Ostracized

====Qs====
How is our govt ostracized? By whom? Do you mean that Business is not investing in the pgh area? But that really isn't ostracization. Ostracizing implies social disapproval.
There are lots of statistics about how Pgh had 600,000 people in 1960 and how it was the #3 corporate headquarters and the ninth largest city in the nation. But now Pgh is #40th in cities in the US. Find out what the #39 and the #41st largest cities are (the ones just biggert and just smaller than Pgh) and compare them to the #8 and #10th largtest cities in 1960. 
This will get people's attention in a speech or in a brochure. Then give your 3 or 4 items that you will do to restore Pgh to its former glory. this is a good hook to use to introduce your program.
But ultimately, you will have to cut out 95% of the words on this site to make a good 5 minute speech.
Taxes, parking, crime, congestion, lack of good jobs, etc these are the reasons people are leaving the city and the region. Also lack of new housing in Pgh. The only new housing that I know about is that new development above the squirrel hill tunnel. The Waterfront is the only new shopping center that is profitable imo.
===As===
Still to come. Good points.
===Pittsburgh is ostracized in certain circles.===
Pittsburgh, as in the City of Pittsburgh, is ostracized in certain instances. 
====Penguin game====
I've worked with a clipboard and petition outside of the Civic Arena before a Penguin game. I ask people as they approach, "Excuse me, are you a city resident?" Often the reply is bult like, "Hell no." Thousands of people would not ever live in the city even if they were given a truckload of money and a mansion. Furthermore, lots of these people have left the city and are not interested in moving back. There is a distain to some about the city itself. They have lived here and have first person witness at how some things work, from patronage to whatever.
====Sports====
The city is ostracized from the WPIAL and many of the fans of WPIAL schools. One of the major points of the position paper that deals with recreation calls for the elmination of the city league for high school sports. This would remove the iron curtin that circles Pittsburgh when it comes to interscholastic sports competitions.