Rebuilding my city__Clairton

I always drive through that area when I come home (I still consider Clairton my home). I agree, the ones I see are nicely kept. Do not know of any other issues about them. Maybe a current resident can comment.

I drive by my parent's home - sold in 2006, and while they kept it up the new owners have breathed new life into it, adding flowers and color and children. I have faith in people and believe the community can rebuild.

To Ras, I do not have expertise in the kinds of alternatives you suggest for the mill but I do know about people and their self worth and of rebuilding communities. When Clairton awakes, and it will, those who have been taking shots at it will say, "Why didn't I get in on that and make a profit?" And the ones who had the foresight to help rebuild it will prosper.

CHS Grad wrote:

I always drive through that area when I come home (I still consider Clairton my home). I agree, the ones I see are nicely kept. Do not know of any other issues about them. Maybe a current resident can comment.
I drive by my parent's home - sold in 2006, and while they kept it up the new owners have breathed new life into it, adding flowers and color and children. I have faith in people and believe the community can rebuild.
To Ras, I do not have expertise in the kinds of alternatives you suggest for the mill but I do know about people and their self worth and of rebuilding communities. When Clairton awakes, and it will, those who have been taking shots at it will say, "Why didn't I get in on that and make a profit?" And the ones who had the foresight to help rebuild it will prosper.

So what it gets down to is how much crap the MonValley will take from that old dump and those bums before they finally throw up. Meanwhile, US Steel has the MonValley locked in, other industries locked out and the economy locked down.

I have looked in on Clairton/ Wilson since late 1970's when I left. Rents were equal to low paying almost non existing jobs. Housing was falling apart and way overpriced, trapping aging residents who wanted to leave but couldn't because the couldn't sell their over mortgaged homes. Relatives were unable or unwilling to take care their children. Public education was not taken seriously by most of the parents, students, and businesses offering decent wage jobs. Air quality was very bad and being addressed slowly or not at all.
I've toyed with the idea of coming back and researched what it would take to do so. I looked at buying empty schools, church buildings, and warehouses. They are inviting at 25 to 100,000$ but the "historic rehabilitation and restoration", "asbestos abatement", "toxic materials and soil clean up", and outright bribes to various government and union officials to do the work that the law say only they can do is obscene. It is cheaeper and easier to burn down a building than rehab or tear it down and rebuild. It could take me 3 to 7 years before I could get all the permits, pay off the inspectors, and bribe the politicians before I would be allowed to begin a rehab or tear down and rebuild project going.
I don't have that kind of money or time to do that. I have made government contacts asking that they create programs to tear down and clean up sights in a matter of a week or less per lot, removing all liability from anyone, and letting them properly deal with the asbestos, toxic soil, etc. They are thinking about it but it may be too late unless the President puts money into the effort.
Coming back to Clairton/ Wilson for me, now, would mean moving into an old, asbestos/toxic filled house and yard, breathing bad air, not having easy access to health care or jobs or groceries or safety and peace of mind.
The Great Depression 2 continues and Clairton is getting deeper into debt, foreclosures, joblessness (if that is possible) and even the threat of cutting off most of the population of their welfare and disability funds and the state goes deeper into debt and tax collection loss.
Until the government declares the city an official Disaster Area and forces a clean up of its gang problem, rotting buildings, broken infrastructure, education, policing, and so on, then the city is on its final journey into that dark, dark night called a ghost town.
I will continue to work behind the scenes to clean up Clairton/Wilson and may move back after certain issues are taken care of.

to Rasputin...Bury the Horse, its been dead a while. Move on to something else. Doesn't take much to tear down. Takes more energy to build. We all see what route you are taking.
to: I am just finishing up.....Clairton was my hometown until I move my education, skills and talent away from Clairton. Sometimes I feel guilty about being part of the problem. There are other steel towns that have fought back and are bringing other industry into their towns. I think that call centers(insurance, telecommunications, financial, technological) could do well in the valley. Wonder how many grant writers exist in the area to write grants to help turn people's lives around? I call myself coming home because I am seriously considering it.

Coming Home wrote:

to Rasputin...Bury the Horse, its been dead a while. Move on to something else. Doesn't take much to tear down. Takes more energy to build. We all see what route you are taking.
to: I am just finishing up.....Clairton was my hometown until I move my education, skills and talent away from Clairton. Sometimes I feel guilty about being part of the problem. There are other steel towns that have fought back and are bringing other industry into their towns. I think that call centers(insurance, telecommunications, financial, technological) could do well in the valley. Wonder how many grant writers exist in the area to write grants to help turn people's lives around? I call myself coming home because I am seriously considering it.

YOU ARE RIGHT! It takes more energy to build. That is why US Steel will never make any upgrades to this of dump. The permits are an exercise in political chicanery and should be rescinded.
Get rid of that old dump so that VIABLE industries can come in and MODERN plants can be built.

It will also bring a better class of people.

Most states are technically in bankruptcy, CA being the perfect example of a failed economic state. People are leaving the worst states in search of cheap housing, low taxes, reasonable pubic transportation, businesses and services and employment.,,,,,,,,,What does the Clairton/Wilson area and valley cities offer? Few jobs, bad air, racial and class segregation, gang and criminal infestation, declining populations, declining home and property values, increased bankruptcies and foreclosures, increased taxes, less public services, and increased fear and loathing of neighbors..........Do you want to rebuild Clairton? Really? Ask for a complete moritorium on all local and property taxes in the city. Ask the governor or some adult in authority to declare a Health and Safety Emergency in the area. Yes, they can do it just as they would a disease pandemic or major flood or earthquake or fire. Get money to move people out that need or want out of the area. Tear down unlivable or unusable buildings. prep certain areas and have Fanny Mae/ Fredie Mac buy up other homes and lease them at low monthly rates to those wanting to live there. Take the empty lots and put in Small Homes or small new "energy star" trailers or modular homes. Keep them very low cost, energy efficient, and small yet not cramped..........Hopefully the fed will come through and offer to finance the homes and or lease them out. Make sure a bus or van system is in place to ensure transportation to vital needed areas. THIS CAN BE DONE NOW. I have been contacting HUD, FEMA, Fm/Fm, etc and political staffers and grant givers concerning rebuilding this city..........A funny conversation took place with a very powerful source. It was said that the less people that are in the valley then the less problems they will have when King Coal ramps up. Coal and the railroads are poised to make a big come back as well as nuclear energy. The valley has already lost 50 to 90% from their peak populations. Real estate and mineral rights are cheap or even free for the asking. Old mines could be reopened and expanded, coal mounds enlarged, coal burning and gasification and tranformation with all its attendent pollution rapidly increased, coal ash dumps increased, nuclear power plants built and nuclear waste sites created. If people complain then, under eminent domain and government agreements they could be bought out "dirt/land cheap" and the complaints would go away. The plan is already in the works if Coal and Nuclear interests have their way as foreign energy fears escalate..........I was told a few other things that would make your hair stand on end or make a few of you boiling mad. For the most part the rich and powerful interests are just fine with what is happening in this area and have plans for it that don't include you or your healh or your economy.

3rd Street wrote:

Most states are technically in bankruptcy, CA being the perfect example of a failed economic state. People are leaving the worst states in search of cheap housing, low taxes, reasonable pubic transportation, businesses and services and employment.,,,,,,,,,What does the Clairton/Wilson area and valley cities offer? Few jobs, bad air, racial and class segregation, gang and criminal infestation, declining populations, declining home and property values, increased bankruptcies and foreclosures, increased taxes, less public services, and increased fear and loathing of neighbors..........Do you want to rebuild Clairton? Really? Ask for a complete moritorium on all local and property taxes in the city. Ask the governor or some adult in authority to declare a Health and Safety Emergency in the area. Yes, they can do it just as they would a disease pandemic or major flood or earthquake or fire. Get money to move people out that need or want out of the area. Tear down unlivable or unusable buildings. prep certain areas and have Fanny Mae/ Fredie Mac buy up other homes and lease them at low monthly rates to those wanting to live there. Take the empty lots and put in Small Homes or small new "energy star" trailers or modular homes. Keep them very low cost, energy efficient, and small yet not cramped..........Hopefully the fed will come through and offer to finance the homes and or lease them out. Make sure a bus or van system is in place to ensure transportation to vital needed areas. THIS CAN BE DONE NOW. I have been contacting HUD, FEMA, Fm/Fm, etc and political staffers and grant givers concerning rebuilding this city..........A funny conversation took place with a very powerful source. It was said that the less people that are in the valley then the less problems they will have when King Coal ramps up. Coal and the railroads are poised to make a big come back as well as nuclear energy. The valley has already lost 50 to 90% from their peak populations. Real estate and mineral rights are cheap or even free for the asking. Old mines could be reopened and expanded, coal mounds enlarged, coal burning and gasification and tranformation with all its attendent pollution rapidly increased, coal ash dumps increased, nuclear power plants built and nuclear waste sites created. If people complain then, under eminent domain and government agreements they could be bought out "dirt/land cheap" and the complaints would go away. The plan is already in the works if Coal and Nuclear interests have their way as foreign energy fears escalate..........I was told a few other things that would make your hair stand on end or make a few of you boiling mad. For the most part the rich and powerful interests are just fine with what is happening in this area and have plans for it that don't include you or your healh or your economy.

So, how's that "HOPE and "CHANGE working out for ya???

C town gal wrote:

<quoted text> So, how's that "HOPE and "CHANGE working out for ya???

If Clairton has a problem with "welfare bunnies" ..... then US Steel should be called......"HARVEY! "

FOR "THIRD STREET"

If you read some of the earlier posts on this thread and others, by myself and others, you would see a number of specific and viable suggestions for the development of alternate coal based industries. This resurgence can be a very positive thing. Railroads and nuclear power? Why not? England, France, Germany and Japan are proof-positive that this is also practical AND beneficial.
The resurgence of the steel industry? Again, there is no reason why this cannot happen. One needs only to look at the experience of the auto industry. Foreign owned operated and managed plants employing modern technology and design, manned by a dedicated professional NON-UNION workforce is certainly a credible option.
The only thing holding the MonValley back is that old dump. Its pollution level is so high that no new industry CAN be developed in the MonValley as long as it is allowed to operate. No new plants, no matter how clean, safe or efficient can get an operating licence or even a construction permit as long as that old dump has to be accommodated.
Get rid of the old dump and those overpaid bums!
Give the rest of the MonValley -- the people who actually live here -- a chance!