They're Everywhere: People and Plates from Out of State

Something interesting is afoot around Pittsburgh. It might not be obvious if you're walking around, looking about town. But, hop in your car and travel about the airport corridor. Look at the cars around you. Look at the licence plates. Specifically, look at the states of the plates around you. There are suddenly a lot of out-of-state people coming to Pittsburgh.  

Like most kids, I grew up playing the licence plate game on trips. Playing the license plate game always had to be on trips, because, at the time I was growing up, people were leaving the area--not coming here. 

Around here, it was always just PA plates and you'd have to hope for the occasional over-the-road truck passing through with an out-of-state plate. As a result, punch bugs, counting cows or cemetaries had to suffice for trips within the area. 

But, that has seemingly changed recently. Even on my 30 minute commute, it's nothing for me to see license plates from 15 states, which is awesome. It means people are coming to Pittsburgh from other places. And, it's not just people passing through. These are people here daily for the business commute. 

Maybe it's a result of more movies being filmed in town. Maybe it's because Pittsburgh is continuously voted a most-livable city. Maybe it's because our property is relatively inexpensive, stable and spacious. Maybe it's the emerging green living trend here in Pittsburgh. Maybe some of it is rental car traffic through the airport. But, popular consensus seems to be that a lot of these people are here to work.

People are coming to Pittsburgh to work for Google or CMU. People are coming to Pittsburgh to work in medical research. People are coming to Pittsburgh to work in the natural gas drilling boom that's happening in the area. Jobs are bringing people to Pittsburgh. That's something I haven't seen most of my life. 

It's been more than a couple of generations since Pittsburgh was stood on its head by unemployment from the fall of the industrial age. There's a reason that Steelers fans are everywhere. It's not just because they're an honorable, winning franchise. It's because Pittsburghers were scattered about the nation in search of work after our industrial heritage became passe. 

So, to see people coming to the area--in some cases, coming BACK to the area, is fantastic. It's validation that Pittsburgh has turned the corner and is returning to its prominance as more than a place to visit--it's a great place to live. Take a look the next time you're out and about. See how many plates you see representing people coming to our area. 

Trick or Treat: Contest for $25 Market District Gift Card

Ok so Halloween is coming up and so is the opening of the new Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson Township! So, I'm going to let you show your "spirit" by combining the two events.

Your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- is to POST a picture of YOU in your Halloween costume holding a sign saying that "Market District is opening in Robinson."

You will need to post said picture via Twitter and/or Facebook and draw my attention to it BEFORE NOON TOMORROW (either via @woodysworldtv or posting it on my wall on Facebook). I will post all of the pictures to this page and determine my first winner of a $25 gift card to the new Market District.

Anybody can win from the Pittsburgh area. If you don't win, don't worry. There will be more chances to win. Have fun with this, I know I will!

Trick or Treat: A New Market District Is Opening

Trick or treat is always fun for me. I love giving away candy and seeing the costumes--especially in Pittsburgh. It's always funny to see how the kids can incorporate their winter coats into their costumes. At least they don't have to wear those hard plastic jumpsuits that came in cake boxes like we (I) did years ago.

As torturous as it was sporting a plastic mask that I couldn't see out of, trying not to crack a frozen plastic jumpsuit and dodging the homes that were giving away Mallow cups, I still loved it. Everybody was happy to see me dressed up and rewarded me just for doing it.

I just wish there was a better way that we, as adults, could engage in the festivities. Sure, we can dress up and party, but where are our treats?

Well, here's where it gets fun! I've been given a handful of treats to give to you, my online friends.

I'm sure you've heard the word, Giant Eagle Market District is opening up a new store in Robinson Township. Well, they've given me some gift cards to share with you, my readers.

I'm not a very commercial guy. But, if I get a chance to make putting up with me worthwhile, I'll pass it along to you. And, if I happen to make you guys jump through a couple of hoops to win and I am amused, we both win, right??

So, starting tomorrow, I'll be holding a couple of Trick or Treat contests to award the gift cards to you all via this blog, Twitter and Facebook.

And, before you yell and cry foul, there aren't any rules and I'll tell you in advance, this isn't fair -- it's Woody's World. Market District supported Pittsburgh Pod Camp. So, I'll give them out as I see fit and best helps them to communicate their message.

Afterall, what is the fun in having power if you don't abuse it? You'll just have to pay attention and hopefully win an advance on your Market District lunch or Thanksgiving dinner.

Wasn't there a TV station that said "watch and win?" Well, I'm taking it. Watch and win! Oh, and thanks for reading.

The Joy and Amusement of Watching Protester Punishment

Nobody said civil disobedience would be easy. After all, disobedience means that there are rules and there is some kind of consequence for noncompliance. Otherwise, why follow the rules, right?

So, I guess maybe that's why I have to giggle when I hear protesters decry the evils of getting shot in the ass by rubber bullets or a having a headache from intense audio shot at them by police. Either that, or it's the same demented side of me that laughs really hard when people bite it in the show Wipeout. Knowing me, I'd guess it was the latter.

In either regard, you know what you're getting into when you show up. In Wipeout, there are two ways you can approach things. You can take your time and carefully traverse the obstacles, knowing you'll be safe, but probably won't make the show or make any money. OR, you can fly recklessly though the course in an effort to win and make money with full knowledge that you'll probably have a spectacular "wipeout"and probably make TV in trying.

Same thing goes with protesting. They call it CIVIL disobedience for a reason. Those that do it coherently and methodically (a la purely civil) probably will not get hurt. But, by the same token, they probably won't get the TV coverage either.

There needs to be a balance. The person that wins in Wipeout is able to call upon a balance of fortitude and caution. Same goes with the protesting. Too much civil or too much disobedience, you'll either end up beat down in the mud or on the cutting room floor.

For example, the Greenpeace demonstration at the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit was a spectacular balance of fortitude and caution that resulted in their victory in getting their message across. Greenpeace showed great fortitude in a daring demonstration where protesters rappelled from a high-visibility bridge with a sign with their message.

At the same time, Greenpeace showed extreme caution by using protesters skilled at rappelling and making sure that nobody was hurt (and no damage came to property).

The protesters fully-knew and understood the consequences of the fortitude portion of their demonstration. It is disobedience after all. And, when they ascended their ropes, they willingly turned themselves in to authorities without incident. Nobody was beat, gassed, shot or deafened.

The protesters did their job and the police did theirs. Balance! The result? WIN! They had the shock and awe to get on to TV and they had the skill to make sure their message was communicated while not being overshadowed by damage or injury.

So, that's not to say that you have to be arrested to conduct a successful protest. In fact, I watched thousands of people march in protest to the G-20 in the Thomas Merton Peace March.

Thousands of people with several different agenda all marching and showing symbols of their position. Not a single one of them received a cross look from a police officer. And, to my knowledge not one of them had a brush with the law--or experienced police brutality. In fact, I shot video and pictures of the event.

So, what does that leave? The "protest" that is all fortitude (disobedience) but no civility or coherence (a la "anarchists"). These are the absolute fail protests that I classify purely as amusement because they're all reckless abandon with no visible substance and you just know they're going to end badly.

You know you can count on these people to run blindfolded in a field with an electric fence and be "shocked" when they get zapped by testing the boundaries. They willingly enter the obstacle course, challenge the course and cry foul when the course wins. (photo by @iwasthere)

It is no small wonder that these are the ones that get the TV time--largely because they are the most amusing to watch.

They're angry little pawns that rail against authority by following somebody's orders to destroy things to communicate. They're pent up balls of unsubstantiated frustration just like a pre-screening call for a reality show.

They think they're famous and accomplishing something because people look at them. But, in reality, people watch them because they love to see them unravel and self destruct.

Thousands marched across the city without a single incident, but this small group of Tasmanian devils somehow seemed to attract every police incident, every ounce of gas and voluntarily become guinea pigs for new technology like LRAD (Long Range Acoustical Device) cannons. Thank you all!

I need to thank you all for your spectacular "stunned fan" look as you are body slammed to the ground. Thank you for your willingness to act surprised that the police "victimized" you after giving you a forty-five minute notice to disperse (as well as incremental notices in between).

Thank you for being surprised that removal by physical means actually means that you will be removed. Thank you for willingly standing on the news and showing me the welts that the rubber bullets left. Otherwise I wouldn't be sure that it was truly a good shot.

Even better, now you all shoot home video and cell phone pictures to capture those off-screen moments--enabling me to get a first-person account of how bad tear gas burns or how new technologies like LRAD really hurt the ears and fuck up your phones.

But, I understand, you weren't protesting, you were just there to document it. The orders didn't apply to you, right? You are yet another innocent victim.

Much like the media that go to Iraq and Afghanistan to cover the battles, you run a risk of becoming collateral damage. When you decide to get close to the action, it's a risk you take. Seriously, would you stand next to an artillery fight in the Middle East?

Then why would you stand there when people are breaking windows, throwing rocks (or poo), or otherwise doing stupid things to attract body slams, hand cuffs, gas or noise? Or at least, how can you stand there and be surprised that you caught come kind of shrapnel or other type of collateral damage? When you watch on TV at home, you're safe. When you show up and get in the mix, you're an active participant and a potential target.

When I went down town to shoot video and pictures of the march, I completely understood that if shit hit the fan, I could be gassed, trampled, pelted or even arrested. It's a chance you take--an occupational hazard. So, much like those you're watching, don't be surprised if you get caught up in the tornado you're watching.

I guess unintentionally this entry has become "Woody's Guide to Proper Protesting," but it was intended to be a a thank you to those that opt for disobedience over civil disobedience for your spectacular failures--whatever your message was. And, please save your home footage, it will come in handy for your tryouts for Real World, Big Brother or especially Wipeout.

Why I didn't renew my Pittsburgh Pirates Season Tix

Year after year, fans, and Pittsburgh’ers in general bemoan our child-star-gone-bad, the Pirates. Yet, the team puts enough butts in seats (mine included) that they don't feel compelled to do anything about it. This year, I'm showing tough love. I'm sad to do it, but I haven't renewed my season tickets. Sure, I'm just one person, but I'm hoping that there's enough people out there feeling the same way and send a message to the ownership that has sent so many mixed messages to us.

We’ve been assured by the ownership that they’re turning the ship, they’re building the team, they want to make us proud, but every move they make seems to indicate the opposite. Each year, the Pirates pick up a bunch of young, fresh faces. When you roll the dice this much, sure, sometimes some talent will come up. But, there’s a problem–at least as far as the Pirates’ business model is concerned. Talent requires money to keep around. Investing in the team is not a part of the ownership’s model. What is this model, well, at a glance it would seem like this:

• Bottom line: Don’t spend money on the team, leverage other available funds to put butts in seats.
• Leverage city/taxpayer funds into building a state-of-the art attraction for a field. This way, when the team doesn’t attract fans, the venue will.
• Promotions: Leverage promoter money to give away bobbles and sponsor fireworks, which Pittsburgh’ers can not resist
• Visiting Teams: Chicago fans travel well, other fans travel to see the venue, and the attraction of interleague and other strong contenders also put butts in seats
• Merchandising: build buzz around a mid-level player who is not hot enough to want a big contract elsewhere, but will be around for a while.
• Team: Keep bringing in fresh (inexpensive) faces that give a token impression that we’re building a team.

In short, the Pirate business model seems to be built around hoping that the combination of tradition, promotions, venue and blind faith will keep putting butts in seats while they keep costs down on the team–turning a profit on leveraging promotional dollars.

In a way it’s brilliant. They spend a little bit of cash to barely keep a team on the field and reap the profits from traffic resulting from the tails in seats for every reason but their team.

Why would they put a single other dollar into the team when they don’t have to? Well, I’ve got a question for the team. Why would I put a single more dollar into your team if you’re going to trade away any talent we have and reap the success of putting a sub-par team on the field?

It is for this very reason that I did not be renew my season tickets this year. Despite the three ring circus that the Pirates put on around the field, at heart, this is supposed to be a competitive sports team. If the Pirates ownership is not making an effort, neither am I.

Pittsburgh: Fast Becoming A Ghost Town

This summer is an exciting summer to be a music fan. There are some fantastic tours out there, including Tom Waits, The Cure, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails. What do these concerts have in common? None of them are coming to Pittsburgh.

This summer, I will be making several trips to Cleveland (concerts, flights, entertainment). When the hell did Pittsburgh become a suburb of Cleveland you might ask? Pittsburgh is a city that is now 250 years old. The city took about 20 years to recover from the fall of the steel industry. And, for a brief time, it looked like the city was turning things around. New hospitals, attracting IT talent and companies and even started to become a bit of a hub for real estate vendor management.

But, it seems success was not in the cards for the 'burgh. Right now the city is honestly tredding dangerous waters right now, and I'm not encouraged by what I'm seeing.

• The airport's major airline has downgraded us to a regional airport. We are hemmoraging flights. And, it's even more difficult to grab a direct flight from the area. Not to mention the cost difference flying out of Pittsburgh vs. other airports.
• Just try to walk outside and hail a cab in the city. It is difficult at best unless you are at the airport or the convention center. If you're at a dining facility or watering hole, you are out of luck unless you call. Even then, it's dicy.
• There is no major vein of transportation. Bus lines are in a constant state of reduction, and the T has no presence in the airport corridor.
  By some estimates, the office parks in the airport corridor are now down to 40% capacity.
• Try living in the city, people are moving out in droves due to inflated tax assessments--on top of the already inflated tax base in the city. Personally, I would've thought the 3% wage tax (which is triple what you'd pay to live in the suburbs) would've driven them out.
• So, we've established that there's no public transportation and the taxes prohibitive to live in the city, right? Well, why not drive in? I'l tell you why--the friggin city has a 45% parking tax!
• But, if you do decide to venture into the county to shop anyways you'll be subject to the city/county extra 1% sales tax for the privelage of patronizing the few businesses that have stuck around.
• Why haven't more businesses stuck around you ask? Well, Pittsburgh was once ranked the 2nd most brutal city in the nation for taxing businesses. We've slipped to 4th or 5th most brutal, but honestly why would you want to have a business in a city that is going to brutalize you with taxes?
• But, why would that discourage qualified professionals from seeking employment in Pittsburgh vs. other cities. Oh, well, ther's a $100 Occupational Tax that employees have to pay just to work in the city--on top of their wage tax.
• Pittsburgh is a city, right? (for now) So, there's got to be a night life. Well, the city has done their best to chase out the night life as well. The city has implemented a ten percent BEER TAX.
• Well, I guess the city is resting on the tourists that come in for conventions, right? I mean they've taxed rental cars and hotels. But, on top of that the city openly encourages making it difficult to have a trade show at its state of the art convention center. I've done trade shows across the nation and there are very few cities that make it less desirable to exhibit at their convention center. The convention center shuts off elevators and escalators during setup. They harass you about carrying too much in or out the door. Why? Because they want you to have to pay to use their union labor. You can't stand on a ladder to set up your booth. You can't buld a booth over 6 feet. They hate if you try to carry things in and charge you through the nose to ship things in.

So, you ask, why don't people come to the city? Why can't we get more concerts? Why is Pittsburgh a ghost town on nights that there aren't Steelers, Pirate or Penguin games? Why is Pittsburgh slowly becoming a suburb to Cleveland? From where I sit, it looks like bloated government and greed.

McFoofy the new Steelers Mascot

I always thought the Steelers were one of the standards in football. They don't change their uniforms with every passing trend, they don't change their colors, and they STILL only have their logo on one side of their helmet. Why not? Because it's Pittsburgh, and much like Green Bay, the people live for Steeler football and the club simply does not have issues selling merchandise or putting tails in seats. I've been on the waiting list for season tickets approaching a decade (to put the ticket situation in perspective).

With Steeler tickets at a premium, and the Pittsburgh weather, you don't have to worry about people towing along toddlers that don't understand the game and need to be entertained by a mascot. And, I really don't think that the Steelers have ever had the problem of attracting "future consumers." But, for the sake of argument, I'll assume that they felt the need to do something to commemorate the 75th anniversary, and this mascot was the result of a collective marketing brain trust.

The look of this mascot is not awful. It gives a nod to the tradition and spirit of the Steelers. It conceivably could be "gritty." The Steelers have come to embody the knock-mouth, no nonsense, strong work ethic steel tradition of the city it represents.
So, it would only be natural that they selected a name that also upheld that grit and spirit that is Pittsburgh Steelers football, right?

Foofy McFoofy!?! Steely McWhatever...I can only hang my head. The name is shameful and whoever made the selection from 70,000 entries was giving little, or no, thought to the tradition that is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I really hope that (much like the Steeler'ettes and the ill fated dance troupe of the 80's) this "Boy Named Sue" mascot quietly fades into an obscure object of future bar trivia.
(For the record- I submitted the name Iron Mike, as a nod to Iron Mike Webster who was the on-field embodiment of all things Steelers)

My Response To Pittsburgh's Drink Tax

When I bring people to Pittsburgh form out of town, there's always a common question: "Why aren't there more people in the city?" I usually offer the same explanation—the only conclusion that I can come to—Pittsburgh does not like people. People are apparently a necessary evil. Pittsburgh is like that expensive furniture at your grandmother's house that she keeps covered with that sticky plastic. It looks really nice these days, but you always end up leaving feeling uncomfortable and wonder who it's being saved for. Pittsburgh seemingly tolerates us enough long enough to gouge us during sporting events, but afterwards people can't get out of the city fast enough. And, that is true largely because of the financial and logistical constraints that our leadership have put in place.

I mean really, look at the welcome mat that Pittsburgh rolls out for us:

• EXTRA 1% SALES TAX: Why shop in the city—especially for major purchases—when you can buy the same item for 1% less just beyond the Allegheny County line? If the 1% County sales tax isn't enough to send you elsewhere, there's more…
• TRANSPORTATION: Just try getting to the city from the airport corridor. "You mean your only options are taxi or pay to park," I'm asked. From here, that's it. You could try to find a bus route, but the city is already cutting those back as well.
• PARKING TAX: I can only imagine that the city limits the modes of transportation into the city to feed its 45% parking tax. After all, the city was generous enough to roll that back from 50%. So, they have to make it up somehow.
• BUSINESS TAX: "But, shouldn't people work here," my friend wonders. Well, Pittsburgh, the "most livable city," I laugh once ranked 2nd with the most brutal business tax. I think we've slipped to 4th or 5th thanks to some other greedy cities. Why would anybody pay to put a business in a place that nobody can affordably get to, spend time in, or even work in...
• WAGE TAX: "Yeah, but it's the city, why don't more people live there," I'm asked. Well, you see, the normal wage tax isn't enough for the city. Residents of Allegheny County are charged extra. I'm not sure of the amount, but I think it's two-to-three times what we pay outside Allegheny County. (3% to be exact)
• OCCUPATION TAX: Oh yeah, don't forget the $100 off the top—occupational tax that the city charges people just for the privilege of working in the city. I mean really, what's another $100 to have the word Pittsburgh on your mailing address?
• EVENTS: "So, what's going on here in the city?" Well, we could go out to Burgettstown and catch a few shows. You mean there's no concerts here? Nah, they taxed the crap out of acts, now they just bypass the city. I go to Cleveland or Baltimore for most shows I want to see. You can catch a travelling production or eat, but the only reason younger people come to the city is the bar scene on the South Side. I wonder what they could do to mess that up…..BEER TAX!
• BEER TAX: So, let's put this in perspective. Pittsburgh has made it difficult to get downtown, charge you for parking once you get down there, charge you an extra 1% for anything you'd want to buy, and now they want to tax beer??? So, now on top of paying $6 for the privilege of drinking a beer in the city, they're thinking about adding a 10% tax to the beer.

A PARTING THOUGHT ON MY WAY TO THE SUBURBS: It's funny, I hear the grave concern in voices of our leadership. "We have a dying population." "We need to attract young people." Well, I'm one of those young professionals that you spend so much time talking about. I love the city, I love being in the city—especially when I'm in other cities. In other cities, I like not having to drive. I like being where the people are. I like being around business. I like the atmosphere of a busy happy hour of young professionals in a city where people aren't trying to get out of the city ASAP because traffic and the prices stink. But, that's not an option here in Pittsburgh. It's a mess and you're making it worse. The bar scene might well be one of the last veins of bringing young life into the city, and, effectively, you are saying, go play in the suburbs. It's less expensive and the parking is free. So, when I'm in Beaver or Washington County for happy hour, I'll raise a glass to you and your 10% tax.

Cheers!

WOODY

Who Shook The Snow Globe

Is it really snowing on April 16? Burrrr! If this is global warming, I think I need to drive to work more often to warm things up even further. It's more like the seansons have shifted back a month or two. We're getting February weather in April and September weather in October-November. I think I'll tour as a side show to Al Gore and come up with a fancy name for my theory. In the mean time, I'm not packing my winter coat yet!

Pittsburgh Steelers and Sex

It's a funny thing walking into the office the morning after a prime time Steeler victory. Everybody has that same, exhausted, hung-over smile of satisfaction of a job well done. It's kind of like that after-sex glow of drained exhuberance. Nobody needs to say a word, everybody looks a little rough around the edges, but everyone is content in their own happy way. With at least three more prime time games and as many 4pm games, it's a look that I'm looking forward to seeing many times over this season. Excuse me, I'm off to take a nap on my desk with a smile on my face. Go Steelers!

Pittsburgh: A City Starved For News

Whoo, you can tell things have been slow since the Superbowl!? Kind of funny! Today they locked people in the buildings downtown for fear of a sniper. Apparently a lot of people saw a dude in cammo going into a building with a "gun." Well, as it turns out, the guy was a pigeon exterminator and had a pellet gun. But, that didn't stop the SWAT team, bomb squad and fleet of news reporters from flying down to the scene. I'm convinced that we should provide military training and arm our media.

They always seem to be at the scene of a dissaster or potential dissaster 30 minutes before the police, fire, military or whatever service .Which, given their early response, means they've had 30 minutes to speculate about the pending doom before anybody can get in, analyze the situation and give a correct account. So, it's always funny the initial story vs. the end result.

Another case in point would be the recent John Bobbit-style "murder" that happened in the rocks. Apparently, there was a pecker placed in a mini-mart microwave. Of course, this media frenzy led to speculation of a murder victim, the sadist that apparently removed the appendage and then, of course, placed it in a microwave. It was a matter of minutes before this "news" swept the area as first responders looked for a man roaming town without his apparently detatchable pecker.

Well, further investigation revealed that the "pecker" was a rubber pecker being used to take a drug test for some moron that obviously wasn't going to pass. My guess is that the drugs were the least of this person's problems as SHE took the plastic, urine filled, pecker into a mini-mart and tossed it in the microwave so that the urine would be warm to pass the test. WOW! I'm not sure what's more amusing here the story itself or the drama cultivated by the media.

As I said, things are obviously pretty slow around here. But, I guess as long as the media is insistent on putting news models, rather than journalists behind the desks, I guess we shouldn't be surprised at the drama they create. Keep up the good work. I'll keep laughing.

Pittsburgh: THE Superbowl City

Rick Reilly, of Sports Illustrated, said it best when he said that Pittsburgh NEEDED to win the Superbowl. I don't think he knew the number of ways that he was right. Pittsburgh has been a dead city walking for about 20-something years. Think about it, the last time the Steelers won the Superbowl, the last time the Pirates won the World Series, our major industry fell, thousands were unemployed. The city has been struggling to right the ship since the early 1980's. I don't mean just economically.

Pittsburgh has built a new economic frontier with hospitals, medical research, banks and other blue-to-white collar jobs. But, the city still seemed to be in a funk. There was a cloud of doom hanging over the shoulders of the one-time steel-mill worker that is now finishing out his career at WalMart. There's been a lack of pride in all that Pittsburgh has. I've been lucky enough to travel around the US--to the "other places which have it so much better." And, I have to tell you, I don't think Pittsburgh'ers know how damn good they have it. They have all the luxeries of big city living, but we're still a small town. We don't have the rampant problems other cities have. Yet, we have great food, music, entertainment, shopping and business. But, I think people were unwilling to look past their personal cloud of doom to see all that we have.

This Superbowl was more than a big game. The Superbowl was more than the return of the Steelers to national recognition. This Superbowl was the return of pride to a city that desperately needed to re-connect with its citizens. It's been a long, long time since I've seen somebody beat their chest and say they were proud to be a Pittsburg'er. Even as we drove to Detroit, saw fellow Pittsburg'ers walking the streets of Detroit, there was a sense of community and pride. Coming back from Detroit, Pittsburgh'ers were waving out the windows to one another. We all came back to a city that had something to rally around--our Steelers.

We've always lived and died by our Steelers, which is what Rick Reilly meant. But, this reaches well beyond that. I know this is a temporary boost to our pride, but it was a necessary one. Add to this, the potential economic impact. Steeler fans were eating out more, they were buying more supplies, they were buying more merchandise, they were travelling more, not to mention the out-of-towners that were also investing in our city. Combine this pride and an economic shot in the arm, it is my hope that we can begin to see an emotional and economic turning of a corner.

So, let it be agreed, that Pittsburgh NEEDED this Steelers Superbowl win on a number of levels!