http://cbs2chicago.com/local/chicago.number.one.2.819963.html
Forbes: Chicago Is Most Stressful City In U.S.
CHICAGO (CBS) ? Chicago is the most stressful city in the United States, according to Forbes. CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports that the city of big shoulders – is the city of big stress.
Forbes says Chicago is more stressful than Detroit, Los Angeles – even New York.
“How can that be? I don’t know where they get these things. It’s laughable,” Mayor Daley said.
Forbes says it took into account Chicago’s rising unemployment rate, expensive gas, high population density and air pollution.
Chicagoans cited other factors.
“The weather doesn’t help too much in the winter time when it’s dreary out and everybody feels like they need to be at work instead of on the beach, hanging out,” said Lauren Wilcox, Chicagoan.
“Part of the stress comes from our poor transit system,” said Heather Sowl, Chicagoan. “Everybody is crammed on the CTA.”
But others strongly disagreed with the list – and wondered how Chicago could place ahead of New York City on the stress meter.
“It’s a lot more crowded, it’s a lot busier. Parking is a disaster. I don’t think Chicago is that bad,” said Emily Chadwick, Chicagoan.
And Chicago is not at the center of a financial industry meltdown right now.
“You don’t think New York is stressed today?” Mayor Daley asked.
UIC Urban Planning Professor Charles Hoch urges us to just take a deep breath – and not stress out over any stress test.
“We can’t really summarize the complexity of three million people’s experiences in four or five indicators, so I think it really is a mistaken application,” Prof. Hoch said.
So here are the top five most stressful cities, according to the Forbes – Chicago is number one followed by New York, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Keep in mind, magazines and books are always putting out lists – fattest cities, best all-time heavyweight champions, most over-rated actors. It’s a sales tool – to get us to pay attention to those magazines and books.
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Of course King Daley doesn’t think there’s anything wrong…although maybe it’s Cook County as a whole that is more stressful than Chicago itself. He doesn’t have to face the same struggles that we peasants of southern Cook County have to face each day.