i remember nyc in the 70’s, i grew up there. somehow i just don’t think that nyc’s turnaround (admittedly dramatic) is analagous to what we have here now in CA. Not sure i can articulate it, but you have this trememndously amazing, expensive to build, unique infrastucture ina tight space. it just seem smore valuable, more defined, easier to spruce up. the financial problems seemed less complex and weren’t dependent ont he people themselves being leveraged to the hilt. i don’t know. it did look bleak in a lot of parts of nyc …not where we lived way out in brooklyn. but the whole place was dirtier, poorer…my mom continues to be amazed at how the city rejuvenated….