The is the last of three installments on Chicago as a global city, and is also part of my "State of Chicago" series. Chicago is definitely in a global city in any definition, but if you parse apart its economy, the global city part is smaller than is generally believed, and in any case is too small to carry the city, region, and state alone. Chicago is in many respects a regional capital like Atlanta, with an economy still tied heavily to its regional hinterland. I'd also like to point out that Chicago is completely missing various pieces … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2012
Chicago As a Global City
This article is part of the State of Chicago series. At this point in my series I'm looking at a couple of my frames on Chicago's problems that are not commonly known or held. The first was Chicago's lack of a calling card industry. I'm now looking at Chicago's weakness as a global city and the excessive focus civic leadership has put on being a global city at the expense of everything else. (I will not be further reviewing well-known and uncontroversial problems such as the fiscal mess). Ranking Chicago as a Global City Last week I … [Read more...]
Anorexic Vampires and the Pittsburgh Potty: The Story of Rust Belt Chic
“Rust Belt Chic is the opposite of Creative Class Chic. The latter [is] the globalization of hip and cool. Wondering how Pittsburgh can be more like Austin is an absurd enterprise and, ultimately, counterproductive. I want to visit the Cleveland of Harvey Pekar, not the Miami of LeBron James. I can find King James World just about anywhere. Give me more Rust Belt Chic.” Jim Russell, blogger at Burgh Diaspora National interest in a Rust Belt “revival” has blossomed. There are the spreads in Details, Atlantic Cities, and Salon, as well as an … [Read more...]
Why I Live in Indianapolis
[ My post Why I Don't Live in Indianapolis provoked quite a furor. It also inspired occasional guest poster Drew Klacik to pen this response about why he came to Indianapolis, and is still there - Aaron. ] When a friend constantly tells you how much he or she likes you and then one day says, “But I’d never live with you,” the predictable reaction is to feel hurt and angry. That’s how I felt when The Urbanophile posted “Why I Don’t Live in Indianapolis.” But last night, while riding my bike on one of Indianapolis’ many bike trails (yes, we … [Read more...]
The Columbus, Indiana Values Proposition
[ Columbus, Indiana has long been known as a special place. Which is too bad, since unlike most small industrial cities in America, it has actually been a success. Alas, despite its clear superior performance, few places show any interest in trying to replicate the things that made it successful. National Public Radio recently ran a segment on Columbus' famed architecture. In it was another telling quote from town patriarch J. Irwin Miller that sums it up: "Whatever you do in this world, you've got a responsibility and a privilege of doing … [Read more...]