Is Chicago as stressful as NYC? (Manhattan, Newton: housing, health, best)

[prelude91]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Apparently not.

well being extremely familiar with both, and assuming you are as well, perhaps you can explain.

[PA Born]

All I'm saying is that the Loop/Near North Side is very clean. I don't get the "Chicago is clean, other cities aren't" stereotype anywhere else.

I mean, is Lakeview clean? Seriously? That Belmont corridor isn't very clean. It isn't filthy or anything, but it's not like I would stroll down Belmont and think I'm in Salzburg or something. It still has garbage blowing around, and normal urban "stuff".

If I compared Belmont in Lakeview to, say, 7th Ave. in Park Slope (Brooklyn) or South Street in Philly, I don't see some gigantic difference. That's all. I'm guessing the "Chicago is clean" stereotype is from visitors sticking to Michigan Ave. and the like. I don't think it's true on a citywide basis.

I will admit Philly is kinda dirty, even for U.S. city standards. So it's a bit of an outlier. NYC, not so much, I don't think. Especially not considering the pedestrian volume.

[prelude91]

Originally Posted by PA Born

All I'm saying is that the Loop/Near North Side is very clean. I don't get the "Chicago is clean, other cities aren't" stereotype anywhere else.

I mean, is Lakeview clean? Seriously? That Belmont corridor isn't very clean. It isn't filthy or anything, but it's not like I would stroll down Belmont and think I'm in Salzburg or something. It still has garbage blowing around, and normal urban "stuff".

If I compared Belmont in Lakeview to, say, 7th Ave. in Park Slope (Brooklyn) or South Street in Philly, I don't see some gigantic difference. That's all. I'm guessing the "Chicago is clean" stereotype is from visitors sticking to Michigan Ave. and the like. I don't think it's true on a citywide basis.

I will admit Philly is kinda dirty, even for U.S. city standards. So it's a bit of an outlier. NYC, not so much, I don't think. Especially not considering the pedestrian volume.

Well the obvious difference is you won't see litterally thousands of garbage bags parked out on the curb after 8pm (or whatever time its allowed) like you will in NYC; I do agree with you though, that beyond the garbage issue, Chicago isn't that much cleaner than other major cities (NYC, Philly)

Chicago also doesn't have the stench NYC can have in the summer.

[PA Born]

Originally Posted by prelude91

Well the obvious difference is you won't see litterally thousands of garbage bags parked out on the curb after 8pm (or whatever time its allowed) like you will in NYC; I do agree with you though, that beyond the garbage issue, Chicago isn't that much cleaner than other major cities (NYC, Philly)

Chicago also doesn't have the stench NYC can have in the summer.

I agree with all this. To me, though, a garbage bag isn't what I was thinking of. That, to me, is clean, not unclean.

To me, dirty is crap on the streets. McDonalds wrappers, cigarette butts, etc. Garbage cans, garbage bags, and the like are just methods for disposal.

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by PA Born

I don't see how NYC is dirtier than Chicago. Philly maybe a bit dirtier, but not by much.

Are people only comparing the Loop/Near North Side to these cities? Then I agree.

But comparing the South Side to Brooklyn? No way. I don't see how Chicago is particularly clean relative to other cities.

You need to spend more time in NYC, Philly and Chicago then.

NYC is without question, dirtier. Chicago wins on the waste management front. It also smells much better. Downtown Chicago is virtually spotless.

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by PA Born

I will admit Philly is kinda dirty, even for U.S. city standards. So it's a bit of an outlier. NYC, not so much, I don't think. Especially not considering the pedestrian volume.

Come on. I love it, lived there long enough, still in NY but moving soon. NYC is pretty dirty on average, especially in comparison with even other world cities. There are cities in Asia with more people that are spotless.

Chicago is like a damn Canadian city when it comes to cleanliness.

For a city of nearly 3 million, in the US.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by PA Born

I agree with all this. To me, though, a garbage bag isn't what I was thinking of. That, to me, is clean, not unclean.

To me, dirty is crap on the streets. McDonalds wrappers, cigarette butts, etc. Garbage cans, garbage bags, and the like are just methods for disposal.

The garbage bags on the street aren't self-contained odor-free little bundles. How often are they ripped, torn, bulging, gone-through, scattered, leaking, stinking or spreading trash? Pretty often. That happens with garbage in Chicago too, I'm sure, but it's happening in alleys, not on the sidewalk.

[PA Born]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

The garbage bags on the street aren't self-contained odor-free little bundles. How often are they ripped, torn, bulging, gone-through, scattered, leaking, stinking or spreading trash? Pretty often. That happens with garbage in Chicago too, I'm sure, but it's happening in alleys, not on the sidewalk.

Yeah, I see what you're saying, but I don't see a difference.

A garbage bag is dirty if it's on a street sidewalk, but it's not dirty if it's in an alley? They're both public right-of-ways. I don't see why a city is less dirty if a garbage back is in the back of a building instead of the front of a building, and I'm not getting this "Chicago looks like a Canadian city" idea.

I don't think it's true. And 95% of Chicago isn't in the Loop or Michigan Ave., so obviously I'm not looking at those two areas.

[Vlajos]

A garbage bag sitting on a sidewalk is very different from a garbage bag in a can in an alley.

You can't avoid the smell in summer in NYC.

In Chicago, don't walk in the alley and you're fine.

[Heyooooo]

PA Born, you need to spend more time or pay more attention next time youre in these cities.