Employment...the Poor...Goverment...Medical...Clim
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12/28/2010
Erie is another tragic example of a post-industrial, Great Lakes city. Gone are Hammermill Paper, Zurn Industries, Erie Forge and Steel, American Sterilizer and others. Good-paying, family-sustaining manufacturing jobs have been replaced by low paying, minimum wage restaurant and retail positions. Over twenty economic development groups seem unable to attract major employers to the area yet local politicos constantly urge citizens to re-train and re-educate themselves for non-existent jobs.
25% percent of the city's population live in poverty. Vacant and blighted properties are located everywhere. An edition of ABC's "Extreme Makeover, Home Edition" highlighted the desperate conditions of families living in and around the project home. The Second Harvest Food Bank is always looking for donations and has no shortage of hungry individuals.
Local government is supplemented via grants and awards from the state and federal governments. City tax revenues are so low that, on occasion, colleges and universities have donated police vehicles to the city. A new, multi-million dollar, advanced technology 911 emergency communications center performs poorly,...if it operates at all. Numerous first responding fire and ambulance organizations have complained about the center's inability to function correctly.
The businesses of education and health care have become major industries. Penn State-Behrend, Edinboro University and Gannon University graduate individuals in a variety of degrees who leave the area since there are very few positions suitable to their majors.
Numerous stories abound of malpracticed medical operations. Smart locals seek safer, more competent medical expertise in other cities and states. Crucial emergency and complex pediatric medical cases are transferred to the professionals in Pittsburgh, PA and Cleveland,OH area hospitals.
Located on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, clouds, rain and snow dominate the climate. Winters are long and cold with gray overcast skies. 'Lake Effect' snowstorms are frequent and are notorious for dropping many inches of snow within a short time. Although a 200 inch annual snowfall is rare, 80 to 100 inches per year can be expected. Driving in winter is extremely difficult. When high winds are present whiteout conditions can totally blind a driver.
Erie's airport is titled: Tom Ridge Field, 'Erie International Airport', however there are no direct international flights.
Thomas | Waterford, PA