View of Park Avenue looking South towards Grand Central
How far from New York City does one need to go so that references to “the city” don’t mean it but some other self-described city? Probably not far, I haven’t actually done the experiment.
Is it a sense of self-importance as if it is the proper definition of what a city is and “the city” can only possibly be it , as opposed to say, Newark, or Philadelphia? or some others in-between.
No doubt the sense of itself as the City, the conceit and hubris is what apparently drives folks outside of New York to despise it. Well perhaps also that it is chock-full of a self-indulgent liberal community commonly referred to as the Liberal Elite
Now that it finds itself in the same predicament as the rest of the USA with falling (some would say collapsing) home prices, shedding of jobs especially of the high income variety, those that indulge in the wish-full thinking of New York’s demise are wringing their hands. Of course “The City” doesn’t help itself with it’s politicians both on the national and local stage thinking every problem can be solved with a tax-hike which can be usually viewed as a way to protect some civil service job. Now civil servants in “The City” as well as most places serve major or critical functions. They operate the subways, protect , teach pick up our garbage and countless other things without which it wouldn’t be worth living here. Regardless at least in “The City” they have arcane work rules and efficiency is viewed as sometime from another planet and heck, why should they ever be exposed to the same “job risk” as most people in the USA. Well, unless something really drastic happens, “The City” will be in for a period of economic austerity during the next few years. It appears unavoidable but as it has previous times before, it will rebound. It has to. Though one may find it unappealing at times, when someone thinks of “The City” at least when in the USA, what would we prefer come to mind? Endless ribbons of clogged highways, Box Stores, Strip mall after Strip Mall with every conceivable choice of Chain Food? Well admittedly “The City’s” highways are clogged but at least their is a Green alternative of the Subway albeit with some pretty weird denizens at all hours of the day.

The photo above is of Park Avenue looking south towards Grand Central Station from around 60th Street. The station is not visible as it is blocked by 2 large skyscrapers almost immediately on top of it.

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