The title's a bit provocative, but the article itself is interesting, and fortunately not particularly ideological. https://unherd.com/2024/01/why-american-cities-are-squalid/
There's this YouTube channel that looks at issues of transportation (one of the issued raised by the author of the referenced article) from a global perspective. I would recommend their video on Toronto vs. Warsaw (cities that I know a lot about);
Cities have always been troubled. It comes with dense living. But even the worst cities aren't all bad. And it's always been this way. I've lived in San Diego, San Antonio, Boston, Washington (DC), Tucson, Phoenix, Sacramento, Monterey, and Seoul. I've spent significant time in San Francisco, Dallas, Nashville, Cincinnati, and London. They've all had their strong points and weak points. And every one of them is great. There is one city I've been to that I found to have no redeeming value, even after repeated visits: Houston. Ugh. What a pointless mass of nothing. America loves its romance with its pioneer past. But it is the cities who are the economic engine that drives this nation to greatness. Otherwise, we're merely an agrarian juggernaut. You know, like Mexico. Or Ukraine.
I like cities with canyons and large parks, areas where one can feel the nature, and it's almost unbelievable that's in the large city. Cities with long Ocean shores are also fun, and yes, cities with diverse communities, from China town to little Tokyo, little Italy etc. with all the cultural and culinary beauty. Modern cities with large parts of preserved old city. Thriving economy and diverse transportation. But on a downside, pandemics feel at home in large danced cities, crime, traffic, pollution.
I think cities in Switzerland should be OK. Really clean. They know how to run things. Nice watches, too. I have a couple from there. Old cities? Pompeii is nice. No noise, no traffic problems...
In defense of (ugh) Houston. The city is attacking homelessness in a rather different and more comprehensive way. People are housed and receive comprehensive services from the beginning. It seems to be working. It might be noted that Houston has to reject the propaganda about the chronic homeless and almost universal mental health and substance abuse problems in order for their system to work. They are meeting these issues head on.
"Almost universal" substance abuse problems? Right, propaganda. But here, tweakers / meth-heads were the pioneers. The first wave of tents that appeared in the large public park near where I lived - 100% confirmed speed-freaks. I know. I was there. Subsequent tent-people - some druggies but not such a high incidence as the first wave. I live four blocks away and I'm a park-freak. In good weather I take my "travel guitar" with me. Little Yamaha classical - 3/4 size, light as a feather. Good place for conversations with nice women, of all ages. A real blessing for a guy over 80 - and much appreciated. A lot of used needles around, now. Never used to be. Of all the bad drugs, METH is the worst.
Come to think of it, I'm surprised Governor Stupid hasn't tried to shut Houston's homelessness project down. Heck, some of those homeless people might be UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS! Or GAY! Or even...DEMOCRATS! After all, you give these people an actual address and they might try and VOTE.
Nah. Governor Stupid is also Governor Sneaky. He's gonna give all the Houston Homeless nice apartments - free. (By mass eviction of Democrat occupants.) The homeless must, however, become Born-again MAGA-Republicans and be (or become) able to vote in the 2024 election. Then -- the day AFTER the election -- BOOF! Homeless again.
Met a nice couple from Tatarstan, they are willing to give their lives only to stay here. Willing to work harder thn anybody.
The homeless are Democrats. That's why they are allowed in! Close schools, let them live there! It seems to be fine in NY!
