Pittsburgh, how you love me, how you love me not. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would list some of the ways that Pittsburgh has loved me and some of the ways that it has not.
One of the best ways that Pittsburgh has loved me over the years has been through its people. Pittsburghers are as generous and kind as they are gritty and strong. A perfect example of this was seen in the aftermath of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting when Pittsburghers turned out en masse to support their neighbors.
Pittsburgh has loved me through its abundance of community resources. Namely, the parks, museums, libraries, schools and arts that have enriched my life over the years.
Yet, there are ways that Pittsburgh has not loved me during my many years as a resident of this city. From inaccessible public transportation, to poor air quality, to insufficient affordable housing, I have been disappointed by the city I love.
The thing about Pittsburghers, though, is that we do not give up too easily on the people and places that we love. So, I’ll keep loving Pittsburgh even when it’s hard because we are in it for the long haul. Together.
Cynthia Jankowski
Oakland
The writer is a member of the Write Stuff Team of the Health Committee for Persons with Disabilities of the Consumer Health Coalition.
First Published: February 13, 2019, 5:00 a.m.