topic Re: Cities Nowadays in Community Chat

Cities Nowadays

CherryHugs — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:14:54 GMT

It is sad to see our town and others the way they are now.

This town used to be so nice and the downtown had some historic buildings. Everywhere was neat and clean.

Over the past few years things are dirty, trash along the streets and yards. Houses are dirty and even falling apart. Old cars and furntiure in yards, driveways, porches. No one takes pride in their place.

Businesses that failed sitting empty, factories sitting empty. Drugs have taken over the town too.

I am not saying all areas are bad or dirty or overrun with drug dealers but some of it are.

They took tore down the historic buildings,its just so different than when we moved here.

I am sure alot of cities and towns are this way now but it kinda sad to see.

i Re: Cities Nowadays

RetRN — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:20:33 GMT

I agree, it is very sad to see once beautiful cities in such deplorable conditions. I'm so glad I travelled when I was young and the places I really wanted to see were still nice and much safer.

Re: Cities Nowadays

Mz iMac — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:21:43 GMT

The mayor of your town falling down on his/her job????

Have you complained to your mayor in person and/or snail mail?

Re: Cities Nowadays

proudlyfromNJ — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:24:07 GMT

I am not in a city but in the suburbs in a town of about 16,000. Our town is thriving. Shops, stores, restaurants etc. Everything seems to be kept up and clean.

We are about 20 miles north of Manhattan.

Re: Cities Nowadays

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:38:54 GMT

I am encouraged by the influx of investment in the 'downtown' area of my city. Bridges and the municipal library have been refurbished or replaced. And a multi-level senior activities center is being built where a condemned hotel building used to be. I'm hoping that the actions of the newly-elected mayor will continue the renaissance.

Re: Cities Nowadays

Cakers3 — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:49:11 GMT

@CherryHugs Have people been moving out of your city? That could account for businesses drying up.

Less people, less taxes to maintain buildings and other structures.

Drugs are a big problem everywhere in this country and have been for decades.

Is there an uptick in gang activity?

It is sad to see deterioration and unfortunately people do not seem to care very much anymore. It's just the not caring about such things as trash not disposed of properly that indicates a lack of appreciation for where one lives.

It's sad, I agree.

Re: Cities Nowadays

SilleeMee — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:01:05 GMT

My city is one of the 'most desireable' places to live right now and as a result there has been some very good improvements made to the once deteriorated parts of the city. Places I thought were hopeless are now being renewed and made useful again. Our bridges and roads have had a lot of repairs, making them nice to drive on throughout the city. Our downtown area is experiencing a resurgence of small businesses and has attracted many young and upcoming business executives. I'm glad to see this happening. It's been a long time coming.

Re: Cities Nowadays

barb40 — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:07:24 GMT

Jobs, or lack of jobs, also has a lot to do with things. Many people also live paycheck to paycheck...no extra money fix up a home or repair a car.

Re: Cities Nowadays

patbz — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:08:16 GMT

I travel frequently, especially in CA, NV, AZ and NM. Most cities and towns look like they are in good to great shape. I think OP may live in an area that could be in economic decline (maybe Mid West where some areas depend on dying industries?).

Re: Cities Nowadays

shortbreadlover — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:38:15 GMT

sosad. salt lake city is really goinmgdown hill. they are building everywhere and they just put up trashy looking aprtment building. and for the most part the people who rent them really don't care far too many property investment firms hae moved into the area and they just want to buy up all the property and build then move on.

this is not the clean warm city that i grew up in and it is so sad.

Re: Cities Nowadays

WindingRoad — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:50:07 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
I am not in a city but in the suburbs in a town of about 16,000. Our town is thriving. Shops, stores, restaurants etc. Everything seems to be kept up and clean.
We are about 20 miles north of Manhattan.

That's why. You're in a prosperous metro area. No judgement, just fact.

Re: Cities Nowadays

Ketra — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:56:53 GMT

@patbz wrote:
I travel frequently, especially in CA, NV, AZ and NM. Most cities and towns look like they are in good to great shape. I think OP may live in an area that could be in economic decline (maybe Mid West where some areas depend on dying industries?).

@patbz I have friends in San Francisco and they sent me pictures of human feces on the sidewalks and syringes in the gutters. The homeless tent cities have taken over their parks. They are paying a fortune in taxes and the city that was once one of the most beautiful on the west coast is going to hell.

Re: Cities Nowadays

GCR18 — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 18:15:00 GMT

It's not often that I go downtown in the town I work in. Yesterday I had to go that way and thought holy cow. There were new buildings and many store fronts had make overs. I have to go back to check it out.

Re: Cities Nowadays

Cakers3 — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 18:23:25 GMT

@Ketra wrote:
@patbz wrote:
I travel frequently, especially in CA, NV, AZ and NM. Most cities and towns look like they are in good to great shape. I think OP may live in an area that could be in economic decline (maybe Mid West where some areas depend on dying industries?).
@patbz I have friends in San Francisco and they sent me pictures of human feces on the sidewalks and syringes in the gutters. The homeless tent cities have taken over their parks. They are paying a fortune in taxes and the city that was once one of the most beautiful on the west coast is going to hell.

@Ketra DH and I visited SF a long time ago and loved the city.

Many cities, including the one I live in, are dealing with the tragedy of homelessness and all the health issues, both personal and environemental, that it causes.

I saw in LA that there was an outbreak of typhus among homeless camps, and how rodents were infesting buildings of business.

The more people crowding into our major cities, the more trash, disease, and lack of basic human needs will increase.

It's sad.

Re: Cities Nowadays

jeanlake — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 18:47:38 GMT

Interesting topic. There's a university in my city that offers an URBAN PLANNING degree. Always thought that would be interesting to study. A neighbor speaks about living in Detroit during its heyday and he's crossing his fingers for the city to rally. Visited Greenville, SC this year. What a positive difference now than when I visited relatives as a child. The same with Asheville, NC, which is a great place now. My childhood town, expanded by WW2 & Korean War vets because of VA Housing benefits, is a sad place now. I understand what the poster is feeling.

Re: Cities Nowadays

chrystaltree — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 20:22:39 GMT

That's your city and it sounds like it might be in a depressed part of your state. That's certainly not is what happening in many major cities and towns.

Re: Cities Nowadays

ROMARY — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 21:45:47 GMT

RETRN:

Ditto!

Re: Cities Nowadays

JasoninBoston — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 21:53:23 GMT

@CherryHugs wrote:
It is sad to see our town and others the way they are now.
This town used to be so nice and the downtown had some historic buildings. Everywhere was neat and clean.

Over the past few years things are dirty, trash along the streets and yards. Houses are dirty and even falling apart. Old cars and furntiure in yards, driveways, porches. No one takes pride in their place.

Businesses that failed sitting empty, factories sitting empty. Drugs have taken over the town too.

I am not saying all areas are bad or dirty or overrun with drug dealers but some of it are.

They took tore down the historic buildings,its just so different than when we moved here.

I am sure alot of cities and towns are this way now but it kinda sad to see.

I am sorry to hear this @CherryHugs

At some point if you ever have the urge to travel to Boston, I think you will find the opposite. And if you do want to go--tag me and I can list off the super nice places to be sure to include on any trip!!

I live in the downtown area and it just keeps getting nicer and nicer! And even the Boston Harbor is super lovely and swimable---which from like 30 years ago is a huge improvement.

Re: Cities Nowadays

hckynut — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 23:04:11 GMT

@CherryHugs

Guess this might depend on what part of the country one lives. Our city has changed immensely over the decades, but it does not resemble in any way what you have described.

I can speculate from things I see on national news, but I ain't touching that one!

hckynut

Re: Cities Nowadays

Carmie — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 23:15:56 GMT

@JasoninBoston Are the tunnels still leaking from the Big Dig project? How about the collapsing ceilings.? What a project and what a mess at a huge expense.

I haven't been to Boston for a while, though I do love it. hate the traffic and scared of the substandard tunnels and bridges.