Dear all. <BR> Is this thread reserved for American cities ?? <BR> <BR>If it is not then may I nominate Birmingham, England. Anyone who has been there will know why. Boring, ugly, smelly, polluted. Need I say more. <BR> <BR>Sorry if I offended anyone, but wwe all have our opinions now don't we ?? <BR>

I would rate the worst of the worst to be Tampa, Miami, Boca Raton, Orlando and Gainesville as your worst cities, not necessarily in that order. If your not a college student, Gainesville is probably your worst place. The local utility, GRU, that runs just about everything such as internet access, water, gas, and electric has polluted the environment in Gainesville. Bring plenty of anti-itching cream. As far as the cities in the central and South Florida region there are severe corruption, overcrowding, pollution, ethnic rivalries and ongoing health and crime problems that make these areas unlivable and quite precarious for tourists as well. See my sub-forum, "Florida Is Still Unsafe" now in the second 50 message grouping under the United States category. <BR> <BR>And please guys and gals, lets keep this a "Worst of the Worst" forum and not a lets get even with AMS forum. Because of my criticism of Florida I have been accused of being everything from a lunatic to a racist. It seems a lot of people have money invested in Florida real estate. <BR> <BR>

Let me just clarify that all the cities that I mentioned in the previous message as being the worst of the worst are in the State of Florida. Unless you are a retiree and need tropical heat, I would rank Florida as the worst State to live in. Even retirees should consider alternative climate areas such as Southern California, Arizona or New Mexico.

Ignore AMS now and maybe he'll go away. He wants another forum for his racist/separatist views. <BR> <BR>It's true AMS, we're all out to get you here too. <BR> <BR>Boo!!! <BR> <BR>Now go away and play with something other than your computer.

See what I mean. The previous author refers to himself as "Oh No" but I think it is more likely that person might be more appropriately refered to as Walt Disney's nephew's nephew or someone similarly situated. <BR> <BR>My reply to "Oh No" is that my credibility has been well established on the "Florida Still Unsafe" forum and "Relocating to Florida" forum. Unlike you and some of the other cat-callers, I ,at least, have the guts to use my true initials and a legitimate e-mail address.

LOL! I'm enjoying the exchange b/w AMS and his detractors!

Anywhere with a population greater than 150.

Laughlin, NV: Las Vegas for people over 80 <BR>Bullhead City, Arizona: Drunks sleep on the sidewalks at night

I would agree with some earlier postings about Blythe, California. I was there about 3 weeks ago and found it to be particularly depressing.

Washington DC has lots to recommend it, & I love to visit, but I could not imagine having to fight the traffic in the suburban northern VA area every day! If you lived near a Metro stop & could commute that way, it would be OK. But - too many people, too many cars!

Atlanta, has to be one of the worst of the worst: <BR>1.)Excessive smog days in the summer <BR>2.)Highly overpriced rentals <BR>3.)Taxes going to who knows where <BR>4.)Taxing food?! Come'on its a necessity! <BR>5.)Racial tensions between certain groups <BR>6.)Not much to do outside Atlanta, <BR>not much to do inside Atlanta-aside <BR>from bars. <BR>7.)Traffic <BR>8.)Sprawl <BR>9.)Lack of authentic restaurants in the <BR>suburbs <BR>10.)Lack of cultural diversity <BR> <BR>In a couple of years....I'm outta here!

I live in Dallas, Texas, and I happen to like it here. <BR> <BR>My worst cities: <BR> <BR>Laredo, Texas <BR>Houston, Texas <BR>Odessa, Texas <BR>Los Angeles, California <BR>East St. Louis, Missouri <BR>Tulsa, Oklahoma <BR> <BR>And THE worst: <BR>Newark, New Jersey!

Puhleeeze! Has anyone ever been to Dallas, TX? Texas is Spanish for HELL! When, on the travel and tourism commercials it says, "Texas, it's like a whole other country," it really means it. Those people really do think that it is the best, no, the only place to live. My husband was transfered there in the winter and hopefully we will be outta this hell pit by December. God willing!

Canada. The whole country has an inferiority complex. Having many Canadian relations, I can vouch for the average Canuck's hatred of America and Americans. There's too many Canada Bobs who live there.

Most of Ohio is unusually dull, especially the Akron-Canton area. All the people talk aboot (no mispelling) is their high school sports teams, their cairs, washing and waxing their cairs and how many factories or foundries have left the region of their youth. Can I add Youngstown, Warren, Massilon, Cleveland, Cadiz (birthplace of Clark Gable with the seediest of parks dedicated to his honor) and Columbus to the mix? One redeeming quality-it's easy to come across Long John Silvers fish-n-chips in Ohio. We don't have them on the eastern shore of Maryland for some odd reason and I wish we did.

<BR> <BR>Derek: <BR> <BR>Nice effort, but your reference to Long John Silver's negates all that came before. And you're from Maryland's Eastern Shore! You should be exiled to Steubenville, Ohio for no less than one year.

All you American people get down on your knees and THANK CHRIST you don't live on a 'council estate' in the North of England like I, sweet Jesus, will soon be leaving behind me ! <BR> <BR> <BR>

All metro areas have bad sectors that would be horrendous for raising children. Each also has pockets of interest and decent living if you take time to investigate. Lots and lots of people would rather have nature than concrete regardless of what goes along with it. Climate should be the determining factor if you have lots of choices and mobility. I personally can not stand the "browness" of most of the West and think the mountains look like sleeping dragons and creepy at times. Having the seasons change makes variety and spice for me. All the Southern USA hot cities seem like the "worst" to me. <BR>But Gary, South Bend and a few other Northern Indiana cities are my vote. Valparaiso, Indiana is not on the list- a very nice, vibrant community and goregeous college campus/ library. Lots of areas on the NORTH as well as the South side of Chicago are a whole lot less kid-friendly than any suburb would ever be. Saw a "city-kid" last week at 63rd and State Street when we had car trouble on the Dan Ryan/Bishop Ford and had to get off. She (1-1/2 yrs. old at the most) was standing off the curb at 11:45pm poking a stick in a sewer opening. Had on a diaper and undershirt- while "mother" was standing in group in front of tavern. Wonder what else she will learn living in the city.

Holy no, powerful Oz. Don't exile me to Steubenville. Wadsworth is bad enough.

. . . nearly any city in Florida (with the exception of the Fla Keys.) No offense . . . <BR>(anyone seen a guy with pointed ears running around?)