No city should ever put all of it's eggs in one basket to have to totally rely on one industry. That is where Detroit went totally wrong! Now they are paying the price of the auto industry's ridiculous management of their companies. They'll pull through this just like Pittsburgh did and will be wiser and stronger in the long run. It just takes time. Hopefully the people there can hold out for that.

Cindy..Ga.

Kudos to Pittsburgh but Detroit is a different animal, with deep rooted problems that the auto industry is only a part of. Until Detroit's leaders relent and accept help from outside the cities boundaries, not much will change......the city will continue the same downward spiral it's been on for decades. I hope for better days ahead, but it might take a miracle.

I moved to Detroit in July to be with my, now ex-partner. I have been looking for a job for 5 months, now and have not had any success. Unfortunately, I have lost my vehicle, my partner, and nearly my sanity. Due of the auto plant closures and other various auto industry related lay-offs, those workers have taken most of the available jobs. I haven't even been able to find work in a restaurant!

Economic diversity worked for Pittsburgh-the question is in this time of economic crisis and failing financial instiutions--what solvent financial institution is going to invest in Detroit? I wish the solution was as simple as you wrote in your article.

"Their conservative style paid off."

enough said

Yes, Detroit has some deep-rooted problems, but just as America is experiencing now, they will both turn around, be better in the long-run because of an innate resistance to failure and because of people like henry ford...and now "green companies" in ann arbor, brillant sports ownership, an eventual turn-around in auto and universities like UofM. It's hard to see the light in all this mess (both in Mich and America), but this isn't a recession, a problem or an economic failure, it's a change that's been a long time in the waiting.

Buffalo has been learning that lesson for a long time. Sadly this is going to keep happening until there is a complete economic crash.

You appear to be lumping the entire state of Michigan in with Detroit. True, Detroit is known as the Motor City, but you have to look beyond the city itself to appreciate what is going on. In Oakland and Macomb counties automation allies have sprung up that basically have nothing to do with the auto industry. A new research and development facility is opening up in Ann Arbor and a whole lot more that the media gloss over.

Maybe if you guys did your research before heading here you would have known this, but I guess you really didn't want to. So Michigan and the Metro area suffers because people will be ill informed.

I dont agree with one particular statement by Marcia in Warren. She has missed all of the businesses that have closed down because of the colapse of the Auto Industry here in Detroit. This is much like the small city of Flint back in the late 80's and early 90's. When GM closed all the plants up there and move them to various cities and towns the entire city of Flint crumbled and it has not had a comeback since. That is what you may call a domino effect Marcia and if you havent felt it yet....you will soon enough.

I am a part of the retail side of the Auto Industry and we are suffering worse than we have in 30yrs. There are no sub-prime banks to tackle the growing credit downturn that most of Michigan (not just Detroit) people are experiencing. You have banks that were doing business in our state that have pulled out of (Michigan) completely. They are doing business in other states but not Michigan. This was because of the poor performing portfolio's that Michigan ( not just Detroit) was putting on thier bottom line profits. We as a State are suffering and as a City!
Its people like Marcia who are ill informed!
get better informed suburb Marcia, WAKE UP!

P.S. Oh by the way I live and work in the suburbs Troy MI!

Here's a twist on comparing States, particularly for the auto industry. States like Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Loiusiana receive back 65% to 100% back from the federal government for every federal tax dollar they pay. For example, Mississippi gets back $2000 in aid for every $1000 it pays; Alabama $1650 for every $1000 it pays; Loiusiana $1778 for every $1000. On the other hand, Michigan gets back $920 for every $1000; Illinois gets $750 for every $1000; New Jersey gets back $610 for every $1000. Here's the kicker... every one of those southern states gave hundreds of millions of tax abatements and incentives to foreign car manufacturers to set up in their respective states. Could they do that if they were not subsidized by the "wealthier" states like Michigan?

We need to switch to a dollar in aid for every dollar collected. Michigan should not be subsidizing southern states that are giving away our money to foreign owned companies. And I'm from New Jersey!

Detroit is three times larger than Pittsburgh... and when Detroit suffers the nation suffers. Motown and the auto industry affect many more than the steel industry.

I too moved from the Pittsburgh area in the 80's from home, family & friends at the age of 30. It has been a long journey but we worked hard and long hours and survived. We never went back. I am sure happy that this town survived. The people are hardworking, family oriented, and happy blue colar workers for the most part...This goes to show why the Steelers keep winning superbowls. Its got alot to do with the crowd!

Makes me proud that I live in Pittsburgh, great city.

Pittsburgh never really saw the housing bubble that the rest of the country saw. In addition, Pittsburgh didn't have the cancerous city government that was on display in Detroit.

After having lived in the Detroit area for almost all of my 25 years, I actually left my beloved hometown after months of looking for a new job and ended up moving to Pittsburgh early in 2009. This city is thriving and successful and employment was easy to find. I hope Detroit can recover and learn from Pittsburgh. Detroit has great people who work hard and have a lot of talent. It's a shame that the political and business leadership of the area doesn't have the foresight to help the area thrive.

Pittsburgh's turnaround actually began in the early-mid 1960s, with some forward looking people in elected office. Detroit has a long way to go.

Pittsburgh may very well be the finest city in the United States for many reasons:

diversified economy, cost of living, great universities, topography, verdant landscapes, lots of nice people, superb gothic architecture everywhere, a magnificent world-class orchestra...

Pittsburgh also has a pretty good football team, I understand.

I grew up in Detroit, the city I still call home, living there from '63 through '90. That being said, this is a city that simply doesn't care and isn't interested in saving itself. Since the late 1950's, the city has put up with (both promoted and marketed) mediocrity, produced products that were junk, missed every conceivable signal that it was in trouble, refused to think differently, refused to adapt, mocked other methods and any thinking that varied from it's own, and the list goes on. This isn't just the auto industry mindset, it is pervasive in all areas of society in Detroit. I'm convinced the city will never change, doesn't want to change, doesn't care to change. Just let them be... they've made their bed and now they can sleep in it. The rest of us have moved on.

All that is wrong with Detroit can be gleaned by simply looking at what has happened in the last few weeks concerning Cobo Hall. The disconnect between the overwhelmingly black city and the mostly white suburbs is wider than it has ever been. Not much can get done in the city until it is repaired and it cannot be repaired without two willing parties. I don't believe that the City is a willing party at this time. There is a huge power vacuum in the wake of the ouster of Kwame Kilpatrick and there are a number of people and interests jockeying to fill it. The foolishness over Cobo is one result of that power struggle. The quote of the week came from one city council member who told the suburbs and the state: "If you want to help us, just give us the money and butt out." Did Pittsburgh ever face something as daunting as that before it could even get down to the business of recovery?

A lot of cities need to look at Pittsburgh – too many rely on 1 or 2 main employers and if these go away they face a world of hurt. In our 401Ks we invest in a handful of different funds to stay diversified and so we don't lose as much money if one fund or another bites the dust. Seems like we could use this same reasoning with our cities. I'm greatly looking forward to Randi's report to see what Pittsburgh has done that other cities could use as a model..

As someone who moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a graduate degree, I expected the city to fit the old steel image it has. But it's very different now. Pittsburgh has a vibrant arts community in the cultural district and Strip, diverse neighborhoods - many of which have a small town feel, top of the line medical facilities and great post-secondary eduction. You package that with down to earth people, relatively inexpensive real estate, and a generally friendly atmosphere and it's a great place to live.

Pittsburgh is often held up as an example of an industrial city that's turned itself around. But for some reason, people still expect a depressed steel town. If Detroit (and Cleveland, which is in worse shape) can manage economic recovery and an image recovery, it could do better than Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was lucky enough to have some of the infrastructure (schools and banks) in place ahead of time. I'm not sure if those conditions exist in Detroit. I think those pre-conditions were key to Pittsburgh's success..

@Ray: You're right on about Flint. The movie "Roger & Me" came out 20 years ago, and after Flint and Lansing, the domino has hit Detroit – big time.
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@Marcia: Automation Alley is indeed helping. Unfortunately, even A2 was not immune to the economy when Pfizer closed 2 years ago and about a dozen of my friends and neighbors had to pull up stakes and leave.
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I think the bigger point of AC's article is that Motown itself has to make the change, not just our ring of fancy suburbs. With KK out of office, perhaps there's a chance...
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I'm headed to Cass Ave this Saturday to make sandwiches for the homeless. Every little bit...

I'm not sure I would call Pittsburgh either "conservative" or "thriving". It is holding its own and wasn't hurt as badly as the rest of the country because the real estate prices never escalated like they did in the south or southwest.

Pittsburgh did recover from the demise of the steel industry and enjoyed a resurgence a decade ago. However, the taxes in the state (like the rest of the north-east) are sky-high and industry as well as individuals are paying extremely high taxes.
Unions continue to reek havoc on the industries in the state and many industries leave for greener pastures.

So, while Pittsburgh recovered, it is far from a Utopia.

I have lived in the Pittsburgh region all of my life. It is a wonderfu city, and I am glad its progress has begun to gain national recognition. It is no longer the smoky steel town of the old days, but a vibrant city with plenty to offer its people – both young and old.

Isn't Pittsburgh's city government effectively bankrupt?

While Pittsburgh has managed to survive...I wonder how long any economy (city, nation or state) can survive with actually producing anything. Can Pittsburgh survive with a largely service oriented economy (health and education). Unless someone is producing something (autos, auto parts, etc.) where will the money come from for health care and college tuition. Granted Detroit has had its head in the sand for a long time...but the ripple effect of losing the big three would echo far and wide across this nation...and not merely in one city. It would put a dent in many economic realms including health care and education in states other than Michigan. One way or another this nation needs to find a way (investment in new plants and equipment?) to insure that we are capable of producing the goods we buy and not merely servicing them.

Pittsburgh is a Great City with a great football team-Steelers. I left Pittsburgh in 1984 when US Steel shutdown the MonValley plants, to move to Phoenix . It has done a fantastic turnaround and I'll be returning when we retire. It has a great mix of eastern european ethnics.

I was born and raised in Detroit. As I grew up, the changes in Detroit (and for the worse, mind you) all started with that idiot mayor Colmen Young. Before him, Detroit was a clean and safe city to live and raise a family. Homes didn't become run down. People cared about their neighborhood and neghbors. It used to be truely an "Americana" steeing. Ever since, Detroit has been spiraling downward... now going on 20+ years, and totally out of control. The people of Detroit need to stand up, and take back the city, and get it back on track to progress. They can start by cleaning it up, and get rid of all the crap and neglect they allowed it to become. The only good Detroit has are the Red Wings.

GO STEELERS!!

I've lived in Pittsburgh for my entire 60 years. Here's what the story doesn't tell you – our population has declined from nearly 700,000 in the steel-making days to only about 320,000 today. All the unemployed people left, and they were mostly our young people. We've lost an entire generation of our young people. The public school system that includes the entire city is projecting an enrollment of only around 25,000, compared to over 70,000 in 1970. We are now one of the oldest communities in the country. We also have one of the most incompetent and corrupt local governments on the planet. And housing prices here have not gone down because they never went up – you can buy a 6 room home in the city for around $65,000 – or much less if you want to settle for a bad neighborhood. If Detroit is looking for a model of a city made up of decent people that is still relatively safe compared to most other American cities, then by all means come – but if they are looking for an economic model then they should look elsewhere. Oh, by the way, rumor has it that the Pittsburgh Steelers will change their name to the Pittsburgh Nurses.

Maybe just some symbolism, but it summarizes this article very nicely:

Lions: First 0-16 team in the NFL

Steelers: won the Super Bowl this year.

Pittsburgh has made progress but there is still a ways to go. The public transportation system is awful and so is traffic. With much of the downtown traffic going through tunnels and over bridges, there is a limit to how much you can do to fix the problem. I would love to move back but refuse to work downtown. There's limited parking and its expensive – not to mention the Mon flooding parking areas a long the river! But I hear from family that areas outside the city are growing due to these problems, such as the northern areas around Wexford, Warrendale, Cranberry. Hopefully soon I can move home!

I think it's just human nature to not do anything unless you have to. Same with Pittsburgh, Detroit, etc. Very few are foresighted enough to do something PRIOR to THE COLLAPSE...hint hint

Having spent the better part of 8 years getting my degrees in pittsburgh I can say the city is deluding itself. It can't keep the graduates of its universities to stay in town and innovate for the city. At the same time the amount of non stop flights to Pittsburgh from the coasts are going down. Putting up a few strip malls and shopping districts doesn't mean squat.

I lived in Lansing, Michigan for three years. The entire state of Michigan kept slipping farther and farther toward economic collapse the entire time I was a resident there. This should come as no surprise to anyone. Businesses have been fleeing from there since the 70's. Michigan desperately needs to attract new businesses and find alternatives to the auto and general manufacturing industries. I constantly heard bad news regarding the Michigan economy for three years and got so tired of it I packed up and left. Detroit is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Michigan's troubles go.

I love Pittsburgh–lived there for a couple of years and got my M.A. from Pitt, so don't get me wrong–but it's not quite as rosy there as you make it out to be. The population there is collapsing. Young people are leaving Western PA in droves. The city of Pittsburgh has become, in many ways, a retirement community. Yes, it's remade itself into a beautiful, classy, economically diverse city, but it's not out of the woods yet, by any means.

Health care costs are astronomical, and unsustainable, in this country. It would seem that if a city invests in thousands of jobs in healthcare, and reasonable cost reform occurs, they would be looking at potential layoffs, eventually, also. Either demand for employees, or salaries, are going to have to fall, at some point.

too bad the government of Detroit is too busy blaming things on "suburban oppression" to take the lead in fixing their city.

Pittsburgh is ahead of its time, the people are brillant and tough, the Steelers aren't 6 time Champions for being weak just for one example. The Pittsburgh people are not greedy, they are what this country was once was.

By the way...in addition to my previous comment....I make less than $21,000 a year and barely making it from paycheck to paycheck.

As with most cities in the "Rust Belt", Buffalo was in a similar situation when Bethlehem Steel closed and most of the city's industry was forced out or boarded up. Like Pittsburgh, Buffalo is reinventing itself as a leader in the Medical Field. Now if they can only reduce the size of the government to match that of the reduced population!

That is so wrong. PNC got 7.6 billion in bailout money. Sure they would do fine without it. But they recieved 4 billion, and decided to buy National City Bank because the reserve was not going to give any to National City for whatever reason.

Get your facts straight. PNC DID get stimulus money. And instead of using it for credit purposes, as what the intention of the bailout was about, they turned around and used that bailout money to buy up National City. The government basically bought National City, gift wrapped it, and gave it to PNC. They have grown due to bailout money assistance.

As a Pittsburgher I can tell you things aren't perfect here, but they sure seem to be better than most places. The collapse of the steel industry was HUGE! Almost every family was impacted in one way or another. But a concerted public/private effort was undertaken to turn things around. We were lucky to get a series of young, forward thinking mayors who led the way...Flaherty, Caliguiri, Murphy, O'Connor and now an under 30 year old Luke Ravenstahl. Thank you Randi for the compliments.

As Pittsburghers know, Pittsburgh is a great city. Ethnically rich communities, suburbs where it is common to see deer and turkey, country drives within a half hour, a moderate climate with predominantly mild winters, wide deep rivers for lots of boating and fishing, a strong work ethic, a great health system, and great educational opportunities. If you're thinking of moving here, though, you'd better like driving vertically! There's no such thing as a "flat, straight stretch of road" in Pittsburgh! it's about time that Pittsburgh started getting some serious attention!

You are wrong about PNC. They did get stimulus money, which they used to buy National City Bank. Then Jim Rohr, the president and CEO of PNC, took clients to the Superbowl in the company jet, all at the expense of company.

One thing people take for granted of Michigan is the bountyful fresh water supply that exists all over the state with the great lakes and numorous inland lakes.

One of these days water will be the new oil and the world will be envious of Michigan.

That day will definitely come.

In the meantime no one is moving there for the weather or culture and arts. They need to focus on making Detroit a 24/7 community that draws young people to stay and be proud. I like many young educated people that grew up near Detroit really wanted to stay but I had no choice but to leave for a better opportunity and a better place to be 20 something and building a career. In the meantime my roots slowly get planted in that city making it harder for me to get back.

Until the politics of Detroit changes nothing will change...Look at COBO Hall. The biggest show every year is the North American International Auto Show...Expansion of COBO is crucial to keep that show in Detroit. Too bad, the egg heads on the city council are so short sited thaey cant see beyond the noses on their faces.

Until Wayne, Oakland , and Macomb counties come together as one, the city and the state will lose.

Two points:

1. Marcia above is in for a rude surprise. When Chrysler dies, her precious suburb of Warren is first in line to become America's foreclosure central.

2. It would be great if Detroit followed Pittsburgh's example. That might be possible, IF we managed to eradicate the pig-ignorant and tainted "leadership" that passes for the Detroit City Council, which has successfully thwarted virtually every credible plan for rejuvenating this city. Detroit is full of brilliant minds and hard working people; unfortunately, none of them are represented in city government.

No doubt diversifying your industries is a good thing to do. However before we throw in the towel on heavy manufacturing we have to ask what is ONE of the biggest reasons we're in the Economic mess we're in? WE DON"T MAKE ANYTHING HERE ANYMORE! The US Economy has been all about shuffling paper and selling services, but ultimately manufacturing is what creates a lot of the REAL wealth. Hopefully the US Auto Industry will stabilize, hopefully Detroit and cities like it will perk up and diversify, they'd better or at best they'll continue to see Brain Drain.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and clearly it is one of the greatest places in the entire world to live. I have extensively traveled the globe, visiting every continent and almost every country, and I have yet not found a single place that compares with Pittsburgh.

Kudos to CNN for letting the secret out!

I work in Detroit and have family in Pittsburgh, so I see both sides and largely agree with the article. But....did Pittsburgh have a crazy and/or corrupt city government to deal with before rebuilding - or have all the deep seated racial issues that Detroit and this region have? These are the problems that need to be solved before we can really move on and "be saved."

one thing folks forget Detroit has tried to attract other industries and has made some head way. The problem in a one industry town is that industry pushes back against the incoming/competing industries. The autos wanted all the tax incentives and employee pool to themselves. They refused to use the local banks and went to New York and Chicago for their funds, at every turn Detroit was undermined by the Auto Cos.

I live here, and there are still issues. One that I like to call "Tax Creep" which I know everyone can relate to. And others like the inability to keep a large percentage of our talented young people from leaving town because wages are so low in some industries here.

Overall it's still a nice place to live.

If only the Pirates can engineer such a turnaround.

Unfortunately Marcia is incorrect on one statement. A new research and development facility is not opening in Ann Arbor; Pfizer moved out of it, and the UofM purchased it and will be moving into it. A large corporation left town and sold its site and equiptment for pennies on the dollar to the university.

Ok, so this piece is a simplistic overview of Detroit's problems. I live and work in the Detroit area and find this kind of coverage detrimental to this area's economic recovery. It's true that Detroit leadership needs a major overhaul, but it is also true that us out in the suburbs need to spend more time and money supporting some of the great attributes left in the city. We can't expect outsiders to come spend money here if we aren't!!

I'm a lifelong Pittsburgh resident. While this area has weathered the recent storm relatively well, it's worth noting that there are communities around here that still haven't recovered from the demise of the steel industry. Braddock, for example, is still in shambles when it once was a thriving, bustling community. (Some may have seen its mayor on "The Colbert Report" recently.) These sorts of communities are worth mentioning when it might sound as if everything here is perfect. There is still work to be done.

Huge differences between the two cities.

The most important one is demographics.

Pittsburgh is still majority white, or European descended and has the culture of whites.

Detroit is overwhelmingly African American, and their cultural norms are the norms of Detroit.

Detroit is a violent, crime ridden place. Pittsburgh was never anywhere near as bad off as Detroit.

As a life long Pittsburgher I can attest that it was done the way it was because there was simply no other choice. The steel industry left us high and dry. Because of long term planning and a willingness to see things through, Pittsburgh is healthy and doing well and along with the financial renaissance there has also been a cultural renaissance as well. The arts are alive and well in Pittsburgh and which feeds into the the medical, education and tech boom that has happened here. this is a well rounded city and although far from perfect it's a great place to call home.

Detroit needs to find a new direction and a way to reinvent itself...trust me though...it's not going to happen over night. People have to change how they think and accept that the auto industry will never have a great resurgance there and that they simply have to move on to other things. It took people here in Pittsburgh a long time to accept that the steel industry was never going to be the main part of our economy again. Once we did that it was a well balanced plan that helped save the region. Medical, technical, education, industry, the arts, etc... they all play an integral part here and feed off one another.

Maybe those jobs wouldn't have gone anywhere if we stopped letting our government and the Federal Reserve debase our money every year. How can any person, industry, or city plan for the future when they have no idea what their money will be worth next year or in ten years? There is no such thing as inflation, just more and more printed paper money. Anderson hates Americans or he'd tell them the truth.

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

I think you're all missing the point, including Anderson: Yes, Detroit needs to use the similar historical references to set the city straight, but tell me, HOW DO YOU EMPLOY A TACTIC SIMILAR TO PITTSBURG'S WHEN YOU HAVE A WORKFORCE OF PEOPLE WITHOUT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS? It's impossible to implement a workforce similar to Pittsburg's if you don't have the personnel willing and able to fulfill those specialized positions. We can only employ so many street sweepers...

I will say this when the white people of michigan allow blacks to cross freely back and forth across 8 mile alot of the crime and people being able to find jobs will ease up. I grew up in detroit my whole life and its no worse feeling than crossing 8 mile and seeing a police officer or a white person making you feel like your out of place. I have had the blessing to go to college in Ky live in italy and now san diego ca my children are mixed so there isnt any hate in my blood but we all from MI know the hidden truth and until we fix that issue we will never fully grow to what our state can become. Ill give u a perfect example. I went for a job interview in MI and all i could think when I was walking in was (are they hiring black folks today) sounds crazy i know but thats how MI works when u cross 8 mile. Detroit is the only major city where you can go your whole life and never interact with someone from another race or even attend a class with them. I love my city but after tasting the pie else where I could never live in MI again.

I moved to Pittsburgh seven years ago expecting a shell of a city. Instead, I found a vital, growing metropolitan area. Sure, the city shows signs of the global recession and can benefit from further improvements, but the successful plan for Pittsburgh has been slow and steady growth. The "slow" has been often criticized, but the pace has allowed a methodical and well-considered rebuilding of industry and infrastructure. It is a highly liveable city and I draw a comparison to my old hometown of Chicago – Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods with strong ethnic identies, a fervent civic pride, and a lot of cultural appeal – a world class symphony, three professional sports franchises, ballet, vibrant theater, etc. All at about half of the price of a typical big city. Detroit and other failing cities should take a very close look at this model. It works.

Kudos to Pittsburgh. I am a former resident who moved to the Atlanta area and Pittsburgh has and will always hold a special place with me. I grew up in the suburbs and received a wonderful education. I always enjoyed "going downtown". Pittsburgh is rich in history and culture. The universities are some of the best in the nation and so is the healthcare. It's wonderful to see it thriving! I hope Detroit can do the same. We need jobs to stay in America.

I lived in both cities for many years, so I write from experience and great love and passion for both cities. What saved Pittsburgh was a great mayor, Mayor Richard Caliguiri, and caring wealthy Pittsburghers who did not desert the city, like the Heinz family and their foundation. The rich Pittsburghers continued to promote and to grow the city's cultural center along with the Pittsburgh's great sports teams. Detroit was not that lucky. Also, Pittsburgh and Detroit are geographically very different. The suburban sprawl ruined southeastern Michigan. Developers in Michigan were allowed free reign of the land to build and build in all directions away from the city, and the heads of the auto industry complied with more and more fuel inefficient cars. Leadership and the city's weathy families made those two cities what they are today.

I live in Pittsburgh, and things are not as great as this article makes it out to be. The city has a 2 billion dollar debt. Also, the article fails to mention how the city has not added any new jobs in over 8 years. Furthermore, the article doesn't mention how the population in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas continues to drop. Back in the 1970's there were over 2 million people in the Pittsburgh area. Currently it is hovering over just a million people. The city itself only has a population of 310,000 people. Thats almost the same population as Toledo Ohio. Also it has been reported that over 90 percent of the college students who attend the local universities in Pittsburgh leave Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania. Also, if things are so great in Pittsburgh, how come US Airways no longer operates a hub here, and how come half the airport has now been shut down? Are things better in Pittsburgh then in Detroit? Of Course, but Pittsburgh is not the ideal model of a city Detroit should follow.

I personally think that for Detroit to bounce back we need to disband the current Detroit City Council. They are an embarassment to the many educated, hard working people of the city and surrounding suburbs. The Big 3's problems have definitely hurt the city but it has been in a downward spiral for years because of corruption and greed. We can mostly thank the very corrupt Coleman Young for the division between the suburbs and downtown. Kwame Kilpatrick and City Council were only following in his footsteps. I love this city and believe it can come back but we need politicians who tackle problems not create them like our city council. Jay Leno wanted to do something nice for the city and instead of thanking him Martha Reeves disrespects him. Monica Conyers is a complete joke and CRAZY who actually couldn't understand why leaks only showed up in Cobo after a few days of heavy rain! She couldn't understand why they wouldn't show up in January during the auto show when we had freezing temperatures. This is who is in charge and this is why Detroit is in the shape it's in. Get rid of that whole lot and the city just improved in my book.

Detroit doesn't have it in itself to do well. The leaders are crazy and the people keep voting them in. A state takeover is the only answer and maybe then, Detroit can look to other things to better itself.

I think Liz is correct...Detroit is a different anmial all together and have to get rid of the us vs them mentallity. Everything seems to be about race in Detroit...just reed comments from Mrs. Conyers about Cobo Hall.

Detroit has been limping along because of the auto industry. companies have been leaving for over a decade now. I would like for Detroit to thrive again, but until the city can stop there petty squabbling and put the city and its people first, Detroit will continue to crumble.

I thought people were leaving Detroit much earlier than the 2000s–like after the 60's there was a substantial drop in the population as people and businesses moved to the suburbs. I guess it did get a little better around the 90s with some new businesses but in what way are we talking about saving Detroit now?

I live in Pittsburgh and I couldn't agree more with this article. The city is doing so well and the people, while still feeling the pinch from the economy, are probably doing better overall than the average American. The universities and health care companies in this area are great!

There was recently an article comparing Pittsburgh to Youngstown, OH after the steel industry collapsed. Pittsburgh was able to quickly bounce back, stronger than ever, in the "meds and eds" industries, enabling the steel mill workers to obtain proper training and new jobs. Youngstown was the complete opposite. To this day Youngstown is a decaying city, suffering from corruption and poverty.

Hopefully Detroit manages to rebuild itself on another (or multiple other) industry/ies like Pittsburgh did. There's a lot of potential in the city and plenty of opportunities to break into new markets.

A few years ago, while driving from Florida to Buffalo, my mother, daughter and I ended up lost in downtown Pittsburgh. We loved it. The people were awesome, the energy was terrific and businesses were thriving. To this day, we have a running joke when visiting other cities we look around and wistfully say "it sure ain't Pittsburgh."

Detroit can make the same recovery. Maybe the answer is still with the auto industry, revamped, smaller with the emphasis on "green cars." This may encourage more businesses to make Detroit their home. Wouldn't it be funny if Detroit became the epicenter of the "go green" movement?

This is America and anything is possible.

Pittsburgh is better off now, but Pittsburgh also suffered more than its fair share while the rest of the country prospered over the last 30 years.

To say that Detroit– on any other single-industry city, like Charlotte, NC– needs to follow Pittsburgh's example is to ignore the reality of the painful industrial collapse and consequent diaspora, plus the decades of work invested in finding a new identity that did not necessarily improve everyone's lot.

Change is difficult and requires inspired leadership. I'd like to know who is responsible for Pittsburg's renewal and will they give lessons to some of our leaders over here in the West?

This article made me smile – there are many people who think of Pittsburgh as being backward and poor. It's nice to have some good publicity for my hometown. My friends thought I was nuts to start working at a car dealership at a time when all you hear are bad things about the economy; however, we've been very fortunate to have an outstanding start to the year. I think it's because Pittsburghers know that all things in moderation is a good way to live!

I find it funny that I moved to Florida from Pittsburgh for better opportunities just better opportunities just before the economy tanked...lol. Go figure...

As a Pittsburgh ex-pat with family still living there, I'm pleased to see that my hometown is getting due recognition for its ability to weather the economic downturn by diversifying its economy.

I'm still upset, however, at how workers like some family members and fellow Pittsburghers in the steel industry were tossed aside during the '80s, when the city became a shell of its former self.

Although the stories of Pittsburgh and Detroit aren't exact parallels, I would be doubly pleased if Detroit and other strapped U.S. cities could learn from the example of my hometown, where, I'm proud to say, my maternal cousin, Richard Caliguiri, was a popular mayor for several years.

Maybe their football team will improve also!!

Pittsburgh has seen it share of tough times but the region is doing okay despite lossing thousands of USAIR employees when they pulled out. Westinghouse is located here and it is only a matter of time until they start to build Nuclear Power Plants in the US and China. When that happens we will be sitting pretty.

I live, work and love Pittsburgh.

Many of the industries mentioned were already in Pittsburgh when the steel industry collapsed. These industries managed to grow as the technology boom grew. Pittsburgh had two decades to adjust to the economic changes, it never had six months like Detroit is having now and Pittsburgh never had to do any of its re-structuring during an economy like this. With time hopefully Detroit will be stronger and better than ever. More steel jobs are being lost directly due to the automobile industry, so all of Pittsburgh is rooting for Detroit and a stronger automobile industry.

Reading this article makes me happy that I live in Boston. This city's economy is based largely on higher education, health care and technology. Boston University is the city's largest employer. It is good to know that this city got it right and relies on relatively recession-proof industries.

Sorry NO. Biotechnology is NOT big in Pittsburgh. The research institutes at Pittsburgh Medical Center are doing great research, but this has not translated into a biotechnology industry in the city of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has a small token effort to build biotech in the city, but no one in the field thinks of Pittsburgh when they think of biotechnology.

When you lose almost 50% of your population over 20 years you are not an economic model. I was one of 10 grandsons born and raised in Pittsburgh. Only 2 remain. How sad.

Pittsburgh is a tough city, it has had it share of hardships, pittsburghers know how to pull themselves up by their boot straps, and face each challenge with raw determination. I hope Detroit recovers, I'm sure you guys are just as tough, and you will get through this time.

Having grown up in Detroit, but leaving after graduating from college to get to a more economically-rich region, the biggest issue Detroit faces is being engineered for a 20th century economy while in the midst of the 21st century.

Transportation? Detroit relies exclusively on vehicles and has almost no (certainly no viable) mass transit options, much less bikeability.

Social Safety Net? Detroit and the rest of the state got burned by Governor Engler's 12 years in office and the state has little to offer to support the unemployed or unwell.

Jobs? Detroit lived on a single industry – the automobile – for its rise to glory and its subsequent fall from grace. The only automobile jobs left in Detroit are the execs. Detroit has tons of blue-collar workers but few blue-collar jobs to support them.

Race? Detroit cannot be viewed exclusive of a racial lens, which colors – no pun intended – everything that happens in Detroit and its suburbs. Until people on both sides of 8-mile can get over their racially-motivated biases for and against each other, the city will continue to suffer.

Schools? The disparity between public schools in Detroit and its adjacent suburbs is borderline criminal. When I lived there Detroit schools had about $4K/pupil and Troy schools (6 miles north of Detroit) had $8.5K/pupil. I doubt that's changed a bit.

All this said, Detroit is ripe for a new growth industry, like green-collar jobs. With the sheer numbers of blue-collar workers, the (relatively) low cost of living and doing business in the city and the accessibility to shipping, Detroit has some interesting incentives to offer. And one hopes that the other glaring issues – like racial strife, school disparity, poor transportation – can be dealt with over the long-term.

I do agree that there needs to be a big change in Detroit. I have lived just outside of the city my entire life and have seen it slipping year after year. The problem that Detroit faces in not limited to a declining auto industry but a "Detroit" stigma. Detroit is not the "black eye" of the nation but it seems to continually be perceived in that manner. I admit that some of this criticism is warranted.

Those that run the city are no more qualified to run a parking lot, let alone a major city. That is where the problem starts. We do have problems, as any city does, from the corruption of our former major who just got out of jail, to a city console that seems to use race as a justification to hold the city back.

The city does have the viability to get back on track. We have great winning sports (not including the lions) and we, the people of Detroit have pride. Pride in the work we do and the image that we give to the rest of the country. We were after all one of the leading industries for almost 100 years. It seems that, however, if you say you are from Detroit people already have a preconceived notion of you. The city does need help, we need our politicians to do the right things, we need companies to invest their time and energy in the city like that once did in the old days and most of all we need people to stop looking at the bad and start looking at all the good the city and the area have offered the nation. We have the ability and talent that will lead us to better days. The City of Detroit will not go off quietly and die. That is not the sprit of Detroit!

I am a lifelong Michigan resident and resident of the Detroit suburbs for two years now. I have to agree with Liz above. Detroit was disintegrating long before the credit crunch/recession/auto industry flailings. This whole idea of 'do what Pittsburgh did' looks geat on paper, but would require buy-in and focused action from the leadership in Detroit. I have no hope for this. All you need to do is lookup "Detroit City Council" on YouTube and watch a few clips. The city is being run by people who better belong on Jerry Springer or standing in the front yard of the trailer park on Cops. Scary...

It should be mentioned that while the greater Pittsburgh area is doing reasonably well in the areas noted, there are some significant issues. The City of Pittsburgh is trying to work its way out of very serious financial trouble. It has been under the supervision of an Act 47 (Pennsylvania Municipalities Financial Recovery Act) committee for 5 years.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, CMU, Pitt, etc. are all not-for-profit organizations whose status shields them from the taxes a commercial enterprise would pay. This is one of the big financial challenges the city faces.

Ray B, you're mostly right, except in the fact that it's not just MI. All the surrounding Great Lakes region, as well, particularly OH. Marcia, even those parts of MI that aren't directly tied to the auto industry are affected by the layoffs, paycuts, ect, even here in Ann Arbor (fortunately we have U of M, but we still definitely feel it!) And anywhere on the MI coastline, which relies heavily on tourism from the Metro Detroit area, is affected, because when people don't have money, they don't go on vacation.

Personally, I'd rather be in a crummy part of Detroit than in Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, or Grand Rapids any day. I like Detroit, I went to school there. But every major city in MI has been affected for years by the auto decline.

Article is factually wrong in saying PNC is "actually growing without any stimulus money! " PNC received money and used it to buy National City.

Ray B, you're mostly right, except in the fact that it's not just MI. All the surrounding Great Lakes region, as well, particularly OH. Marcia, even those parts of MI that aren't directly tied to the auto industry are affected by the layoffs, paycuts, ect, even here in Ann Arbor (fortunately we have U of M, but we still definitely feel it!) And anywhere on the MI coastline, which relies heavily on tourism from the Metro Detroit area, is affected, because when people don't have money, they don't go on vacation.

Personally, I'd rather be in a crummy part of Detroit than in Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, or Grand Rapids any day. I like Detroit, I went to school there. But every major city in MI has been affected for years by the auto decline.

ps-I doubt much will change until the behind-the-scenes Matty Maroun gives up his grip on his crumbling Detroit real estate empire, but that's just my opinion.

GET RID OF THE UNIONS!!! Everybody wants to pretend it's something else. Nope, it's the unions. Look at South Bend, Akron, Cincinnati, Scranton, and so on. All of these cities HAD factories, all HAVE unions, and all are destroyed. The mindset for Ohio, Michigan, western Pennsylvania is anti-company and pro-union. I'm sure someone will have the mindless rhetoric that these unions have helped industry and that's fine. Continue drinking from the obamanomics socialist koolaid.

Great story and very true. I am one of those thousands that left Pittsburgh, not because I wanted to but because all that was sure was suddendly not. The steel mills and the surrounding factories that thrived and employed my uncles, older cousins and neighbors seemed to close their doors overnight. The opportunties for employment were sparse, especially for the young. It's been thirty years now, I didn't want to leave and i still wish i hadn't but I am fornutate that much of my family stayed behind and I visit Pittsburgh often and am always impressed withe the spirit and hard working culture of Pittsburghers. They have spent their 'down time' well, learned new skills, furthered their education, and although they live consevatively, they are happy and do not share the same stresses we in the flashier cities (like my present home – Chicago) deal with each day. They are good people with great pride in themselves and are confident , fully realizing that the success and demise of the steel industry in their city is not their legacy or identity. The best resource in the Burg lies within the people that love their city so much they stayed and rebuilt. Detroit, if you love your city, take pride in where you live, who you are, and realize you have much to offer regardless if it has anything to do with the car industry.

I went to college in Detroit and grad school in Pittsburgh. Those cities are different animals. For one thing, lets not deny it, Detroit has a much greater feeling of racial separation than Pittsburgh. Which is sad, because carrying a Student ID in both places (with the access to steep discounts at cultural events), I have to say that Detroit is more fun (unless you're a big football fan).

For another, I could never figure out is why Detroit always felt like a Union town and Pittsburgh never did (They had Unions in the steel mills, didn't they?). One could argue (and many in Detroit do) that the Unions built the middle class, but I'd argue that the unions have management that is as bad as the car companies. When the money was easy, management and the unions fought over who gets to waste it. (they both lost). I now work on the west coast for a company that would never consider building in Michigan because of Unions.

Southwestern Michigan could learn from Pittsburgh, But ntil they can figure out how to integrate the region, I'm afraid the benifits would stay outside 8-mile road.

As a twenty-seven year old entrepreneur running a technology company in Pittsburgh, I can tell you first-hand that this is the place to be right now. The cost of living in Pittsburgh is extremely low, the quality of life is extremely high, and the local economy is doing relatively well, as Anderson described.

Housing is so affordable and stable in Pittsburgh, that it's not terribly uncommon for students to buy a house while they're still in college. I began the search for my first house when I was nineteen years old, and within a year I purchased a 3,400 square foot duplex in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood for $164,000. With cash flowing in from the upstairs unit, it only cost me about $200/month to own a house that was walking distance from Carnegie Mellon University.

My team of software developers works out of a 1,900 square foot NY-style artist's loft in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh on 1st Avenue. It features exposed brick, high ceilings, and an elevator that opens right to the kitchen. This office would cost millions if I moved it to Manhattan, but in 2004 I purchased it for only $174,000.

For these low prices, we Pittsburghers get to enjoy three major sports teams, world class museums such as the Andy Warhol, plenty of outdoor activities in our parks and along our rivers, a relatively low crime rate, and a healthy variety of career opportunities. Pittsburgh is well deserving of the "most livable city" status it received in 2007.

Pittsburgh's also a great place to start a business. The low cost of living translates into a low cost of doing business for entrepreneurs, and Pittsburgh has a good selection of knowledgeable talent streaming out of our many universities, including Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, and Duquesne to name a few.

Of course, Pittsburgh's not perfect. The fiscally conservative attitude that's so deeply engrained in our culture can make it difficult to seek venture capital, and the local government is sometimes too stuck in tradition to improve the status quo.

That said, I really think that Pittsburgh is one of the best kept secrets in this country, and I'm proud to see that it's getting the positive attention it deserves.

- A Proud Guy From Pittsburgh

It's naive to think you can compare the two. Detroit is poorer now than Pittsburgh ever was. You can sense the neglect, abandonment, desperation when you walk Detroit streets-there are huge blocks of urban prairie separated only by burnt out buildings.

There's also the elephant in the room: race. Detroit is 85% black; Pittsburgh is a racially mixed city. In Metro Detroit, there's huge stigma against the city. It's hard to see business and people moving into a city that they think is filled with poor, dangerous, African-Americans.

To "fix" Detroit, there probably needs to bigger changes than what happened in Pittsburgh. New political leadership, more investment in education, and redeveloping blighted neighborhoods (to name a few) are just some things that needed to be done before Detroit becomes a real, functioning city that can attract people and businesses.

I left Pittsburgh last year but only because of a job. I love the city and it is definitely turning the corner. I lived there for 24 years and have seen it change a lot and it gets better everyday.

Pittsburgh cannot change Detroit. The demise of Detroit came with the 1967 riot. In 3 years, it was a combat zone. Homes were being burned down at an alarming rate. In order to save Detroit, they will have to eliminate the criminals, vandals and Drug trafficking. That is probably half the population of Detroit. Law enforcement is not doing a good job. The City, County and State government are also to blame. They have abandoned their buildings. An example is the abandoned Highland Park Police Station and Courthouse. They not only abandoned it, they left all the equipment and records in the buildings. Even new HUD affordable housing homes are being burned down. Do you hear me Jesse and Al. It is sad because both Detroit and Highland Park used to be nice cities prior to the 1967 riot. I noticed it has gotten worse when there are boarded up homes in the exclusive areas like the Edison district, Palmer woods and Indian village. That is not a good sign. It tells me there are not many safe places to live in Detroit.

I grew up north of Detroit; my dad grew up in Warren, my grandfather, Detroit. None of my generation of the family has remained in Detroit. My dad and grandparents are migrating further and further from the city. The only things I miss are Buddy's Pizza, a good greek salad, middle eastern food and coney islands.

On the other hand, I moved to Pittsburgh exactly 10 years ago for college, I loved the city so much that I stayed after graduation. In the 10 years since I've been here, it's gotten even more appealing. I've lived in many different parts of Pittsburgh during my time here, and have had few bad experiences. I travel to other cities frequently for church and ministry and, quite frankly, couldn't imagine myself being happier living in another city.

I have several friends and acquaintances in Pittsburgh that are my age - on the brink of 30, professionals. For what my two cents are worth, I'd say a new generation loves Pittsburgh.

Some further thoughts from a lifelong Pittsburgh resident:
Never too cold, or too hot, blown away in the wind, buried in snow, or flooded in water – great overall climate.
Located a one-day drive from the Great Lakes, Chicago, Canada, the East Coast, New England, New York, Atlantic Ocean – great location.
Located on an eroded plateau on the base of the Allegheny (Appalachian) Mountains, with three rivers and deer, falcons, eagles, and wild turkeys to be seen less than a mile from downtown.
$2 billion in debt for a hockey arena, convention center, baseball field, football field (which a team with an assessed value of $1 billion couldn't afford to build on their own), and now a 1/4 mile tunnel under the river – the city is insolvent.
An international reputation for corruption and inept government.
Education and medicine are not 'industries', they are services – we can not have a wealthy city, country, or economy by providing services for each other – we have to make something.
The most down to earth people on the planet, even though they keep voting for democrats.
One party rule since the 1930's.
Rich in history – French & Indian War started hear as did the oil industry.
What will continue to hurt Detroit for many years to come that does not apply to Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh didn't go up in flames with race riots like Detroit, Pittsburgh was never listed as 'Murder Capitol, U.S.A., and in many, although not all, neighborhoods, it is actually safe to walk the streets, Talk to people from Detroit and they tell you to avoid going into the city at all costs if you can.

I am from Pittsburgh and love it. I need to correct an error: the reporter is wrong about PNC. PNC actually used stimulus money to buy National City and take another large local company away from Cleveland.

my partner and I moved from the Detroit area 4 years ago to Atlanta. are we happier?............... no. we hate it down here and would move back in a second. will we be able to?............... who knows? everyone talks badly of Detroit, how awful it is. you'll never find a scrappier bunch than people from Michigan. Detroit and Michigan will come back, it will take time and when it does, we'll be at the state line waiting to get back in.

You want your answer? Can you handle the right answer?

No, Never, not in a million years. This is like asking if Pakistan can ever be like Denmark or if Bangladesh can ever be like Japan.

No, No, No!

Detroit could learn a lot from Pittsburgh, including how to play football.

Pittsburgh is far from a model city. The population continues to decline. The Democratic rule for the past many decades has the mentality of raise taxes to cover inefficiencies instead of to attract more residents to increase the tax base.

I am a former Pittsburgher. Even though I am a huge Steeler, Penguins, and Pitt fan, I completely disagree with the concept that Pittsburgh is a model for Detroit. I can't speak on behalf of Detroit but I can definitely speak about my 20+ experiences living in Pittsburgh. First, Pittsburgh is not financially doing well. Just few years ago the city filed for bankruptcy and state has oversight on their budget. Pittsburgh has consistently had financial issues over the past decade. Even when the economy was booming people were still leaving because of the lack of jobs and the lack of diverse jobs.

Second, over the past decade Pittsburgh has not attracted new businesses or diversity. There is a reason why each and every year Pittsburgh has experienced a population loss. THere is a reason why over 90% of Carnegie Mellon graduates leave Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh wants to be considered a great place to live, then it needs to be great place for ALL people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds. In the past two decades, Pittsburgh has not attracted people with diverse ethnicities or backgrounds and is one of the major reasons why the population is declining. I competely disagree that "culture" is booming in Pittsburgh. I say that because I am not white.

Third, the local government is incompetent. The lack of leadership and lack of ambition has prevented Pittsburgh from growing. Healthcare and education are not money makers for the city. They are only components that are needed to make a region great. Pittsburgh is not learning their lesson from the steel industry with putting all their marbles in one bag. UPMC is the biggest employer in Pittsburgh with over 43,000 employees in the region. What happens if for some odd reason UPMC falls? The city and region will collapse again. There is alot of potential for Pittsburgh, low cost of living, small city, easy to get around, etc... however the government and leadership has not taken advantage of these assets.

I'm not sure what Pittsburgh they are referring to in this article, but surely its not Pittsburgh, PA. We made the mistake of moving here (for my job) and can't wait to get out. Local governments are corrupt (our local PD hasn't been paid in WEEKS due to mismanagement of funds), the population is either retirement age or gang bangers. Local news said there were 3 shootings – just last night. Everywhere you turn there are boarded up buildings (if the building is still standing) and property can be had for a few thousand dollars. When housing is this cheap there is only one place to go – up! Just because we saw a 1% gain, doesn't mean its a good market!! Property value is STILL below what it was pre-collapse. Pittsburgh is NOT what you model a city after.

I am from Detroit. Was raised in Warren but lived in Detroit for a few years as a young adult. Detroit is lost. It was lost when I was there and I believe it will continue its desent to the back pages of the history books. Detroit and its racism is what is killing it. And racism just doesn't come from one side of 8 Mile. Detroits leadership has been leading the city to ruin for many years and I am glad to be gone.

Folks...the Pittsburgh of this article does not exist. I've lived there twice and each time I desperately wanted to love it. Sadly, I could not.

The population of the city has dropped by more than 50% in the past 30 years. There are very few people in the 18 – 35 age range and if you're single...forget it. Entire neighborhoods are crumbling to the ground. The entire metropolitan area continues to lose population to this day...that's why housing is so cheap. The airport is using less than half of the gates and traffic is less than half of what is was pre-9/11.

Unemployment is relatively low...it's because everyone left and those that didn't and lost their jobs when the steel industry collapsed just stopped looking for work after a while.

Yes...UPMC has become the largest employer in the city...at the expense of five hospitals that closed and only after acquiring much of what was left (UPMC controls about 50% of the hospital beds in Allegheny County and, in my opinion, impede competition in the health care market).

Yes...PNC Bank is doing well...but the other financial institutions that once made Pittsburgh the second largest financial center on the East Coast are long gone...departed for New York, Charlotte and Cleveland.

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city in terms of history, pride, culture and aesthetics (there's nothing like seeing the city when you enter across the Fort Pitt Bridge or going to a Steelers game at Heinz Field). Sadly, none of that makes up for the most common phrase uttered in Pittsburgh..."we've always done it this way, why would be do it differently?"

Detroit, if you want to aspire to be something else, then aspire to be a Chicago, a Charlotte or an Atlanta but don't aspire to just limp along like Pittsburgh has.

When I saw Pittsburgh, PA. this article got my attention. I am from Pittsburgh (actually Jeannette, PA. which is 30 miles east of Pittsburgh). Sound familiar–not all Detroiters live in Detroit!!. Anyway, this is not why I'm emailing. When I go home (Pittsburgh) to visit it is amazing how developed this steel city has become. Detroit can do the same.

On another subject, I have a suggestion about the bailout monies being handed out. Since the banks, AIG, auto execs won't handle the money properly, why not ask every household how much debt they owe (mortgage, one car, credit cards, school loans, etc.) and give each household stimulus money in order to get out of debt. This way we won't have to worry about losing our homes, the mortgages owed to the banks will be paid off and we will have money to put into the economy; such as replacing that old car with a new one. Starting with myself, if I could just get some help getting out of debt, life would be much easier. I think it is very arrogant of these executives to give themselves bonuses when the ordinary people are putting theirs bills on the kitchen table into piles of what we can pay out of this check and what has to wait. Came very close to my home going into foreclosure due to not being able to pay my property taxes on time. I am cutting back every where I can: cancelled cable (watch CNN on line now), turned off my home phone and just use my cell, etc. I'm trying to cut back any where I can. I think I will send this to my state reps and see how far this suggestion gets. We need help out here!!.

I have lived in the Detroit area since 1964. It has been dwindling since the 40's and has taken the brunt of this recession, feeling it long before the rest of the country and far worse than most of the rest of the country now. Having mainly the auto industry and suppliers as its economic engine has been a problem, but urban sprawl and the resulting sparse population of the city itself is a problem that will have to be addressed in innovative ways not yet thought of. As people left due to racial segregation (white flight), economic downturn and now foreclosures, the city still has the same geographic area to provide services (police, fire, schools) to, but with way less population and taxes to do so. Add in incompetence and malfeasance in the city government and school system and it will take a LOT of people a LOT of time and effort to resurrect it. That said, Detroiters are extremely resilient and generous even in the worst times and have an unbowed spirit that will serve them well in their efforts. The movie industry is starting to do more filming here and well-known celebrities (both local–Jeff Daniels for instance and other–Rosie O'Donnell recently) are taking stands for the development of Detroit and her people. Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center in Detroit as well as University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University in East Lansing can also be hubs of growth in education and medicine. In the meantime, we all need to look at what we really NEED to live (as opposed to what we WANT to live) and then recycle/donate to others who need them the useful things we no longer use or need. If we all reach our hands and hearts out to each other to help and to be helped, we will get through this and eventually be much "richer".

I feel for detroit losing auto plant jobs me being from ohio were losing jobs here. everyday like anywere else maybe because I live here but it seems like Ohio is getting worse as time goes by.this really worrise me . My daughter is fininishing colleage a bio. mg. and was told not to expected a job from 2 to 5 yrs. this upsets all of us . she droped resumes all over and no luck she was trying to get a job in the animal field . I guess what I'm saying is all that education and money is for right now wasted just to get a job at mcdonalds they tell these poor kids the only way to get a good job is to go to colleage so they do just to find out there's nothing out there and you are over qualified and right now fast food places are the only places to go maybe right now this sucks . I hope you come to Cleveland Ohio thank you for listening

A key figure in Pittsburgh's rejuvenation was encouraged to leave Pittsburgh by Wayne County Executive Ficano (Detroit is largest city in county) to come to Detroit to aide efforts of similiar diversification and re-development. The question I have is where is Dr Birru and why did such an accomplished and intelligent urban planner (I believe the only urban planner to be featured on the front page of the WSJ) leave his position in Economic Planning and Development for Wayne County? The answer would provide insight into the self serving and stifling politics that have existed in Detroit and its county for too many years. Best of success to Dr. Birru. Of us who know him we wish that he finds a municipality that recognizes his humble and brilliant insight.

Stimulus for Detroit??

I steadfastly believe that a more effective use of taxpayers' money would be to offer a $10,000 rebate to those who purchase a new American made car! Put the money in the hands of the consumers with a direct tie to the industry that is so close to collapse. Hmmmmm, maybe too simplistic for this complicated world?

I hated Pittsburgh growing up. Used to complain that there was nothing to do. But then I grew up and got to see other cities and places around the country like NYC. Man, life is so good here. It's affordable, clean, you can drive a car without much traffic, three major sports teams, and I'm even working a nice job in advertising. I live in a house with one roommate for $300/month each. I'd have to pay 4 times as much in NYC/Jersey.

I'll probably leave Pittsburgh for my career someday, but I know I'll be coming back.

GO PENS!!

I'm 26 years old, originally from Pittsburgh, currently in Michigan (school at U of M) and dying to get back to the Burgh. I miss the vibrancy of the city and think it's a fabulous place to live. I go back as often as possible. That being said, I don't think that Detroit can be fixed as easily as it has many deeper rooted problems than Pittsburgh ever did. Pittsburgh turned around largely thanks to Carnegie Mellon and Pitt... 2 of the best research universities in the country. Detroit has the University of Michigan, 45 minutes away though. I don't know that one will help the other.

Like other posters have said, I think Pittsburgh is one of the best kept secrets in the country... I've traveled a lot but never found a vibrant city like Pittsburgh that is so affordable for a 20 or 30-something person.

I noticed a few comments on Pittsburgh's Population drop. It is true that it dropped significantly. Nobody can deny that. However, you have to look deeper at the matter. The Steel Mills employeed thousands per each one, and the blue collar workers they employeed had very large families in the industrial age. Pittsburgh shifted to a more white collar work base, and it SHED its population. The row homes in Lawerenceville use to hold large blue collar families, now they hold maybe a 20 something couple, or a single hipster artist. Pittsburgh's population use to be twice as large, however this was before the day of urban sprawl, and the metro was never even close to being twice as big. Not that I am a fan of urban sprawl in anyway.

Pittsburgh is far more of a vibrant and cleaner town than it was when its population was double. We have great cultural amenities of a larger city. This city would be densly packed if it was back at 600,000. It is still in the top 15 densist cities in the nation even with the population drop. We need to grow slowly and steady, and improve the urban blight areas that are still visible from the Steel Mill collapse in the Mon Valley and Allegheny Valley. I would love to see New Kensington become a stronger and vibrant town like it use to be as it is set up for it. Put trains in the Mon Valley and Allegheny valley, stop sprawling into crappy and ugly built housing plans, and move back into centralized towns. This will help the metro even more.

New studies have shown the population is almost beginning to stop, and turn around. A lot of the population loss now is due to the people who left in the 80s taking their kids with them, and leaving a large gap where the age of child bearing people where not here. However, the 20s and 30s somethings are moving in for jobs, and re-filling that gap. Also, Pittsburgh has a smaller out-migration amongst its youth as somebody stated above that it had a huge amount of people who left. This is not true. Of course 20 somethings leave the town they grew up in when they graduate college no matter where they live. However in Pittsburgh it is a smaller percent than other cities.

I am disappointed that CNN decided not to come directly to Detroit, Michigan. Warren, Michigan is beginning to experience what Detroit has endured for the last 5-10 years, high unemployment. If the unemployment rate continues to rise eventually Warren will suffer the same fate as Detroit, Michigan. Many feel in this region and probably around the country, when the suburbs get a cold the cities get pneumonia. This economic crisis was exacerbated by predatory lending and has decimated the remaining stable neighborhoods in Detroit. It appears that the major media avoids Black and Brown areas devastated by this economic tsunami. The official unemployment in Detroit is 21%. However, if you count all of the unemployed it is probably 40%. How can a city or neighborhood survive with this level of unemployment? But I guess CNN does not want the world to know of the economic DEPRESSION in Detroit and similar urban cities. I thought your coverage would be more through and balanced, more like your coverage of New Orleans during Katrina.

Mark from March 18th, 2009 5:10 pm ET, please take a close look at the nation's economic situation in the late 70s and early 80s vs the Pittsburgh MSA. Pittsburgh's implosion played a huge role in that situation. And steel was a much larger part of the economy at that time – larger than people realize.

At that time, Pittsburgh was also the third largest corporate HQ city in the nation – behind only NYC and Chicago. So, its economic footprint far outsized its population. Plus steel wasn't the only thing to die. The entire primary metals sector took a huge hit. Pittsburgh was also the nation's major glass center – also took a hit. Steel overshadowed a lot of things, but it was far from the only story.

Pittsburgh symbolizes the start of wholesale American de-industrialization. In many ways, Detroit may symbolize the end of this period. Given that the rest of the country falls somewhere else in this continuum (megacities of NYC, CHI, and LA notwithstanding), this may change our paradigm of what really is a 'winner' and 'loser' region.

As a life-long Pittsburgher, I'll be the first to admit that the region isn't perfect, but it is pretty darn good. What the article failed to highlight is that the primary reason that Pittsburgh was able to make the turnaround from its blight in the seventies to our current situation is that private citizens – business leaders and wealthy individuals – led much of the effort. We are lucky in that we have lots of "old money" from the industrial revolution when Pittsburgh was thriving from sources like Andrew Carnegie, the Mellon family, and others. That old money was used wisely by business people and foundations to reinvigorate the city. Yes, our government helped, but mostly in a supporting role. It was the will and effort of these private citizens to take ownership of the city and turn it around that had the most impact.

I have to believe that Detroit still has wealthy business people and private citizens who are wealthy due to the success of the auto industry for many decades. Perhaps they would be motivated to lead the way, and not wait for government to solve their problems because it won't happen.

And by the way, PNC did take some bailout money. They used it to buy National City Bank, allowing them to become one of the largest banks in the US.

Pittsburgh is a great city to live in. There is a comment in this thread that says that the city cannot retain its graduates: not so. In my college in Carnegie Mellon, about 11% of our students are from the region, but about 18-19% of our known alum are still in Pittsburgh. We are contributing about 50-60 citizens to the city each year, and other colleges in the university have a similar experience. A very interesting article in the Economist last year compared the demographic of Pittsburgh to other cities with older populations, and predicted that in 10-15 years Pittsburgh will be a predominantly young city, while other older cities will retain their older demographic. It was named America's most livable city last year. Now if only the politicians would get their act together about the public school system.......

Back in the early 1990s, we were weighing three different job offers in Chicago, Detroit and Pittsburgh. We chose Pittsburgh due to its cost of living and the feel we got from the community (I like to say it has a soul). We have never regretted our decision, it is a terriffic place to raise a family.

I would also like to correct some major misconceptions that many people have left on this board –

Since 2000, the population of 18 to 24 year olds in the Pittsburgh region has increased, while the area is one of the few to see its 65+ population drop. We are getting younger. The population is NOT collapsing and census data released today indicate that the drop is bottoming out.

The number of college students remaining after graduation is significantly higher than 10% and it has increased significantly.

Pittsburgh was never the number 3 HQ city in America. That false ranking was based on when the Fortune 500 only included industrial companies. They started to include service companies in 1994. In fact headquarters employment is one of Pittsburgh's fastest growing sectors.

The steel industry, while significantly smaller is alive and well. Regional metals companies are spending nearly $3 billion improving their facilities and the area ranks second in metals industry employment.

We still make stuff – high end metals, electrical components, nuclear power plants, transportation components. But fact is like everywhere else, these plants do not need thousands of low skilled workers, they need dozens of highly skilled, highly trained workers.

Traffic is not that bad and downtown remains a strong place to do business. In fact it is home to 135,000 workers, 25% more than in 1996.

Education and health care are industries. UPMC is a $7 billion corporation with facilities around the world. CMU and Pitt conduct nearly $1 billion in research annually.

Finally, the turnaround started in the 1940s when local corporations and businesses saw that the city would be doomed if it remained a dirty steel town. So when steel did collapse, the foundations were in place to build a new economy.

Yes there are problems that need to be addressed. There is too much government, the city remains under financial oversight, taxes are too high and we have an underutilized airport. But let's have this debate using current facts, not perceptions from the 1980s.

Pittsburgh isn't exactly the shining City on the Hill. It's growth is stagnant at best, it can't keep it's college graduates from fleeing, it's got its own share of local government issues, tax controversies, etc. and that's about all one can be excited about there: a selection of schools, banks and hospitals. Oh yeah, and the sports franchises that hold its constituents contented.

Pittsburgh needs to modernize; while comparing it to a shambles of a City, ala Detroit, sure, it looks like the most fantastic place to live, learn and prosper in the United States. The reality, in my humble opinion, not so much. Once Pittsburgh's leaders realize they need to attract and retain the best talent, business leaders and disruptive business starters will it really "pop" onto the national scene, and end the forever referenced "steel city" of yesteryear who recovered to become something of a City, which looks in much better shape than, well, Detroit.

Can Detroit learn something from Pittsburgh? I agree with the many who've commented that it's a difficult, at best, comparison. They really each are their own animals.