Is it me or does the Midwest

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by aragx6

How can you even put East St. Louis on this list of cities -- it's horrifically violent sure, but it's not even a city! It's has what 25,000 people left in it?

I would guess its much less than 25 thousand.

[aragx6]

I just looked and City Data has it at 28k.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I just looked and City Data has it at 28k.

Wow, I am amazed.

[IloveLoganSquare]

I have to agree. Well said.

Let's say you are a well-off guy and you move to a neighborhood that is slightly more affordable. You are seen around the area, you contribute to the local stores, and in the course of a year, you have contributed fairly significantly to your neighborhood, which in turn, raises your house value.

Don't underestimate your affect on your environment. If there are 20 units in your building, than you are 5% of the real estate tax, 5% of the local spending and sales tax revenue, etc. That is significant! If you spend more because you make more, buy in a place where your affect will help grow the area.

One quick parable as I am starting to like the sound of my own keyboard. The Chinese dynasties refused to recognize an individual and their family as wealthy until they held the wealth for three generations of wealthy individuals. They were wise in that wealth is like liquid, it can only be held and channeled decisively with principled discipline aka experience not just intelligence. (that's why we need to watch them Chinese on their trade practice and monetary policy, but that's another subject!)

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Maybe to draw a correlation between manufacturing cities/rust belt cities(I hate the term Rust Belt Cities) and loss of jobs and crime?

I think in the Midwest we have a lot of still true cities in the point that most of our cities are touristy cities or destinations except the obvious(CHI). Most of our cities have a lot of people who have always lived here, I also think once a town becomes more of a tourist dest. the city tends to clean-up its act through gentrification/new yuppies/police actually start to clamp down on crime because new areas (IE wicker park, Humboldt Park) have turned around so now the cops will focus more on those parts of the city as well. This also applies for tif districts as well and funds that will become more avail. for those areas as they become up and coming more money will be pumped into that section of the city as city leaders will see it as vital part of the city. Now the once lost 'hood is now becoming nice a lot more of attention will be put on said neighborhood(ie.funds/grants/yuppies).
Beside people are always going to grab on to the next big neighborhood or up and coming part of town much like how crime is spread the same is done when people start to reinvest in areas where potential is seen. After would'nt be nice to have a home in greektown/lincoln park before it was nice because your home value would probably be up 800% for when you bought it.