The last eight years were pretty good for the relationship between Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania's major cities. President Obama made visits to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the Democratic leadership in both cities worked closely with his administration. Sure, there's always room for more funding and more cooperation, but their progressive policies met little resistance from the Commander in Chief.
Now, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Donald Trump. Trump won the presidency by appealing to voters outside the big cities, speaking to rural resentment in communities that felt disenfranchised by, among other things, big city politics. If he upholds many of the promises he made on that campaign trail, Trump will likely find himself at odds with the Democrats leading most major U.S. cities.
Both Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto have already expressed concerns about what a Trump presidency might mean for their cities, and they're not alone.
Keystone Crossroads is a statewide public media initiative reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania's cities. WPSU is a participating station.
