Posted January 30, 200817 yr :-o Wow, this is going to PO a lot of people... America's Most Miserable Cities 1. Detroit, Mich. 2. Stockton, Calif. 3. Flint, Mich. 4. New York, N.Y. 5. Philadelphia, Pa. 6. Chicago, Ill. 7. Los Angeles, Calif. 8. Modesto, Calif. 9. Charlotte, N.C. 10. Providence, R.I. Worst Places America's Most Miserable Cities Kurt Badenhausen 01.30.08, 6:00 AM ET Imagine living in a city with the country's highest rate for violent crime and the second-highest unemployment rate. As an added kicker you need more Superfund dollars allocated to your city to clean up contaminated toxic waste sites than just about any other metro. http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable.html
January 30, 200817 yr This is stupid...I don't know how cities like Chicago, NYC, and Philly made this list. NYC may have high taxes, but they also have some of the best mass transit around and a public infrastructure that is simply astounding. Chicago probably makes the least sense of any of these...and it is 6th on the list. Forbes is turning into a joke publication with these silly rankings they do so often.
January 30, 200817 yr No. 4 New York, N.Y. Rank Commute times 150 Income tax rates 150 Superfund sites 78 Unemployment 99 Violent crimes 105 Weather 86 Misery Measure 668 The Big Apple is the nation's center for financial services, publishing, advertising and countless other industries, making job opportunities plentiful. But the costs can make all but the super-wealthy miserable. Housing costs are through the roof, and income tax rates are 10.5%, more than twice the U.S. average. Commuting times are also the worst, at an average of 36 minutes each way. ====================================================================================================== No. 5 Philadelphia, Pa. Rank Commute times 132 Income tax rates 102 Superfund sites 135 Unemployment 81 Violent crimes 134 Weather 64 Misery Measure 648 How miserable is Philly? The residents of the City of Brotherly Love once booed Santa Claus and pelted him with snowballs at an Eagles game. Maybe it's the long commutes, violent crime and plethora of toxic waste sites that has people grumpy. Philadelphia scored in the top 20 in all three areas. ====================================================================================================== No. 6 Chicago, Ill. Rank Commute times 144 Income tax rates 35 Superfund sites 107 Unemployment 108 Violent crimes 118 Weather 122 Misery Measure 634 Residents of the country's third-largest metro face long commutes (31 minutes on average) and high violent crime rates (619 crimes per 100,000 residents). Another chief complaint: the bitter-cold winters. And as for misery, nothing tops being a Cubs fan. The team has not won a World Series since 1908, the longest winless streak in baseball.
January 30, 200817 yr Quite a number of people I've run into over the years talk about living in New York as more of chore than pleasure. Even with the high quality mass transit, trying to get anywhere can be an arduous task. This includes urban historians who are notoriously anti-burbs. Philly - it has a strong love-it or leave-it kind of vibe. It can't decide whether to go to the top of the list and become the next Detroit or go the other way and morph into Boston. There is an intensity to life in Philly that can fun, but can also get old after awhile. Chicago - if it weren't for the fact that it captures a whole lot of midwest 'city' folks, it would be Cleveland. It has done pretty well, but like Philly there are whole swathes of the city that are pretty miserable (this isn't where kids from the midwest in their 20s hang out). ^ agree with Evergrey.
January 30, 200817 yr I've never understood why anyone would enjoy seeing any city on a bad list. Then again I've never understood why people on this forum even pay attention to these worthless lists. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
January 30, 200817 yr So NYC gets ranked 86/150 for weather...and Philly gets ranked 64/150. I just don't see how these kinds of things add up...the two are very near one another. I don't see how there could be a 22 spot difference between the two. I could go on, but I'll leave it as a joke trying to quantify un-quantifiable items.
January 30, 200817 yr Another pointless ranking. God knows that if this goes on Cleveland.com, someone will probably write "Cleveland was #11"... :roll: I really don't know if "miserable" is the correct term to use however. Anyways, it does show us that Cleveland really isn't that special--there's rain, snow, clouds, crime, employments issues, etc. EVERYWHERE else too! I'm not referrring to attitudes on UO but in the city in general. Spending one sunny July weekend in Chicago in downtown and Wrigleyville really isn't exposing oneself to the entire story that is Chicago. As manicured their downtown tries to be, there's so much more that no one sees. The same goes for here too except often we let the bad take the front seat. No city is perfect and we need to realize that the change begins with our attitude--as trite or corny as that sounds. Really, what good does b*tching about the cold weather today accomplish?
January 30, 200817 yr Those things are true, but I must say (and don't let my wife see this) is that it isn't so bad for it to be in the mid-50s pretty often in January and February (as it is in Williamsburg right). They are trying to scare us on the radio by saying it is going to drop into the lower 40s.
January 30, 200817 yr I'm glad to see any metro not named Cleveland on the list. Look a list is not a bad thing if you take appropriate statistics and do appropriate things with them. But they, quite simply, did not. They added up the rankings of the categories they chose. So being the city with the worst weather and the least violent crime was deemed equally as miserable as the city with the best weather and the most violent crime. Your city could have the highest unemployment in the country but great weather and come out as good as a city with the lowest unemployment but bad weather.
January 30, 200817 yr This is a little insane. There are people who are miserable and unemployed everywhere but the job market in LA and NY is a lot more robust than it is somewhere like Flint or Detroit. I do concur with what dmerkow said. I have heard similar things but mostly from my friends in NY. I just chalk it up to the natural factor that you are more aware of and likely to b*tch about the problems where you live than in other places, wherever that is. When I GTG with my friends from NY they all complain about things about living in the city, but I don't see any of them moving away over the years so they must like it on some broader level than the daily complaints.
January 30, 200817 yr Stockton and Modesto may be miserably boring, but they are not even comparable to any of the other cities on the list. The commutes are terrible, because people work in SF, and San Jose. Dry heat in summer, Sierra on one side, Coast Ranges on the other, I'd move move to either one in a minute!
January 30, 200817 yr The only thing forbes ever gets right is putting detroit at the top of any negative list. Forbes is only good for lining bird cages.
January 30, 200817 yr I just cant wait for the Forbes list of cities with people who wear the most purple shirts. It will be a real eye opener for our elected officials...
January 30, 200817 yr these are getting too stupid. There should just be a threat of Idiotic Top Ten Lists to post all these. I am still peeved about the walkable cities one. I think they throw these out on slow news days.
January 31, 200817 yr Just on a whim, I decided to review Charlotte.com to see how they were reacting to this story. I can not find any mention of this ranking or of Charlotte being a miserable city. If Cleveland had made the top 10 on this list, you can be sure it would be front page news in the PD. I have to wonder how this difference in newspaper coverage impacts the attitude of an area and thus impacts its development. Most people appear to be constantly negative in this region, where as, in areas like Charlotte they seem to be very optimistic.
January 31, 200817 yr I have to wonder how this difference in newspaper coverage impacts the attitude of an area and thus impacts its development. Most people appear to be constantly negative in this region, where as, in areas like Charlotte they seem to be very optimistic. I've noticed the very same thing here in Atlanta...and like the PD, I'm sure it would have been all over the Enquirer's website for days.
January 31, 200817 yr I have to wonder how this difference in newspaper coverage impacts the attitude of an area and thus impacts its development. Most people appear to be constantly negative in this region, where as, in areas like Charlotte they seem to be very optimistic. I've noticed the very same thing here in Atlanta...and like the PD, I'm sure it would have been all over the Enquirer's website for days. This is why I created this thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15042.0.html In all retropect, these sites really are a huge detrement to their cities. Their love for posting shocking (mostly negative) headlines and highlighting the most controversal/idiotic comments honestly has such a huge impact on public opinion--more than most people are willing to admit. I'm going to guess here, but I'm assuming readers ship is very high and probably steadily increasing. Using the old saying "Perception is Reality"--both cleveland.com and cincinnati.com could do wonders for their reasons if they had new ownership. **If anyone wants to donate in the absolute best way for the benefit of cleveland and cincinnati....please buy these sites and hire someone to positively regulate!** The PD and Enquirer are a different animal all together....baby steps.
January 31, 200817 yr I just cant wait for the Forbes list of cities with people who wear the most purple shirts. It will be a real eye opener for our elected officials... minneapolis
January 31, 200817 yr Another pointless ranking. God knows that if this goes on Cleveland.com, someone will probably write "Cleveland was #11"... :roll: I really don't know if "miserable" is the correct term to use however. ITA! I was so happy to see that Cleveland didn't make the list (or the top 10 at least). I just got finished looking at comments on Cleveland.com and wishing that those people would move already. How did Gary Indiana not make this list! Just driving past Gary to get to Chicago was depressing... These Forbes lists are killing me and poor Detroit (no pun intended) always makes the top of every NEGATIVE list. Honestly, they need to make a list of cities that have positively impacted American music...that way Detroit can be in the top ten for something good! Why don't people mention lists like "The Most Literate Cities", where Cincinnati and Cleveland were both in the top fifteen? I personally think all these rankings are stupid...but if you are going to mention the bad, you have to mention the good as well....
January 31, 200817 yr All cities everywhere have one undesirable trait or another. I just don't believe these list show anything except how stupid they are when it comes to ranking cities. Rando has a point about the weather ranking. I mean c'mon, 22 point difference for two cities 2 hours apart? That's like saying Cincinnati's weather is better than Indy's. Anyway, I ignore these list and apparently so does the 22 million or so people that live in those cities.
January 31, 200817 yr And what happened to St. Louis? It didn't make the list when it beat Detroit out for crime last year? Hmm...
January 31, 200817 yr And what happened to St. Louis? It didn't make the list when it beat Detroit out for crime last year? Hmm... You must be forgetting about the simply gorgeous weather that St. Louis gets.
February 2, 200817 yr I really don't get why Providence is on there. That's a wonderful city. But yeah, I'm with Ronnie, St. Louis is an incredibly miserable place. I'd put it above Detroit. But maybe it got ousted because NO ONE lives there anymore....if you don't know what I'm talking about click here: http://www.builtstlouis.net/northside/st_louis_place00.html
February 2, 200817 yr This is a little insane. There are people who are miserable and unemployed everywhere but the job market in LA and NY is a lot more robust than it is somewhere like Flint or Detroit. Sweetie, the job market in LA & S. California is sinking like the titanic right now.
February 2, 200817 yr I really don't get why Providence is on there. That's a wonderful city. Maybe to visit for a few days, but not to live in. Except for the east side, where all of the old money lives in their preserved historic homes, most of the city suffers from pretty crushing poverty. The job market isn't that hot, the cost of living is very high, and Rhode Island is facing its biggest budget deficit ever this year.
February 2, 200817 yr This is a little insane. There are people who are miserable and unemployed everywhere but the job market in LA and NY is a lot more robust than it is somewhere like Flint or Detroit. I do concur with what dmerkow said. I have heard similar things but mostly from my friends in NY. I just chalk it up to the natural factor that you are more aware of and likely to b*tch about the problems where you live than in other places, wherever that is. When I GTG with my friends from NY they all complain about things about living in the city, but I don't see any of them moving away over the years so they must like it on some broader level than the daily complaints. I found a job in one week in NYC, literally. One thing I've learned during my brief time in NYC is that everyone loves to piss and moan, and will take any opportunity to do so. With that being said, most of those people wouldn't leave NYC for anything.
February 2, 200817 yr ^---And we all know that rats leave a sinking ship! The industries heavily Dependant on the movie/film industry suffering. Tourism in LA is taking a big hit, which have also hurt San Diego and Vegas. There are rumors of corruption and inefficiencies in city hall. Not to mention SKY HIGH HOUSING and fore closure issues.
February 2, 200817 yr I feel that Forbes tries to get more and more "eye catching" polls just for press coverage and to get people talking.
February 2, 200817 yr I really don't get why Providence is on there. That's a wonderful city. Maybe to visit for a few days, but not to live in. Except for the east side, where all of the old money lives in their preserved historic homes, most of the city suffers from pretty crushing poverty. The job market isn't that hot, the cost of living is very high, and Rhode Island is facing its biggest budget deficit ever this year. the people i know in CT have a very low opinion of providence
February 3, 200817 yr here we go again, yet another made up or half made up bs forbes list. just remember to keep in mind it's a magazine not a science journal. it's ok as entertainment, but that's about it. One thing I've learned during my brief time in NYC is that everyone loves to piss and moan, and will take any opportunity to do so. With that being said, most of those people wouldn't leave NYC for anything. there is a saying that goes if you live in manhattan seven years you leave in a box.
February 3, 200817 yr Chicago has horrific traffic congestion, a decrepit transit system, crushing taxes, and significant industrial pollution. The weighting put on those items in the study probably led to the city scoring so high on the list.
February 3, 200817 yr there is a saying that goes if you live in manhattan seven years you leave in a box. Well how much time do you have left? Haha
February 3, 200817 yr there is a saying that goes if you live in manhattan seven years you leave in a box. Well how much time do you have left? Haha none, ive doubled that. :wink:
February 3, 200817 yr The only thing forbes ever gets right is putting detroit at the top of any negative list. If Cleveland was Detroit, the PD would start their articles something like this: In the nation's poorest, most obese, most foreclosed, most dangerous, and most miserable city… (not that I agree with any of these Forbes "studies") :evil:
February 4, 200817 yr don't forget "unwalkable" --although given the danger,misery, and obesity it would be a forgone conclusion.
February 4, 200817 yr Ok, we DIDN'T make this list (thank god!)...Let's just stop acknowledging this thread and use our energy on positive things instead of trying to guess what the PD would have written if we made it! I'm just as guilty! :wink:
February 4, 200817 yr well im positive that within 7 to 10 days the PD will pick up the story and the idiots on cleveland.com will list plenty of reasons why Cleveland should be on the list. blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
February 4, 200817 yr Cincinnati is officially the most miserable city because David can't find a new part time job. I should have went to college in a better city!
February 5, 200817 yr ^I have Forbes on the other line, David. Sit tight. Everything's going to be all right...
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