. Responsible replies are welcome.

Tube City Community Media is committed to printing viewpoints from residents of the McKeesport area and surrounding municipalities. Commentaries are accepted at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for content or length.

To submit a commentary for consideration, please write to P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134, or email tubecitytiger -at - gmail -dot- com. Include contact information and your real name. A pen name may be substituted with approval of the editor.