Heinz, Alcoa, Gulf, Westinghouse, US Steel ... Next to Exit Pittsburgh? Oh Well, We got Robots!

Heinz stopped operating in Pittsburgh for a number of reasons, including:

• Cost-cutting measures. In 2013, Heinz was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, a Brazilian investment firm. These new owners implemented a number of cost-cutting measures, including the closure of the Heinz factory on the North Side of Pittsburgh.

• Changing ketchup production methods. Heinz began using a new method of producing ketchup in the early 2000s that required a different type of tomato. These tomatoes were not grown in the Pittsburgh area, so the company had to move production to a facility in Fremont, Ohio. Wait Wait Wait This makes no fucking sense given Fremont Ohio is only 200 miles from Pittsburgh. A flatbed truck can haul about 44,000 pounds. A pound of tomatoes would typically be about 3 to 4 medium-sized tomatoes. 44,000 times 3.5 tomatoes = 154,000. Freight from Fremont Ohio to Pittsburgh in 1980s was about $250.00 to $350.00

According to a 1984 article in the Journal of Commerce, the average freight rate for an 18-wheeler carrying a load of 40,000 pounds was $1.25 per mile. This means that the average freight cost for a 250-mile shipment would have been around $312.50. So let's take the highest number $350 and divided by 154,000 tomatoes, Cost from Fremont Ohio to Pittsburgh PA. The unit cost is $0.0022. In other words the Heinz executives lied to everyone stating it was because of a new type of Tomato. The mayor of Pittsburgh at the time Heinz left was Richard Caliguiri. He served as mayor from 1977 to 1988.

The economic development team that allowed Heinz to leave Pittsburgh was led by Thomas J. Murphy, who was the city's director of economic development. Murphy was a strong advocate for Heinz staying in Pittsburgh, but he was ultimately unable to convince the company to remain. More excuses from Heinz

• Competition from other brands. Heinz faced increasing competition from other ketchup brands, such as Hunt's and Del Monte. These brands were able to offer lower prices, which made it difficult for Heinz to compete.

Pittsburgh let this Nebraska hick buy Heinz, so stupid...bad job Pittsburgh Econ Development committee!!!

As a result of these factors, Heinz closed its factory in Pittsburgh in 2002. The plant had been in operation for over 100 years, and its closure was a major blow to the city's economy.

In addition to the factory closure, Heinz also moved its corporate headquarters from Pittsburgh to Chicago in 2015. This further reduced the company's presence in the city.

Guess Chicago rolled out more season tickets or payola. How Pathetic.

Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy in 2017. There were a number of factors that contributed to the company's demise, including:

• Cost overruns on nuclear power plant projects. Westinghouse was a major player in the nuclear power industry, and it had been awarded contracts to build two new nuclear power plants in the United States. However, the projects experienced significant cost overruns, which put a strain on the company's finances.

• Declining demand for nuclear power. The demand for nuclear power has been declining in recent years, due to a number of factors, including the rise of renewable energy sources and concerns about the safety of nuclear power. This decline in demand made it difficult for Westinghouse to finance its nuclear power projects.

• Financial problems at Toshiba. Westinghouse was owned by Toshiba, a Japanese conglomerate. Toshiba was also facing financial problems, which made it difficult for the company to provide financial support to Westinghouse.

• Management problems. Westinghouse was also facing management problems. The company had been slow to adapt to the changing energy landscape, and it had made some poor decisions, such as the acquisition of a nuclear power plant in India that was later found to be defective.

As a result of these factors, Westinghouse was unable to meet its financial obligations, and it filed for bankruptcy in 2017.

Gulf Oil started its headquarters in Pittsburgh in 1907. The company was founded by William Larimer Mellon, a member of the Mellon family, who were major industrialists in Pittsburgh. The company's headquarters were located in the Gulf Tower, which is a 44-story Art Deco skyscraper that is still a landmark in Pittsburgh today.

Gulf Oil was one of the largest oil companies in the world in the early 20th century. The company had a large refinery in Pittsburgh, and it was also involved in the exploration and production of oil in the United States and abroad.

However, Gulf Oil's fortunes began to decline in the late 20th century. The company faced increasing competition from other oil companies, and it also suffered from financial problems. In 1984, Gulf Oil was acquired by Standard Oil of California (SOCAL), which later became Chevron.

As part of the acquisition, SOCAL decided to close Gulf Oil's headquarters in Pittsburgh. The company's headquarters were moved to San Francisco, and many of Gulf Oil's employees were laid off.

There were a number of reasons why SOCAL decided to close Gulf Oil's headquarters in Pittsburgh. These reasons included:

• The cost of doing business in Pittsburgh was rising.

• Pittsburgh was no longer a major center for the oil industry.

• SOCAL wanted to consolidate its operations in California.

The closure of Gulf Oil's headquarters was a major blow to the Pittsburgh economy. The company had been a major employer in the city, and its departure cost the city thousands of jobs. The closure also damaged Pittsburgh's reputation as a business-friendly city.

San Francisco Sucks right?

Really Hilton too? On June 5, 2023. The Hilton stopped making payments on a $725 million loan that is secured by two of its hotels in San Francisco, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the Parc 55 San Francisco. The loan is scheduled to mature in November.Park Hotels and Resorts stopped operations in San Francisco.

• The high cost of doing business in San Francisco. San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world to operate a business in. This is due to a number of factors, including the high cost of rent, the high cost of labor, and the high cost of taxes.

• The lack of convention business. San Francisco is a major convention destination, but the number of conventions held in the city has declined in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including the rise of remote work and the increasing popularity of other convention destinations.

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OK OK OK, so polluters like Alcoa and US Steel are mostly gone but something better is happening right? What ... Robots ... Nooooooooo

Pittsburgh has become a hotbed for artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics research and development. There are a number of reasons for this, including:

• The presence of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). CMU is one of the leading universities in the world for AI and robotics research. The university has a number of world-renowned faculty members and researchers in the field, and it also houses a number of leading research labs, such as the Robotics Institute and the Center for Machine Learning and Health.

• The availability of talent. Pittsburgh has a deep pool of talent in AI and robotics. This is due to the presence of CMU, as well as the many other universities and colleges in the region that offer programs in these fields.

• The supportive ecosystem. Pittsburgh has a strong ecosystem of companies that are working on AI and robotics. This includes startups, as well as large companies such as Google, Uber, and Argo AI. The city also has a number of government agencies that are supportive of AI and robotics research, such as the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute.

As a result of these factors, Pittsburgh has become a magnet for AI and robotics companies. These companies are drawn to the city's strong talent pool, supportive ecosystem, and access to world-renowned research.

Here are some specific examples of AI and robotics companies that are located in Pittsburgh:

• Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute: The Robotics Institute at CMU is one of the leading research centers in the world for AI and robotics. The institute has been involved in the development of some of the most important advances in the field, including self-driving cars, robotic surgery, and industrial automation.

• Uber Advanced Technologies Group: Uber Advanced Technologies Group is the research and development arm of Uber. The group is responsible for developing the company's self-driving car technology. Uber has a large presence in Pittsburgh, and the company's self-driving car testing fleet is based in the city.

• Argo AI: Argo AI is a self-driving car company that was founded by former Google employees. The company has a large presence in Pittsburgh, and it is currently testing its self-driving cars in the city. Argo AI has raised over $2 billion in funding, and it is one of the most well-funded self-driving car companies in the world.