Does Minneapolis have what it takes to be a global city?

[BlackOut]

Originally Posted by fashionguy

Yes you yourself still have like 5 cities that is arguably the same or better than Minneapolis yet Minneapolis is at the bottom of your list of top 10 (I think we all agree with that, it is certainly not as vibrant as the other 9).
That is a strong argument.

Again, we are talking about global cities here. Not public transportaion options PER CAPITA. You have one guy in the city and he can take the one line of bus. Good for him. But if somebody else visits or transplants there (this is what global city means right?), he is doomed.

I'm not totally disagreeing with you fashionguy. I don't think Minneapolis is a global city, but I do think it has potential in several areas to become a global city, at least at some level(s).

[cdubs3201]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

New York City, possibly. But are there any others?

Chicago

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by BlackOut

I'm not totally disagreeing with you fashionguy. I don't think Minneapolis is a global city, but I do think it has potential in several areas to become a global city, at least at some level(s).

If there are 10 attributes of a being a global city, you do not have to be top tier in every one of them to be considered a global city. For sure you need at least a one big one or several medium ones. Minneapolis is not a true global city even though it does ok in most categories but clearly not dominant any any way.

Vegas is global city. People make it a destination from all over the world for entertainment and gambling. Not a huge city and transportation is way worse than Minneapolis. Vegas has took a nitch and gone global with it.

As far as being a dominant global city in most every way possible. NYC is there and I don't think anything else in the US is even close.

There are some massisve cities in the US, but I don't think they are all global cities of huge signifcance. Cities on the coasts are going to have advantages. Seattle, San Francisco, LA, Boston, NYC, Miami. All are global to a certian degree, but not like NYC. Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta and Chicago are huge, but not true global cities.

Things in my list that would make you a global city
1. Significant in terms of world potitics.
2. Large number global company headquarters.
3. Significant numbers of media and communicaition companies
4. Trend setter for things like fashion and style with supporting retail
5. Capable of serving cultural needs of very diverse set of people from around the world.
6. Home to globaly significant markets such as NYSE.
7. Home to significant ports.
8. Major hub for International Travel
9. Global class entertainment and arts
10. Internationally domminant education and research facilities

Things that a lot of global cities have, but don't in themselves make a city global.
1. Large population
2. Sophisticated public transportation
3. Local, state or national political significance
4. International name recognition
5. Strategic location

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

There are some massisve cities in the US, but I don't think they are all global cities of huge signifcance. Cities on the coasts are going to have advantages. Seattle, San Francisco, LA, Boston, NYC, Miami. All are global to a certian degree, but not like NYC. Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta and Chicago are huge, but not true global cities.

I would say the Atlanta metro is closer to the Twin Cities than to Chicago in many regards. Certainly in terms of size and general structure.

Twin Cities: 3.5 million (380,000 in City of Mpls, 290,000 in City of St. Paul)
Atlanta: 5.5 million (550,000 in the City of Atlanta)
Chicago: 9.7 million (2.8 million in the City of Chicago)

I wouldn't consider the first two global, though they might be on the brink in some ways. Not sure about Chicago.

[fashionguy]

Chicago is pretty global. In my opinion, the global cities are NYC, LA, Chicago, SF and Boston. Pilly and Miami are kind of a toss. There is not much chance that this will ever change. I don't consider Las Vegas global either. It has many international visitors and is as famous as LA, but few global business and residents. Atlanta, Dallas and Houston are pretty similar and among them, I think Houton is on the way to be more global. It is just my guess. If any city is ever going to be global in the future though, they have the best chance.

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I would say the Atlanta metro is closer to the Twin Cities than to Chicago in many regards. Certainly in terms of size and general structure.

Twin Cities: 3.5 million (380,000 in City of Mpls, 290,000 in City of St. Paul)
Atlanta: 5.5 million (550,000 in the City of Atlanta)
Chicago: 9.7 million (2.8 million in the City of Chicago)

I wouldn't consider the first two global, though they might be on the brink in some ways. Not sure about Chicago.

[rogead]

Most rankings of “global cities” are suspect due to the variances in the methodologies used. The GaWC rankings, for example, are highly dependent on political connections between cities. Thus, relatively small European capitals such as Oslo, Lisbon, Bucharest, and Stockholm receive very high ratings; while truly major cosmopolitan cities such as Chicago, Sao Paolo, Los Angeles and Mexico City are shortchanged. These rankings end up being extremely Eurocentric.

If one wants to be very liberal in defining a world class city, Minneapolis certainly has what it takes….as do about a dozen other cities in the United States.

Minneapolis has a population of about three and a half million. This is in the same vicinity as Rome, Melbourne, Milan, Kiev, Montreal, Tel-Aviv; et al. Minneapolis has the thirty-second largest GDP among world cities, higher than any of the above mentioned cities.

From my perspective the test of a truly world class city needs to be very high: Among North American cities; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City are the only definite choices…Toronto maybe?

[Latitude38]

They can't even keep up with filling pot-holes on the road. Why don't they make major roads out of concrete instead of asphalt? I understand initial coast is higher but last longer. I am sick and tired of the crappy roads in this area. So much for work ethic we have bull. They can't even inspect bridges properly while the boss is spending tax payers money on vacation trip. Where is the accountability?

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by Latitude38

They can't even keep up with filling pot-holes on the road. Why don't they make major roads out of concrete instead of asphalt? I understand initial coast is higher but last longer. I am sick and tired of the crappy roads in this area. So much for work ethic we have bull. They can't even inspect bridges properly while the boss is spending tax payers money on vacation trip. Where is the accountability?

Name a State goverment that HAS money to fix roads right now...

....


... I'll wait....

Go travel, then come back and complain... Roads aren't anyworse here than in some other places...


Go cry to your president...only 4 billion of the 700 billion bail out money has been allocated towards roads and infrastructure improvement.. Idk, make this like the New Deal, that worked...

THe USA should be redoing and fixing every major interestate and highway and fixing any and every bridge that needs it now...

put 500,000-1,000,000, skilled, blue collar $20-$40 an hour jobs into the system...I know hundreds of guys that would love to go work for $20/hr on some roads...

dont they know that your country is an investment?

[Latitude38]

You yourself need to go out more. minnesota roads are crappy! My president is smart, articulate, thoughtful and respected around the world. The bailout money has to be dispersed according to what seemed feasible and crucial to stabilize the 8 years cockamamie administration of w. bush has caused. I believe, its states main responsibility to plan for it's own infrastructure and not depend solely on federal gov't. What has the other cockamania (Pawlantey) been doing last 8 years?
If everybody didnt' wanna drive around town in heavy trucks (compensating we know for what) in trying too look macho and put some sensibleness in their brain and drive smaller cars like Europeans, the roads wouldn't be having as much wear and tare. Driving Hummer to walmart! helloooo walmart is not a war zone, you don't need that **** to pick up toilet papers! haha

[Latitude38]

Respondents voted for the best roads by segment, and those included are:

-- I-75 through Florida

-- I-75 through Georgia

-- I-10 through Texas

-- I-40 from Memphis to Knoxville

-- I-39 from Bloomington, Ill. To Rockford, Ill.

The states with the most-improved roads included:

-- Pennsylvania

-- Louisiana

-- Texas

-- Illinois

-- Florida

You can some of states with best roads in the nation, are amongst the ones who are also improving their existing roads.