Those include parks and recreation. Keim said services supported by strong collective-bargaining units or considered vital by a large number of taxpayers, such as public safety, usually stay in place. Therefore, the types of cuts in services which are most likely and have already taken place are the same cuts in services that will deter residents from moving back into the city. And the city has continued to lose residents. According to U.S. Census estimates, Pittsburgh's population dropped more than 29,000 between 1990 and 1998.
Murphy challenges anyone who complains about a drop in services.
Even though deficits forced his administration to cut spending and eliminate 1 in 5 city jobs, those cuts have not affected services, he said. He cites housing and other development projects in Squirrel Hill, Spring Garden and East Liberty as examples of his efforts. These things are in neighborhoods,'' he said. So when people say we're letting neighborhoods go, I don't even know what they're talking about.'' Judy Hackel, a lifelong Pittsburgher and president of the Allentown Civic Association, stands near one of the many vacant houses along Eureka Street. She says she's tired of calling the city building inspector's office about the derelict properties.'There's no one who is accountable,' she said.