The Most Liberal Cities in America

[siliconefreak]

Need to get away from your red-state neighbors? Try one of these for your next vacation:

http://www.epodunk.com/top10/liberal/index.html

[wicket]

1. Boston is top of the list!

I love my hometown :D

[Warpy]

7. I certainly miss the political climate in Boston generally

and Jamaica Plain, specifically. It was nice to be less than ten minutes away from the Red Book Store. I miss it.

[paineinthearse]

8. Boston????

Cambridge certainly, maybe Brookline and Jamaica Plain, but Southie? Dochester? No way!

[wicket]

15. Cambridge is on there too

n/t

[TayTay]

45. I couldn't agree more

But this is a schizo area. It is always unsettling when these 'Most liberal' surveys come out and MA places fairly highly. Where are these people? Why did it take them so long to get rid of Speaker of the MA House Finneran and other conservative Dems who had a strangle hold on the state for so long. (Nothing progressive coming out of the General Court for quite a while. We need a shakeup.)

Why are we seen as so liberal when it doesn't feel like it sometimes? Good intentions? The rest of the country is full of cro-mags? What? (Or are Massholes in general too picky and cranky?)

EDIT: Chelsea? What's next, Revere and Dorchester? I don't get this. We can do better in MA and get more progressive than what we got.

[siliconefreak]

70. a common sentiment...

It's interesting. Everyone I know from Boston talks about how conservative it is, but the rest of the country labels Boston as very liberal.

I think that maybe the liberals in Massachusetts are spoiled and don't realize how much worse it could be. :shrug:

[Cattledog]

2. My town made

the most liberal in Georgia! Decatur! Cynthia Mckinney is our Rep!

[MuseRider]

3. It is so good to be a mere

30 minutes from Lawrence, Kansas. I spend a lot of time there and I love it. It is a nice place to hang out and I prefer spending my money there instead of here in Topeka where Walmart rules.

[Lochloosa]

4. Tallahassee, Florida

I know it's in a "Red" state but a great city. Very progressive.
And what can I say about the FSU students...63% female...oh my

[Arugula Latte]

60. Tallahassee, really?

I'd never heard that.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Arugula Latte]

61. Nobody's mentioned Portland and Seattle?

All right, I'll mention them. Portland and Seattle.

I'll also put in a plug for Berkeley, where I spent several happy years.

[martymar64]

75. Seattle Representing

My Rep is Jim McDermott. Nuff Sed.

[Lochloosa]

66. Thanks Oregonian

I've been hanging around for 12 to 14 months...thought I would start putting my two cents in. And if your ever in FL visit Tally. Beautiful city. It's in North FL, so it's not what you would expect. No Palm Trees here, but some of the most beautiful Live Oaks you will ever see thanks to the VERY restrictive tree ordanance.
The Florida State University campus is stunning.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Happy to see CA...

well represented with 9 out of thirty cities/towns. :loveya:

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Nothing for hundreds of miles!! Living in a red state amongst a sea

of red!

[fooj]

9. Proud resident of Santa Cruz County!!!

:hi:

[unhappycamper]

10. from Boston to the Berkshires to the Cape

WE KICKED SOME ASS, FOLKS.

[zippy890]

27. Yay for Massachusetts!

Go to hell, dubya
(Pissed me off how he insulted this great state)

[Bluesplayer]

33. hmmppphh

He has no use for the birthplace of democracy in America.

[FrenchieCat]

11. YES!

Berkeley, San Francisco, and Oakland, Albany, CA....my stomping grounds and current and past domiciles....all listed at the top! Husband works in Palo Alto and we go to Santa Cruz often. Daughter going to college in Boston....in Cambridge!

Plus, I was born in France!

I feel so BLUE, it's not even funny!

Yeah!:headbang:

[TahitiNut]

12. Look at the Bay Area rock!

Berkeley, CA
Oakland, CA
San Francisco, CA
Alameda, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
East Palo Alto, CA
Albany, CA
Fairfax, CA
Guerneville, CA


Gawd! I miss living there!

[Webster Green]

63. They'll drag me kicking and screaming out of Northern California

I've lived in Fairfax (Awesome!), and I now live 4 miles from Guerneville.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Golden Valley as the most liberal place in Minnesota?

It's a non-descript suburb, noted mostly as the place that John Steinbeck went looking for in Travels with Charley because he liked the name.

I'd pick Minneapolis and St. Paul together.

[siliconefreak]

21. it's the data

It's their criteria that puts Golden Valley over the top. I remember when I lived there many years ago - Golden Valley was known as THE gay suburb. :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Really?

And here I thought it was inhabited by my very Middle American relatives?

Who knew?

[Rambis]

14. Iowa City Iowa*

xx

[SoCalifer]

16. Woot!!

Proud Californian, and always love voting Barbara Boxer to the Senate.. :)


Although I so wish that the Los Angeles area was more like San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley..

[theboss]

17. It's amazing to me how "liberal" no longer has anything to do with race

Race played no factor in this index according to the site.

Boston votes for Democrats. It certainly has a ton of liberal power brokers and lot of old money Democrats. And Cambridge is the Berkeley of the East.

But a "liberal" city? I wouldn't want to be a black family moving into an all-white neighborhood there. That should be a major test.

[siliconefreak]

22. hard data

They used hard data to come up with the list, not subjective opinions.

[theboss]

23. And no hard data on race relations or racial diversity

The list the criteria on the page. Number of gay residents mattered; racial diversity or the state of race relations did not. I still think Boston has a lot of problems with race relations which makes me question how it can be considered the most liberal city in the country.

And the fact that they couldn't factor in DC makes me question this as an exercise.

[siliconefreak]

28. okay

I understand your point about racial diversity. But how would you objectively measure "the state of race relations"?

[theboss]

46. Many ways

Hate crime statistcs....diversity of neighborhoods....comparing poverty levels for whites and blacks...diverstiy of schools...number of minorities in positions of power in the government compared to other cities....number of employment discrimination suits in city versus national average.

I think this is a lazy poll.

[dsc]

40. The reason they didn't factor in DC was clearly explained

Congressional District voting history
(Note: Because this factor was part of the screen for rankings, Washington, D.C., which does not have congressional representation, was excluded from our study. Washington residents who do not live in the White House showed strong liberal leanings in their votes for president and political contributions. The city also has a large number of gay households.)


Maybe this criteria should have been left out, but since it wasn't I can see why they left DC out.

On edit, your larger point though is very valid. Not counting race relations seems to be a very myopic view of liberalism.

[theboss]

47. I think that's a lazy reason

Congressional representation means little in terms of "liberalism." There are backwater parts of Texas and Mississippi that haven't elected Republicans since Reconstruction. They probably also don't sell liquor on Sunday. Are these liberal areas?

[fishwax]

72. The selection of which hard data to use is always subjective

you can agree with it or disagree with it or any shade in between, but being "hard data" hardly makes it foolproof.

[latebloomer]

56. couple flaws re why most of the cities were so white

One of the criteria was contributions to political PACs-- not likely to be as high in poorer--yet liberal-- minority areas. Also I suspect that minority areas wouldn't be as high in gay marriages performed-- another criterion.

[ChiciB1]

18. I've Lived In Florida Since 1972 And...

I'm ashamed to say this, but I've NEVER heard of Wilton Manors, FL!!!

Better get my map out. And I see that Florida missed all noted cities, oh what a SURPRISE!!

[siliconefreak]

20. Queer Central

Wilton Manors could be called the "gay capital of Florida". It's one of only four cities in the U.S. that has a gay majority on its city council. (The others, to the best of my knowledge are West Hollywood, Palm Springs, and Mount Rainier in Maryland.)

[ChiciB1]

26. What About Key West...

I've spent many vacations down there during LOBSTER season, diving and having a great time! Actually we always stayed in Marathon, but ALWAYS trekked down to Key West!

I know the military is down there, but there's a real easy going life style there too.

A HIGHLIGHT of one of our visits was when Mel Fisher was bringing up the GOLD! Literally, as they were coming in and I have pictures taken with some of the "pirates"! The ship in dock was a rust bucket, but they did it.

[siliconefreak]

29. more data

Surprisingly, Key West comes in a distant second to Wilton Manors in the percentage of same-sex couples:

http://www.gaydemographics.org/USA/states/florida/2000Census_state_fl_incorporated.htm

(scroll down to the second chart - the first one is meaningless)

[ChiciB1]

58. WOW!!!

That DOES surprise me. Glad to have the information and THANKS.

[Bonobo]

19. Kick for Northampton, MA!

I love this friggin' town!

[funkybutt]

24. NEW ORLEANS!!!

[stevedeshazer]

30. Lincoln City, Oregon? Joke.

It's the armpit of the Oregon coast. A ten-mile long strip mall. Ugh.

[LaPera]

39. Eugene!

[stevedeshazer]

53. Yes,

Or Ashland or Portland or even Astoria.

But Lincoln City? It's a casino town, a tourist trap.

[Dervill Crow]

74. Absolutely crazy.

I cannot believe it's not Portland.

[barackmyworld]

31. where is CHICAGO

Maybe that ranking includes the burbs?

[RealDems]

32. So glad to see Baltimore made it!

We are so often ignored, but B-more is a very progressive city. An interesting mix of liberals too... many environmentalists (because of the bay), many minority voters, heavy blue-collar union presence...

And kick-ass representation (Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Mayor Martin O'Malley).

[Sparkly]

34. Yay, Baltimore!!

:bounce:

[RealDems]

36. I know...

such a quirky little city...

I'm so glad to see all the attention MD is getting nationally for the progressive legislation that passed late the other night.

We just have to get rid of Ehrlich -- he's a black mark on a great state.

[theboss]

55. And the higest STD rates in the country!!

Good times.

[RealDems]

35. VERY surprised DC didn't make it though...

I'm not certain there are any Republicans in DC (except those who return to Crawford on weekends)

[spooky3]

41. if you check the link, they couldn't include DC because

one of the measures concerned voting records of Congressional members, and DC has no Senators or Congresspersons. (Norton's rights as a rep. are restricted.)

[RealDems]

51. Ahh... that explains it... thanks.

[MAlibdem]

37. Hanover NH AND Boston MA?

Wow, I live in some liberal-ass areas. Couldn't be happier...

[LaPera]

38. San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, all the way up to Arcata & Eureka.

The Northern California coast.

[deutsey]

62. I loved it there when I visited recently

[noonwitch]

42. I was surprised that Ann Arbor wasn't on the list

The freepers from Michigan call it Berkely East or something like that.

[landeaugriffin]

64. I know

I was certain it'd be there...oh well though. Great little city. After spending time in San Francisco, I've decided that Ann Arbor is just a miniature version (without the benefit of the Pacific ocean).

Ferndale is on the list...I've never heard of it.

[DrGonzoLives]

43. Some seriously white cities there

C'mon, Oak Park? Do they even let the black folk drive through there, or arrest them before they lower the property values? Iowa City? The only blacks there play sports for the University of Iowa.

The criteria on that list are a joke - apparently liberalism means gays and opposing the war in Iraq. Including PAC contributions virtually guarentees that the rich neighborhoods are going to get preference.

[theboss]

48. Seriously, David Geffen's living room is the most liberal city in America

I guess I don't know what it means to be "liberal" anymore. Apparently, it means having a lot of gay people, a lot of rich people with white guilt, and a lot of busybody city councils.

How about a real criteria? Like labor union participation. Like labor union protection. Like living wages. Like progressive tax codes. Like diversity in housing. Like diversity in government.

Here is a good question: Is there a chance in Hell that this city could elect a black mayor? If the answer is no, it's not liberal.

[htuttle]

52. Those criteria you listed apparently aren't enough

I was rather surprised to not see my own city of Madison listed (except as 'most liberal in Wisconsin').

We have a lot of gay people, a lot of rich prople with white guilt, and a famously busybody city council. But no listing...:shrug:

However, we did pass a city living wage law, have a lot of union participation, and haven't had a Republican run for mayor in recent memory. Maybe that disqualified us somehow...

Regarding your criteria: I don't know if Madison would elect a black mayor -- on the one hand, our last two police chiefs have been black, but as a city we are often criticized for not being diverse enough. I always thought Gene Parks had a chance of winning the Mayor's office, but he would have been a fairly angry guy (of any race) to get elected as Mayor...:shrug: As a side note: He was a hellraiser, and I'm going to miss him (he died this year).

So I have no idea how they derived this list. I read their criteria, but can't figure out why the cities listed are listed.

[theboss]

54. My question wasn't an end all-be all question

But I just can't look at Boston as some liberal haven when its race relations have been so awful for so many years. If you are an educated, white liberal who doesnt' mind snow in June, it's Mecca. Not so sure about the rest.

[ieoeja]

68. Oak Park White?

I agree that I don't care for this column's criteria.

That aside how can anyone complain about Oak Park being White? Oak Park was the first city in the entire United States (which probably means the first city in the world**) to actively cultivate racial diversity in its makeup. While their neighbors first fought the encroaching Black community, then picked up and fled to points further west, Oak Park started up low income housing before the freaking feds got around to it.

Oak Park pioneered the efforts to desegregate this country, and you thank them by dissing them?

Okay, you probably just didn't know.


**People who like to complain about racism in the United States often overlook the fact that we have more problems with racism because we are so much more racially diverse.

[rndmprsn]

44. Baltimore MD

makes me proud to call this bluest of blue cities home!

[latebloomer]

49. Cool!!

My town-- Montclair-- is the most liberal in New Jersey!

[GOPBasher]

50. I live close to Ithaca, NY, and I'd love to move there. n/t

[Debs]

57. I moved from

One of the two most liberal states. Cal, to the most liberal city in Arizona, Flagstaff. Whhooooopie. What more can a man ask for?

[Crunchy Frog]

59. I would have expected that Boulder Colorado would be listed.

Well, it's still an extremely liberal city if anyone is interested.

[OzarkDem]

65. Gay population a factor?

In our liberal metro area, many of the gays are Republicans. I'm not sure that's a valid indicator.

[theboss]

67. According to this site, gay+rich=liberal

It's a weird criteria.

[Blue_In_AK]

69. Hmm, once again Alaska and Hawaii are not part of America??

[Swamp Rat]

71. Where the HELL is New Orleans???

New Orleans is THE MOST LIBERAL CITY in the USA! ... Jeebus!!! :spank:

D'oh! x(

[avenueb]

73. Way to go Massachusetts

Good to be home!

[Mountainman]

76. I notice a lot of these cities have universities.