Homepage > Pittsburgh News

UPDATED: 12:29 pm EDT June 30, 2004

Channel 4 Action News wants your feedback on City Council's Act 47 vote. You can e-mail us at newsroom@thepittsburghchannel.com.

Here is a sample of some of your comments so far:

As a suburbanite, I understand that I may have to pay higher taxes to the city of Pittsburgh. I have no objection.

That sweatshirt I wear in the winter ... what does it say? The Pittsburgh Steelers.

That T-shirt I wear in the summer ... what does it say? The Pittsburgh Pirates.

If I travel out of state, where do I tell others I'm from? Pittsburgh.

If I get injured while I'm in the city, am I treated by the city of Pittsburgh paramedics? Of course.

If I'm in a city building that catches fire, am I rescued by city of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters? Of course.

If I need a police officer while I'm in the city of Pittsburgh, can I just dial 911 for help? Of course.

I may reside in Emsworth, but I'm a Pittsburgher. The city needs help and I have no objection.

- Terry, Emsworth


This is crazy, $145 to work in the city. This now gives me all the reason to find a job closer to where I live. I only make $700 evey two weeks ... No wonder the single and young want to leave the city.

- Heather, Bethel Park


Thank you City Council for showing some courage. Now we need to find a way to get some $$$ from all the "businesses" that are tax exempt. Everyone needs to contribute. Yes, I'm willing to pay more than an antiquated $10 to work in the city. As Pittsburgh goes, so goes the region. We're all in this together. Too many people don't appreciate this great city and all it offers.

- Bob, Wexford


Increase taxes ... wow, what a brilliant original idea, never would have thought of that. We have such visionaries and forward thinkers running this city. This was a real opportunity for this region to move forward into the 21st century ...

- Mark, Shaler


I work part time. Taking $145 occupation tax is just not worth working. If the tax would be taken with the first and/or second pay of the year, I would owe my employer money!

- Darla, Pittsburgh


We will need a hazmat crew to clean up after the Act 47 disaster area is implemented. We are going from distressed to destroyed ... LOOK AT PHILADELPHIA. This is how it started there ... A tax NEVER fixes a problem, only gives people more reason to avoid fixing the problems. Let the city go bankrupt. Sure our bond rating would be shot, but shrewd fiscal restructuring could occur without cursing the residents and those who visit the city.

- Brad, Coraopolis


This is just plain old union busting. Many of the provisions in the Act 47 proposals are geared towards breaking up what it took unions years to secure. The representative of Eckert Seimens admitted today at the council meeting that most of the non financial related items were placed into the proposal by the Chief of Police and the Mayor. A majority of the proposals will not save the city money. It is just another form of governmental control.

- David


In the world we live in today, is it prudent to cut the local fire department? No. Is it a good idea to close firehouses and increase response times? No. Will there be any fatalities due to the passing of this? Most definitely, yes.

In my own family, if firefighters' pay gets cut and taxes rise, the job will not be worth it and I will do everything in my power to put this city in our rearview mirror.

- Proud wife of a firefighter


Recovery Plan, HA HA ... I am living paycheck to paycheck and the city thinks I have the money to pay more. I might be better off staying home. I think Mayor Murphy should pay for not knowing how to budget the city's money ... If you tax the business for having employees and tax the employee, who will want to have a business or a job in the City of Pittsburgh?

- Angela, McKeesport


Let's not forget the people (like my husband and I) who both live AND work in the city of Pittsburgh. I pay more in taxes than the people NOT living and working in Pittsburgh. I guess we are the dumb ones, wanting to live and work in a once great city. We suffer the most.

- Cathy, South Side


Exactly the reason why I left Pittsburgh. No jobs, no money! How do you expect young, old, who make next to nothing to pay even more for a city that is going down the tubes? You can not make a living in Pittsburgh!

- Jamie


I don't think it's right for someone who does not live in the city to have to pay $145/year because they can't fix their budget. It's not my problem. I pay taxes in my own area. Why should I have to help the city of Pittsburgh also? Yes, I do work in the city but I don't consider it to be a privilege -- to me it's a necessity, if you want a job.

How are they going to take that $145 from our paychecks? I surely hope that it's not going to be a one-time tax. They better consider taking it in installments throughout the year, or they are going to have more of an uproar from those who can't afford to pay out that much money from one paycheck.

- Dawn, White Oak


My rent goes up 4 percent, my pay goes up 2 percent and now he is adding $145 in taxes. It will create more of the "working poor." On top of that, Port Authority of Allegheny County is cutting and combining bus routes in September. I will now have to stand about an hour and a half to get to a city who thinks it's a privilege to work there. Who would drive? It's too expensive to park. So much for the #1 city Pittsburgh used to be.

- Chris


In a way, I feel like I've had taxation without representation ... I live in Westmoreland County, my employer is in Pittsburgh but I work from home. Why should I have to pay the additional $145 occupation tax when I technically don't work in the city of Pittsburgh? Why is it that the lowly employee gets hammered with taxes and yet these large corporations are still tax exempt as an enticement to keep their business here? Tax them, not me. They can afford it. Not me! This decision is frighteningly wrong and is only going to hurt the city more!

- Melissa, Greensburg


Why don't they just get Tom Murphy and Tom Flaherty the heck out of office? Don't they think they have screwed this city enough already? Men and Women being laid off ... now this crap! I barely make my bills every month and put food on the table for my kids and then I'm broke! Just like everyone else! We are all trying to LIVE!! We all don't make as much as city council ... so why don't they start making sacrifices?

We need our fireman, we need our police. There should be NO question about that! What we don't need is a Mayor who has NO idea on how to make this city work, someone who gets us financially messed up then turns around and says, Well I screwed up and you all are going to have lose your jobs!

I grew up right in Mt. Washington, and I love this city, I don't want to move my family out of here, but if they keep Murphy in charge I'll have no choice, because there will be nothing here to make me wanna stay.

- Renee


Why doesn't the City Council and mayor worry about attracting businesses and jobs to the city instead of penalizing the citizens that are barely keeping it afloat? Pittsburgh is an aging city and is losing its tax base because the lack of jobs in the region. While Pittsburgh is rich in culture and history, it lacks the economic growth which is why I left the region.

The people of Pittsburgh need to rethink their politics and get rid of Mayor Murphy. He and city council have destroyed what was once a great city!

- Doreen


It's only a matter of time ... Pittsburgh is rapidly becoming a third rate town like Wheeling or Youngstown. Now they expect us working people to pay for the city's financial mistakes to the tune of $145. They can stick their occupational tax ... No wonder businesses and people are moving out of this town.

- Betty


Tax me, but I will make ever effort to stay out of the city and never have anything to do with the ball teams, or any other kind of entertainment. I will make every effort to spend my money where I live. They do a better job of taking care of people living there anyway.

- Regis, Shaler


This entire situation is ludicrous and quite frankly, an embarrassment! The County residents voted against Mayor Murphy's white elephants, but the 2 stadiums, as well as the convention center, were built anyway. Why can't the city be required to sell their assets to avoid bankruptcy just like anyone else? No, instead, we who were farsighted enough to see the folly of going so far into debt will have to foot the bill for, once again, the MINORITY. Perhaps Michael Moore would be interested in doing a documentary on Tom Murphy. Then the grandiose mayor could donate his proceeds to bail out his mistakes!

- Marlene, South Park


Let's see ... my parking has been raised monthly by $5, my rent has gone up $20, now the taxes are going up $135, and utilities are going up. I have received a 3 percent raise every year for the last three years. I rent and live alone so I do not have any deductions. So, by my calculations I am worse off now than I was 5 years ago! Way to go, Mayor Murphy! I work three jobs now to make ends meet. I do not think I can do a fourth job, but I just may have to. By the way, did I mention I have a disability? I can't wait to move out of Pennsylvania!

- Mary


I think it's time to make cuts in City Council! How does 5 Council Members sound instead of 7? Also it's time for business and non-profits to pitch in their share. You have hit my pockets too many times! I would like to thank City Council, the Mayor of Pittsburgh and even Gov. Ed Rendell for helping me make my decision to move out of the City of Pittsburgh and go south where there are jobs and growing cities.

- K. Bailey

WTAE-TV Pittsburgh on Facebook

Links We Like

Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

It was bound to happen. There are now applications for your cell phone that can help you avoid speeding tickets as well as traffic jams. Drive carefully. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

Consumer Info


Sponsored Content Provided by ARA

Sponsored Links