Who’s YOUR City? Blog

The Japanese edition of Richard Florida’s Who’s Your City? is now available.

To see all the book covers of Who’s Your City? in their various translations, check out our gallery on the Who’s Your City? Facebook page (and if you’re not already a Facebook friend, join us there as well as on the Creative Class Facebook page).

Have you taken the Who’s Your City? place finder to discover just where you belong? Try it out here (or click the “Place Finder” link to the left) and tell us what you think of your results!

I love this site and the book as well because i’m starting to get a feel for the energy of the places that i might ‘wind up’. I’ve just moved from Toronto to Seattle for a year of study. I’m in my mid 20’s, a metalsmith and design grad and am now studying Band Instrument Repair. I’ll graduate in a few months and I’ve got to narrow down my search a little, or more precisely determine what i do and don’t want in a community/location. Now that i’ve moved away, i have i think a better appreciation for what i loved about living in Toronto, and Seattle being on the opposite side of the continent is giving me a good idea (at least meterologically) what kind of geography appeals.I don’t love the humidity of toronto’s summers, but at least its on the water, and i do enjoy a white christmas. The seattle rain doesn’t really get me down but its not ’seasonal’ enough here, its sort of just permanently cool-damp which i find kind of gross.

The great thing about my field (in addition to the fact that i love what i’m doing!) is that there is nearly limitless availability of jobs at present everwhere beyond the immediate proximity of the 4 schools (Northern Alberta, Northern Iowa, central Minnesota and of course here in Seattle). I think what i’d like is a ’secondary’ type city or a ’suburb city’ that is ripe to be revamped and reconsidered. Preferably somewhere that i wouldn’t NEED to own a car, (I’m hardy and enjoy a good long walk to work) and that there is a commuter train system into the nearby ‘bigger’ city for nights/weekends out. I would favour low cost of living and ethnic diversity to fine dining any day.

In terms of work, i might well stay in the US because the scale of highschool and college bands are greater and support more technicians like me than in canada where marching bands are relatively rare.I’m single and would hope to be in a decently sized, openminded dating pool wherever i land because i hope to begin a family (of some description) once i’m sort of settled. I don’t feel tied to my family in Central Ontario, but it would be nice to be able to take a direct flight home. I suppose this is all common enough, but maybe if there are any suggestions in general i’d be interested.

I’ve also sort of romantically daydreamed about the potential of places like: Savannah GA-San Antonio TX-Pittsburgh area -Newark area-Washington, D.C. Area-The Bay Area of California-St. Louis/ (although i hear its crazy humid in summer)-Bend Oregon-Detroit (emerging creative hub??? -Chicago area-Somewhere else southeast or southwest that is open minded and accepting of so called alternative lifestyles? Yeah, its broad but if you’ve got some dirt on any of these places hook me up! I’m not sure where jobs are available but the better equipped to make a comparative analysis the calmer my nerves! Also, (this sounds like a mail order request doesn’t it!?? How strange). I’d rather not end up in a city full of other people just like me, Seattle is homogenous as all get out and i think i’m getting bored. Luckily i live in the suburbs where things are a bit spicier!

Sent by Kiki from Barrie/Toronto/Seattle/???

My husband and I are creative types who’ve lived in the less-than-creative area, Grand Rapids, Mich., and its greater metro area, West Michigan. We are not alone in this belief. We do, however, enjoy the walkability of many of the areas neighborhoods.Also, we want to leave cold, snowy winters for an arid, temperate climate. We’d prefer to be in a large metropolitan area, yet I’m not reading about any places in the warmer regions of the Southwest as places considered to be great for creatives. In the maps section, there is the Mega-region of Tucson-Phoenix, yet neither city is mentioned specifically as great for creatives. Could it be because they are major victims of urban sprawl? Also, does anyone have an experience with Albuquerque? Is it a good place for creative types who really need to live outside rigid boxes and social norms? Any other suggestions? We would consider small towns. Thank you very much for any suggestions.

Sent by Annieo from Grand Rapids, MI

My husband and I are “empty-nesters” originally from and still living in Syracuse, NY. We grew up in historic and charming villages just outside the city and I lived as a back-packing traveler for many years in my young adulthood. Together hubby and I travel whenever we can afford it, but given the difficulty of getting ahead in this city, we mostly go to where we can drive. Thankfully (and this is a plus for Syracuse: its location), that means we have often visited Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, New York City, Montreal, Boston, and many other smaller and very charming places. We’ve also been to Spain a couple times as well as the spectacular San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. My own father moved there 20 years ago. Two sisters live in Santa Barbara, CA, and another outside of Raleigh. It isn’t like we don’t have family in nice places! But our network of friends is here, and my part-time employment doing what I love, teaching languages, is here, too. So is one son and his family. The other son is in Napa job hunting with two culinary degrees from the CIA under his belt. So where to go?

We’ve stayed in part because the housing is cheap here. We own a two-family and the rental income pays most of the mortgage. But now that the last child is gone, I’m feeling restless. I’m a community activist who has been struggling with the inertia underlying this region to help keep my own first-ring suburb neighborhood (now part of the city proper) slowly developing into a decent place to live. But I keep running into those more traditional types who have been watching this region go downhill for the past 50 years. They haven’t traveled much, they don’t have any vision, and those who do – and they do exist here in Syracuse – have an uphill battle. Every improvement takes so long, city hall is full of people without degrees in the right fields, and the taxes are, indeed, killing us. So we don’t have a ton of money because we chose to stay here for so long. How to move on to a place where there are more people who like new experiences? who have some vision? who solve problems quickly and creatively? where creative types aren’t just tolerated but appreciated? Seems every housing market in the towns we like (and even those we don’t like!) is more expensive than Syracuse. How do we break the Syracuse habit?

Sent by Lonnie from Syracuse, NY

I’ve lived in Fayetteville, AR, all my life. It’s a wonderful town – it’s listed in the top five for several categories in the “small markets” category. What I love about it: Lots of parks and greenspace, vibrant culture and diversity, lots of community events and the surrounding natural beauty.

But my problem is that I just can’t get ahead here. There aren’t many good jobs – most jobs are in the service sector, which don’t pay. The state laws are really biased against employees and tenants – we have no rights.

I have a master’s degree in journalism and I can’t find a job. So I’m thinking of relocating. I’ve always been attracted to San Fran, but I simply can’t afford it. Any suggestions for similar cities that have good economies?

Sent by DeLani from Fayetteville, AR

Dear Gang,

I love Mr. Florida’s site! I just bought his recent book and am still trying to decide where to live. I have lived in over 7 other cities in 5 countries and traveled to 20 others. I also have lived in over 11 cities in the United States. I am an instructor, motivational and teacher trainer, musician, songwriter, traveler, and adventurer. I have also assisted personal motivators through a friend of mine who runs a seminar company in Detroit. I am leaning towards Toronto, San Francisco Area (where I lived), L.A. (never lived), San Diego (my parents live there currently), or Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale. My current employment with several universities dictates that I reside within the U.S. Where would you go if you wanted great beaches, easy access to major attractions, lots of bars, clubs, and venues to play in a band, wonderful multicultural communities, artsy communities, coffeehouses, etc.? I also love Holland’s Interest Inventory because using it can help in addition to r reading Mr. Florida’s work I love Cincinnati because it has a low cost-of-living. It is not very ethnically-diverse and the music scene is not very vibrant. I am hearing from a lot of people that it okay to live wherever and post your music on the internet, but maybe I’m old-fashioned, I want it all! Any advice? I see that Mr. Florida loves Toronto and I hear that there was a new man-made beach that was created on one of the lakeshores recently… San Francisco is gorgeous but does it have a major music scene? Also, isn’t the high-cost of living and real-estate astronomical? Any advice? Just let me know!!! I would love to hear from you! Thanks, S. Paul

Sent in by Paul S. from Cincinnati

I grew up in southern Ohio, moved to Minneapolis/St.Paul for college and stayed for 15 years. My chronic health issues worsened while living so far north. I didn’t mind the cold, but the short days really began to wear me down over the years. I loved the progressive nature of the city, politics, community, etc. It was so easy to meet people there. I am also openly gay and I work in non-profit administration. So I need a city where there is a reasonable amount of sunshine, lower cost of living, and somewhat progressive. 8 years ago I moved to Tucson, just to get my health back, While I love the slower pace, it is very difficult to meet people here. The city is more liberal than Phoenix but still somewhat isolating. I am considering, Tampa, Ft.Lauderdale (much higher cost of living),and Miami. Houston and Atlanta have similiar cost of living stats but I am soo confused as to what my next move should be. Any suggestions? (nothing north of St. Louis please) You can email me at Toddtucson@msn.com

Sent by Geoffery from Tucson AZ

I have some college available, but no degree. i can’t seem to find a good job here in San Antonio concerning labor. So If I do leave San Antonio, Well I’m out on the streets. I have no money and I need a job. So where the best place to be homeless? I would like to know so I can start out. I have a unique personality and love to ride bicycles, art, and anime.
I currently live in San Antonio and ever since I left CArdell Cabinets, well, I couldn’t get a job at all. I have had some temp jobs, but nothing perminent.
I am considering the military, but I want to hav a back up plan.

Please help.

Sent by Daniel from San Antonio, TX

Hello! Very interesting concept here. I am an entrepreneur in Cheyenne, Wyoming and I find it difficult to grow a business and prosper primarily due to the low population. However, the city and areas of Wyoming seem to be the best place to raise a family and purchase a home (no state income tax either). Any thoughts?

Sent by Pamela Girt from Cheyenne, Wyoming

One category of people not addressed in Richard’s work (from what I know about it so far) is the category I’m in. I’m 42, still single, no kids, disabled due to an incurable/non-fatal incapacitating illness, & completely impoverished (on SSI). I’m definitely an “open to experience” type of person that he speaks of in his book–but I’ve been taken out of the game by illness, isolation, & poverty. I lived in Pittsburgh, PA for 32 years. There was a period of time where I was extremely creative (artist, acting, film, writing) & felt I had outgrown the city–and needed to move to a more progressive place. At the same time, though, my illness was progressing. I ended up having to apply for SSI, and was turned down. I was about to be homeless, and had to move to wherever I could find someone willing to help me. That turned out to be outside of the San Diego, CA area (a stranger on the internet helped me briefly). I was able to get SSI here, and feel financially TRAPPED here now. Other than getting the assistance here that I couldn’t get back east, I have HATED EVERY MOMENT of my life in this SOULLESS place. I HATE Southern CA!!! The people I’ve met here have been SHALLOW, NASTY, MEAN, SELFISH, CLOSE-MINDED, JUDGMENTAL, SUPERFICIAL, ULTRA CONSERVATIVE, & FLAKY. If they act nice for a moment, they switch to nasty the next. And they have all been COLD hearted. And NOBODY here takes friendship s eriously. I’ve been STUCK here for 10 years. I am surviving physically, but dying in every other way. I have not been able to make ONE friend here. (I had 100’s of friends back east–until I became ill & they all abandoned me.)

Where do people still treat the impoverished & disabled with dignity, kindness, friendship, support, & acceptance? Where can the poor still have a decent life? Where can the different & isolated find a community of people? Where would a person give me the time of day once they see my old car or find out that I’m on disability? People wont even speak to me here after they either find out I’m disabled or poor. They literally just walk away from me in mid sentence after I answer “the California interrogation” as I call it (i.e. as soon as they find out I’m poor and/or ill). Does anybody have any ideas for a better place for me?

Sent by Marie from Carlsbad, CA