Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh's accessibility, affordability set it apart

It’s the inaugural Saturday night of my new residency in the Roosevelt apartments here in the City of Bridges. The streets, four floors below, bellow with discordant beats and samples that waft through my window. The accessible pedestrian crosswalk signal beeps off tempo to the live jazz at Con Alma downstairs. Snippets of conversations doppler by with each proceeding and receding step. Penn Avenue is closed for beautification and so the horn section is missing in the mix. I’m told the players will be back in town soon.

I know these fresh new sounds will grow stale from too much airplay. But for tonight, their novelty inspires.

For an American with a disability, the noise from my window indicates accessibility. Life is right outside. Gone is the decision between a costly Uber or the interminable wait for the free-to-cripples bus. No longer a shut-in, I’m also grateful this urban oasis is eminently affordable. This is not easily replicated in any other city around the globe without having to eat cat food purchased with food stamps.

In recognition, Pittsburgh was named the most affordable city in the world by the Urban Reform Institute and the Frontier Center for Public Policy. So all you Yinzers, we’ve got it pretty good here, even if some of us look a bit silly waving that menacing (not) Terrible Towel.

Tom Hoglund

Downtown

The writer is a new resident of Pittsburgh.