[okbymeman]

Originally Posted by Johnho771

Completely agree. You can find positives in any area, but it is important that there are people who are critics like Stefanowski. If we do not accept that many CT cities have issues, how will they ever improve? The cities will never be perfect, but we can at least work on improving them, and that starts with acknowledging the problems.

And if CT cities really have "a lot to offer," why don't national companies in the area promote the cities more. Look at how ESPN expanded their studios across state lines in NYC instead of CT cities like Hartford. And when I am watching ESPN shows filmed in Bristol, they never show backdrops of the Bristol cityscape in their studios. However, when watching ESPN programs filmed in NYC, they often have a sweeping NYC backdrop in the back of the studio.

Not only that, but ESPN loses talent or fails to attract it at all because Bristol is such an armpit. No CT cities are ever going to compete with NYC but they can at least try to be on par with the average small to medium sized city in the US today.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by okbymeman

Not only that, but ESPN loses talent or fails to attract it at all because Bristol is such an armpit. No CT cities are ever going to compete with NYC but they can at least try to be on par with the average small to medium sized city in the US today.

First I am no fan of Bristol but it is hardly an “armpit”. ESPN is located in a suburban office park on the edge of town and it’s not bad really. Employees are much more likely to live in neighboring Southington which is a nice suburban community. Many employees with families live in the beautiful Farmington River Valley which in a word is stunning. The towns there have very good to excellent schools, wonderful shopping and restaurants and lots of family activities. A lot of on-air personalities live there as well as technical and administrative staff.

I have a family member that works there and he says most staff like it there because it gives them access to very nice affordable homes. They wouldn’t have that if ESPN were located in New York or even lower Fairfield County.

As for your comment on Connecticut cities, I’d certainly put them up against any other comparable US city. They certainly would come out as good, if not better in quality of living. Your opinion seems a bit jaded likely because we are so close to major cities like New York and Boston. Jay

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by JayCT

As for your comment on Connecticut cities, I’d certainly put them up against any other comparable US city. They certainly would come out as good, if not better in quality of living. Your opinion seems a bit jaded likely because we are so close to major cities like New York and Boston. Jay

One would put Waterbury, New London, New Britain, Hartford, Torrington, Norwich, Norwalk, or even Danbury above many other comparable cities? ANY city? Seriously?!

Oh, I forgot Bridgeport.

Besides Stamford (which is really like an annex of NYC) and the Yale area of New Haven, I can’t think of another city in CT that I would want to walk around when is dark. And I am no stranger to rough...

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by Henry10

One would put Waterbury, New London, New Britain, Hartford, Torrington, Norwich, Norwalk, or even Danbury above many other comparable cities? ANY city? Seriously?!

Oh, I forgot Bridgeport.

Besides Stamford (which is really like an annex of NYC) and the Yale area of New Haven, I can’t think of another city in CT that I would want to walk around when is dark. And I am no stranger to rough...

Agreed. Our cities are hardly the locations I like to show off to visitors, with the exception of Stamford, and while Yale is pretty, its hardly much safer than New Haven, if any safer.

A friend's son on their football team about ten years ago needed to crawl under a car quickly with his gf to avoid gunfire. Our cities, except Stamford, have seen far better times.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Henry10

One would put Waterbury, New London, New Britain, Hartford, Torrington, Norwich, Norwalk, or even Danbury above many other comparable cities? ANY city? Seriously?!

Oh, I forgot Bridgeport.

Besides Stamford (which is really like an annex of NYC) and the Yale area of New Haven, I can’t think of another city in CT that I would want to walk around when is dark. And I am no stranger to rough...

Yeah, I have to say, I agree here. The only one that MIGHT come close is New Haven. I would be embarrassed putting Bridgeport, Waterbury, New London, perhaps Hartford, and a few others against other similarly sized cities.

You’re talking comparing Bridgeport to Charleston, or Hartford to Knoxville. Having visited both in recent years - there is no comparison.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Henry10

One would put Waterbury, New London, New Britain, Hartford, Torrington, Norwich, Norwalk, or even Danbury above many other comparable cities? ANY city? Seriously?!

Oh, I forgot Bridgeport.

Besides Stamford (which is really like an annex of NYC) and the Yale area of New Haven, I can’t think of another city in CT that I would want to walk around when is dark. And I am no stranger to rough...

You would be scared walking around Danbury and Norwalk?? really. I can't speak for the others.
They're mostly comprised of great forest neighborhoods and $1M+ LI Sound neighborhoods.
I know Stamford very well, too well actually, and the West Side is still the worst found in all three.
No one should be walking around New Haven's worst. Everyone knows this but why would you to begin with.
Sometimes I wonder about these guys

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

You would be scared walking around Danbury and Norwalk?? really. I can't speak for the others.
They're mostly comprised of great forest neighborhoods and $1M+ LI Sound neighborhoods.
I know Stamford very well, too well actually, and the West Side is still the worst found in all three.
No one should be walking around New Haven's worst. Everyone knows this but why would you to begin with.
Sometimes I wonder about these guys

Agree. I’ve walked around Norwalk and Danbury at night many times, even when both cities had higher crime rates than they do now, without even a hint of an issue.

And on New Haven, I assure the others that ducking under a car to avoid gunfire is not a normal occurrence unless you’re in a bad neighborhood (but, why?) and have awful timing. I have dozens of friends and colleagues that live, work, and play in New Haven without incident. FWIW, the city’s crime rate has dropped since 10 years ago, along with every other city in CT except maybe Waterbury.

There are also plenty of nice, safe areas in New Haven besides where the Ivy League campus resides. Westville, Prospect Hill, East Rock, and Wooster Square are arguably the nicest residential area and, aside from a relatively small part of East Rock, aren’t part of the campus.

That said, Norwalk and Danbury are barely proper cities. They are suburbs with some urban-ish areas.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Agree. I’ve walked around Norwalk and Danbury at night many times, even when both cities had higher crime rates than they do now, without even a hint of an issue.

And on New Haven, I assure the others that ducking under a car to avoid gunfire is not a normal occurrence unless you’re in a bad neighborhood (but, why?) and have awful timing. I have dozens of friends and colleagues that live, work, and play in New Haven without incident. FWIW, the city’s crime rate has dropped since 10 years ago, along with every other city in CT except maybe Waterbury.

There are also plenty of nice, safe areas in New Haven besides where the Ivy League campus resides. Westville, Prospect Hill, East Rock, and Wooster Square are arguably the nicest residential area and, aside from a relatively small part of East Rock, aren’t part of the campus.

That said, Norwalk and Danbury are barely proper cities. They are suburbs with some urban-ish areas.

Well said.
Beloved Nashville had 85 murders 2020. More than Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport combined.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

FWIW, the city’s crime rate has dropped since 10 years ago, along with every other city in CT except maybe Waterbury.

Im not suggesting New Haven’s crime got better, worse, or remained the same, but it’s important to note that crime was reclassified according to CGS under the Malloy Administration. This lowered the amount of crimes that were required to be reported federally, as opposed to other states, thus made crime appear to be lower than it actually is. It was a deliberate attempt at manipulation that, to anyone who is familiar with the Connecticut General Statutes, was astonishing to see.

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Well said.
Beloved Nashville had 85 murders 2020. More than Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport combined.

Nashville also has a population of almost 700k, multiple times larger than the CT cities you mentioned.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Nashville also has a population of almost 700k, multiple times larger than the CT cities you mentioned.

B-H-NH are only 60 sq miles combined with 360K population. With 500 sq miles total Nashville's most notorious crime areas are probably way less than 360K. That 85 is a substantial number. Alarmimg.