In big U.S. cities, the middle class is dead

American Dream

Probably no entity in American life has been scrutinized more than the middle class — they rise, they’re left for dead, they rise again, they die again, etc. It’s almost comical sometimes. But in reality, especially after the 2008 downturn,… Continue Reading

Just give up and move to Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown OH

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What are the best U.S. cities for public transportation?

Public transportation ridership rose 37 percent from 1995 to 2013, and it seems to be a concept that millennials want out of any city in which they put down roots. Since millennials will be the primary U.S. home buyers for the… Continue Reading

If you’re a woman looking to get married, move west of the Mississippi

The job market is killing the marriage market, meaning that women want some stability (i.e. a job) in the men they end up with — and because of the economy and our godforsaken hiring practices, the percentage of men with… Continue Reading

Inequality in New York City is equivalent to Swaziland

I’m from New York City. To be more specific, I’m from the Upper East Side. It’s a mostly affluent area. My zip code growing up was 10128, which always makes those “richest zip codes in the United States” lists; in… Continue Reading

Where are the best places for singles to live?

In 1976, 37 percent of the U.S. population was single. Now, in 2014, it’s over 50 percent. I wrote once before about the best places to live if you’re single — Colorado Springs is apparently pretty good — and it should be… Continue Reading

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Where are the best cities for jobs for young people?

Good article from Richard Florida over at CityLab — formerly The Atlantic Cities — on where jobs are for young (25-34 year-olds, essentially) people these days. I’ve probably summarized about 3/4 of Florida’s articles over the past six months, so at this point I… Continue Reading

The AstroDome could become the new High Line

Harris County judge Ed Emmett seemingly has a good deal of power in the Houston area. That’s relevant, because he “absolutely opposes” demolishing the AstroDome, which basically hasn’t been consistently used in years. People have been discussing the fate of the… Continue Reading