Why is Atlanta better than 99% of American cities? (Boston: vs., stats)

[ATLHRLGUY]

Originally Posted by whynot1986

Mishap, thanks for the info, must admit I wasn't aware of a lot of it.

Fact (and problem) still remains that ATL police aren't doing their job, correct? My daughter lives on campus which in a way makes it even more nerve-wracking for us. I have versed her many times on safety but youth is youth, prone to forgetfulness and the occasional stupidity, no doubt helped along by overconfidence and a sense of their own invulnerability. She is very mature, gets great grades, and is as aware of her surroundings as I'd expect any 20-year old to be who hasn't had guerrilla training.

We text with her every other day and talk with her on the others. It's a fine line we walk, between avoiding overprotectiveness and the natural instinct to be, well, protective of our greatest assets in life, our children.

Anyway, don't want to go too far OT. We have been in Atlanta since 1996 and have a distinct sense of deterioration in the city (ITP) and quite a bit of that even OTP since then. While we have never really enjoyed going downtown due to some of the negatives that always existed, the original sense of discomfort has been replaced lately by dread.

We moved here from Dallas and I worked downtown for a few years. I always enjoyed taking visitors there, to Las Colinas, Ft Worth, etc. Even the "Shame of Dallas" (JFK assassination area) was interesting if sad to visit. I haven't been back but I understand DFW has attracted a lot more in-migration since. I have NEVER felt the urge to take anyone to downtown ATL, not even to the fish tank, which I find disgusting after having seen the likes of Shedd, Monterey, Boston and even Chattanooga. Famous for the deaths of its large mammals and the revolving door for its leadership:

from the AJC, May 19, 2010
"Former president Anthony Godfrey unexpectedly resigned this month for personal reasons. He had joined the aquarium as chief financial officer in 2005, the year it opened. Godfrey was the attraction’s third president in two years, replacing Mike Leven, who left the aquariumaquarium’s first leader, Jeff Swanagan, left in 2008 to lead the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in his home state of Ohio. Swanagan died of a heart attack in 2009. to join the Las Vegas Sands Corp. in 2009. The "


Also see:
http://www.upack.com/press/PressRele...endsReport.pdf

What Part?

Originally Posted by Zone2flyboy

Morehouse & Spelman have a much bigger problem with crime. Students have been getting robbed over there for years, and you never hear about a GaTech student being killed. I can just think back just along the last 5 years and a Morehouse or Spelman student has gotten killed almost every year. Maybe not always on campus, but it happens. Ga Tech students are careless though, they really could do a better job at making themselves not so much of a target. I cant tell you how many times I have seen students walking down 10 street with an iPod in their ear or while texting on their phone, or walking out of that 24 hour diner on 10th at 3 am with a iMac cleary visible in their hands. Or even worse the students who park at 10 side and 1016 on game days and then walk back in the middle of the night halfway drunk. If Ga Tech students as a whole did a better job at being aware of their surrondings, Im sure half of the robberies you hear about on the news wouldnt happen.

I don't know if this is true or not ( I hope it wasn't the case) but I heard in the 80's and 90's that for some local gang at the time in order to be initiated you had to kill a morehouse student.

[tonygeorgia]

I love it here. You could not pay me to move to DC, Dallas, NJ. Just down right dangerous and dirty in those cities

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by ATLHRLGUY

I don't know if this is true or not ( I hope it wasn't the case) but I heard in the 80's and 90's that for some local gang at the time in order to be initiated you had to kill a morehouse student.

Definitely urban legend.

[xayePR5T]

I like this thread

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

I love it here. You could not pay me to move to DC, Dallas, NJ. Just down right dangerous and dirty in those cities

Working for the Chamber of Commerce you'd better say those things. But for what's it's those places including my beloved home are better for you feeling that way. Thanks.

[ethiopia 1966]

The biggest difference between Atlanta and Memphis is growth whether it is economical, educational, or racial Memphis is lagging way behind Atlanta. Memphis is nowhere near Atlantas level and its a disservice to Atlanta to rank them with Memphis. I am 45 and I have lived outside of Memphis for 16 yrs and my city is at the bottom. And to the guy that called Atlanta racists are you kidding me because Memphis is the most racist city that I have ever seen. Traditional racial ways and fearful black people keep Memphis stagnated racially. Memphis has an entire city that is in denial when it comes racism many are afraid to take a stand because they are fearful of retaliation. Memphis is a dying ghost town and everything is closing down and boarded up. Forbes ranked us as the 7th most miserable city and just yesterday we were ranked 171 out of 200 for cities as far as economical growth. Alot of memphians have never traveled outside of Memphis and they believe everything that local media outlets tell them. To be totally honest in the south Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, Dallas, and Houston are all ahead of Memphis. We have alot of arrogant and ignorant minded residents that always put other cities down and brag on Memphis 24/7. Time magazine called Memphis a backwater town and also said that Memphis is a city that cuts its self off from the rest of America and marches to a different drum. Our downtown has the ugliest skyline that I have ever seen and those knee scrapers that masquerade as skyscrapers look like a 1960s skyline lol. Dilapidated buildings are an eyesore for Memphis not to mention our small ass freeways. I travel to Nashville often and they are growing very rapidly and on top of that they have surpassed Memphis as a city totally. Memphis is a crime infested city and last year Memphis had 147 homicides compared to Nashville having 51 homicides. Our police director tried to downplay us having almost 100 more homicides than Nashville. Again it falls back to being in denial of another problem that Memphis has and instead of addressing the problem as always they make excuses and shy away. Anybody that lives in Memphis and cant see that we have alot of problems needs to have their eyes examined. Other cities have their issues as well but in Memphis its magnified more and 2of the culprits that hold Memphis back are racist ass charters and decades of segregation.

[tonygeorgia]

Ee have more direct flights than any city in the world, cheap cost of living, great topography, nice weather, etc,cervix

[zthatzmanz28]

I have always driven through Atlanta. Starting back in 1971, when I traveled to Florida with my parents every spring. We never stopped, even for gas.
Last November I had a chance to go into Atlanta for the first time. I was prepared for another urban heap, much like Detroit. I came in from the south end and drove up Metropolatian Pkwy from the airport. PAst the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood on to the Georgia Dome towards Atlantic Station where I had breakfast at the Silver Skillet. I spent the day at Atlantic Station with a friend.

I was just amazed at how Atlanta looked. Now I am sure it has problems like any othe large city--I did drive past some boarded store fronts just south of Atlantic Station--but over all I was impressed. I still wonder what makes Atlanta a more viable city cmpared to Detroit...

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

I have always driven through Atlanta. Starting back in 1971, when I traveled to Florida with my parents every spring. We never stopped, even for gas.
Last November I had a chance to go into Atlanta for the first time. I was prepared for another urban heap, much like Detroit. I came in from the south end and drove up Metropolatian Pkwy from the airport. PAst the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood on to the Georgia Dome towards Atlantic Station where I had breakfast at the Silver Skillet. I spent the day at Atlantic Station with a friend.

I was just amazed at how Atlanta looked. Now I am sure it has problems like any othe large city--I did drive past some boarded store fronts just south of Atlantic Station--but over all I was impressed. I still wonder what makes Atlanta a more viable city cmpared to Detroit...

Detroit has been absolutely hammered by the weakening of the auto industry, so I suspect that it's a little bit unique in the US for a city it's size.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Ee have more direct flights than any city in the world, cheap cost of living, great topography, nice weather, etc,cervix

No, I think New York would have more direct flights.