It's easy to be negative, but takes work to be positive.....

OK. I post this challenge to all who peruse this forum. The vast majority of posts on this forum are negative in nature whether it be against the businesses, the people, the politicians, etc.


It is very easy to be negative but takes work to be positive. So, with that thought, I urge everyone who wants to post to this thread to make a positive statement about Clairton. We, as a community, need these positive points to build upon.

It seems that that common denominator here is that most people think Clairton can survive, although with a lot of work. No one ever said that climbing the ladder was going to be easy.

Perhaps your positive thoughts, experiences and insight could be the idea or push that is needed to guide the City in a new direction.

Remember, positive ideas and posts only......

Community has the potential to not only recover but prosper from a wide variety of coal-based industries and enjoy a clean environment as well.

I also agree that it is long past due to stop with the negative comments. Reading these posts for a very long time has lead me to believe that as long as the insults keep coming, there won't ever be a positive outcome to this problem. Everyone already knows what's wrong with this area - but what is right with this area and why have most of us chosen to stay despite the problems we already have known for years.

One very attractive feature to the entire Mon Valley is the strong work ethic of the people who live here. The people who have been employed by all of the mills for years are a very hard-working loyal group of men and women who take pride in what they do. That being said, any new industry considering moving in here would know that they would have a very strong group of laborers who would be more than willing to take on a new opportunity for advancement. That plus the fact that most people who live here have chosen to stay even when "the going got tough." That certainly says something for commitment to your hometown and your family.

This is really sad. All this time with negative comments and only 3 that are somewhat positive. Come on, you guys can do better than that!

Any new industry moving in here first would need construction permits and operating licenses which cannot presently be obtained. Thus existing facilities which generate unacceptably high toxic emissions, rely on outdated equipment practices and are sustained only by government life support must be eliminated.

Sorry.....but the is an essential precondition before any recovery can take place or even be attempted. The tail has wagged the dog for over thirty years. That's enough.

Modern plants, the only kind worth building, would employ the latest technology without refernence to whether it is labor intensive or not. This is likely to be resisted as a "job killer" or as a "conspiracy" if the unionist views prevail. For that reason ANY new plants will probably have to be NON-UNION.

Let's face it.....no new industry is going to set themselves up to repeat the downfall of the steel industry.....The American taxpayer might NOT bail them out financially -- or let them slide on regulations and standards like US Steel.

The same is also true of the management of any new plants. We need highly competitive management teams of dedicated professionals -- not people who just "go through the motions" and then make excuses.

One other final thought is that the newly arrived industries might provide company housing at low cost. This has been done before many places. This would have the benefit of eliminating many of the old abandoned and depreciated dwellings and would encourage employees to remain in the the community.

People who live here will spend their money here and pay taxes here -- instead of commuting to "live some place nice". By definition, they would be the "better class of people" that we need -- and this would become "some place nice".

Sorry the solution isn't painless -- but living with the problem is so much worse. Thirty years is at least forty too much!

Rasputin wrote:

Any new industry moving in here first would need construction permits and operating licenses which cannot presently be obtained. Thus existing facilities which generate unacceptably high toxic emissions, rely on outdated equipment practices and are sustained only by government life support must be eliminated.
Sorry.....but the is an essential precondition before any recovery can take place or even be attempted. The tail has wagged the dog for over thirty years. That's enough.
Modern plants, the only kind worth building, would employ the latest technology without refernence to whether it is labor intensive or not. This is likely to be resisted as a "job killer" or as a "conspiracy" if the unionist views prevail. For that reason ANY new plants will probably have to be NON-UNION.
Let's face it.....no new industry is going to set themselves up to repeat the downfall of the steel industry.....The American taxpayer might NOT bail them out financially -- or let them slide on regulations and standards like US Steel.
The same is also true of the management of any new plants. We need highly competitive management teams of dedicated professionals -- not people who just "go through the motions" and then make excuses.
One other final thought is that the newly arrived industries might provide company housing at low cost. This has been done before many places. This would have the benefit of eliminating many of the old abandoned and depreciated dwellings and would encourage employees to remain in the the community.
People who live here will spend their money here and pay taxes here -- instead of commuting to "live some place nice". By definition, they would be the "better class of people" that we need -- and this would become "some place nice".
Sorry the solution isn't painless -- but living with the problem is so much worse. Thirty years is at least forty too much!

You didn't stick to the plan. Here come the insults all over again. This is never going to be solved if people can't find something positive to work with and move forward. Obviously all of this complaining has gotten this town or this forum absolutely nowhere fast. Just to keep re-hashing it solves nothing. Everyone has to change their mindset first and agree to compromise. Even that could be a positive start. I almost feel sorry for you Mr. Rasputin. You must have had some really bad experiences in your life to think that all of these people are evil. There really is good in just about everyone if you will just open your mind and give people a chance.

I actually love living around here. Steel mill and all. I know the risks, but there are risks of something everywhere you go. It's just how you look at things. Clairton is going to survive. There is a lot to be done there for a whole lot of reasons. But, the people I know now from Clairton - black and white alike, are just good decent people trying to make something of their lives. The mill may close someday, or it may not. Unfortunately, no matter what, that answer will always lie with politics and the government. So, with almost a year of going over this subject, it's time to take that information and go to someone who can resolve this already. Because as I have said and many others before me, this cannot be accomplished on here with all this arguing and all this negativity.

Surely someone has to have something POSITIVE and encouraging to contribute! A simple principle taught by most of our parents.....if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all.

Well, I think I just proved my point. Everyone likes to get on here and point out the negatives but when it comes time to point out a positive, there is silence. And the positive comments that did get mentioned were quickly overtaken by the negative comments.

Same old, you have taken the words from my mouth.

The funny thing here is this, I am convinced now, more than ever that most people who post here live no where near Clairton. They may have, years and years ago, and the only data they currently have about Clairton is from the newspapers and internet and forums such as this. And we all know, the media puts such a positive spin on everything! They report the bad and worse but you rarely see anything good.

So with that, I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt and hope you can respond (positively).

My positive thoughts for the city of Clairton.
* a new mayor will be taking the reigns in January. The need for younger people involved in the city who arent of the "good ole boy" club is long overdue.

* An equipment rental company has re-located into Clairton and after 2 years, is in the process of building their corporate HQ in the city.

* Attempts are being made to develop areas within the City. No, Ras, I don't want to hear about permits, yadda, yadda, yadda. To me, those the are big, home run industries. Right now, Clairton is down we need to look to the smaller companies and businesses so we have a cornerstone. Let's look and begin to build with small bricks before we go for the homerun!

OK. Let's hear from everyone else. Remember, only positive comments about Clairton.

sameoldsameold wrote:

<quoted text>You didn't stick to the plan. Here come the insults all over again. This is never going to be solved if people can't find something positive to work with and move forward. Obviously all of this complaining has gotten this town or this forum absolutely nowhere fast. Just to keep re-hashing it solves nothing. Everyone has to change their mindset first and agree to compromise. Even that could be a positive start. I almost feel sorry for you Mr. Rasputin. You must have had some really bad experiences in your life to think that all of these people are evil. There really is good in just about everyone if you will just open your mind and give people a chance.
I actually love living around here. Steel mill and all. I know the risks, but there are risks of something everywhere you go. It's just how you look at things. Clairton is going to survive. There is a lot to be done there for a whole lot of reasons. But, the people I know now from Clairton - black and white alike, are just good decent people trying to make something of their lives. The mill may close someday, or it may not. Unfortunately, no matter what, that answer will always lie with politics and the government. So, with almost a year of going over this subject, it's time to take that information and go to someone who can resolve this already. Because as I have said and many others before me, this cannot be accomplished on here with all this arguing and all this negativity.
Surely someone has to have something POSITIVE and encouraging to contribute! A simple principle taught by most of our parents.....if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all.

This time I merely presented the facts.....but apparently any criticism of US Steel or the USW is considered "negative", "evil",
or "insulting".

"Say something nice" -- OK. When the USW rejected new technology as a "job killer" they made an honest if foolish error. There was however no necessity to continue to repeat that error over and over for fifty years solid in a forlorn hope of validation and to pull the whole MonValley down with them.

As I already said, the potential for reovery and prosperity is here. To unshackle it requires only the removal of one or two minor stumbling blocks that contribute nothing to the community and have outlived their usefulness.

The same is true of any new industry that moves in. If we set up the same conditions in the same situation there is no hope for any different results. The experiences of the euccess of others, our own half century of progressive failure and decay and the example of the auto industry on BOTH counts shows very clearly what needs to be done.

The tail just needs to quit wagging the dog.

Forward Movement wrote:

Well, I think I just proved my point. Everyone likes to get on here and point out the negatives but when it comes time to point out a positive, there is silence. And the positive comments that did get mentioned were quickly overtaken by the negative comments.
Same old, you have taken the words from my mouth.
The funny thing here is this, I am convinced now, more than ever that most people who post here live no where near Clairton. They may have, years and years ago, and the only data they currently have about Clairton is from the newspapers and internet and forums such as this. And we all know, the media puts such a positive spin on everything! They report the bad and worse but you rarely see anything good.
So with that, I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt and hope you can respond (positively).
My positive thoughts for the city of Clairton.
* a new mayor will be taking the reigns in January. The need for younger people involved in the city who arent of the "good ole boy" club is long overdue.
* An equipment rental company has re-located into Clairton and after 2 years, is in the process of building their corporate HQ in the city.
* Attempts are being made to develop areas within the City. No, Ras, I don't want to hear about permits, yadda, yadda, yadda. To me, those the are big, home run industries. Right now, Clairton is down we need to look to the smaller companies and businesses so we have a cornerstone. Let's look and begin to build with small bricks before we go for the homerun!
OK. Let's hear from everyone else. Remember, only positive comments about Clairton.

This is just my point. Home runs, perhaps even grandslams are possible -- but no batter will ever get to first base with shackles on!

Let's strike off those old rusty shackles and throw 'em in the scrap heap! If other cities and regions, with far less to operate with, can do it, then what's wrong with us? Have we beeen yoked to US Steel for so long we cannot think outside that box? Have we been in economic lockdown for so long that we no longer even believe in freedom?

There is the REAL challenge for the new mayor

Strike the shackles off and you can move forward; leave them on and this is as good as it ever can or will get.

This is not so much a positive comment but an observation. My son used to live in Munhall I would drive through the business district and see small shops along the streets, people out walking their dogs or riding their bicycles at 11:00 at night, the same with Dormont I have a close friend that owns a resturant there (MexiCasa, go there!) any way I wonder why those small places seem to thrive and Clairton wilts? Did Clairton have a negative reputation before the decline of the 80's? Why did people REALLY abandon the town? What can we do to get that sense of community back in Clairton that they have in Dormont? Everyone keeps telling me how bad this city is getting. As that negative information gets out more people are inclined to move away, or do not consider a move here. Maybe a first step to positive change would be to take Sameold's advice and if you can't say something nice about Clairton don't say anything. That and keep the pressue on politicians to get the air clean around here.

Clairton is a self segregated town where most of the blacks and the whites live by themselves in diferent parts of town. Each population has a few different needs that have been only half met by any politician or government.************ In other towns just a few miles down the valley, they are mostly white clusters with existing police, health care facilities, local schools and some jobs. The further you go away from Pittsburgh, the Mills, and poverty stricken, high unemployment black populations then the greater chance you have of finding a more stable, albeit economically declining, area. ********************In order for Clairton to grow more prosperous it needs to have retail shops, police, health clinics, busses, local schools, thriving churchs. It does not need any more tatoo parlors, pawn shops, rental stores, check cashing stores, 2nd hand or Used stores, or corporate headquarters. Those places are typical of an old, poor and dying area. ******************** Clairton could thrive as a Retirement Community so long as most of the residents have middle class pensions and health care and own their homes and have good, close health care facilties. Most of the elderly have had their pensions reduced or removed and have vocalized that they don't feel safe here and they need to have reasonable access to hospitals and clinics. *******Clairton, like most areas in this country, needs jobs and the money that brings. Without it the place continues to decline. Support the New WPA or Federal Jobs Program similar to the 1930's that may come out of this Administration that may hire millions of unemployed folks, Black and White and all the colors of the rainbow.*********** Just some pointers: Without permits to tear down or Rehabilitate or build anew then nothing will get done here. It can take years to get permits approved. They need a fast, cheap permit process to help. The gangs need to be broken up, arrested, put in works programs and laws need to be strengthened and enforced to allows this. Fear, based upon real events, is palpable and strong here. That means increasing the number of on the beat police and enforcement capability and securing the funding to have it.

C town gal wrote:

This is not so much a positive comment but an observation. My son used to live in Munhall I would drive through the business district and see small shops along the streets, people out walking their dogs or riding their bicycles at 11:00 at night, the same with Dormont I have a close friend that owns a resturant there (MexiCasa, go there!) any way I wonder why those small places seem to thrive and Clairton wilts? Did Clairton have a negative reputation before the decline of the 80's? Why did people REALLY abandon the town? What can we do to get that sense of community back in Clairton that they have in Dormont? Everyone keeps telling me how bad this city is getting. As that negative information gets out more people are inclined to move away, or do not consider a move here. Maybe a first step to positive change would be to take Sameold's advice and if you can't say something nice about Clairton don't say anything. That and keep the pressue on politicians to get the air clean around here.

When you stop and realize it has nothing to do with the air!No offense but you guys are blaming the wrong things! Start to come together as families-some people need to take care of their children! Quit blaming things that have no outcome on the way things are going-I'll tell you why people walk their dogs in other areas at 11pm-its because they are not getting held up by gun point like my friend and her 16 year old son did while trying to go to bluebird! When she found out both the boys were being held for murder who held her up-she was devestated! They killed before and could of killed her or her son! Please raise your kids guys! I am not saying you in particular-but many are not! No matter how bad the world/air/economy/etc. is if you love your kids and show them right from wrong and leave the poor old grandparents to be just that grandparents-it would be much better! And to all the kids reading this-you are good-even great-keep movin and do what ya gotta do to be successful in life-everybody has a choice/chance!

OK, once again, the purpose of this thread has been missed.

The purpose is to point out something positive in Clairton, not negative, not what needs to be done to rebuild, but something that is positive and going on right now.

I am kind of glad that most people who post here are not residents of Clairton because your negative thinking will never allow 'forward movement'

Forward Movement wrote:

OK, once again, the purpose of this thread has been missed.
The purpose is to point out something positive in Clairton, not negative, not what needs to be done to rebuild, but something that is positive and going on right now.
I am kind of glad that most people who post here are not residents of Clairton because your negative thinking will never allow 'forward movement'

Removing the shackles is not a positive idea? Hmmmmm.....wonder if anyone would agree with that besides USS/USW?

Sorry, but until that is done, "forward movement" will never be more than a nice thought.

Ras,

I know your beef is with USS and USW but you seem to be putting out the vibe that there is nothing positive in Clairton. Let's see if you can go 1 post without referring to USS, USW, the mill, the dump, etc, etc, etc

I think one of the positive things that Clairton has always offered their youth is the community sports programs. However, if Clairton does not offer them in the community, perhaps parents could approach the local businesses and ask for assistance with the fees to have them play in the surrounding communities. For example: a few years ago, Clairton tried to start a community soccer league. There did not seem to be enough kids in the community to have several teams, but there seemed to be enough for a couple of teams. Well, since sign-up/participation fees can be expensive, see if the businesses would be willing to sponsor the kids to play elsewhere.(that would only be if Clairton couldn't get enough kids to play on their own). This could "mix things up" a bit and be a positive outcome for everyone. First and foremost, it would provide a positive activity for the kids. Secondly, Clairton has become isolated from the rest of the area because of the fear and prejudice that has clouded some peoples judgment. We would all have the opportunity to meet new people in the surrounding communities - and just think how amazing our community sports could be! Clairton has always had a WHOLE LOT of talented athletes. And lets face it, the future of all of our communities is our children. Watching them grow into fine young men and women who actually WANT to stay here and rebuild these communities could only be a step in the right direction. And Forward Movement, Im with you - the wheels of progress may turn ever so slowly - but lets keep them turning forward!

I was sitting in front of a home waiting for a client and a police officer stopped to ask if he could help me.(He was fishing to see why I was sitting there.) I showed him that I was an agent waiting to show this home. He thanked me and left.
I've sat in front of many homes in many communities waiting for late clients and have NEVER been asked by the police what I was doing. I just watch them drive by.
Good job Clairton Police officer!

Forward Movement wrote:

Ras,
I know your beef is with USS and USW but you seem to be putting out the vibe that there is nothing positive in Clairton. Let's see if you can go 1 post without referring to USS, USW, the mill, the dump, etc, etc, etc

It has a lot of positive potential in terms of numerous coal based industries. Too unshackle this potential does require a single precondition. Until that is done "forward movement" is only a euphremism.

And it is not negative to unshackle an entire region. What is negative is to lock it down and lock other industry out.

Ras,

I will make you an offer. How about we coordinate a meeting between USS management, USW management and City of Clairton officials to raise your points. You are extremely adamant and very confident of your suggestions I think it is about time we let them hear. Since the holidays and such are quickly approaching, how about we set something up for January. We could turn it into a "town hall" forum so others can come and hear your suggestions and thoughts on improvement.

I think everyone on the forum here agrees that you are quite persistent and possibly if the right people could hear your theory, it might be able to grow the legs it needs to get moving.

Hell, I bet we could gather up a large group from the forum to come by to hear you speak as well.

What do you say?

This could prove to be the most interesting evening of our lives. Face to face - hearing both sides - GREAT IDEA! See, suggestions are looking more positive by the minute!