Thoughts and ideas by Buck Gray

You may have seen yesterday's WSJ and the op-ed "Europe's Crisis of Ideas" which lays the blame at the feet of a statist mentality. This is evidenced in that "Since 1990, only three of the 36 winners of the Noble Prize in Economics were then affiliated with a European university".

Today, in our culture, many people do not understand the need for profit in running a business. As a result, many do not seek to participate in promoting a competative edge. Even in our brief intro to CDC there is a request for "more and better restaurants" in Penn Hills without the recognition that if there were a market, there would be some better
restaurants. That is just Economics 101.

The green roofs projects border on micro economics. In Penn Hills and surrounding communities there are a number of examples of good and poor businesses which may well provide younger people especially with a better understanding of where jobs come from. So I would propose that one of our projects would be to provide a framework of seminars that examine the business models of companies that exist or existed in our community. I would hope that the presentations would be of such good quality that were video recorded and made available on a community web site. Perhaps a blog or two would result and our residents would learn the necessity and benefit of hard work and right thinking.

I would like to see presentations on Turner Dairy, Universal Atlas Cement, McCullough Tire, Crawford Insurance, McDonald's, J&L Steel, Westinghouse Electric, UPMC, Westinghouse Air Brake, Giant Eagle, East Hills School and a number of craftsman and contractors. Perhaps some of the local universities have presentations on business models they would be willing to present.

Other important aspects of successful living could include logical thinking as presented in classical education (Trinity Christian School), a person's motivation ( I am the most important person in the world or I seek to honor my Lord), family economics, work ethic, civic responsibility, etc. These subjects seem to be missing from normal public education.

How many of our residents know of the underground railroad tunnel? How about the history of coal mining in our area? Even a presentation on road maintenance, sewerage disposal, water provision, electrical supply, school bus maintenance, law enforcement, first commercial radio (KDKA), etc . . .

We had a report of one of the disaster relief teams that went to Haiti.
They were commended for their work discipline, ability to contribute under very trying conditions and willingness to adapt to changes. That was the result of training and character.

Perhaps these proposed seminars could be presented once a quarter. The object is to learn and teach how to put our shoulder to the wheel to accomplish that which is worthwhile.

Ideas on how to use vacant properties

Deb Hardy sent an email sharing a great idea for how to use vacant property in Penn Hills:

What I was thinking for the old library is to turn it into a gallery space for Penn Hills' artists (and others) to exhibit. The only downside is that it's in a somewhat secluded location so don't know if it would get the interest and foot traffic that would be necessary for it to become a "place to see and be seen." Plus, there's not a lot of parking if there were any ongoing events planned there. Just a thought though. I'm trying to come up with interesting ideas to reuse some of the many vacant building sites that are in the community.

I'd also like to turn the old Foodland lot into a community garden that the high school would have a vested interest in as well. My husband (Erik) thinks that is such a huge space, but right now my thoughts are just to do something with that space, unless of course we can get another grocery store interested in reuse. I know we have a lot on our plates right now with forming the CDC but I guess I'm thinking ahead and hoping that we can, as a community, not necessarily raze empty buildings but reuse them.

Great idea. Thoughts?!