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^That's strange. I think the economy is having an impact. However, looking at the crime data available (here on city-data's statistic pages and elsewhere), one can see that crime has been improving in Providence quite significantly over the past 5+ years. On a national scale, Providence is really not so bad (just above average) in terms of crime.
My personal account (having lived in Providence) is that the people there are somewhat insular. The result is that they tend to blow things out of proportion when it comes to crime (and other issues). Everything is, "the worst!" or "wicked bad!" when it really isn't. Providence has been hit harder than many places by the economy and that seems to be bringing the "sky is falling" cries to the surface. It's not as bad as people there make it sound.
I don't think "downtown is going to hell." Downtown looks better to me now than it did years ago with all sorts of new enterprises there. Downtown Providence is hardly the problem at all. Isolated neighborhoods to the South of downtown are bad.
Oh, and as far as the corruption thing goes, no one in Providence really cares. That guy (I'm assuming you mean Cianci) really reinvented the city. He brought life to the downtown area (and the major riverside park) and brought Providence back from the brink.
I have liived in Pittsburgh and I have been to Providence five times. I really like Providence, but I honestly don't think it is near Pittsburghs league. Pittsburgh has three pro teams. Providence has none. Pittsburgh has alot of world class institutions whereas Providence has Brown and some smaller ones. Pittsburgh has Carnegie-Mellon, University of Pitt, and many other colleges in the area. Pittsburgh's dowtown seems twice the size. The neighborhoods are slightly better. I have always liked some of the neighborhoods of Providence. Very artsy city with some pretty good food options.
But honestly, Pittsburgh really wins in almost every category for me personally. And this is not because I once lived there. I always try to be as honest as possible with these city vs city comparisons. Providence just seems much smaller. Maybe it is because for a metro their size, they have a fairly small downtown. Plus they seem to be overshadowed by Boston.
Pittsburgh is a much more complete city than PVD. Even though I love PVD and grew up as a 'townie' there I'd never put it in the same class as Pittsburgh. Providence is tiny, a micro-city. Providence has zero sports franchises, that's one way for a city to stay under the radar. City without their own basketball or hockey team = small time. City with all four major sports, including recent (multiple) Superbowl championships = big time. That's only one measure, but it's telling.
I have liived in Pittsburgh and I have been to Providence five times. I really like Providence, but I honestly don't think it is near Pittsburghs league. Pittsburgh has three pro teams. Providence has none. Pittsburgh has alot of world class institutions whereas Providence has Brown and some smaller ones. Pittsburgh has Carnegie-Mellon, University of Pitt, and many other colleges in the area. Pittsburgh's dowtown seems twice the size. The neighborhoods are slightly better. I have always liked some of the neighborhoods of Providence. Very artsy city with some pretty good food options.
But honestly, Pittsburgh really wins in almost every category for me personally. And this is not because I once lived there. I always try to be as honest as possible with these city vs city comparisons. Providence just seems much smaller. Maybe it is because for a metro their size, they have a fairly small downtown. Plus they seem to be overshadowed by Boston.
lol, Brown is a teir above any college in Pittsburgh, the Patroits playcloser to Prov. Than Boston.
lol, Brown is a teir above any college in Pittsburgh, the Patroits playcloser to Prov. Than Boston.
1 University vs CMU, PITT, DQU, RMU, and countless others......
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