Somewhere, Robert Moses smiles

The federal government has approved funding to extend the Mon-Fayette Expressway to the Parkway East, thus driving a dagger into the heart of the city. Our so-called leaders have hailed this boondoggle as an engine of job creation, but that kind of thinking is decades out of date. The region's bloated governments and high taxes are as much an impediment to economic development as its aging infrastructure, which had it been properly maintained over the years would be much better suited to support and sustain growth. About the only politicians who seem to oppose the new highway are city leaders like Mayor Murphy, who have as about as much influence in the state these days as Howard Dean at a meeting of the Christian Coalition.

This city is so finished.