Posted December 20, 200618 yr CNN did a series on cities and ranked them on ten different topics, please feel free to move topic if necessary..... Top 5: Safest City Incidents of crime per 100,000 residents Brick Township, NJ 55.9 Greece, NY 70.8 Orem, UT 71.0 Irvine, CA 84.1 Troy, MI 88.3 Source: Morgan Quitno Press 1 of 10 America's safest city Brick Township, NJ Key stat: 55.9 incidents of crime per 100,000 residents This small city near the Jersey shore recorded the lowest rate of violent crime of any town of 75,000 residents or more, according to Morgan Quitno Press, an independent research publisher in Lawrence, Kansas, which used FBI statistics in its analysis. Most of the top safest cities are small, commuter enclaves on the outskirts of much bigger cities. Many Brick Township residents, for example, commute to jobs in Northern New Jersey and New York. Top 5: Most dangerous City Incidents of crime per 100,000 residents St. Louis, MO 2,405.5 Detroit, MI 2,357.6 Flint, MI 2,260.2 Camden, NJ 2,096.7 Memphis, TN 1,860.0 Source: Morgan Quitno Press 2 of 10 America's most dangerous city St. Louis, MO Key stat: 2,405.5 incidents per 100,000 residents St. Louis nosed out its World Series rival, Detroit, for the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of violent crime for any city in the United States. The level of crime there was more than 40 times that of the nation's safest city, Brick Township, New Jersey. Most of the most dangerous cities are older cities that industries and jobs have fled, leaving behind mostly poor and uneducated populations. Top 5: Smartest City Percentage of residents with undergraduate degree Seattle, WA 52.7% San Francisco, CA 50.1% Raleigh, NC 50.1% Washington, DC 45.3% Austin, TX 44.1% Source: U.S. Census Bureau 3 of 10 America's smartest city Seattle, WA Key stat: 52.7 percent have a undergraduate degree If you equate education with intelligence, Seattle is the smartest U.S. city. More than half its residents have undergraduate degrees. The computer software industry headquartered in this Pacific Northwest city soak up thousands of educated workers. Degrees in computer science and engineering are especially in demand. Top 5: Fastest growing City Percent increase Elk Grove, CA 11.4% North Las Vegas, NV 11.4% Port St. Lucie, FL 11.0% Gilbert, AZ 11.0% Cape Coral, FL 9.2% Source: U.S. Census Bureau 4 of 10 America's fastest growing city Elk Grove, CA Key stat: 11.6 percent annual gain in population Small sun-belt cities, such as this suburban Sacramento enclave, lead the nation in population gain by percentage. Elk Grove was founded just six years ago and already has more than 112,000 residents. On a pure numbers basis, Phoenix added more population than any other city, more than 44,000. Top 5: Most expensive City Average price Beverly Hill, CA $1.800 million Santa Monica, CA $1.767 million La Jolla, CA $1.762 million Santa Barbara, CA $1.700 million Palo Alto, CA $1.652 million Source: Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index 5 of 10 America's most expensive housing market Beverly Hills, CA Key stat: A 4 bed, 21/2 bath house costs $1.8 million California has many of the most expensive housing markets in the United States. For this survey, which measures how much a similarly sized and outfitted house would cost in various markets, Beverly Hills came out on top, just ahead of nearby Santa Monica. The index uses as its benchmark, the cost of a house measuring 2,200 square feet, with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in a middle management neighborhood. Top 5: Most expensive City Average price Beverly Hill, CA $1.800 million Santa Monica, CA $1.767 million La Jolla, CA $1.762 million Santa Barbara, CA $1.700 million Palo Alto, CA $1.652 million Source: Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index 5 of 10 America's most expensive housing market Beverly Hills, CA Key stat: A 4 bed, 21/2 bath house costs $1.8 million California has many of the most expensive housing markets in the United States. For this survey, which measures how much a similarly sized and outfitted house would cost in various markets, Beverly Hills came out on top, just ahead of nearby Santa Monica. The index uses as its benchmark, the cost of a house measuring 2,200 square feet, with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in a middle management neighborhood. Top 5: Most affordable City Median household income Median home price % of affordable homes Indianapolis IN $65,100 $122,000 85.9% Youngstown, OH $52,100 $86,000 85.5% Detroit, MI $56,700 $95,000 85.5% Buffalo, NY $53,300 $95,000 82.9% Grand Rapids, MI $61,500 $128,000 81.6% Source: Wells Fargo and National Association of Home Builders 7 of 10 America's most affordable major housing market Indianapolis, IN Key stat: 85.9 percent of houses here are affordable to those earning the city's median income This index from Wells Fargo Bank and the National Association of Home Builders compares housing prices with income to judge affordability. Not only are houses inexpensive in Indianapolis but wages and salaries are fairly high, an unbeatable combination. In no big city could more residents earning the median household income afford a greater percentage of all houses bought and sold during the three months ended September 30. Top 5: Least affordable City Median household income Median home price % of affordable homes Los Angeles, CA $56,200 $523,000 1.8% Santa Ana, CA $78,300 $626,000 2.6% Modesto, CA $54,400 $372,000 4.1% Stockton, CA $57,100 $310,000 4.8% San Diego, CA $64,900 $477,000 4.9% Source: Wells Fargo and National Association of Home Builders 8 of 10 America's least affordable major housing market Los Angeles, CA Key stat: 1.8 percent of houses here are affordable to those earning the city's median income In the nation's second city, very few houses, less than 2 percent of all sold during the year, were affordable to families earning the area's median income. At this point that would seem to shut the vast majority of the city's new buyers out of the local market. In Los Angeles, the median home price is more than four times what it is in Indianapolis yet the household income is nearly $9,000 lower. Top 5: Fastest appreciating City Median price Percent increase Salem, OR $228,000 24.7% Elmira, NY $93,600 21.4% Salt Lake City, UT $216,300 19.2% Virginia Beach, VA $243,800 16.9% Gainesville, FL $215,200 24.7% Source: National Association of Realtors 9 of 10 America's fastest appreciating housing market Salem, OR Key stat: Prices grew 24.7 percent year over year The capital of Oregon outpaced every other city in the United States in percentage increase in median housing prices for the 12 months ended September 30. Most of the top five cities gaining most in home prices were either near or below the nation's median house price of about $225,000. The only city with a median price above $300,000 that recorded a double-digit price increase in the past 12 months ended September 30, was Seattle (median price $372,400), where prices rose 14.6 percent. Top 5: Slowest appreciating City Median price Percent increase Detroit, MI $154,100 -10.5% Sarasota, FL $320,700 -9.4% Canton, OH $112,300 -9.2% Palm Bay, FL $193,600 -9.0% Bloomington, IL $156,300 -8.5% Source: National Association of Realtors 10 of 10 America's slowest appreciating housing market Detroit, MI Key stat: Prices fell 10.5 percent there year over year Auto industry woes have devastated the Detroit housing market. The loss of more than 10 percent off the median-priced, single-family home in the past 12 months only tells part of the story. It does not take into account inflation and it only factors in houses that have actually sold, not the many others that might be languishing on the market. Some oversold Florida cities, led by Sarasota, experienced a turn down. The condo market was also weak there, falling 11 percent. http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/real_estate/best_worst/index.html
December 20, 200618 yr wow, detroit housing prices are falling by ten percent a year. Nine percent in Canton, wow that is depressing.
December 20, 200618 yr LOL, 2% of homes in LA are affordable to those with a median income. Indianapolis is 86%. I laught on the outside :lol:... but cry within... :cry:
December 20, 200618 yr LOL, 2% of homes in LA are affordable to those with a median income. Indianapolis is 86%. I laught on the outside :lol:... but cry within... :cry: You and me both man. Thank goodness for "foreclosures" and "sheriff fire sales"!
December 20, 200618 yr Poor Detroit. =/ Anyone think they'll ever get off that list? I'm only asking cause I visit family and friends there often.
December 20, 200618 yr ^nope, Detroit is the father of the automoblie and it was killed by its own child.
December 20, 200618 yr LOL, 2% of homes in LA are affordable to those with a median income. Indianapolis is 86%. I laught on the outside :lol:... but cry within... :cry: High rents in places like LA and D.C. are forcing a lot of WORKING people and families into homeless shelters. Shit's ridiculous.
December 20, 200618 yr LOL, 2% of homes in LA are affordable to those with a median income. Indianapolis is 86%. I laught on the outside :lol:... but cry within... :cry: High rents in places like LA and D.C. are forcing a lot of WORKING people and families into homeless shelters. Shit's ridiculous. IIRC, they've been categorized as the working poor. Many probably live in the 'burbs. As cities start to repopulate and America's love affair with "old decaying" neighborhoods ramps up, this will become painful obvious. The sad thing about this, is the decent hard working families are getting the shaft. Although I want Cleveland to rebound as a vibrant city with a diverse population. With all the development going on, I sense we'll be headed in the same direction in the next few years - especially in the northern sections of the city on either side of the river.
December 20, 200618 yr One of the biggest problems being that many of those inner-city people rely on public transportation which is non-existant in the 'burbs. Then on the other hand you have Las Vegas... waiters and other service workers w/ no higher education making 60k + a year.
December 20, 200618 yr One of the biggest problems being that many of those inner-city people rely on public transportation which is non-existant in the 'burbs. Then on the other hand you have Las Vegas... waiters and other service workers w/ no higher education making 60k + a year. those unskilled waiters/back end service workers are yester-years unskilled factory workers - all trying to grab onto their piece of the American Dream
December 21, 200618 yr ^nope, Detroit is the father of the automoblie and it was killed by its own child. Yeah if you think about it, the fate of Detroit, our car-culture capital, was all too obvious. And about the top 5, who would want to live in those "cities"?
December 21, 200618 yr Cities are enviroments scaled to people, suburbs are enviroments scaled to cars.
December 21, 200618 yr Most of the top safest cities are small, commuter enclaves on the outskirts of much bigger cities. run away from the cities, suck out all the wealth and then blame the problems of concentrated poverty on the cities.
December 21, 200618 yr Cities are enviroments scaled to people, suburbs are enviroments scaled to cars. That was deep
December 21, 200618 yr hey, if somebody doesn't state the obvious, people might have to spend that quarter of a second comming up with it themselves.
December 21, 200618 yr No really, it was well said. You wrapped it up in one sentence instead of writing an essay d:] And it almost sounds poetic.
December 21, 200618 yr Most of the top safest cities are small, commuter enclaves on the outskirts of much bigger cities. run away from the cities, suck out all the wealth and then blame the problems of concentrated poverty on the cities. Add to that the fact that they don't contribute to the city, complain that there's nothing there, and blame that on the city too.
December 21, 200618 yr Most of the top safest cities are small, commuter enclaves on the outskirts of much bigger cities. run away from the cities, suck out all the wealth and then blame the problems of concentrated poverty on the cities. Add to that the fact that they don't contribute to the city, complain that there's nothing there, and blame that on the city too. You live in Columbus; have you seen the terrible looking Dominion homes they're building on the far west side off of Broad Street? My parents live in 'em and I walked around the other day through the development that looks like a village. At first I thought wow...great land use. The houses are close together and garages are in the back of the house. Plus there's public space with a playground. But that's IT. Whats the point in creating a village if theres no neighborhood business district, no walkable access to other neighborhoods and siding all over the place?! Some context
December 21, 200618 yr Gooooo...where are all of the trees?!?!?!? On another note....gosh to I just love suburban street names!!
December 21, 200618 yr what are all the smaller buildings that the larger buildings are connected to by little white paths? are they garages?
December 21, 200618 yr The green space in front of and in back of the house is a complete waste of space. They should have moved the house up to the sidewalk. It would've created a decent amount of space for a backyard and/or a deck.
December 21, 200618 yr ^I would assume that waste of a frontyard is there because the community would probably only budge so much on the project, and wanted to preserve some kind of setback.
December 21, 200618 yr The houses are close together and garages are in the back of the house. Plus there's public space with a playground. But that's IT. Whats the point in creating a village if theres no neighborhood business district, no walkable access to other neighborhoods and siding all over the place?! more money! :evil: :evil:
December 21, 200618 yr Man I bet this area is difficult to mow. And now to the backyard for some quality time. I'm all about tiny backyards, but this is about 3 feet beyond surreal. This reminds be of an interesting book I've heard about (but never seen or read) about the phenomenom of the American porch (Author's website: http://www.theamericanporch.com/). The gist of the book is that the front porch is an important transitional space--not quite inside, not quite outside--that glues neighborhoods together. Historically, and prior to modern sewer systems, non-coal fired boilers and the advent of the indoor laundry, people populated their front porches because their backyards were toxic waste heaps. But once houses "modernized" with gas heat and indoor plumbing and so forth, the backyard patio wonderland flourished. Front porches became an anti-status symbol and withered into the dumb four-by-four stubs we see in suburbia today. Will bizarro new-urbanist development return the front porch to its position of greatness? Let's hope.
December 21, 200618 yr why didn't they just connect the two structures? They're Dominion Homes...'nuff said. They're more concerned with pushing loans through to unqualified people despite ungodly high foreclosure rates in their developments after a year or two.
December 21, 200618 yr On the upside, with proper screenage to the sides and maybe replacing the grass with brick, that's the perfect amount of space for an outdoor room. It would just fit a grill and patio set.
December 21, 200618 yr I grew up less than a mile away from where this was built, as a matter of fact my aunt and uncle used to live in the neighborhood on the north side of the tracks. I about puked when I saw them start to build this neighborhood.
December 22, 200618 yr Yeah if you think about it, the fate of Detroit, our car-culture capital, was all too obvious. And about the top 5, who would want to live in those "cities"? you don't want to live in number five?
December 22, 200618 yr chortle is something you see in movie scripts actor one: wasn't that funny? actor two: [chortles]
December 22, 200618 yr Here's a riddle, I'm thinking of a word, it begins with "B" and ends with "ANNED"
December 23, 200618 yr The criminal conspiracy of the auto companies to destroy the light rail and streetcar systems of America's cities certainly has a lot to do with that.
December 23, 200618 yr I believe Big Oil and the rest of our "corporatocracy" are trying to suppress electric battery/fuel cell technology but how can GM possibly afford to singlehandedly buy out the majority of trolley systems in America? People WANTED cars. You could go wherever you wanted, whenever the hell you wanted. That concept sounds pretty appealing. Of course that doesnt justify getting rid of the trollies all together, but I think its the American people that are at fault as much as GM. I liked the movie for the most part but they forgot to interview all of the Ev1 leasees that had problems with their cars. Batteries have a long way to go, just look at the Sony batteries that were in how many brands of laptops?!...that they had to recall because they explode. There was a lot of liability issues with the EV1.
December 23, 200618 yr Detroit's transit system disappeared virtually overnight, faster than it could've ever been phased out by "choice." It's an accepted fact that the big 3 did buy out the mass transit systems. These things are easy to swing when you are the no's 1-3 biggest corporations in the world. There was a glimpse of this buy-out tactic in "Who killed..." with the higher-capacity battery technology that was half-assed, and then sold off to an oil company. The world's a drink of water when you can buy the outcome you'd like. It's clear that we've lost the leverage to buy ourselves out of the situation we're getting ourselves into now. But then, I just got done watching "An Inconvenient Truth."
December 23, 200618 yr This is from the District Court, S. D. California, Central Division. The case was in 1947. Citation, 7 F.R.D. 456. I would link to it, but it is password protected. The defendants are GM, Standard Oil, Firestone, and a few others. The Government charges that, beginning on or about January 1, 1937, and continuing to the filing of the Complaint on April 10, 1947, the defendants have engaged in an unlawful combination and conspiracy to acquire ownership, control or a substantial financial interest in a substantial part of local transit companies in various cities, towns and counties in various States of the United States and 'to restrain and to monopolize the aforesaid interstate commerce in motor busses, petroleum products, tires and tubes sold to local transportation companies in cities, counties and towns in which National, American and Pacific have, or have acquired, or in the future acquire, ownership, control or a substantial financial interest in said local transportation companies, all in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Anti Trust Act [15 U.S.C.A. §§ 1, 2]. Defendants threaten to and will continue to violate Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Anti Trust Act unless the relief hereinafter prayed for is granted.' The means of achieving this result are stated to be these: 'Supplier' defendants have furnished money and capital to National, American and Pacific who have, in turn, caused their operating companies to purchase practically all their requirements *459 in tires, tubes, petroleum products and busses from the supplier defendants to the exclusion of products competitive with them. Money made available by the 'supplier' defendants was used to acquire control of local transit companies through the operating companies. National, American and Pacific would not renew contracts with others for the purchase or rental of materials and equipment without the consent of the supplier defendants. When an operating company was sold, National, American and Pacific would require the new owner to assume the burden of the contracts for the exclusive purchase of equipment and supplies. No change of type of equipment or conversion to another type would take place without the consent of the supplier defendants. The business of dealing in such supplies and equipment would be allocated to the supplier defendants in an artificial, arbitrary and uncompetitive manner. Between January 1, 1939, and the date of the filing of the Complaint, the amounts of stock purchased by the supplier defendants in National, American and Pacific were as follows: Name of Supplier Defendant Amount Paid for Stock Purchased Standard Oil Company of Calif. Federal Engineering Corporation $2,074,310.57 General Motors Corporation $3,190,802.32 Phillips Petroleum Company $1,574,064.82 Firestone Tire & Rubber Company $1,383,403.41 Mack Manufacturing Corporation $1,200,071.43 The effect of the combination and conspiracy, the Complaint avers, is to eliminate competition from other suppliers in the sale of supplies and equipment to National, American and Pacific and their operating companies, and to restrain interstate commerce in such equipment substantially and unreasonably, so far as the transportation companies controlled by National, American and Pacific are concerned, to charge non-competitive prices for such equipment and to allocate the nation-wide markets of the defendants National, American and Pacific and their operating companies for supplies and equipment between the various supplier defendants. To end these practices, the Government seeks a decree declaring that the defendants are engaged in a conspiracy in violation of the Sherman Act, that the supplier defendants be required to divest themselves of stock and other interests in the traction companies, that contracts between the parties be declared void, and that the traction and operating companies be enjoined from acquiring their equipment from the suppliers.
January 3, 200718 yr The suburbs offered (and still offer) a convenient way to segregate the population. That probably appealed to a lot of white Americans as much as anything elese. I agree - this probably had more to do with the exodus to the suburbs than the decline of mass transit. I've heard stories of realtors back in the day going to all the white residents on a block encouraging them to sell once a black family had moved in (or bought anywhere nearby). Their argument was basically that the neighborhood was obviously going to hell and property values were going to fall so, best to sell ASAP. Additionally, some have argued (and I don't know if it's true or not) that the forced desegregation of schools scared the white residents of the day, so they moved into more homogenous communities to avoid it. Like it or not, msot schools are still pretty segregated today since (most) cities are pretty homogenous today.
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