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Among the media, academia and within planning circles, there’s a generally standing answer to the question of what cities are the best, the most progressive and best role models for small and mid-sized cities. The standard list includes Portland, Seattle, Austin, Minneapolis, and Denver. In particular, Portland is held up as a paradigm, with its urban growth boundary, extensive transit system, excellent cycling culture, and a pro-density policy. These cities are frequently contrasted with those of the Rust Belt and South, which are found wanting, often even by locals, as “cool” urban places.
But look closely at these exemplars and a curious fact emerges. If you take away the dominant Tier One cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles you will find that the “progressive” cities aren’t red or blue, but another color entirely: white.
In fact, not one of these “progressive” cities even reaches the national average for African American percentage population in its core county. Perhaps not progressiveness but whiteness is the defining characteristic of the group.
Among the media, academia and within planning circles, there’s a generally standing answer to the question of what cities are the best, the most progressive and best role models for small and mid-sized cities. The standard list includes Portland, Seattle, Austin, Minneapolis, and Denver. In particular, Portland is held up as a paradigm, with its urban growth boundary, extensive transit system, excellent cycling culture, and a pro-density policy. These cities are frequently contrasted with those of the Rust Belt and South, which are found wanting, often even by locals, as “cool” urban places.
But look closely at these exemplars and a curious fact emerges. If you take away the dominant Tier One cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles you will find that the “progressive” cities aren’t red or blue, but another color entirely: white.
In fact, not one of these “progressive” cities even reaches the national average for African American percentage population in its core county. Perhaps not progressiveness but whiteness is the defining characteristic of the group.
Just about every city in the US votes Democratic and is going to be more socially liberal than outlying areas.
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If you take away the dominant Tier One cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles you will find that the “progressive” cities aren’t red or blue, but another color entirely: white.?
Except that the dominant tier one cities like New York, are the most prominent and largest cities in the United States and are both politically and socially liberal... You can't just look at the usual suspects in areas that have historically been less diverse because of their location like the Pacific Northwest, and then say well we can't consider New York and a bunch of the other 20 biggest cities in the country, even though they are both incredibly diverse and liberal.
Where are all the diverse conservative cities? If you look at a list of the most conservative cities in the nation, you'll find that they are even whiter than Seattle or Portland... Go find how diverse Boise, ID or Provo, UT are...
Lastly, your chart is simply comparing the African-American percentage of cities like Denver, Austin, or Seattle to cities that have historically had a larger black population, but are also fairly liberal...And the number of blacks in an area isn't the only marker of diversity considering that places like Denver and Austin have signifigant Hispanic populations, while Seattle has a sizable Asian community.
What makes you think that about Portland? Things are very tough there right now.
Tough in what way? It is a very desirable city and everyone wants to move there/live there. Housing is expensive so many can't afford to but it is certainly not what I would consider a depressed city in any sense of the word.
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