2016 Postmortem

Recursion

(56,582 posts) Sat Sep 12, 2015, 10:49 PM Sep 2015

Huh. Both Baltimore and Burlington have 11% of households in poverty

But Baltimore has a gini of .45 while Burlington has a gini of .47, meaning Burlington is more unequal.

And the individual poverty rate is slightly lower in Baltimore (23.6%) than in Burlington (25.5%), though that's largely a function of household size.

(You would never know it from the media, but Baltimore is less poor and less unequal than a majority of US cities.)

http://www.civicdashboards.com/city/burlington-vt-16000US5010675/

http://www.civicdashboards.com/city/baltimore-md-16000US2404000/

17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Huh. Both Baltimore and Burlington have 11% of households in poverty (Original Post) Recursion Sep 2015 OP

why the focus on these particular cities? restorefreedom Sep 2015 #1

Two candidates have been mayors of the two cities Recursion Sep 2015 #2

i figured that was why restorefreedom Sep 2015 #3

Burlington's unemployment rate is great: 2% or so Recursion Sep 2015 #4

jeesh did not know that about burlington thats great restorefreedom Sep 2015 #5

Baltimore should be a wonderful city to live in yeoman6987 Sep 2015 #9

But what about The Wire? artislife Sep 2015 #6

Ha! I would watch The Birkenstock Recursion Sep 2015 #7

Cranky Yankees Armstead Sep 2015 #12

Burlington is more of a college town jfern Sep 2015 #8

Excellent point - what is the gini without the students included? nt Lucky Luciano Sep 2015 #10

No idea, but college students tend to make poverty and Gini stats look worse jfern Sep 2015 #13

And Baltimore has about 80,000 college students Recursion Sep 2015 #15

He hasn't been mayor since the 80's, but anyway here's anotehr view on that Armstead Sep 2015 #11

Clinton was Gov of Arkansas when Sanders was Mayor of Burlington. HooptieWagon Sep 2015 #14

Much better than the rest of the old cotton states (nt) Recursion Sep 2015 #16

Huh... in_cog_ni_to Sep 2015 #17

restorefreedom

(12,655 posts)

1. why the focus on these particular cities?

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:05 PM

Sep 2015

do you think baltimore is being unfairly portrayed? i have never looked at this issue through the gini so i dont know

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

2. Two candidates have been mayors of the two cities

Reply to restorefreedom (Reply #1)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:06 PM

Sep 2015

It speaks to effectiveness in office.

I think Baltimore has been unfairly seen through the lens of David Simon (creator of "Homicide" and "The Wire&quot for a while now.

restorefreedom

(12,655 posts)

3. i figured that was why

Reply to Recursion (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:10 PM

Sep 2015

baltimore has certainly gotten some bad press, especially after the murder of freddie gray.

i also wonder how the regional economics affect these cities, midatlantic vs northeast. i do think the northeast has had a more depressed economy for longer from what i have read..higher unemployment, etc. these regional issues could affect the cities, and vice versa of course.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

4. Burlington's unemployment rate is great: 2% or so

Reply to restorefreedom (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:12 PM

Sep 2015

About the lowest in the nation. Baltimore's is 7.8%, much better than most of the rust belt but still high.

restorefreedom

(12,655 posts)

5. jeesh did not know that about burlington thats great

Reply to Recursion (Reply #4)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:15 PM

Sep 2015

but its so cold up there.....

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

9. Baltimore should be a wonderful city to live in

Reply to Recursion (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:34 PM

Sep 2015

It has been run by democratic mayors for a long time. I think one day it may be the best city in America. It has potential for sure.

artislife

(9,497 posts)

6. But what about The Wire?

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:18 PM

Sep 2015

http://www.hbo.com/the-wire

lies, all lies... Can't wait for the series The Berkenstock about the mean streets of Burlington.

Just joshing, I have met some good fine people from Baltimore.

Come to think of it, I don't think I have met any from Burlington....hmmmm

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

7. Ha! I would watch The Birkenstock

Reply to artislife (Reply #6)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:21 PM

Sep 2015

David Simon is convinced poverty causes Baltimore's violence, but the numbers don't back him up. Milwaukee is much poorer than Baltimore; even Burlington is slightly poorer.

Armstead

(47,803 posts)

12. Cranky Yankees

Reply to artislife (Reply #6)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:49 PM

Sep 2015

jfern

(5,204 posts)

8. Burlington is more of a college town

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:31 PM

Sep 2015

That could explain all of that.

Lucky Luciano

(11,258 posts)

10. Excellent point - what is the gini without the students included? nt

Reply to jfern (Reply #8)

Sat Sep 12, 2015, 11:45 PM

Sep 2015

jfern

(5,204 posts)

13. No idea, but college students tend to make poverty and Gini stats look worse

Reply to Lucky Luciano (Reply #10)

Sun Sep 13, 2015, 12:16 AM

Sep 2015

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

15. And Baltimore has about 80,000 college students

Reply to jfern (Reply #13)

Sun Sep 13, 2015, 01:11 AM

Sep 2015

But, yeah, that would be about 30% of Burlington being students compared to about 15% of Baltimore. Though I don't know the extent to which either city counts students in those numbers.