2013年美國前20個悲情城市

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Forbes 評選出了2013年度的美國20個悲情城市，Most Miserable Cities。

評選標準包括以下指標：犯罪率，失業率，稅率（收入稅和房產稅），房價變化，房屋強製拍賣比例，交通狀況與平均通勤時間，天氣狀況，人口流動（遷出與遷入對比）。入選城市必須有多於25萬9千居民的大中城市。

不出意料，位居榜首的是底特律。全國最高的犯罪率（每一千個居民10.52 件犯罪案），全國房屋均價下降最多，人口遷出比例最高，失業率，房屋強製拍賣也都位居前列。

但是芝加哥（第四）和紐約（第十）的入選，也許有些人不敢相信。芝加哥的嚴酷天氣，較長的通勤時間和糟糕的交通狀況，房產價位與拍賣比例，還有人口遷出比例，都使得芝加哥高居美國悲情城市第四位。紐約的入選主要得力於兩項數據：全美最長的平均通勤時間，全美最高的稅率。

還有一個令人驚訝的現象：在前十位最悲情城市當中，加州占據三位，第八位 Stockton （房屋強製拍賣，犯罪率和失業率都名列前茅，還是迄今最大的宣布破產的城市），第六位 Vallejo （房屋強製拍賣比例和失業率均名列前前茅，2008-2011年市政府宣布破產），第五位 Modesto （全美最高房屋強製拍賣比例，15%的失業率）。加州的地理位置好。氣候宜人，土地肥沃，曆來是美國經濟最強，最先進和發達的地方。20多年前，有統計說，如果加州作為一個獨立國家，其GDP可列世界第九位，矽穀更是領導了世界互聯網革命。但是近些年加州出現了很多問題，經濟如此強大的地方，州政府卻多次傳出破產的消息。最近，在州議會占絕對優勢的民主黨議員，又通過了以種族限製公裏大學入學的SCA5法案，赤裸裸的種族主義行為，開曆史倒車。在天時地利如此優越的地方，而在很多經濟領域都居於全美領先地位，政府搞得如此差，應該是政客和政府官員的問題，還有政策的偏差。(剛看到，加州的三名華裔民主黨參議員，原本投票讚成SCA5，後來由於華裔的大力反對，迫使他們同意推遲此法案，並與華裔社區協商，這是華裔的勝利。但這隻是第一步，因為法案任然沒有廢除，隻是推遲。）

底特律市政府近幾年一直處於破產邊緣，被州政府接管。從1974年開始選出第一位黑人市長，中間有35年都是黑人市長。其中一位連任20年，還有一位在市長任上被控告腐敗和妨礙司法，被判入獄，最後有38件控訴成立，入獄28年。今年，一位白人商人和律師成為在黑人占多數的大城市，當選市長的第一人。

下麵是2013年美國悲情城市的前10名：

#1 Detroit, Mich.

Violent crime in the Detroit metro was down 5% in 2011, but it remains the highest in the country with 1,052 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according to the FBI. Home prices were off 35% the past 3 years, which is the biggest drop in the U.S.

#2 Flint, Mich.

Flint has been demolishing homes as the city shrinks with residents leaving in search of jobs. Only Detroit has a higher net out-migration rate. Flint ranks third worst for violent crime, behind Detroit and Memphis.

#3 Rockford, Ill.

A three decade decline in the manufacturing base has hurt Rockford's economy and kept unemployment high. The metro’s recent 11.2% unemployment rate is one of the highest rates in the U.S. Another burden: high property tax rates.

#4 Chicago, Ill.

Chicago has passionate supporters, but residents must endure the misery of long commutes, plummeting home prices, brutal winters and high foreclosure rates. The migration rate out of Chicago is the sixth worst among the 200 largest metros.

#5 Modesto, Calif.

Foreclosures continue to plague Modesto with 6,859 foreclosure filings in 2012, according to RealtyTrac. It represents 3.8% of homes, which is the third highest rate in the U.S. Recent unemployment was 15%.

#6 Vallejo, Calif.

The city finally emerged from bankruptcy at the end of 2011 after nearly 3 years. Problems remain with high levels of foreclosures and unemployment.

#7 Warren, Mich.

Troy and Farmington Hills are part of the government-defined Warren metro division. Like Detroit, the Warren metro has seen home prices collapse--off 53% the past five years.

#8 Stockton, Calif.

Stockton became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy protection last year. The city is burdened with the highest foreclosure rate in the U.S. and ranks among the five worst for unemployment and crime.

#9 Lake County, Ill.

The Chicago suburb is one of the richest counties in the U.S., as measured by per capita income. But home prices are down 29% over the past 5 years. Other drawbacks: long commutes and lousy weather.

#10 New York, N.Y.

Taxes are always a hot button issue in New York, whether it revolves around banks paying their share (rally above) or the taxes that residents face, which are the highest in the U.S. New Yorkers also rank first when it comes to the longest commutes.

更多請看：
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2013/02/21/detroit-tops-2013-list-of-americas-most-miserable-cities/