Braddock: An Intriguing Profile in the City Paper

The Pittsburgh City Paper does some excellent, provocative work. This article about Braddock's mayor is a case in point.

I am particularly interested in this:

Unlike a lot of former industrial towns in the Monongahela Valley, Braddock still has an active steel mill: Andrew Carnegie’s first, the Edgar Thomson Works, began steel production here in 1875. Even so, Braddock is no better off than the de-industrialized town of Duquesne, or Homestead pre-Waterfront Mall. A major reason for this, [Mayor] Fetterman notes, is that almost no one who works at ET lives in Braddock.

The mill “really is just a polluter and historical ballast,” Fetterman says. “It defines the town in some respects, but in terms of its actual relevance today, its role is limited.”

That is perhaps obvious to people who concern themselves with such things, but it is worth remembering when thinking about the region's relationship to "industry," "history" and what it means to "re"vitalize a place.

The town's evolving relationship with its own residents is also worth a look:

A round of applause builds, like a slow-gathering rainfall. It may not be clear to all the onlookers, but the light-up display illuminates a rebranding strategy: “Braddock” is the long-suffering town of old, haunted by crime and memories of better times. “Braddocc” is a new place, whose name symbolically incorporates a doubled “C.”

That’s a spelling used by local members of the Crips street gang, says Mayor John Fetterman; it appears here in homage to, rather than horror of, those young Braddock residents.

Paying homage to a violent street gang might be controversial in some quarters. But consider this before you start flapping your yap:

Fetterman is a six-foot-eight, 300-pound, former high-school offensive tackle from York, Pa. He holds a handful of degrees, capped off by a master’s in public policy from Harvard. He has Braddock’s zip code — 15104 — tattooed on his left forearm. He shaves his head bald and sports a goatee.

So there is a good chance that this guy can crush you in an argument. Or, you know, just crush you. Seriously, I think that kind of presence can only be a positive thing when dealing with the Crips. And US Steel.

From what I can see in the article, this in neither shtick nor political theater. Maybe I am taking the profile hook, line and (six-foot-eight, bald-headed, 300-pound) sinker. But I like this guy. Oddly enough, it's in much the same way I like Mayor O'Connor. It has less to do with policy than with an appreciation for his... what's the word.. style? Attitude?

Comments

[John Morris]

Yes, It was a great article. The discusion about the existing plant is very telling. Braddock, also has hospital, so it has two fairly significant employers and is still a ghost town. That, would indicate that the towns problems lie deeper than just lack of jobs, they are related to the fact that almost nobody with choices has chosen to live there.
That would suport my feeling that Pittsburgh's decline had more to do with the loss of passenger rail and sprawl than the decline of big steel. The fall of the steel companies simply knocked the last tax support out of already thinned out communities.

this from the Wikithingy "." The industrial base continued to expand through the 1960s, but beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the steel industry in the region imploded, with massive lay-offs and mill closures. Beginning in the 1980s, the city shifted its economic base to services, tourism, medicine and high technology. During this transition, the city population has shrunk from 680,000 in 1950 to 330,000 in 2000."

So the industrial base increased in the region throughout the 1960's and yet Pittsburgh had it's population peak in 1950. The hand marks of the real killers of Pittsburgh are right there. The citizens of Pittsburgh abandoned thier own town over many years with the financial support of the government. The final collapse of Big steel only sealed the deal.

[Jonathan Potts]

A couple of initial thoughts--I think you are correct that sprawl and development policies contributed to Pittsburgh's decline. I tend to be very sympathetic with that argument. But let's not lose sight of the fact that the entire region has been losing people, with a few pockets of growth here and there that probably are just cannibalizing some other nearby locale. Now, I don't know where the city stood in relation to the suburbs in the 1960s. But at some point, if your urban core declines (and if your urban core is the center of employment) then eventually the outlying areas will follow.

It's also worth noting that industry may have been expanding but I suspect that because of innovation that it was already starting to employ fewer people by the 1960s. Again, I could be wrong, but as a recent New Yorker article noted, as much steel is produced today in the U.S. as it was three decades ago but with far fewer workers.

What struck me is the fact that the Mon-Fayette Expressway has been on the drawing board since the 1950s. Why then, given all the changes to the region, and all that we have learned about urban and suburban development during that time, are we still considering building this monstrosity? You can argue if you want that Braddock isn't worth saving. But don't argue, as the turnpike official quoted in the City Paper did, that the MFX will save Braddock. Does anyone really think that its biggest problem is that it's not located near a major highway? Please.

[John Morris]

My statement was meant to set people off and is hyperbolic. The fact is though that Pittsburgher's seem to have given up thier city for dead, pretty easily. Hong Kong went through a very dramatic transition from being an almost all manufacturing economy to something completly different in a very short time. This had to have been a great trauma to a lot of people, but the easy way out of evacuating the city was not the road they took. I think that a lot of mythology is pushed by people who want to blame the decline of the steel industry for everything. One reason is to absolve themselves of any guilt. I think NY's hold a pretty deep grudge against the people who left NY for dead years ago.

This brings one to the highway issue. The emblems of NY's resentment are it's highways-- The Cross Bronx, The BQE/ Gowanus, The Belt Parkway and The Long Island Expressway. These are roads that for the most part are used by commuters, who live in the suburbs, and or people who live close in with other ways of getting around. they cut NY off from some it's most valuable waterfront property, slice entire neighborhoods in two and likely play a big role in causing the high rates of asthma among city residents.

While perhaps some cases can be made for the benefits of the MVE, to some comunities further out, the idea that it would benefit Braddock is nuts. I guess the plan was to play upon a deep sense of self loathing and desperation in Braddock. To my mind it's a plan to blow a big chunk of the remains of the town up, so only a place that felt it was worthless would go for it. As a complete outsider, the place looks like a real nice piece of waterfront property. Perhaps this kind of place is not attractive to a lot of people in the region, but the idea of at least trying to tell other people that it is there is very wise.

[Sam M]

John,

I amwith you on the idea that Braddock seems to have a whole hell of a lot going for it. Even my wife, who does not carry much place in her heart for anything Pittsburgh, says "Braddock could actually be really nice."

The upside , in my mind, has to do first with its location. It is so, so close to many of Pittsburgh's "world class institutions." pitt. CMU. All that downtown has to offer. Etc.

Plus the river. Wow. The river. Kennywood. Shopping (the Waterfront and, if you go in for such things, all the big box stuff out in Monroeville.

Moreover, the history of the place. And by that I mean it's layout. It is, I guess, a suburb of Pittsburgh. But it seems clear that it was designed with at least some degree of self-sufficiency in mind. It has a traditional downtown, it has churches, it even still has a hospital.

Of course, I think it will be obvious to everyone that when I came to Pittsburgh, I did not choose Braddock.

Does that mean "shame on me"? I don't know. Maybe it's fair for a small, young family to expect someone else to do the pioneering. After all, the fur trappers, mountaineers and all the other pathbreakers preceded the wagon train by quite some time.

Or Maybe that's crap. maybe I am the problem.

But the fact remains: I think something good could be made of Braddock. I am not at all sure how it should look. But there does appear to be an upside. I hope this mayor fellow can find the way.

One last point: Let's say Braddock IS beyond the point of no return. not that anyone is saying that. But let's just say that. OK. Rather than just letting it lay fallow, what else is there? I suppose you could fill it with towers to support the MFX. But why not... residential. And I mean residential that is already going up. Like stuff out in the exurbs.

I know. That would still amount to "suburban" development. But wouldn't new housing in Braddock be a good alternative? There is already a lot of infrastructure in place (roads and bridges.) And some cultural benefits, like the downtown.

Of course, what to do with the houses that exist? And, er, what to do with the mill?

Anyone ever think of getting US Steel to give it's workers bonuses if they live in Braddock?

Not sure what it would take. Or what the cost might be. But it could be a start toward getting the ever allusive "critical mass."

Just thinking out loud...

[John Morris]

One more point. I meant to say MFX. Also, your point about automation in the steel industry is very important. A very similar thing happened to the whole port/ waterfront job base in the NY region. The port of Newark, handles a huge amount of freight but employs very few people.

I think that for a lot of older people, large industial buildings symbolise jobs, even though many of them actually don't need a lot of workers. I could be very wrong about my numbers, but i think that a huge and fully running integrated mill might need 5,000 workers for all shifts. When one realises that some of those comlexes could take up miles of land, that is not an impressive number at all. Smaller mills employ a lot less.
For comparison, I think that some of the WTC figures are helpfull. I remember hearing that at a peak hour, that the trade center area could have had something like 100,000 people in it. That included something like 50,000 workers in the two towers and all the passersby, most of whom likely worked within a few blocks as well as the subway passengers and shoppers. i think that having aroud 10,000 workers in a large office tower is pretty average and that takes up one large city block.

So even if I am wrong on my numbers by thousands, the point still holds.

(

[John Morris]

I think that the mayors idea is very smart and should be applied to the entire region. Set up a great website, show a lot of pictures, and tell your story. Just lay it out there honestly, We are kind of on our ass right now, but this is what we have here and does anyone have any ideas.

There are in fact a lot of initiatives in the area with similar ideas, but none of them seem to work together. My impression that the mayor has has done the right thing in just throwing it out there, using his own money.

[sean mcdaniel]

Sam,

Admit it. Unless you get a sweetheart of a deal from Pitt, you're a short-timer. Your wife's feelings about Pittsburgh will make for a fast exit once you get your MFA...It's all too common of a story.

As for this comment:
"One last point: Let's say Braddock IS beyond the point of no return. not that anyone is saying that. But let's just say that. OK. Rather than just letting it lay fallow, what else is there? I suppose you could fill it with towers to support the MFX. But why not... residential. And I mean residential that is already going up. Like stuff out in the exurbs."

I think that when you have a mayor that pays homage to the Crips is far beyond controversial...it's insanely stupidly...maybe we should change the spelling of our country to Amerika, because, you know, that Hitler fellow and his SS goons were pretty good at crushing people who didn't like the Nazi way of life.

Oh yeah...I can't wait to see young white couples flocking to a town with a mayor who looks like a hell's angel and tips his hat to the spirit of the Crips...Can't wait for Bloomfield to add another "b" in tribute to the local Bloods.

honestly, the crips thing might be the stupidest thing that you've ever committed to words here...ask your wife how long she's lived next to a gangbanger, crip, blood, law or otherwise. okay, homey?

[sean mcdaniel]

Sam,

Admit it. Unless you get a sweetheart of a deal from Pitt, you're a short-timer. Your wife's feelings about Pittsburgh will make for a fast exit once you get your MFA...It's all too common of a story.

As for this comment:
"One last point: Let's say Braddock IS beyond the point of no return. not that anyone is saying that. But let's just say that. OK. Rather than just letting it lay fallow, what else is there? I suppose you could fill it with towers to support the MFX. But why not... residential. And I mean residential that is already going up. Like stuff out in the exurbs."

I think that when you have a mayor that pays homage to the Crips is far beyond controversial...it's insanely stupidly...maybe we should change the spelling of our country to Amerika, because, you know, that Hitler fellow and his SS goons were pretty good at crushing people who didn't like the Nazi way of life.

Oh yeah...I can't wait to see young white couples flocking to a town with a mayor who looks like a hell's angel and tips his hat to the spirit of the Crips...Can't wait for Bloomfield to add another "b" in tribute to the local Bloods.

honestly, the crips thing might be the stupidest thing that you've ever committed to words here...ask your wife how long she's lived next to a gangbanger, crip, blood, law or otherwise. okay, homey?

[Sam M]

Sean says:

"Admit it. Unless you get a sweetheart of a deal from Pitt, you're a short-timer."

Admit what? How do you think academia works? Do you think that it is possible for someone seeking a spot in the field to simply name his school? His city? Or even his state? If you do think that, you need to, well, get out more. And I am not talking about lowly MFA types. I am talking people who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and got their PhD from Stanford. They go where they get a job. So I am not sure why I have to apologize for that. or why I have to admit something that should be clear to just about everybody.

As for the Braddock guy--like I said, I am not saying I approve of all of his policies. But I do like his attitude. I like the fact that he is doing so much of this on his own. Even though he doesn't have to. I don;t know. Just seems like he has balls. Which isn't always the case.

[sean mcdaniel]

As for JM's usual idiotic comments:

Hong Kong went through a very dramatic transition from being an almost all manufacturing economy to something completly different in a very short time.

Let's see, the HK JM refers to is an island off the coast of communist china ...and was propped up for years by british money...lax business and environmental regulations...rampant corruption...deplorable poverty and overcrowding...inhumane labor laws and practices...yeah, that's a success story for you.

[Sam M]

And as for whether it is OK for communities to "pay homage" to violent gangsters in their midsts, it reminds me of a huge picture I saw in one of the local Bloomfield eateries. I think it was Angelos, but I might be wrong. At any rate, it featured numerous shots of Robert Deniro, Al Paccino and a bunch of other actors. In their roles in classical Shakesperean tragedies? No. In their roles in gangster films like the Godfather.

Should they take it down?

Or is paying homage to actors playing violent gangsters different than paying homage to actual gangsters? If so, how so? Do you think Bloomfield's history as an Italian enclave plays any role in the presence of a picture like that? if so, should we deride that tendency?

Should Irish-Americans stop voting for Kennedeys because of their history of bootlegging?

Etc.

[Sam M]

Finally, two points:

While I doubt he needs anyone to defend him, I find it hard to view John's comment as "idiotic." Perhaps it is possible to think of Hong Kong as a failure. I am sure a lot of smart people do. But I am equally sure that a lot of incredibly smart people, people smarter than me and perhaps even smarter than Sean, take the opposite view.

And back to the Crips thing. This certainly would not be the first time a city embraced its own seedy underbelly. I doubt Las Vegas is known as Sin City because it is "SINgulalry wholesome." And more recently: What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas. Is that a commentary on the stability or longevity of its clergy?

And it would not be the first time gang terminology has entered the common vernacular. Long Beach City is very often referred to as the LBC.

I see no harm in that, and suspect it is less an endorsement of violence than a recognition of local vernacular.

[John Morris]

Sean,

I think it would be very hard for you to show that Hong Kong was propped up by British Money. For most of it's post war history Britain was quite broke. from the wiki

Hong Kong entered a dark age during the Japanese Occupation of World War II, which lasted for three years and eight months. Many Hong Kongers were executed by the Japanese army during the war. There was a significant resistance movement most notably on Lantau Island. After their defeat by the allied forces, the Japanese surrendered on 15 August 1945. The port was quickly re-opened and welcomed a mass migration of Chinese refugees in 1949 from the civil war. Many refugees escaped to Hong Kong fearing the new Communist government in China.

Hong Kong had been a trade port ever since the British occupation, but its position as an entrepot declined greatly after the United Nations ordered a trade embargo against the People's Republic of China as a result of the Korean War. In response, a textile industry was established, taking advantage of the new pool of workers from China who were willing to work for almost any wage. During this period, the economy grew extremely rapidly. Towards the 1970s, Hong Kong began to move away from the textile industry and develop its financial and banking economy. This led to even greater growth, and Hong Kong quickly became one of the wealthiest territories in the world. Its position as an entrepot was revived when the Open Door Policy was adopted by the PRC in the late 1970s under Deng Xiaoping.

Basically the place was a refugee camp.

[John Morris]

Sam,

Sorry for taking over your blog, with this HK, subject. I am pasting these facts in just in case an uninformed person takes Sean's comments as factual. From the Wiki--. I do think that looking at the history of Hong Kong does help to put in the world in some perspective. This is what one city did in the time Pittsburgh has spent whining and navel gazing.

Hong Kong has the least restricted economy in the world and is basically duty-free. It is the world's 11th largest trading entity and 13th largest banking centre.[11] The Index of Economic Freedom states that Hong Kong essentially has the freest economy on earth. Hong Kong is the richest city in China with a GDP per Capita rivaling Western nations. To put in perspective Hong Kong's economic strength, its closest Chinese rival, Shanghai, has a GDP of ¥46,586 (ca. US$ 5,620) per capita in 2003, ranked no. 13 among all 659 Chinese cities. Hong Kong on the other hand, possessed an unparaelled GDP of ¥310,021 (ca. US$ 37,400), ranked #1 among all of Asiatic Continent. It has one of the world's most liberal economies and is a major international centre of finance and trade. The dominant presence of international trade is reflected in the number of consulates in the territory: at June 2005, it had 107 consulates and consulates-general, more than any other city in the world. (Even New York City, host of the United Nations, has only 93 consulates.)

The objective of Hong Kong's monetary policy is to maintain currency stability. Given the highly externally-oriented nature of the economy, this objective was further defined as a stable external value for the Hong Kong dollar in terms of a linked exchange rate against the US dollar at the rate of approximately HK$7.80 to one United States dollar until 2005, when it was allowed to trade within a band of HK$7.75–$7.85.

Hong Kong has limited natural resources, and most food and raw materials must be imported. In fact, imports and exports (including re-exports) exceed the GDP of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has extensive trade and investment ties with the People's Republic of China which existed even before the handover on 1 July 1997. These ties and its autonomous status enable it to be the middleman between the Republic of China on Taiwan and the mainland. Flights, investment, and trade from Taiwan go through Hong Kong to get to the mainland. The service sector represented 86.5% of the GDP in 2001.[12] The territory, with a highly sophisticated banking sector and good communication links, hosts the Asian headquarters of many multinational corporations.

[sean mcdaniel]

Come on, Sam...Equating a loose lifestyle with the thug lifestyle is a stretch, even for a pedant like you. ask yourself (and your wife) would you rather live next door to some middle age swingers with a cat o nine tails in the bedroom or a bunch of 17 year old crips with semi-automatic pistols tucked in the waist band of their drooping jeans?

have you looked into northview heights as your next place of residence...or homewood?

a thug is a thug is a thug...even if he's elected.

as for the photos of deniro and pacino in bloomfield's eateries...uh, sam, they're actors...they just play mobsters on TV and in the movies. try not to get confused. i guess you'd probably eat at german restaurant where they had photos of the nurenberg rallies or a middle easter restauant with a portrait of osama bin laden.

one other point about restaurant owners hanging photos of anyone in their joints, those owners aren't elected officials embracing or paying homage to a criminal lifestyle. rudy guiliani made a career of prosecuting heroic types such as mobster john gotti. damn, sam, in such a short time as an academic, you've completely lost touch with reality.

a thug is a thug is a thug...period...even if he is the mayor of braddock...and can crush me...or squelch the voice of the opposition with physical intimidation. is that really the type of government official you want?

[sean mcdaniel]

Sam Sez:

"Perhaps it is possible to think of Hong Kong as a failure."

I never said it was a failure. My implied point was that is this the kind of success we want in Pittsburgh or anywhere else in America. To an extent, NYC is enjoying a HK style of success, which is why JM and many others can't afford to live in Manhattan anymore. If deplorable living conditions, people scavenging for food on garbage heaps and sweatshop working practices are success, then I guess I'm wrong. You see, JM, behind all those glittering photos and news stories about HK, there are millions of people struggling just to exist. let's ask them about success.

If success is merely based on a region's economic health and the wealth of a small percentage of individuals...well, then you must like the bush government's vision of why america is doing just fine these days with ExxonMobil and other oil companies enjoying record profits and real wages of the American worker continuing to lag behind.

[sean mcdaniel]

Sam sez:

"At any rate, [the restaurant] featured numerous shots of Robert Deniro, Al Paccino and a bunch of other actors. In their roles in classical Shakesperean tragedies? No. In their roles in gangster films like the Godfather.

Should they take it down?

Or is paying homage to actors playing violent gangsters different than paying homage to actual gangsters?"

The answer to the first question...no, the owner of the place shouldn't take down the photos of DeNiro or Pacino (you should watch "Do the Right Thing" for a lesson on what the owner of the estabslishment can hang on the walls of his place). In fact, I loved Pacino and DeNiro in the Godfather movies (except III). And I love the sandwiches at Angelo's (the pizza's so-so) and would never think of not eating there because of the fake mobster photos. However, if he had pics of John Gotti on the wall, the would be another matter.

A couple years ago I almost joined a German fraternal club on the North Side. They place sponsors men's and women's choral groups and serves great food...the main attraction for me. The yearly fees were reasonable (less than $100 for a family) and the atmosphere was great...until one of the managers, a native German who lived in the Fatherland during WWII said it was a shame how "those Jews" gave her homeland a bad name.

yeah, i have some ethics. how about you?

[Sam M]

Holy crap, Sean. Can you really mean this?

"a thug is a thug is a thug...period...even if he is the mayor of braddock"

Being familiar with your reasoning, I suppose you can mean it. But do you even know this guy? Did you even read the article? Seriously. Answer honestly. If only to yourself: Did you read the article? And by that I mean more than looking at the pictures. Does he strike you as a thug? Do you have any evidence to support that? The guy works with disadvantaged kids, for heaven's sake. Which you know, of course, becuase you read it. Right?

Jesus Christ. Talk about losing touch with reality.

By the way, was Henry Hill a thug? You know Henry Hill. The very real mobster whose life served as the basis for Goodfellas. The Henry Hill depicted by Ray Liotta in that movie. Ray Liotta as Henry Hill. As depicted on the mobster art with DeNiro and Paccino.

And I mean, if the poster is simply meant as a tribute to acting and cinema, doesn't it strike you as odd--or an extremely weird coincidence--that all of these movies are the same in certain ways? Try really hard now: In which ways are the movies similar?

Now another experiment. Let's say you walk into an eatery that has posters of famous westerns all over the place. The Outlaw Josey Wales. Once Upon a Time in the West. Shane. Etc. Now, without looking at the menu, do you think you would be able to say something about what kind of place this might be? And about the temperament of the people who run the establishment? Or perhaps you might be able to exclude certain options? For instance, I bet you would be able to surmise that this establishemtn is not an English tea room. Nor a restaurant specializing in Mandarin Chinese cuisine.

Check out the art for yourself. And note that it does not include any of the kids from the Brady Bunch. Julia Roberts is not there. Neither is Ethel Merman. Jerry Seinfeld? Nope.

Maybe, just maybe, the poster considers an aspect of culture apart from the triumph of cinema. And maybe, just maybe, it says something about the people who own the place. That does not mean that those people are gangsters any more than it means that they are actors. Rather, it says something about the things that occupy their minds. And I would think that where they are from, the history of their families, and the challenges that history has thrown at those families might have an impact on what occupies their minds.

Think it over.

[John Morris]

Sam,

I am back to dump some more honk kong data in. Hopefully this will not have to be done all the time.

From the Wikipedia

Among these is a significant South Asian population, which includes some of Hong Kong's wealthiest families. Some Nepalis residing in Hong Kong are Gurkhas who, along with their families and descendants, chose to stay after their service to Britain. In July 2006, British authorities will be granting full British citizenship to all Nepalese and their dependants serving the British army during its stays in the occupied territories; namely Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as among other former territories. This entitles them full privilege to stay and work in the United Kingdom. According to the press secretary, there are approximately 140,000 eligible to apply under this gesture. More than 15,000 Vietnamese, who came to Hong Kong as refugees, have become permanent residents, the majority of whom survive on casual work. Around 130,000 Filipinos work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers and housekeepers, often known locally as amahs, or feiyungs, with other such workers coming from Thailand and Indonesia. On Sundays and public holidays, thousands of these non-ethnic Chinese workers, the majority of whom are women, gather in Central (mainly Filipinas) and Victoria Park (mainly Indonesians) to socialise. There are also a number of Europeans, North Americans, Japanese, and Koreans, largely working in Hong Kong's financial sector. The top three sources of migration to Hong Kong are the Philippines (132,770), Indonesia (95,460), and the United States (31,330).

Hong Kong is the fifth largest metropolitan area of the PRC by population. Considered as a dependency, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries/dependencies in the world, with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km². Hong Kong has a fertility rate of 0.95 children per woman [14], one of the lowest in the world, and far below the 2.1 children per woman required to maintain an even population level. However, population is continuously growing due to immigration of approximately 45,000 per year from mainland China.

Despite its population density, Hong Kong was reported to be one of the greenest cities in Asia.[15] Hong Kong is as of 2006 the fourth most expensive city in the world to live in.[16] The majority of people live in flats (apartments) in high-rise buildings. The rest of the open spaces are often covered with parks, woods and shrubs. About 40% of the land [17] is designated as Country Parks and Nature Reserves. Hiking and camping are popular outdoor activities in Hong Kong's hilly country parks. The irregular and long coastline of Hong Kong also provides many bays and fine beaches for its inhabitants. Environmental concern and awareness is growing, however, as Hong Kong also ranks as one of the most (air-)polluted cities in the world. Estimates are that 70-80% of the city's air pollution comes from other parts of the Pearl River Delta.

Important facts from the above

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries/dependencies in the world, with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km².

Despite its population density, Hong Kong was reported to be one of the greenest cities in Asia.

About 40% of the land [17] is designated as Country Parks and Nature Reserves. Hiking and camping are popular outdoor activities in Hong Kong's hilly country parks.

Estimates are that 70-80% of the city's air pollution comes from other parts of the Pearl River Delta. ( communist China )

population is continuously growing due to immigration of approximately 45,000 per year from mainland China. ( I would assume that many of these are poor people. )

So to recap, You have a city that was essentially a refugee camp of starving people in 1949, that is now of the world's richest, most dynamic and greenest cities. The city continues to take in impoverished refugees from China.

Sean, don't make me dump all of Singapore's data in here.

[John Morris]

The one thing about both Hong Kong and singapore's post war history was a deep sense of humbleness and honesty that the leadership in both places had. They wer proud but realistic. Basically they said, We are poor, but proud and willing to work and we are eager for ideas and investment.

Perhaps Braddock is the new Singapore??

[Sam M]

And given Pittsburgh's connections to Goodfellas, might puritanical people not be EXTREMELY careful about representing that movie? What Pittsburgh connections to Goodfellas? Here's a quote from the movie:

It took me about a week of sneaking around before I could unload the Pittsburgh stuff, but when I did, it was a real score. I started using Sandy's place to mix the stuff and even with Sandy snorting more than she mixed, I could see that this was a really good business. I made twelve thousand dollars in my second week. I had a down payment on my house and things were really rolling. All I had to do was every once in a while was tell Sandy that I loved her. But it was perfect, I'm telling ya. As long as I kept getting the stuff from Pittsburgh, I knew Paulie would never find out. Within a couple of weeks, it got to be so big I needed some help. So I got Jimmy and Tommy to come in with me.

Or this:

It made him sick to have to turn money over to the guys who stole it. He'd rather whack 'em. Anyway, what did I care? I wasn't asking for anything and besides, Jimmy was making nice money with me through my Pittsburgh connections.

At any rate, I suppose, Sean, that you would never eat at a restaurant like this:

www.goodfellas.com

[Sam M]

Hopefully the last word on this subject:

The relationship between Italian-Americans (my mother is full blown) and American gangster cinema is complex. My mom hates those movies. My uncle loves them. Some restaurants and other venues play up the connection. Others don't mention it. Others decry it. Here is an intriguing snippet of the controversy:

http://www.italystl.com/misc/OSIAvsDeNiro.htm

Complex? You bet. And I would prefer to let the people involved figure it out for themselves.

I am inclined to do the same for the people in Braddock.

UPDATE:

Here's an Australian resort that features an 'Al Capone" menu.

http://www.cairnsholidaylodge.com.au/menu2.htm

Is a boycott in order?

Here is a Chicago restaurant that features a pizza called the "Al Capone." It also has a John Dillinger.

http://www.themenupage.com/pizzachicagomenu.html

Boycott?

And gosh, imagine the hoodlems in charge of this place:

http://www.alcaponehideout.com/

[sean mcdaniel]

dear pedantic sam,

i read the article about the braddock mayor, before you posted the link. he sounds a bit on the extreme side (and i didn't agree with the crips stuff on the first read) but i didn't think he was a thug. however, if i remember correctly these are your words:

"So there is a good chance that this guy can crush you in an argument. Or, you know, just crush you. Seriously, I think that kind of presence can only be a positive thing when dealing with the Crips. And US Steel."

So you like a guy who can just crush the opposition or anyone else who doesn't see things his reasonable way. I've been responding to that comment, not the article. that kind of guy sounds like a thug or bully to me. and please don't excuse of being eighagoasljaslsaldocious ...because those are your words. you think that a guy who can use strong arm tactics is a good thing. how englightened.

By the way, Hezbollah does lots of good deeds in Lebanon that just don't seem to regisiter with those unreasonable Israelis. And in some Italian neighborhoods, the local crime bosses donate tons of money to schools and churches and commmunity organizations, which the amazingly grateful Catholic Church accepts.

The mafia relies on force and fear to get what they want. Maybe the next mayor of Pittsburgh should be Joey Porter instead of Luke Ravenstahl. I mean, Joey Porter is the most feared player in the NFL and he could probably crush the mayor of Braddock.

oh yeah, i love putting US Steel on the same level as the Crips. Henry Frick probably would love that one. And I really mean that. Can't wait until they have the first Pittsburgh Crips Graffiti Musuem of Art and Vandalism exhibition in the PG's Seen column.

and, sam, henry hill was a thug. i'll say it. what would you call a mafia henchman...especially when he was ready to kick your ass for taking his parking space in bloomfield.

hey, sam, i'll eat a goodfellas if you take your wife to hooters. Deal?

[sean mcdaniel]

seriously, sam...hooters...why do so many women find that place objectionable? I mean the restaurant's mascot is an owl. i actually took that to mean that the owners were conservationists who were dedicated to protecting the nation's wildlife and forests. but i could be mistaken...please let me know...because i certainly think it's much more reasonable to be offended by paying homage to gangsters and crips than it is to eat at place that uses for its name a slang term for a part of the female anatomy. of course, i am ready to open my new all you can eat buffett named after that famous James Bond femme fatale...you know, Pussy Galore. Sam, bring your wife and kids...the first go-round's on me.

as for chinese restaurants, well, i only go to the ones with picture menu boards above the takeout counter...because i'm too busy looking at the photos in the City Paper.

as for strong arm guys, the city paper ran a similar piece about a guy in lawrenceville who gets things a lot of good things done...sometimes throught the proper channels and sometimes through intimidation...and oh yeah he falls into the "crush you" category too.

from now on i guess our public officials should come from the ranks of professional wrestling...wait they tried that in minnesota...damn.

[Sam m]

Sean,

You still haven't answered my question. So allow me to restate it:

Martin Scorcese, an Italian American, has created a series of very famous, very public pieces of art that explores the relationship between Italian American culture and violent gangsterism. This you view as OK. Apparently because it is a movie.

But the mayor of Braddock creates a less famous but extremely public piece of art exploring the relationship between Braddock and violent gangsterism. This you view as:

"insanely stupidly...maybe we should change the spelling of our country to Amerika, because, you know, that Hitler fellow and his SS goons were pretty good at crushing people who didn't like the Nazi way of life."

Why the different view?

Later, you accuse ME of being the one who called the guy a thug:

"So you like a guy who can just crush the opposition or anyone else who doesn't see things his reasonable way. I've been responding to that comment, not the article. that kind of guy sounds like a thug or bully to me. and please don't excuse of being eighagoasljaslsaldocious ...because those are your words. you think that a guy who can use strong arm tactics is a good thing. how englightened."

Where to begin? If you recall, my actual comment was:

"So there is a good chance that this guy can crush you in an argument. Or, you know, just crush you. Seriously, I think that kind of presence can only be a positive thing when dealing with the Crips. And US Steel."

Note the use of the word "can." For the formulation to support the notion that I called him a thug, I think it would have required "will." Or "would love to." But I didn't use that formulation. And as a preemptive strike against your favorite new catchphrase, I suppose I will have to explain why relying on real words is not "pedantic."

You say you have worked on corporate communications. During the first 30 seconds of which I hope you learned the axiom that the "messenger" is often as important as the "message."

Perhaps it shouldn't be that way. Perhaps in East Sean-istan, Revlon will fire its supermodel spokewoman in favor of a pasty lab technician who can explain in scientific terms why the company's new eyeliner sticks to skin better than Maybeline. Maybe in your world people will stop deciding which candidate to vote for on the basis of which one is taller. Perhaps in your utopia the Crips will sit patiently and drink tea while an accountant walks them through a PowerPoint presentation detailing a cost-benefit analysis of staying in school versus running drugs.

Well, sorry. But we're not there yet.

Seriously. Do you think that there is nothing to the idea that body language, wardrobe and speech patterns convey important information? If so, why do powerful people spend so much time and money at Brooks Brothers trying to prove their seriousness? Because people lsiten to the message, that's why.

Do you think that the Crips would listen to the PowerPoint in the same way that they would listen to a towering dude with a goatee? I don't think so. Any more than I think that people on the board of US Steel would listen to someone with an associates degree from a community college in the same way they would listen to someone with a masters from Harvard. maybe things shouldn't be that way. But they are.

Different things carry different weight with different people. Fluency in certain topics matters. To corporate folks, the important thing is to appear conversant in the kinds of things you are supposed to learn at Harvard. To the Crips, the important thing is to appear conversant in the things you learn on the street. And it's really hard to bullshit either group.

The difficult thing about getting something done in Braddock is that you have to be able to talk to these disparate groups and get them to listen. And very few people are conversant in both tongues.

This guy appears to be. Good for him. I don't think it's "stupid" at all.