Monday, May 14, 2007

America's Most "Leavable" City Claims Another Victim

A Merger Within the Burghosphere
When I first started The People's Republic, there were a lot of things that I didn't realize, and a few things that I never even imagined were possible. I never realized (although I certainly suspected) just how messed-up Pittsburgh's political scene could be. But I certainly never imagined that it could actually get so bad that we would end up with uncontested mayoral election. I hadn't realized how many hours this blogging thing would take, but I never anticipated how much this effort would sharpen my focus on our beloved city and its many problems. I didn't realize that anyone would ever want to read these long-winded posts of mine, but I could never have imagined that anyone would think them important or that they might have some effect on city government. But the biggest shock is probably how emotional this particular moment has become for me.

You see, when I first began blogging just a few months ago, I hadn't really understood just how much I really loved this adopted home town of mine. And I never imagined -- never in a million years -- that I would soon have to leave Pittsburgh behind me.

At the end of last year, my Philadelphia-based employer offered me a substantial increase in salary if I would move there. Over the past few months, this offer has been sweetened substantially, in part due to my reluctance to walk away from the neighborhood, the city, and the region that has meant so very much to me. At some point, the offer got to be too good to refuse. I have the opportunity to take on a job that could pave the way for a successful career, and I would be a fool to turn it down. Pittsburgh simply doesn't have the kind of job that I am being offered in Philadelphia, and -- no matter how much I love it here -- I owe it to myself and my family to pursue this excellent opportunity. At some point over this next summer, I expect that we will be packing up our belongings and putting Pittsburgh's breathtaking skyline in our rearview mirrors.

I'm enormously sad, but excited at the same time. It's been (and remains) very difficult coming to terms with this decision.

I continue to cling to a few strands of "hope", for lack of a better term. My boss is notorious for late and even forgotten paperwork. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other people who must sign off on my new appointment before it can become a formal reality. My wife is still nailing down some details on her future employment in the City of Brotherly Love. But my overall sense is that things will happen as planned; I've been waiting for months to see if things were going to fall through, yet, if anything, the process has picked up even more momentum as time has gone on. It's time for me to begin dealing with the thousands of smaller problems and decisions that go along with moving a family of four to a new city more than 200 miles away.

One the more important things that I've worried about was how I could continue blogging about the local issues that remain near and dear to my heart. I've long known that, at some point, the relocation would demand so much time and attention that blogging would have to become a more infrequent and irregular pursuit. Indeed, the extended absence of posts a few weeks ago was caused, at least in part, by these other demands on my time.

I'm not willing to give up on blogging altogether, but I also recognize that maintaining a single-authored blog such as The People's Republic will soon become (if it hasn't already) a lost cause. An active and vibrant blog requires a certain frequency of new posts in order to retain its readership, and I'm not sure how often I will be able to provide them. A far better solution, given my situation, is to become part of a team of bloggers who can keep a steady stream of new posts on the same issues that I really care about. My posts, when I am able to make them, will fit in nicely with those of the other authors. And their posts will keep the blog flowing and alive while I am tending to my many other responsibilities.

Luckily, there already exists a local blog which fills this niche to near-perfection. It has long been a daily destination -- on many occasions, nearly an hourly one -- for my own reading. It draws a wide readership and hundreds of comments each week. The writing is excellent, and the editorial slant largely mirrors my own. The contributors, moreover, are willing to tolerate a certain degree of dissent within the ranks. And I'm proud to say that the authors there have, in a moment of madness, agreed to let me join them as a contributor to their blog.

Starting today, and in preparation for tomorrow's primary election, I have joined The Burgher and P.V. Poplicola as one of the contributing authors of The Burgh Report. The People's Republic will still be here, and all of the existing articles will remain available for reading, but new content -- especially concerning the local political scene -- will be posted there instead of here. Just as my new job in Philadelphia is an excellent opportunity for me, so is this new arrangement with The Burgh Report. It will allow me to continue blogging, to join a team of excellent writers, and to spare myself the pain of letting The People's Republic slowly fade into irrelevance as my posting frequency diminishes over the summer months. I can't thank Herr Burgher and Pops enough for providing me with this opportunity. I can only hope that my efforts will prove a worthy addition to their excellent blog.

In closing, I want to thank everyone who has stopped by over the past six months to read my posts here at The People's Republic of Pittsburgh. I have enjoyed writing for you. I have enjoyed reading your comments. I have enjoyed our joint efforts to make Pittsburgh a better place to live. I hope that all of these things will continue without pause over at The Burgh Report. It has been great. And it ain't over yet.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Best of luck in your new endeavors, Admiral. Best of luck in your new endeavors, Ms. Admiral.
Best of luck, Admiralettes.

I'm glad you are staying in touch.

Anonymous said...

As my favorite Pittsburgh blog, I'll be sad to see the People's Republic fade, but I look forward to reading your further writings at the Burgh Report. Good luck in Philly...

EdHeath said...

I was going to say: “Attenn-SHUN, Admiral leaving the bridge.”

Not my place, I think. Best of luck, though.

Bram Reichbaum said...

Richmond K.,

Thank you so much for all you have done. You have truly moved blogging forward in Pittsburgh, and set some very high standards of accomplishment and integrity along the way. I hope you do get that job in Philadelphia, and I hope the move works out well for you and your family.

Nicko McDave said...

I'll miss the blog, but I'm happy for you. It's always right to do what's best for your family.

PROP was my favorite local blog.

Mark Rauterkus said...

The golden age of Pittsburgh blogging came to a close, according to my posting, some weeks ago. This puts another nail in the coffin -- so to speak.

It will be impossible for you to 'vanish' from the local blogging landscape -- as you had never really de-cloaked. But, I dare say you'll have a nice new home with the other blog and those 'blogging mates.'

Having a great exit strategy is always a top priority for clever people.

My all means -- you've made the best decision with the career choice. That matters greatly.

Thanks for all you've done and will continute to do for our communities.

Finally, a word for the others. My top advice to everyone I encounter in these efforts: "Don't burn out." I've seen it happen too many times. You've got to stay in the game. Ride the bench for a spell. Fine. Jump ship if you are able. Great. But don't quit.

Skip said...

Thank you for your patrols on the three rivers, Admiral. The Schuylkill and Delaware will be lucky to have you.

Best wishes.

Anonymous said...

Wow, congrats on the opportunity in Philly. Know that you will leave a gap in the blog investigation/ reporting back here in the Burgh. I am glad that you will keep in touch from the east.

EdHeath said...

Who get's the great blog name? To live up to the spirit of the name, you should offer it a selection of your favorite bloggers, to be jointly run as a People's Republic. Of course, I have always been partial to "The People's *Democratic* Republic of ..."

Anonymous said...

God's speed, John Glenn, Godspeed

Char said...

The People's Republic of Philly might need you just as much. This isn't the only screwed up side of the state, you know.

Best of luck to you and God Bless.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
macyapper said...

You da man. Change your mind and stay here with the rest of us losers.
MacYapper

Phillycat2626 said...

your going to hate Philly! It stinks,it's nasty,it's nothing like small town Pittsburgh. It is the worst place i have ever lived in my life and i've moved around alot. Pleasae don't go near the city! if you have to work there,ride the horrible trains. it is not a nice drive in and around Philly. you can't go to concerts, everything is tooo far away. you can't get to the airport easy like you can in Pgh and almost every other town in the world. It's horrible,horrible,horrible..and everything cost at least 20 times more in Philly than it does in Pgh. I hope your raise is at least 50 times more..it is a horrible place..

Bram Reichbaum said...

Hi there. Just feeling nostalgic.

Phillycat paints a bleak picture. If its turning out to be anything like that, please do consider moving back.

At least then you'd have the right to mouth off.

Bram Reichbaum said...

Yeah and Char reminds me ... how ABOUT that People's Republic of Philly?

It would be nice to learn some things about Philly, about Mayor Nutter -- plus, there ARE such things as statewide issues. The Beacon of Ammondine must be lit!