You`ve got to admire Pittsburgh. Here is a city that exemplified the effects of a steel economy. The ”Steel City,” as it was known, belched smoke around the clock. At times, noon looked like midnight. Businessmen carried an extra white shirt with them so they looked fresh in the afternoon.
What other American city has gone from Grimesville to the most liveable city in the United States in 35 years? Of course, even before its two
”renaissance” phases starting in the late 1940s, Pittsburgh had its good points. It`s just that they were obscured.
So how does a city make such a dramatic transition, from a manufacturing economy to a current base built on Fortune 500 companies, medical science and high tech with a skyline to match?
Sophie Masloff, Pittsburgh`s 72-year-old grandmotherly mayor, attributes it to political leadership. For much of the renaissance, Pittsburgh had strong mayors. The renaissance was initiated and guided by David L. Lawrence, a Democratic powerhouse much like Chicago`s late Richard J. Daley. During the late 1970s and `80s, Richard S. Caliguiri, a young political figure led the city until his death in 1988. Then came Masloff, city council president who stepped in as mayor and then was elected to a full term last year.
”In addition to political leadership, we have great universities and great corporations. (The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon University and Duquesne University are strong institutions. And the city is headquarters of 12 Fortune 500 companies.) And they`ve all been very civic-minded and generous, financially.
”Pittsburgh is a city of people who care about people,” said Masloff, echoing an oft-heard theme. ”The people here really care about each other and try to help. I believe that`s partly the reason for success.”
Masloff, a life-long Pittsburgher involved in politics for 50 years, is adept at touting the city`s sights. She encourages people to visit Mt. Washington, ”because they can see the whole city from there.” She personally enjoys the Civic Light Opera, the Pirates and the Steelers, and says she sees to an occasional game. ”Pittsburgh is a great sports town and we`re so proud of our teams.”
And many of players enjoy Pittsburgh. From the Steelers` Super Bowl teams, such greats as Rocky Bleier, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Andy Russell and Lynn Swann have pursued post-football careers in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh`s proximity to the great outdoors of western Pennsylvania, which translates to good fishing and hunting, attracts the ball players.
”My wife and I were searching for a home in Pittsburgh and in California,” said Hardy Nickerson, a linebacker for the Steelers and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. ”We settled on Pittsburgh. We found the most liveable thing about the city was the people. You get a lot for your money in real estate, too. We liked the atmosphere and the city as a whole. We frequent a lot of restaurants-Christopher`s on Mt. Washington, the Grand Concourse, some of the small restaurants in the Strip District.”
Weegie Thompson, a Steelers wide receiver out of Florida State, said, ”I love to hunt and fish and Pennsylvania is a very good for that.” Thompson and his wife both grew up in Florida. ”I know about southern hospitality and the people here are the same-open and gracious. There`s a neighborhood atmosphere.”
”I love the area, I love Pittsburgh,” said Sid Bream, Pirates first baseman. ”Pittsburgh is clean. It`s not like it was during the steel mill times. I`m an outdoorsman. You can do anything you want to do around here-any kind of winter sports. If you want to come downtown, you can enjoy the opera or plays. There`s the Aviary, the Highland Park Zoo, the Carnegie. Lots to do.”
Pirates manager Jim Leyland, a former Chicago White Sox coach, said ”I was never in Pittsburgh until the day I took this job (in 1985). I think it`s my kind of town, big enough to get lost in, yet it`s got a small town atmosphere. It`s a very ethnic city.
”I would hate to leave here. There are only two places that I would ever consider my home-and I`ve been to a lot of places in baseball-Perrysburg, Ohio, and Pittsburgh. If I got fired here, which is eventually going to happen, I would either stay here or go back to Perrysburg.” As long as the Pirates remain in first place ahead of the New York Mets in the Eastern Division, and perhaps bring Pittsburgh another World Series championship, Leyland might vy with Mayor Masloff for her job.
Summed up Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach since 1969, ”The big thing about Pittsburgh is its people. They are very friendly, very outgoing, very accepting. That`s what marks Pittsburgh as some place special, not the buildings and not the development. The attitude of the people marks the city as a unique place.”
Masloff, Leyland, Noll-they all seem to say the same thing. And other Pittsburghers-native or not-feel the same. Lorin Maazel, after conducting orchestras all over the world, was lured back to his native city music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. And Dr. Thomas E. Starzl pioneered the liver transplant in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh corporations now have no problem recruiting people to come here and work, said Masloff. ”Pittsburgh had such a bad image for so many years. But it has all been turned around.”
During a brief discussion with Noll about whether Pittsburgh is East or Midwest, a subject that draws votes on both sides, he quipped, ”When you live here, of course, this is the center of the universe, right?”
