City’s draw falls flat on its assets

You can learn an object lesson about how livable Pittsburgh is from Dr. John Thompson. Al Fondy, too.

Typically, Pittsburgh's school superintendents and teachers union bosses don't agree on much. However, these two have found common ground - within the city limits.

Thompson is the superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Fondy heads the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

In a recent Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story, both indicated they'd like to see the city residency requirement lifted for school employees. It's their way of saying Pittsburgh is a liability.

Thompson and Fondy seem to agree that forcing school employees to live in the city is a deal-breaker when the district tries recruiting teachers, administrators and other key people.

The fact that city school salaries usually are near top dollar doesn't appear to be much of a factor. In other words, they can't pay some people to live here.

I've never understood why government has the right to tell its employees where to live. Teachers, police, firefighters, paramedics and all other free citizens should be allowed to live where they please, no matter what government entity they work for. Why should they and their families be held hostage just because we happen to be their bosses•

The guess here is city politicians love the residency requirement because they have a large, captive audience of voters who will reward the politicians with their support, if the politicians take care of them. One hand washing the other - only the subordinate one is handcuffed.

That's the gist of the drama. But did you notice the foreshadowing in the subplot• And its implications•

You owe Thompson and Fondy - big time. Their request inadvertently exposed the Big Lie of your so-called regional assets.

Breathless boosters on Grant Street, as well as corporate Pittsburgh, keep hyping the 'regional assets.' (In this column, they're labeled 'local liabilities.')

You're being forced to subsidize the new stadiums, expanded convention center, scores of high-profile nonprofit institutions and heaven knows what else because, you are told, they attract people to Pittsburgh. You're told it's an investment in your future.

Some investment. Some future.

If the new baseball stadium is such a great 'regional asset,' why doesn't it draw enough people to fill it• Are you as sickened as I am by the empty blue seats behind home plate for darn near every telecast•

Consider the caliber of the potential school district employees we're talking about here. Surely, almost all have college degrees, many with advanced degrees. These are the very type of people who should be attracted by the 'regional assets.' But they aren't.

Calling something an 'asset' doesn't make it one. Assets support themselves, liabilities don't.

The people being recruited by the school district probably want the same things most folks want in a community - good schools, low taxes and safe streets.

Conduct your own informal experiment. Ask everyone you know why he or she is living where they are. The guess here is precious few will say 'regional assets' were a key factor. Come to think of it, were they for you•

The school district's recruitment problem is educational. Will this region ever learn its lesson•

Dimitri Vassilaros is the morning radio talk host on News Radio 1170 WWVA. His e-mail address is dimitriv@stargate.net .