Failure of intent
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Ok, I’ll admit it, I willingly attended a Governmental meeting here in Pittsburgh. I’ve been doing historic research about Pittsburgh, too.
I was talked into it, but there was food laid out for the meeting, so that’s a tax refund – right? It seems that Allegheny County, which is a Governmental layer more or less synonymous with the municipality of Pittsburgh geographically, was publicly releasing an environmental plan that’s been in the works for a few years.
I figured that I’d work a scuttle into the endeavor, and found myself starting said walk at the top of Mount Washington, and specifically use Sycamore Street for the descent. Fun.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This ‘plan’ wasn’t actually much of a plan, it was more of a wishlist visioning document without any mandated deadlines for its recommendations, which didn’t carry a budget along with them. Ambitious plans filled with terminology like ‘decarbonizing’ and ‘human powered’ populated its pages.
A presentation was given, and then attendees were led into a room with the easels and signboards, where people connected to the agency wanted to hear opinions and reactions to the plan. I saw the person who talked me into coming to this event, and made a bee line for her signboard.
I felt that I needed to point out that nobody but nobody is going to replace their gas stove with an electric one without some sort of tax incentive to do so. The expensive nuances of removing a gas system and having an electrician come in to pull new power lines up through the gas pipes isn’t something they thought of, nor is a funded mechanism to handle the tonnages of gas stoves and furnaces which would headed for landfills or recycling.
Also, that when a government says ‘we should do a thing’ without any sort of a timeline included in their statement, that’s just politicians talking about the ‘way things should be,’ and they don’t have any way to pay for this policy position they admire.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now! CSX #104 was crossing underneath me while I was crossing the Smithfield Street Bridge, to get to the County building where the meeting would take place. I should mention something here…
I’ve given up. Nothing matters and nobody cares. The only thing which can stop people from pouring battery acid into water reservoirs is the threat of Police enforcement – and even then – not so much. I honestly believe that the best we can do at this point – environmentally speaking – is to try and manage the ‘new normal.’ It’s too late. We missed the window, as a culture, to do anything about the climate problem.
The County’s plan is solid in its logic. Its mandates are unfunded.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The cost of retrofitting the ‘installed base’ of water heaters, furnaces, stoves and so on is massive. Just doing the government’s buildings represents a price that would double taxes for a decade.
The only way to achieve a changeover to devices fueled alternatively to manufactured gas is to either mandate the replacement and create a tax scheme to forgive and absorb the expense, or to just change the zoning laws for new construction and gradually move over to the newer/‘cleaner’ technologies in the fullness of time as housing stock is demolished and rebuilt over the decades. The latter is the sort of approach that NYC is taking.
NYC is also embracing a farcical rooftop solar agenda, but that’s a different tale.
Suffice to say, I’ve seen a lot of environmental plans presented by lots of very smart people, and it’s ultimately always a wish list or a ‘vision’ plan that you’re consuming. Important to do, mind you, but still just a wishlist.
I wish that I was rich, taller, and better looking. That’s my vision plan.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The catering at the event was very political.
They had gluten free, and vegan, and all the other options which you’d need to have for a public ‘do.’ The food was prepared by a non-profit which specializes in providing the first steps for street people towards having a hirable skill set. Everybody I met was super nice, and friendly. I did my best not to talk to anyone, but that didn’t work as I was approached several times, and once they heard the Brooklyn accent…
I actually had to say it several times: ‘Hi, I’m Mitch Waxman…’ sigh…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I found the whole thing slightly depressing, as I often find such gatherings. They are very happy and peppy in public, however, the political people here in Pittsburgh. Genuinely nice in person.
I walked back across the river and caught a T light rail back towards HQ. Hope that this plan gets funded, and that they figure out a great way to sell it to those who will automatically be hostile to it.
Try this:
Hey, Y’see those people over there… whom you don’t like… well, those other people that are standing behind that curtain over there want to take something away from you, and give it to them. Me? I’m the only one who can stop that… even though I’m actually one of those people behind the curtain… I’m the ‘good one’ who cares about you, your kids, your dog, and Veterans – of course. Vote Quimby.
Back next week with something different – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Accidentally, Homestead
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
So… yeah.
Failing to follow a detailed itinerary, which I had prepared in advance, with a literal turn by turn set of directions in the notes app on my phone, ignoring the carried prophylaxis against directional confusion offered by a compass… your humble narrator instead found himself staring down the barrel of a faraway place called Homestead.
There’s a waterfront rail trail I could have picked up from there to get back ‘to the center,’ but it’s a photographically boring route for most of that scuttle. It was also getting quite hot out.
Also, there was no freaking way that I was going to go and walk back over that steep hill which I had just surmounted. Bah!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The 1936 vintage Homestead Grays Bridge is what this one is called.
Spans the Monongahela River, and over on the opposing bank was once found the United States Steel Homestead Steel Works. These days, that land which once made steel is a shopping mall.
I’m here a bunch for mundane ‘business of life’ tasks all the time, but always with the car. Dog food and paper towels at Costco, burgers at Red Robin, catch a movie at the IMAX – that sort of stuff.
In the distance, that’s not a continuation of the bridge, instead it’s a terrestrial road leading down a hill. I cannot say it enough times, how insane and challenging the terrain is, here in the Appalachians.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey, it’s the water of the Monongahela River. The muddy color, I’m told, is caused by sediments the waterway picked up on its north western journey through West Virginia.
They’ve got rivers out here which flow in all sorts of directions.
Since NYC is the logical center of all reality, and everything else in the world is just a distorted reflection of or a reaction to the Five Boroughs, it blows my mind that all global rivers don’t follow north/south axes like the Hudson does. What cheek…
I mean, it’s obvious, right? Right? RIGHT?
As a note, yeah I know about the Nile… it’s just interesting that my brain constantly jumps back to the ‘rivers naturally flow north to south’ paradigm, all the time.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Lucky for me, I was distracted by and got to shout ‘Hey Now!’ once again, as Norfolk Southern #6998 appeared.
It was at the head of a group of three locomotive engines, and they were hauling bucket cars filled with a black mineral – probably coal or coke, but can’t say for sure – so – mineral.
It also reminded me that I had to go food shopping at Aldi pretty soon.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One debarked the bridge, and headed for a decision point.
The atmosphere was fairly warm, and the first stage of this scuttle had been a lot more strenuous than I had intended, due to that steep and unending hill. I walked through the shopping mall, which was largely shaded. Debating my next move while doing so…
Bah… better to clip things off. Discretion, valor, all that.
Can’t believe that I walked the wrong direction. Again. Gah!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another ‘Hey Now!’ buoyed the flagging personal opinion about my own capabilities and efficacy.
CSX #7106 hurtled by, hauling a long line of double stacked cargo box cars. I was in front of the Costco anyway for this shot, so I went inside and bought one of their footlong hot dogs and drank a half cup of lemonade.
Cooled down a bit in there, but your humble narrator was spent. A quick but expensive rideshare cab ride ensued, and then I was once again confronted by Moe the Dog at HQ back in Dormont.
Back tomorrow with something different – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge, V2
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Y’know… whoopsies… I did it again.
Went somewhere, tried to position myself for some grandiose march across Pittsburgh, got dropped off by a rideshare exactly where I wanted to be, and then walked off in the wrong and quite opposite direction. Again.
‘Say what you do, do what you say’ indeed.
Anywho…
Welcome to Pittsburgh’s Greenfield, and pictured above and below is the 2017 version of the poetically named ‘Beechfield Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II’ (municipal signage with all its details).
Version one of this thing was erected in 1922, when it was simply known as the ‘Beechfield Boulevard Bridge’ (more signage). There was actually an earlier wooden bridge on this spot, which collapsed in 1921.
The Yinzers will just say ‘Greenfield Bridge,’ colloquially.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Down below, that’s I-376 (which the Yinzers call ‘the parkway east’) and the bridge connects the Squirrel Hill and Greenfield neighborhoods over a valley that’s dubbed as ‘four mile run.’
Check out the Wikipedia page about the bridge for more on its history, location, and details.
The plan had been to cross over a ridge in Greenfield, and then proceed down a steep but side walked slope to the banks of the Monongahela River, nearby the Hot Metal Bridge which I’d then cross over to the ‘South Side’ via. Was going to be a series of interesting points of view, descending down a steep prominence. Lots of ramps and other road bridges, too.
Instead, as I’m an idiot who once again neglected to double check his compass headings – AGAIN – before leaning into the walk… confirmation of my stupidity has officially been achieved.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One last shot of this span – and then off – in the wrong direction. Yay.
The good news is that I paid for this idiocy in physical terms. It was pretty much an unrelenting, and quite steep, hill that I was walking upwards on. Mostly residential path, as well, which really ‘aint my thang.’
It was an excellent workout for the thighs, however, particularly those long and large muscles along the exterior of the limb which connect to the knees. Same ones you flex when bicycling. Also kind of ‘felt it’ in the muscles on the front of the calf which stretch when the foot is flexed up and pivoted off the heel.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Interesting neighborhood, with fairly high density.
Lots of one and multi family brick houses, perched atop retaining walls. Off street parking, mainly, and I’d imagine that there are decent sized back yards behind these homes. It seemed nice, but I ‘felt’ eyes watching me. That’s a good thing, actually. People looking out for each other, when a stranger with a camera is marching past their homes.
What Brooklyn neighborhoods did this place force me to analogize about?
South east Brooklyn – there’s a Canarsie, Flatlands, Old Mill Basin sort of vibe going on around here. I kept on thinking about Brooklyn’s Remsen and Nostrand Avenues, specifically the neighborhoods around them that are found south of Kings Highway.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve watched a great documentary by local PBS station WQED’s Rick Sebak, called ‘Houses Around Here,’ wherein the post WW2 development and build out of large housing tracts in Pittsburgh is examined.
Charming, the film describes the efforts of two large scale developers in particular, who mass produced what you could very much make a case for as being the archetypical ‘Pittsburgh House.’ This production altered the manner in which I ‘see’ the built environment in residential areas, just like learning about Coal has done. I now see miners houses everywhere.
Check Sebak’s library out, if you’re signed up with a PBS account, and if not – happy hunting on YouTube.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
So, where was the wandering idiot with a camera randomly wandering towards? What did the idiot do then? Did the idiot scuttle himself onto a highway again?
Sigh… Find out what stupid thing the idiot did next!
Back tomorrow with more tales of moron in Pittsburgh getting lost.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Branta, awaiting south bound scuttlers
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is the second post describing a tranche of shots gathered on a short walk through Pittsburgh’s North Side.
This particular afternoon, at the end of May, happened to occur on the first day that summer level temperature and humidity levels had arrived, and truth be told, the heat was kind of affecting me.
Wasn’t feeling so great for this part of the walk, which passed by the demolition and construction action prestaging a massive real estate development called ‘The Esplanade.’
Urban heat island effect was ‘in full effect.’ Discretion being the better part of valor, I decided to cut things short on the North Shore and call it a day by heading back to HQ via the ‘T’ Light Rail.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Of course, I still had a fair bit of ground to cover in order to get back to transportation. Luckily, the riverfront trail was available for this leg of the walk. This was all fairly familiar territory for me, from this point on.
In urban spaces, there are ‘corridors,’ as I term them.
You walk into a funnel, then there are no intersections to your route which don’t involve climbing a fence or something, and you just have to stick it out until you walk out on the other side, at a street junction or something, from the ‘corridor.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This particular ‘corridor’ is styled as being the Ohio Riverfront Greenway or something, and it’s yet another ‘rail trail’ which either city, or county, or state maintains for the populace to exploit for exercise or recreational activities. I often see fishers, joggers, and bicycle enthusiasts on this path.
Unfortunately, for a riverfront trail, the view of the river is often blocked.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Sentries await you.
This icehole was tending its chicks, so a wide berth was given. Doesn’t matter with the Canada Goose, how much respect you might show them. The tongue was bared and the hissing began. If Dinosaurs were anything like the Canada Goose, I’m glad they went extinct.
I named this one ‘Jerkwater.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The trail led me to one of the ‘three sisters’ bridges, and that’s where the Allegheny River was crossed. The goal at this point was to get to a T station, and board a lovely air conditioned Light Rail train back to HQ.
There are two ‘T’ stations on the north side, but a baseball game at the Pirate’s stadium was gathering vast clouds of fans unto itself, and gathering the masses in the direction of those stations, and your humble narrator famously hates crowds…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Unfortunately, this led to me encountering the second icehole of the day. Again with the tongue and the hissing. Pfft.
Freaking Canadian Vegans! I dubbed this one ‘Lance, the Icehole.’
Back tomorrow with something different.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
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Scuttling southwards from northwards
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Yet another ‘exercise day’ greeted your humble narrator, and this time around his scuttling took place on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
A large development project has kicked up in this area, an industrial zone, which has also taken over part of the Ohio River’s waterfront trail in this section and interrupted its course with a detour.
It very well might develop into a hullabaloo, this project, only time will tell.
This project, and the vagaries it has visited upon the grid of streets and riverfront trails it caresses against, forced me into following my nose – as it were – to get ‘out.’ Had to make it up as I went along.
Seems that I’ve found the place where people like to store their boats in Pittsburgh, at least.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As a reminder, the Newtown Pentacle time warp is still in full effect.
These shots were captured during the last week of May, and the words you’re reading are being scratched into existence during the last week of June. Maintaining this ‘lead time’ has been a real boon for me, although it causes one to become chronologically detached from when it will publish.
Housekeeping done, back to the wandering.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While scuttling along, one encountered a building that looked like it was ‘AI.’ Apparently, it’s the ‘Bidwell Training Center Drew Mathieson Greenhouse’ wherein students train in the botanical arts.
It seriously didn’t look real, this building.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looks like an AI model’s insertion, doesn’t it?
Nothing is real anymore, I guess. Am I real? I must be, since I fart. Farting is real, and no computer would have thought farting up.
On another personal note, I can report that I’ve finally finished my latest relisten of Mike Duncan’s ‘History of Rome’ podcast. All 75 hours of it, with the sum up ultimate episode consumed at the end of this walk.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Crossroads… a right turn takes me north westerly towards the Ohio River waterfront, whereas going straight heads towards an area which I hadn’t walked through yet…
Yup, the unknown won.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a couple of disastrous ‘in the field’ decisions led me into actual physical danger over the last couple of months, I’ve been forcing myself to consult that little compass I have dangling off my camera bag – a lot.
South, I needed to continue more or less south…
Back tomorrow – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 