Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Lunacy seems now the rule. Consider the conduct of the Democrats in Wisconsin and Indiana. But the evidence that I have in mind is even stronger than that. You see, once a year, The Economist Intelligence Unit ranks 140 cities in terms of livability – with an eye, they say, to five different characteristics, including stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure.
This year, Vancouver won the sweepstakes – followed by Melbourne, Vienna, Toronto, Calgary, Helsinki, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Auckland, which is to say: a series of places in Canada, Australia, Finland, and Austria. At the bottom, in descending order, come Colombo in Sri Lanka, Dakar in Senegal, Tehran in Iran, Douala in Cameroon, Karachi in Pakistan, Algiers in Algeria, Lagos in Nigeria, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Harare in Zimbabwe.
I do not doubt that the hell holes are hell holes, and I am prepared to believe that the top ten cities are livable and even that Vancouver may be a gem. But that these cities are more livable than London, Paris, Berlin, and New York – well I wonder. There is much to be said in praise of Vienna, Toronto, and Calgary (all of which I know well enough), but the weather . . . well, perhaps, I am biased, having just lived through an ice storm here in south central Michigan.
But here is the ranking of American cities in descending order: Pittsburgh, which is ranked 29th globally (which I have heard praised but not in quite this fashion); Honolulu; Washington, DC; Chicago; Atlanta; Miami; Detroit; Boston; Seattle; and Minneapolis. I cannot speak about Honolulu, which I have never visited, but I know all the rest – which all have their virtues, except Detroit. That is a city to which one goes to die, not live.
Do you think that this is a spoof? Myself I would not rank Detroit above Harare in Zimbabwe. Could there be someone at the Economist Intelligence Unit who thinks the whole process absurd and who wants to alert us to the fact? But, more to the point, how would you rank the cities of the world and those in the United States? Myself, I would put Istanbul, where I lived from 1984 to 1986, on top.
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Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
I've heard enough about Istanbul from Claire to know that it certainly doesn't pass the "most livable" test during and after an earthquake or when one is trying to make it to the other side of the city in time for an appointment.
Jul '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Pittsburgh?
They can tinker with statistics all they like, but when it comes down to the subjective feel of a place -which is what really matters to the people who live there - the idea that Pittsburgh comes out on top is laughable.
Having spent time in both cities, I can tell you I'd rather be working class in Honolulu than wealthy in Pittsburgh.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
But, Diane, the food is out of this world -- a cuisine no less fine than that in France, Italy, and China. What's a little earthquake now and then? And why would one schedule an appointment on the other side of the city? I would rather die in Istanbul than live in Detroit.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 4:07pmDec '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
As to the survey, consider the source, The Economist and the article highlighting it, from Publicradio.org. From the U.S., I might nominate Charleston, working in or near the city, but perhaps living at Folly Beach. I don't live there, but have. Although Charleston has very many charms, one of the most memorable is the food. There is a campus for the Johnson and Wales cooking school, there, so even in a Waffle House, your cooks and servers may be students from there. I used to take many meals at a ramshackle marina there that called itself the Folly Beach Yacht Club and the food was exquisite.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Kenneth: Pittsburgh?
They can tinker with statistics all they like, but when it comes down to the subjective feel of a place -which is what really matters to the people who live there - the idea that Pittsburgh comes out on top is laughable.
Having spent time in both cities, I can tell you I'd rather be working class in Honolulu than wealthy in Pittsburgh. · Feb 22 at 4:0
Would that someone would invite me to Honolulu to give a talk so that I could test your judgment!
Jul '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Paul A. Rahe
But, Diane, the food is out of this world -- a cuisine no less fine than that in France, Italy, and China. What's a little earthquake now and then? · Feb 22 at 4:04pm
I think I'd opt for Florence over Istanbul. I kind of like places where the magnificent cathedrals haven't been converted to mosques.
Dec '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Anecdotal evidence: when my two eldest daughters were 11 and 9, I took them to northern Italy. Our first night was in Ferrara, the ancestral home of the Este Dukes. Our B&B concierge told us of a nice restaurant a few blocks away in the old Jewish ghetto; I was very wary walking with my two little girls through a foreign town's back streets, but the restaurant was great and we decided to take a walk through the central quarter after dinner.
Somewhere along the way, my 11-year-old said, "Can we move here?" I asked why, and she said, "It's 10:30 at night and everyone is out walking and having fun. Back home the whole town closes at 9!"
We stayed another day and a half and had a wonderful time in that city.
So I might vote for Ferrara based just on the joys my daughters and I experienced.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
I, too, have fond memories of Charleston. And there is also Savannah.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Kenneth
Paul A. Rahe
But, Diane, the food is out of this world -- a cuisine no less fine than that in France, Italy, and China. What's a little earthquake now and then? · Feb 22 at 4:04pm
I think I'd opt for Florence over Istanbul. I kind of like places where the magnificent cathedrals haven't been converted to mosques. · Feb 22 at 4:07pm
You might consider Cordoba -- where a magnificent mosque was turned into a cathedral. I spent Holy Week there once. What a place!
Jul '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
What the heck, since we're talking about Italy, a little anecdote:
I used to do business in Florence in the 80's, during the Red Brigades era. My business associates knew all the very best restaurants in the surrounding countryside. Italian politicians dine exceedingly well. You could tell if they were on hand, because their leather-jacketed, gun-toting bodyguards would be loitering around the establishment's entrance.
So I started joking with my Italian friends when they'd tell me where we'd be enjoying dinner each night. "Antonio," I would inquire, "Is this a 3, 4 or 5 sub-machine gun restaurant?"
May '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Well, I have objection w. Colombo's inclusion at the bottom of the pile! If anything, it has the feel of run-down, but much more charming Singapore with the patina-coated English empire downtown, fabulous beaches south of the center and year-around tropical balmy weather. Must admit I stopped going there after the Post Office blew up in the eighties 24 hours after I posted my postcards to friends and family... But now the beast Villupilai Prabhakaran, the inventor of modern suicide bombing, is in his hindu-hell...
The Sri Lankans are a friendly lot, with a literacy rate of 92%, MUCH higher than the Detroitans... Speak better english too!
PS. Serendipity: " The name is from Serendip, anold name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, fromSkt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island."
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Kenneth: What the heck, since we're talking about Italy, a little anecdote:
I used to do business in Florence in the 80's, during the Red Brigades era. My business associates knew all the very best restaurants in the surrounding countryside. Italian politicians dine exceedingly well. You could tell if they were on hand, because their leather-jacketed, gun-toting bodyguards would be loitering around the establishment's entrance.
So I started joking with my Italian friends when they'd tell me where we'd be enjoying dinner each night. "Antonio," I would inquire, "Is this a 3, 4 or 5 sub-machine gun restaurant?" · Feb 22 at 4:24pm
I have had a similar experience in Jerusalem.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Oldo-the-1968-Czech: Well, I have objection w. Colombo's inclusion at the bottom of the pile! If anything, it has the feel of run-down, but much more charming Singapore with the patina-coated English empire downtown, fabulous beaches south of the center and year-around tropical balmy weather. Must admit I stopped going there after the Post Office blew up in the eighties 24 hours after I posted my postcards to friends and family... But now the beast Villupilai Prabhakaran, the inventor of modern suicide bombing, is in his hindu-hell...
The Sri Lankans are a friendly lot, with a literacy rate of 92%, MUCH higher than the Detroitans... Speak better english too!
PS. Serendipity: " The name is from Serendip, anold name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, fromSkt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island." · Feb 22 at 4:28pm
Very interesting.
Jul '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Detroit isn't top 7 in the Upper Midwest. The Twins, Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Madison, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cinci, Chicago, all have flaws (some more than others), but they're all much more livable than Detroit.
My sister lives in the exurbs, and those are fine, if typical. Greektown's ok, the airport's better than average, the new stadiums are decent, and Slows is a good place to get some cue, but I sure wouldn't want to live nearby. I think they just picked Detroit because of the stupidly named public transit.
Better than Gary isn't much of a slogan.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 4:38pmNov '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Professor Rahe, you have given me license to rave about the city I make a concerted effort to visit every year and one in which I would most certainly like to live: Vienna.
These are a few of my favorite things: Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, Spanische Hofreitschule, the Kunsthistorisches and the Sacher's Blaue Bar.This city continues to uphold impeccable standards of excellence and reinforces my faith in the glory of Western civilization.
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
This survey, as the kids say, is whack! Three cities from Canada in the top ten? Insane! Unless by "livable" they mean "excruciatingly boring."
I'm not so sure I really want a city to be "livable" anyway -- that conjures up all sorts of awful images: monorails, left-wing bookshops, smoking laws, lots of Lego-looking mini-buses. Count me out.
Vienna's the exception. What a great city. But putting Algiers that low is an act of sheer cowardice. Yes, there's a big chance you'll be beheaded on YouTube by a 15 year-old Islamic terrorist. On the other hand, it's a city with amazing restaurants, lots of friendly people (except as noted, above) and impossible views of the Mediterranean. Walk through the casbah in the waning afternoon (avoiding the characters I've noted above, which isn't easy, I admit) and stop every so often for a smoke and a tiny cup of sweet coffee or tea, and life really can't be better.
May '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Everybody sing with me:
Oakland's got the Tribune Tower...
Oakland's got Lake Merritt too...
She's got Jack London Square
The Raiders come from there
The Kaiser Center can be seen from anywhere...
Oh where did all the people go
when 'Frisco burned?
They all went to OAKLAND
and never returned!
just outside the city limits...
scoots a freeway called the Nimitz...
of all the other cities she's the leadahh...
... and don't forget the Tube to Alameda!
She's got style, she's got hope,
and oh, what a view!
Oakland, we're for you....!
Sep '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Unless by "livable" they mean "excruciatingly boring."
Torontonians resent that remark. They have a great deal of excitement dodging the gunfire of "youths" in downtown Toronto.
Sep '10
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Some opinions about what are the "most livable" places seem to be confused or conflated with the "most visitable."
Fine dining, nice scenery, fine arts--all great, but what are the tax rates? The job/business prospects? How much for a nice crib? Great to have a sleek public transportation system, but is it self-sustaining? Not many, if any, are, even in Europe.
I'd love to live in Flagstaff (with Lowell Observatory just up the hill, and mandated hooded street and yard lights to reduce light pollution), but with boxcar-sized houses on an acre with no garage going for $90 grand? No thanks...
Jan '11
Re: Detroit: The Seventh Most Livable City in the US?
Rob Long @21 - now you've made a mockery of my fine city, Calgary, which came in number five. I would like to spend some time discussing this, but I need to prepare for the influx of Parisian tourists this summer. :-)