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(More customer reviews)I think Richard Florida has an incredibly idealistic view of New York City where he belives we all enjoy public transportation, live greenly in our small apartments, and take advantage of the fabulous jobs and opportunities it offers. Well, I have lived here for over 30 years and see a city that has an exploding population (incredibly more crowded than it was in 1980), yet with less bus and subway service (not uncommon to wait over 30 minutes for a bus), with inflated prices for most things over what you'd pay outside the city, and deteriorating buildings and infrastructure and no funds to fix these things. That doesn't even cover the increase in disease, rats, bed bugs, the poor and uninsured, hospital closings, soaring medical costs, and jobs that pay substantially less than they did just a few years ago.
Yes, we have fabulous culture, universities and diversity but many people are finding that the cost outweighs the experience; that crowds can easily turn into angry nutcases; and often "it isn't worth the battle" for even a free concert or show because of the hassle involved. (Too many people trying to take advantage of these opportunities.)
The cost of renting now surpasses what most people can afford. In addition, who wouldn't prefer to live where they have their own washers and dryers (usually not allowed in apartments), to have building owners that care about upkeep and fix things properly, to have real closet space and storage, and not to have to lug (or as NYers say, "schlep") stuff like a pack animal everywhere. Living outside the city and taking trains in may be the solution, but the cost of that has also increased and there is talk of further increases.
Richard Florida has some good ideas. We do need to change this economy and the reliance this country has on protecting the financial institutions (especially mortgages) at all costs; changing the education system; and allowing more creative control and input from all workers, not just management. But cities -- at least in the condition they are in now -- are not the answer. Getting people out of crowded big cities and redirecting them to smaller, newer, less strained cities may be a better solution. Mr. Florida himself has chosen to leave the U.S. and live in Toronto with a car and a house (something he urges people to give up and rent instead). He has established his business in Canada in the last few years. In the last chapter he writes that it will probably take decades for these changes to establish themselves. In the meantime, I'd just say, think long and hard before spending your money to move to New York City.
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