Sep 21, 2023 By Cindy Fisher 3 min read

It has been hard to watch the City of Pittsburgh over the past two years.

Businesses are either closing or relocating from the Golden Triangle, crime statistics are rising and once-filled streets are empty. The situation has become an issue for both Allegheny County and the entire region surrounding it because of the media attention the problems create, and the fact that people outside our region do not know the difference between Mount Washington and Washington County. While Pittsburgh business and government leaders have just announced a $2 million effort to clean up downtown, the problems will return if they do not confront the issues of government ineffectiveness and lack of leadership.

As the city figures itself out, Washington County has an opportunity to attract those businesses that are leaving the city and the residents who want a lower-tax life outside of Allegheny County.

We have read numerous articles about our county’s growing economy, increasing population and safe communities. As a township supervisor for the past 10 years, I have seen it myself in Cecil Township, where businesses are locating, our population is increasing, and we are building new family-oriented attractions, like a connector to the Montour Trail. We have also seen a decrease in some crimes in our county, such as homicides, which is also positive news. Many of our local downtowns, such as Washington, Canonsburg and Monongahela, are staging comebacks, but need businesses to occupy empty storefronts.

That’s where we have opportunities.

With our growing economy, we can welcome Allegheny County families to our county by showing our area is a great place to work and live. With our rising population, we can lower taxes for everyone while at the same time providing better public services, new public infrastructure, and recreational opportunities. We can also encourage people to move into communities like the Mon Valley, where there are quality older houses affordable for young couples starting their lives. And the more people in an area means more businesses moving into ready-to-go storefronts in our downtowns. All that creates jobs for us now and for our kids to stay close to home.

But to do this, we must promote that Washington County is not Allegheny County. We do not have the same urban issues, high taxes and reluctance to support the traditional industries that built our region. We know who we are in Washington County – hard working, family-first and community-centered. That’s who we are and we welcome others who share those values.

We have a real opportunity right now to attract Allegheny County residents and businesses to a county that welcomes them, their families, and their businesses. But we must do it now, we must do it by working together and, most of all, we must not repeat Pittsburgh’s mistakes.

Cindy Fisher is the chairperson of the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors and a candidate for Washington County commissioner.