(Untitled)

[hopita]

Time to write to your City Council Representative!

First, read this:

City Council majority sets new direction

It keeps all of the city's 32 pools and 19 recreation centers closed. That's a relatively easy call in January, but come Memorial Day, people will be clamoring for chlorine and water.

Then go here:

Pittsburgh City CouncilAnd don't

Comments

[oreofuchi]

To be honest, if a Republican told you he could keep your swimming, he'd be lying.

What do you think should be cut instead of the pools?

[hopita]

There's been talk over and over again of raising the cost of pool passes. I'd certainly rather be paying twice as much than paying nothing and getting nothing in return.

Yes, the pools are not a necessity, but damn it - they're one of the handful of things that make Pittsburgh actually enjoyable, fun.

There has to be something better than this ...

[souldreamer7]

if they budgeted the cities money more wisely, we wouldnt be in this situation...the money goes to stupid projects...or useless new stadiums...the convention center sucks ass and does nothing but overcharge for everything as do the two stadiums...they fix the 16th street bridge(which was fine)...and the 40th(which was fine as well)...yet they leave the 31st bridge as it is (which looks like its gonna collapse any day now)...they have their priorities all fucked up...they cut the police force...emt's and paramedics..school crossing guards...they close rec centers and pools...close schools...why not restructure the city council and the mayors office...ask for help from other cities..do something...they sit on their asses and shoot down every idea...yet more things get cut...more events get cancelled...its sad and it makes me sick...this city has so much potential...and its getting washed away in bad politics

[raphrat]

sooo.... maybe we should all do something wacky and try FUCKING VOTING the next time the opportunity presents itself?

i know it's a pretty outrageous idea 'round these parts... particularly in our demographic...

[souldreamer7]

I do vote..thank you...

[raphrat]

oh, that rant wasn't directed at you in particular ;)
more at the notoriously low city voter turnout amongst
those under the age of 35. there's a sense of futility
on the local level that's just unwarranted.

[raphrat]

also, that was a rather lovely reply you got from Murphy's office.

[spunkyblonde]

I don't think that the city is doing nothing to make it better. In fact, I know for a fact that they are trying to change the situation. As for things like the convention center, that brings in trade shows, which bring in people and thereby revenue. I do agree that there is a problem that we managed to get to this point, but I don't fully disagree with such things as shutting down community pools. I think they're most definitely low priority when we're cutting the police force and such. Anyway, it's a bad situation and I hope it is remedied soon.

[su_carbs]

You know what *really* pisses me off about this whole mess? I live out in the 'burbs, and Mayor Smurphy now wants to enact a commuter tax! What's up with that? Taxation without representation! Once again, people who *don't* live in the city, are being forced to bail it out again due to Smurphy's (along with his cronies) incompetence. I don't think he's getting elected again next time!

[mrfishes]

There is, however, the argument that you use City services --- you drive on City roads, you receive (at least nominal) protection from the City police, fire, and EMS services*, et cetera. Surely you don't expect City residents to foot the bill for the services and infrastructure you use?

* - I'm actually not familiar with how EMS is run in this city; I've been places where it was a City service and others where it was an external non-profit. . .

[su_carbs]

Actually, quite a few of the main roads are maintained by the county. We have our own EMS/police/fire, and our own school systems. My point is, we didn't get them into the mess, why should we be forced (again) to fix their screw-up? The other point, is that we don't even get to elect these clowns! They are taxing us, but we don't even get a say in the matter.