Hyperion1110 on the skyscraper forum, aug 6 2008.  I agree!

I actually think the proposed merger is a good intermediate step to
folding in the other municipalities. I mean, all these little hamlets
(which is really what they are), want to keep everything for
themselves. But, under this plan, as the merger city-county flourish,
they will flounder...many of them are doing so already.

As for what our population would be, I think it would consist of the
whole county. In that case, we would actually crack the top ten
(number 8, I think). That, in and of itself, would be a huge boast to
morale and civic pride, and definitely increase Pittsburgh's
visibility. As it stands right now, places like Omaha and Memphis are
considered our peers. And, no disrespect to those cities (which are
amazing in their own rights), Pittsburgh is a much larger and more
distinctive city than such as those.

Even with a merger, there is one important thing that has to take
place: Allegheny County, and thus Pittsburgh, need to be upgraded from
second class status. As it stands right now, the city and county have
much less power than Philadelphia, which is class one. Given that the
populations of Philly and Allegheny are not that far off from each
other, I don't see the reason for the continued distinction. Granting
us that status would enable us to realign much of our tax structure,
which would thus promote the revitalization of the county's urban
centers. For example, Pittsburgh needs a version of Philly's Sterling
Act, which allows the city to tax up to 3 percent of the wages for
those who work in the city, but live outside of it. I've long been an
advocate of such measures, since taxing a wage is really taxing a job,
not a person. Thus, the revenue should go to the municipality which
provides the job. The neglect of laws such as this, I believe, has
been one of the major factors contributing to the city's budget
woes. As compared to the surrounding areas, Pittsburgh keeps on
producing jobs...but most of those are being taken up by people who
chose to live in the suburbs. The end result? Pittsburgh grows and
innovates, and everyone reaps the rewards but the city.

I don't mean for any of this to be an us vs. them thing. But the city
needs to be able to profit from the jobs it creates. I mean, correct
me if I am wrong, but Downtown and Oakland aloan have a combined
300,000 jobs. That almost one job, in those two NEIGHBORHOODS for
every man, woman, child, and retiree in the city. And we have
money/population problems? WTF?