Quote:
Originally Posted by EastSideHBG
But we are leading the pack, we were the poorest big city in the nation (but it looks like this year we will be bumped by Cleveland) and there's many quality of life issues that need to be addressed; and some of the policies continue to go in the wrong direction.
Your point is not lost on me and yes there are certainly issues at the national level but it's important to note that some issues really are (or maybe more accurately should be) Philly's and Philly's alone. There's many amazing things taking place in pockets of the city so why not harness that momentum fully by cleaning things up vs this bizarre almost apathy at this point that we are seeing now?
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I don't disagree with you that at the end of the day these are Philly's problems and we need to address them ASAP. I was just saying these things are happening all across the country, so we can AT LEAST take solace in that that Philly is not alone in this fight.
Plus, there are many things outside of Philadelphia's control that really boil down to the national level as well - main thing off the top of my head is the gun laws (or lack there of) in this country.
But, Philadelphia is not the "poorest" big city in America. That's such an inaccurate statement. Of the top 10 largest cities in the US, Philadelphia is the poorest, but only at the city limits level. When you look at the entire metropolitan area as a whole it's not. Furthermore, when you look at median household incomes and poverty rates, Philadelphia is surpassed or right in line with many other cities. When you look at the Rust Belt cities and cities with similar demographics to Philadelphia, it makes sense.
What Philadelphia has above ALL of these cities is Center City. None of these other cities have anything even remotely close. Now, the development/redevelopment/gentrification radiating out of Center City/University City is only going to continue to boost Philly as the years go on. We just need to get this sudden bump in homicides/crime under control and there will be nothing to stop Philadelphia's resurgence.
Median Household Income 2021
Detroit - $30,894
Cleveland - $30,904
Newark - $35,199
Buffalo - $37,354
Miami - $39,049
Cincinnati - $40,640
Memphis - $41,228
New Orleans - $41,604
Milwaukee - $41,838
St. Louis - $43,896
Philadelphia - $45,927
Indianapolis - $47,873
Pittsburgh - $48,711
Houston - $50,338
Baltimore - $50,379
Poverty Rate 2021
Detroit - 35%
Cleveland - 32.7%
Buffalo - 30.1%
Newark - 27.4%
Cincinnati - 26.3%
Milwaukee - 25.4%
Memphis - 25.1%
Philadelphia - 24.3%
New Orleans - 23.7%
Miami - 23.4%
St. Louis - 21.8%
Baltimore - 21.2%
Pittsburgh - 20.5%
Indianapolis - 20.1%
Houston - 20.1%
All info from US Census Bureau Quick Facts:
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...e/US/PST045219