Is Baltimore The Nation's Greatest City?

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley has declared Baltimore the greatest city in America. Does anyone believe him?

1 minute read

May 21, 2001, 10:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"But like the mayors of so many other struggling cities around the country, O'Malley is betting that dubious public works projects and old-style urban renewal will turn around his town's fortunes. He's joined in his delusions by other local pols. They point to the city's "success" with the Inner Harbor, the downtown area that was redeveloped with gobs of public money a decade ago. Now it boasts Camden Yards, where the Orioles play baseball, and a host of chain restaurants; tourists even go there when they're in town. Cities such as Denver and Cleveland have built what amount to carbon copies of the area, and isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery?"

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, May 20, 2001 in Reason Online

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