Forbes just published its 20 Most Miserable Cities List for
2013. The magazine left off several obviously more “worthy” contenders,
perhaps because its decisions to include and exclude certain criteria
were, to say the least, more than a little odd.
The magazine’s exclusion of “corruption” is a joke. Surely the researchers at Forbes can determine the degree of corruption in America’s various cities without copping out that the only available data is “regional.” Another justification for why both Baltimore and New Orleans should be on the list is that each city’s previous mayor was charged with crimes. Baltimore’s Sheila Dixon was convicted in 2009; if there has been a major reduction of corruption there, I haven’t heard about it. Former Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans is currently at the arraignment stage on bribery charges which seem all but certain to end in convictions.
So the lineup (classifying Bloomberg, Toledo's Bell, Modesto's Marsh, and Flint's Walling as Dems, which philosophically is clearly what they are):
- Democrats -- 15
- Republicans -- 3
- Independent/not determinable -- 2
The magazine’s exclusion of “corruption” is a joke. Surely the researchers at Forbes can determine the degree of corruption in America’s various cities without copping out that the only available data is “regional.” Another justification for why both Baltimore and New Orleans should be on the list is that each city’s previous mayor was charged with crimes. Baltimore’s Sheila Dixon was convicted in 2009; if there has been a major reduction of corruption there, I haven’t heard about it. Former Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans is currently at the arraignment stage on bribery charges which seem all but certain to end in convictions.
20. Youngstown, Ohio -- Charles P. Sammarone, DemocratThose who verify my links will notice that Forbes really listed Lake County, Illinois at Number 9. Sorry guys, a city is a city, and a county isn't. Waukegan is Lake County's county seat, and definitely deserves its spot on the list.
19. Gary, Indiana -- Karen Freeman-Wilson, Democrat
18. Poughkeepsie, New York -- John C. Tkazyik, Republican
17. Cleveland, Ohio -- Frank Jackson, Democrat
16. Atlanta, Georgia -- Kasim Reed, Democrat
15. Atlantic City, New Jersey -- Lorenzo Langford, Democrat
14. Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- Tom Barrett, Democrat
13. Camden, New Jersey -- Dana Redd, Democrat
12. St. Louis, Missouri -- Francis Slay, Democrat
11. Toledo, Ohio -- Michael Bell, ran as an independent but is a lifelong Democrat
10. New York, New York -- Michael Bloomberg, Nanny State "Independent" since 2007; Democrat before 2001; ran as a Republican in 2001 just to get a spot on the ballot.
9. Waukegan, Illinois -- Robert G. Sabonjian, Democrat (see first paragraph following this list)
8. Stockton, California -- Anthony Silva, a Republican sworn into office by Democrat and former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.
7. Warren, Michigan -- James Fouts, Republican
6. Vallejo, California -- Osby Davis, Not determinable
5. Modesto, California -- Garrad Marsh, "non-partisan," clear Democrat sympathies
4. Chicago, Illinois -- Rahm Emanuel, Democrat
3. Rockford, Illinois -- Larry Morrissey, Independent
2. Flint, Michigan -- Dayne Walling, "nonpartisan," formerly worked for U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, a Democrat
1. Detroit, Michigan -- Dave Bing, Democrat
So the lineup (classifying Bloomberg, Toledo's Bell, Modesto's Marsh, and Flint's Walling as Dems, which philosophically is clearly what they are):
- Democrats -- 15
- Republicans -- 3
- Independent/not determinable -- 2