The continued population decline of the city of Pittsburgh as recently reported in the Post-Gazette should come as no surprise. It is time we acknowledge and focus on the real causes of that decline. Despite the ongoing development of new residential opportunities in the central business district and a handful of “destination” neighborhoods, Pittsburgh continues to be a city that is not affordable for most middle-class and low-income families. While an influx of students, young professionals and empty nesters is widely touted, young families and less-well-off retirees quietly flee our lower- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Over the last 50 years, we have lost more than half of our population. For a city whose operations are funded primarily by the people who live here, that can’t be a good thing and it is reflected in the state of our infrastructure, our housing stock and the quality of our public services. The fact is that, when people make decisions about where to live, they tend to make smart decisions and right now, for most families, the city of Pittsburgh is not the smart choice. While it has lifted our collective psyche to be included on so many national “Best Places” lists, little is noted of this one: Pittsburgh is the No. 1 city in the world for having the lowest proportion of 5- to 15-year-olds. What does that say about our future?
The first step in any recovery is admitting that you have a problem, and Pittsburgh has several. People who have left or are considering it, whether based on perception or reality, report the following: 1. Pittsburgh is too expensive. 2. Pittsburgh is not safe. 3. Pittsburgh provides substandard public services, especially public education. Add to these concerns the difficult reality that our fractured system of local government makes it very easy to leave the city while staying close to all the amenities Pittsburgh has to offer.
Is Pittsburgh too expensive? National comparisons suggest that Pittsburgh is quite affordable. One publication called Pittsburgh the most affordable city in the world.
When you look at median incomes and median housing prices, it is true that Pittsburgh ranks quite well against other metropolitan areas. The problem is, we keep comparing ourselves to Baltimore and Charlotte when we need to think about how we compare to Baldwin and Shaler.
Much of the out-migration of the city’s population has landed in nearby suburbs where housing prices are comparable but taxes are lower. The city continues to assess a wage tax that is double or triple that of our suburban neighbors and, unfortunately, our city leaders have been all too eager to increase property taxes, as they did in 2014. While parking fees and taxes are paid regardless of where you live, a typical city resident supporting a local business district tends to pay more in parking than a typical suburbanite. Parking costs have also been exacerbated by recent rate increases.
Is Pittsburgh unsafe? While our rank has fallen some, Forbes magazine still rates Pittsburgh as one of America’s safest cities. But when it comes to crime, there is a divide. In some low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, people live in fear of violence. Not surprisingly, these are the neighborhoods that have seen the largest declines in population. I don’t think you need a statistical survey to understand that the people fleeing these neighborhoods are not likely moving into new lofts in the Strip District or condos Downtown.
Are Pittsburgh public services and public education substandard? The loss of population in Pittsburgh has meant a reduced tax base. The city has been unable to keep up with basic maintenance for years, and that is reflected in our crumbling streets, staircases and storm-water systems. However, we do provide world-class public services when it comes to public safety, sanitation, planning and parks.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools have seen steady drops in enrollment and continue to battle achievement gaps while improving student performance overall. The new superintendent has a big job ahead.
But for Pittsburgh, being a decent urban school district isn’t enough. Nearby suburban districts outperform Pittsburgh schools by most measures and, while there are myriad social and economic causes for that imbalance, the end result is that parents are choosing higher-performing schools when they can.
As the Post-Gazette noted, the current loss in population is certainly, in part, the demographic result of more people dying here than being born here. The challenge is retaining and attracting young families who are just starting out.
Tackling this challenge begins with a serious look at our cost and tax structure, reducing crime where it occurs most often and better using our resources to improve public education and rebuild our infrastructure.
We make it too easy for families to leave. Let’s give them more reasons to stay.
Michael E. Lamb is Pittsburgh city controller.
First Published: June 9, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
