Comments on: NPF: AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

By: Dr. Derty

Dr. Derty — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:35:29 +0000

Love the Hanna-Barbara simile. Hilarious. Very original. I actually go to Co-Springs occasionally as we have offices there (I work for a defense contractor). Everything you say is true. The roads there are crazy too. I could not stay in one lane for more than two intersections without it merging into another lane or becoming a right-turn only lane, which can be annoying when the avg. speed limit is 50 to 60 MPH.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:48:04 +0000

I can't really comment on the particular choices here; they all seem awful enough in their own ways. But I do see a real bias at work. Like the law which the Supreme Court overturned in the Ricci decision, the reality of the bias is so obvious as to invalidate the results. You've been to every State in the Union but Alaska, and only one city west of the Mississippi makes it onto your list? Lucky for you, Ricci was overturned by the totally non-activist conservatives on the Court, so you can claim an honest test.

You don't like wide open spaces. That's fine. But it shouldn't be one of the major reason for placing a city on your list, which it seems to be.

There's not an Appalachian town out there where the fighting cocks are only marginally more inbred than the crackers who own them that doesn't rate worse than Lubbock? Please. Or no crime riddled tenement filled hellhole on the east coast that's worse than Reno? Richmond KY and Camden NJ, both mentioned above, would seem to qualify.

I'll give you Colorado Springs, though. It's only an hour away from Denver(!), where I live, and Dobson and his ilk are the taint of and on the otherwise pretty decent State of Colorado.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:28:43 +0000

I'm reminded of HL Mencken's essay on the American 'libido for the ugly'. It's worth re-reading, especially in light of the ongoing coarsening of the national dialogue.

I live in Oakland CA, which combines areas of remarkable beauty and grace with other areas of terrifying squalor and crime. It's peculiar.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:27:21 +0000

Well let's thank the Mayor of Reno for stopping by.

If your analysis of Reno is as good as your spelling and grammar, then perhaps I am wrong. For future reference, saying "I can think of at least 10 worst places (sic)" is not a ringing endorsement.

By: Will

Will — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:25:29 +0000

Did I neglect to mention that the Reno-Sinkhole-Turned-Marina was an EPA Superfund site before it got flooded out? A place that was at one point a toxic stew of chemicals is now a Fun Family Water Experience for Northern Nevadans.

Special, special place. And people.

By: The Truth

The Truth — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:13:17 +0000

You dare us to defy these? Your defying a lot of other lists that have placed Reno in the top five for cities to live. Have you ever been to Reno lately — or are your recollections of Reno based on some ancient memory, or perhaps its based on an absurd depiction of Reno from the show Reno 911, which is shot in California BTW? I have been fortunate enough to live in numerous places. Reno happens to be one of my favorite towns based on my love for the outdoors and Reno's proximity to Lake Tahoe. Also, Reno is a great place to go mountain biking, tubing on the Truckee River, or kayaking — certainly these are recreational activities that most individuals enjoy, and can be done in a beautiful and NATURAL setting.

Additionally, Reno has always been a diverse town with a diverse economy. Unlike Vegas, Reno has not or will never base its economy on gambling — which is why I feel your comment regarding lost dreams and your description of hobos running rampant is not only incredibly exaggerated, but completely unfounded — especially considering the impoverished state of a lot of rural cities across the nation whose level of poverty are actually worth noting. Also, based on the increasing local university population, the town has transformed into a cultural and artistic gem.

I can easily think of 10 towns i have been to that are far worst than Reno. And my judgment is based on my substantial experience within these cities — not an understanding of Reno that is devoid of any true or realistic description of what the city actually is. This is actually reflective in the fact that half your description consists of analogies to a city that shares its state borders with Reno but no more.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:23:09 +0000

My partner grew up on a cotton plantation in the middle of the Mississippi delta. To go visit his grandmother we drive through progressively smaller shitholes like Cruger, MS. Every time we go, I'm just amazed.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:33:41 +0000

Reno isn't notable in Nevada for its squalor – a hundred miles in any direction gets you fantastic levels of squalor. Reno is notable for the size and consistency of its squalor. It's like one of the dwindling gold rush towns that metastasized and somehow kept growing.

About 10 years ago a sinkhole opened up about five miles west of downtown Reno, taking out part of I-80 and filling with water. The natural solution: WATERSIDE RESORT. A team of Navy divers training there caught somthing virulent from the water.

It's a special, special place.

By: Evan Sultanik

Evan Sultanik — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:35:32 +0000

Camden, NJ. Its only saving grace is that it is on the other side of the river from Philadelphia.

44% of the residents live in poverty, the highest rate in the nation (2006 Census).

There is one aggravated assault reported for every five residents (2007 data).

Consistently ranked America's most dangerous city by the NY Times.

Due to a history of corruption (viz. payoffs from the mob and drug dealers), the state of NJ basically revoked Camden's right to be self-governing (the mayor now has no real power).

I work in Camden. The first time I drove in to my job a cop pulled me over. Officer to me: "You shouldn't be here. I'll escort you back over the bridge."