Uploaded on 2016-07-04 by Jamin

Seattle New York Portland Vancouver Philadelphia --------------- Safety Walkability Pollution (air and noise) Climate Economy --------------- I feel like most parts of Seattle are safe. There aren't particularly bad neighborhoods; some of the poorer neighborhoods are probably Rainier Valley, Chinatown, or West Seattle, but they're still relatively quiet. Seattle doesn't have the greatest walkability but it's still better than a lot of cities. City planners have tried to avoid the suburban sprawl model, and public transport is improving. The city is already building more light rail--I would lobby for a subway system, but with the geography of the region I doubt it's feasible. Traffic, on the other hand, is terrible and the bus system leaves a lot to be desired. It's plagued with the insane traffic of the city as well as continual budget cuts. I think the light rail system is a great step, as it'll be the only transit option that runs on dedicated lines i.e. will not required revamping of our current auto infrastructure. Pollution is alright. The city does a good job with noise reduction and is dedicated to maintaining an extensive park/trail system. The air pollution is negligible most of the time, probably owing to the territory--the city is surrounded by dozens of natural parks and two mountain ranges, full of lush evergreen forests. Similarly, the climate is general cool and mild--though the winters can get icy. Finally, the economy of Seattle is growing strong and quickly. While this makes job opportunities exciting and plentiful it also means the cost of living is rising dramatically.