Charleroi in decline: A look at the former Magic City

Charleroi in decline: A look at the former Magic City

in the small town of Charleroi, south of Pittsburgh, there is a depressing mood. Once known as "Magic City", the place today resembles a shadow of itself. The former heights during the steel boom are long gone and the dreary reality is unmistakable for the residents.

The streets are lined with closed shops and decaying buildings, and the last remaining factory recently closed its doors. The hope of an economic upswing in Charleroi seems to be lost, what makes the city a symbol of decline in the so -called Rust Belt of the USA.

national interest and political changes

Last month Charleroi received unexpected attention when Donald Trump mentioned the city during an election campaign speech. He aptly described the place as beautiful, but emphasized that the times of prosperity were long gone, especially since many migrants, especially from Haiti, have settled here. While Trump critically commented on these changes, our correspondent Isabelle Jacobi notes that the problems and the decline occurred long before the Haitian workers were immigrated to.

In a current podcast, Jacobi Charleroi visited the life of the people based there better. Talks with Haitian migrants, the local police chief and concerned citizens contributed to a deeper understanding of the economic and social challenges that the city faces. Sometimes people cope with their everyday worries in a "food bank" where the needy is provided with food.

The upcoming presidential elections 2024 are already throwing their shadows ahead. Charleroi and similar cities in Rust Belt could be crucial for the outcome of these elections. The Swing State Pennsylvania has to award 19 elaborate voices, and in the past the residents of this region have mostly chosen democratically. But the choice of Trump has changed voter behavior.

The difficulties and the economic decline in Charleroi are not only local phenomena, but also reflect larger trends that influence American society. The fate of the city could be emblematic for the fight for the factory cities in Rust Belt, whose history is inseparably associated with the industrial rise and the subsequent decline. The challenge of getting these regions back on their feet through economic and social reforms remains.

For a deeper insight into the situation of Charleroi and other comparable cities, a look at the detailed report on www.nzz.ch .