Letter to the editor: Wilkinsburg residents should vote on annexation

Residents of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County officials, state officials, local foundations and others have worked for years to make Wilkinsburg a thriving place to live and work. But the borough continues to lose population and businesses. And blight continues to increase.

It is clear that even with outside help, the borough does not have the capacity to reverse its decline. And its high property taxes prevent private investment.

Annexation by the City of Pittsburgh is the key to returning Wilkinsburg to economic vitality.

National consulting firms and city financial officials have affirmed that Pittsburgh’s annexation of Wilkinsburg will not be a cost burden to the city. It will ultimately be a substantial benefit to the city as Wilkinsburg begins to grow again.

More that 1,200 Wilkinsburg residents have signed a petition simply asking for the right to vote on the annexation.

It is now in Pittsburgh City Council’s hands. They can give Wilkinsburg’s citizens the right to vote and must do so.

Bill Schenck

Fox Chapel