Most progressive places to live: Anyone interested in this?

[bliss_eternal]

After seeing Money's 100 Best places to live list, and seeing how few places on the list confirmed as progressive/liberal, it seems WE need a list.

So, if I post in each state's group, would any of you be at all interested in sharing your opinions about what areas in your state are progressive?

If so, please post to this thread, and I will get started if there is enough interest. Once each thread is completed, I'll post the links from each state to one thread as a resource for everyone on DU!

So let me know!

Thanks!
Bliss
:)

[intheflow]

1. Colorado nominated this.

I'd love to see a list like this.

Off the top of my head:

Colorado: Denver/Boulder

Texas: Austin

Illinois: Chicago

All of Northern California

98% of Massachusetts with special mention of Northampton/Amherst area

[CrispyQ]

58. Louisville, CO

Home of McMansions, SUVs, BigBox stores & acres & acres of business park grass that is as green as the shamrock of Ireland in spite of a 40 year drought.

When the spigots run dry, will we remember those acres of green grass in the business parks, where no one walked, no one played & not be resentful of the incredible waste of water resources in maintaining these behemoths of waste?


on edit: I may have missed the point of this thread. Nevertheless, my statement stands.

[intheflow]

62. Louisville seems to have recently sprung up as yuppie central

wedged in between Denver and Boulder. I'm just saying that compared to the rest of the state, Denver and Boulder are probably the most progressive.

Or perhaps... most progressive where you'd be likely to get a job. Lots of funky progressive places in the mountains, I suspect. Telluride, maybe. Nederland, definitely. Other pockets around, I'm sure.

[CrispyQ]

67. InTheFlow, I live in Lafayette,

just a little bit east of Louisville. Everything I said about Louisville is equally true of Boulder/Broomfield/Lafayette/Erie. Yes, we are in a BLUE pocket of a RED state, but still, there are many RED ideologies among the BLUE community here.

I'm simply lamenting the short-sightedness of our 'progressive' citizens who live beyond their means. They live in McMansions to show off their success/wealth to others, own 1-2 or more SUVs to drive to/from work/school. They justify said ownership because on occasion said SUV is used to go camping 2-3 times a year, & they shop at stores like Home Depot for products they need to upgrade their McMansion so they can sell it for 1 million instead of 750K. They still have their Kerry/Edwards stickers on their SUVs, but if you were to ask them what DSM means or who Karl Rove is, they would likely look at you with a blank look & wonder why you are asking them a political question when the next presidential election isn't until 2008.

Forgive me. I'm in a mood. Like a recent DUer said, I'm in a state of "before coffee & after liquor." Guess which.


:hi:

[intheflow]

71. Perhaps you need a coffee liqueur.

:hi:

No place is immune. My hometown in Masschusetts is totally DINO--they're Lieberman-esque Dems. Also clueless about the CM and anything beyond the town limits. I could vote them most likely to raise Young Republicans who support the Iraq War but refuse to enlist. Even my two best friends now drive SUVs (which they only have the balls to do since I've moved to Denver--I always was the Jiminy Cricket of the bunch).

So cheer up. At least you're not in the Springs! :) (And pardon my mood. I know I'm annoyingly Pollyanna-ish.)

[CTyankee]

2. Connecticut!

I live in New Haven which has a great tradition of intellectual, cultural and artistic heritage. My neighborhood, Westville, is diverse, accessible, convenient to amenities, and pleasant.

I would also like to nominate Martha's Vineyard, where I go each year on vacation. It is such a pleasure to vacation there, altho it is expensive, because the people are tolerant and liberal and the town of Edgartown is such a jewel.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

22. Westville!

I lived there for a summer while I was in graduate school.

Nice neighborhood.

[MassLiberal]

24. New Haven

is great. I live in the 'burbs and work in the city, and I agree with you about Westville. The Orange St. area is similar. Who'd a thunk that * could have been born in such a place?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. I lived on Orange Street, too, in the

graduate student ghetto that exists on the second and third floors of the houses in that neighborhood.

Just to show my complete New Haven credentials, I also lived on Whitney Avenue (second floor), on that street that's behind the ice rink, and in one of the high rises on York Street between the main campus and the medical school (I've heard that they're now condos).

[FlemingsGhost]

30. Sally's or Pepe's? (n/t)

Flem.

[MassLiberal]

34. Modern

No lines.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

37. Pepe's by default

My friends and I somehow never went to Sally's.

Broadway or Naples? :-)

[FlemingsGhost]

39. Naples ... and the correct answer is, indeed, Pepe's.

Grew up in Milford.

[MassLiberal]

56. Definitely Naples

Although Yorkside is good, too.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

But I still recall the tuna subs from Broadway

Somehow Yorkside could not match them, even though the two places were owned by the same family.

[CTyankee]

I hate to tell you that York Square theater is closing

Boo hoo. No more art movies (except at the new Criterion Theatre downtown). Also, if you haven't been back to NH recently, you won't find the Yale Co-op. Now its space is the Yale Barnes and Noble bookstore. Actually, it is pretty nice.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

121. NOOOOOO!

:cry:

[CTyankee]

117. Neither, Lydia

I second Modern Pizza on State Street. Clam pizza great there. There's a contender in Westville, tho. It's called Dayton St. Pizza. Only been around about 5 years.

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Does the Bimonte family still own Pepe's?

[FlemingsGhost]

42. I believe so, although it has been a while ...

Portland, OR is my home, now.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

107. I believe a son in law bought it

Funny coinkydink - Nostamj's sister's last name is Bimonte - and she lives in my town just east of New Haven

[CTyankee]

118. I worked on Whitney Avenue at Planned Parenthood

You would probably remember it being in an old house near the Peabody Museum. Now it's moved to the old Sigma zi building further down on Whitney.

[ihelpu2see]

35. I will second CT. I grew up in East Hartford, strong blue collar town

but since cooperations are no longer solid citizens of the towns they reside in I think East Hartford has lost some luster. Now, I live near Bradly Airport in a rural area a mix of interesting Republicans out here, the ultra wealthy $500K to $750k house owners and the gritty farmers who are still trying to eek out a living off the land but they are the Rove social issue republicans that believe the usual while the ultra rich just could care less about the social stuff just as long as they keep their tax breaks...

But there is a wind of change and I'm starting to see some solid progressive thought..

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

108. New Haven/Yale area

is very progressive. Even the repubs around here are not Bush supporters for the most part. Other parts of the state may be different.

We do have same sex civil unions now - that is pretty progressive IMO.
The emininent domain issue in New London is another story - but towns are now passing ordinances prohibiting taking of property for private use

Hey - Connecticut peeps - join the Conn. U Forum !

[davekriss]

68. Agree (yeah Connecticut!)

We lived on a lake in Trumbull for awhile, and my wife is from Danbury. Not exactly the premiere progressive strongholds in CT but the state as a whole was very progressive (especially when compared to where I am at now).

[Tweed]

74. So progressive it has a majority of Republicans in the US House

a strong Republican part on the state level (including the Governor) and the second wealthiest county in the U.S. Not to mention the city with the most corporate headquarters per capita. Oh yeah, that's really progressive. :crazy:

[Alexander]

79. If you knew what you were talking about.....

(which you obviously don't), you'd know that the only Republicans to survive in CT are moderate Republicans.

The state legislature is dominated by the Democrats, and both our Senators are Democratic, not very many wingnuts here.

Even our Republican governor just legalized civil unions. And the previous one (also a moderate) is now in jail, essentially for bribery.

So, unlike your Chicago, we catch our crooked politicians.

[Tweed]

88. Two words:

Joe Lieberman

Hmm.... who would I rather have as my Senator? Obama/Durbin or Lieberman? Hell I'd take Durbin or Obama over Dodd too.

Moderate Republicans don't matter. A truly progressive area wouldn't be voting for any Republicans period. What was Shays voting percentage with Delay in this past Congress? 89% if I'm not mistaken. If you want to call that moderate, you sure as hell can't call yourself progressive. See unlike Chicago, you are easily fooled into voting for Republicans just because they have a 'moderate' tag. :applause:

Thanks for not refuting my comments about the wealth and the corporations. You don't just have crooked politicians, you have the summer/weekend homes of many of America's top CEOs. I'm sure each and everyone of them have lived honorable lives and got their wealth without corruption. They are so happy you provide them a close refuge from Spitzer. Way to go Progressive USA! :eyes:

[ihelpu2see]

103. this is true, a dem. has to run against Joe. nt

[CTyankee]

136. There are rich liberals here too

people like Paul Newman and at one time Martha Stewart in Westport. I raised lots of dough for Planned Parenthood in Greenwich, also. Maybe it was guilt money but nobody seemed to be ashamed of admitting they were prochoice (New Canaan was a different story, however). So it's a mixed bag, basically. Litchfield County has lots of those summer/weekend homes as well and some of the nicest liberal folks I've ever met. And there are some crusty old CT yankees up in the Old Lyme area (Katherine Hepburn had a home in Old Saybrook and her family was old CT yankee)that are pretty liberal. And if it weren't for the courage and sheer chutzpah of such CT yankees as Estelle Griswold we would not have the privacy right that Griswold v. CT and subsequently, Roe v. Wade has provided this entire country, including Illinois, my friend!

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Portland, OR has to make the top 5, for sure.

Eugene, OR ain't too shabby either.

[coffeenap]

4. St. John, USVI--just returned and want to live there!!! nt

[kittenpants]

6. that place is gorgeous!

my husband and I nearly wrecked our car on a mountain there & I still love it!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. Cambridge, MA; Somerville, MA; Northampton, MA

[skids]

10. Anywhere in Western MA Happy valley, not just Noho.

There are lots of great towns in this area. The only problem is finding jobs.

[MassLiberal]

31. yep, western Mass rocks

I grew up there and still think it's the best place on earth.

[bliss_eternal]

7. If you have special knowledge of a place such as--

If there is --

--large gay population--

--how much diversity--
(gay couples, interracial couples, single-independent women, men, etc.)

--is there activism, progressive activity w/in community--

If you have knowledge of any of this sort of information, please weigh in on this as well!

--arts activities, museums, theater productions, etc.--
Thank you!

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Nominating Maine

[DemGirl7]

9. New Paltz, New York is Very Progressive

I don't live there, but I go to college there, and trust me it's Progressive with a capital P. The other year it made National headlines, because the mayor, Jason West,of the Green party, married off a bunch of Gay couples and home to a State University of New York.It is kind of like Vermont, in that it has more of a county atmosphere, and is very liberal. I like it very much there, I was thinking of maybe even moving there after I finish college and get a job.

[IrateCitizen]

111. Then maybe I'll see you at the Main St. Bistro sometime!

My wife and I absolutely LOVE New Paltz, and although we currently live in Westchester, we are looking to move either there or Woodstock in the next few years.

But if you've ever spent time up there during the summer, the traffic gets absolutely HORRIBLE from all of the day-trippers from the metro area.

[tomg]

148. New Paltz is easily one of the most progressive

areas around. Maurice Hinchey is the Congressional Rep, and he is just awesome. For that matter, Ulster County, despite its Republican majority in the county legislator, is generally liberal. And Rosendale ( next to New Paltz) is even better. The Rosendale Town Board voted itself a Patriot Act FreeZone and when the act was passed the librarians bought a paper shredder.

[AlienGirl]

11. Seattle, WA

[Zomby Woof]

84. But there are no jobs

It's goddamned expensive for a place with no jobs, and dreary and grey and dark and depressing all winter. I am not sure its progressive reputation balances out its numerous flaws. The yuppies stole the city's soul years ago.

Plus, I don't want to be around when Rainier decides it will blow.

[infinitehangover]

131. A joke for WA residents.

Why'd the hippie move to Olympia?
Cuz he heard there's no jobs there.

I lived in Oly for about 6 years, gotta say Seattle's job market is a whole lot better. But anyhow, I doubt Seattle could be most progressive, we have a regressive tax system, the city is a playground for the rich, no body is willing to help (pay) the decay of the roads.
I'm coming to like Tacoma even more. Probably move there to start a family down the road.

[bliss_eternal]

146. Welcome to DU, Infinitehangover!

:hi:

What's the climate like in Tacoma? Pretty progressive?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley/East Bay also).

[alittlelark]

48. My guess is 'We're #1"!

I'm in Los Altos - nary a 'W'astica to be found on a car around here!

[Beam Me Up]

49. I'd second that.

:hi:

[alittlelark]

51. Have you heard about this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x17163

I've been debating going....

[hvn_nbr_2]

66. I'm planning to be there. n/t

[Beam Me Up]

69. I am aware of it.

Two problems: 1) I have to work until 4 -- in Oakland. On a different thread it has already been determined that some will be there even at that late hour, however. But 2) although I am famous among a small circle of friends, I tend to feels shy and awkward in such social situations. I'm still 'debating' myself.

:)

[Warren DeMontague]

87. North of the GGB: Marin/Sonoma in the hizzle.

Lynn Woolsey Country, baby.

[amjfv]

123. Unquestionably SF...

Find me another place in this country where... The Republicans are a third party at best... A Green party candidate can come close to winning the Mayorship of a major American city... Where the Republican party would endorse Willy Brown because they consider him the lesser of two evils... Where Gavin (Gay marraige, ho!) Newsom would be considered the 'conservative' candidate in the election... Where the city's 'conservative' suburbs still vote 60% Democratic... Where the city's gay pride parade draws 800,000 people, more than live in the city itself... You get the idea.

[Merope215]

13. Number 8 (Peachtree City, GA) is where I grew up

Not progressive at all. But it does a good job of creating liberals, because it's a crazy place to live. I'm glad I grew up there, because it's very nice, but I can't imagine anyone actually choosing to live there. :shrug:

[Iris]

102. Somehow a town that is built to provide transportation by golf cart

doesn't strike me as progressive.

Nor the fact that the down seems to be built around golf courses - which negatively impact the environment.

[the_outsider]

14. Santa Cruz, California

[dooner]

55. yep n/t

[amjfv]

125. Yes, especially if the list...

...is going for the nices places for Progressives to live. As a former UC Santa Cruz student this place has my unqualified endorsement.

[bliss_eternal]

15. kick

[Horse with no Name]

16. Flagstaff, Arizona

That's where I want to live!





www.flagstaff.com

In fact, would love to see a herd of DU'ers move there.;)

2004 Election Results
Coconino (83 of 83 Precincts Reporting)
Party Candidate Votes V%
D John KERRY 26,513 56%
R George BUSH 20,619 43%
LB Michael BADNARIK 342 1%
• State Results


Edited to add:
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=11187
>>>snip
Crime: The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 401. The number of murders and homicides was 1. The violent crime rate was 7.1 per 1,000 people.
>>>>snip
Gays & lesbians
National index: 100
Local index: 110

One more edit (because I am carried away now)
Presidential politics: Flagstaff is in Coconino County, which voted Democratic in the last two presidential elections. According to unofficial vote totals for 2004, Bush received 20,619 votes and John Kerry received 26,513 votes.

In the November 2000 election, Coconino County narrowly supported Al Gore. Countywide, 17,562 people voted for Bush and 20,280 voted for Gore. Nader received 2,478 votes.

Electoral College: Arizona has 10 of the Electoral College's 538 votes.



http://www.thearda.com/RCMS/2000/County/04005.htm

[Quixote1818]

33. Don't forget Winona!

nt

[Horse with no Name]

40. Gallup, New Mexicooooooooooo

ewe..now ya done gone and ruined a good train of thought.
:banghead:

[Zomby Woof]

83. You can replace me

I am leaving this rube town in 16 days, after 2 years of living here. Flagstaff is okay, but nothing to get that excited about. Its little hills look nice when it snows, and the summers are less hellish than PHX by far (we're at 7000 feet in elevation). Lots of drunks, drunk drivers, and freeper rednecks, who fall into the minority based on the Navajos in Coconino County voting heavily Dem. So those numbers are not as impressive when actually IN the city.

I like that Flagstaff preserves its historical character and rejects skyscrapers. But the high cost of living and LOW wages hurt.

Plus, the voters recently voted to ALLOW WalMart to come in and build their big box stores. This overturned a city council decision.

So yes, Flag leans Dem, but a vocal and HIGHLY visible minority of ignorant, cowboy libertarian, SUV-driving Bush-loving pukes keeps this from being as progressive as Seattle or LA.

Flagstaff isn't bad, but it isn't particularly good either.

[Trajan]

17. My own erzatz list ....

1) Boston
2) Boulder
3) Seattle
4) Frisco
5) NYC
6) Portland (My New Town !)

Just my personal observations ...

DEFINITELY NOT Springfield MO ....

[Arugula Latte]

21. Welcome to Portland!

I've been here ten years. Love it!

[Trajan]

25. Hey There ....

We have spoken before about this: I finally moved 12 days ago, and am currently staying in Lake Oswego (what an awesome place!) ....

My new job is great, and looks like a long term prospect ....

I am looking forward to my first Portland DU Meetup ! ...

Just tell me when and where .....

[RPM]

18. Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, PA

[Tommymac]

143. Add to Pittsburgh area...

Oakland, Penn Hills, South Side, and some parts of the South Hills IMHO.

I moved to the Pittsburgh area after years of living in Red States...it was such a refreshing thing. It is not perfect...still a lot of predjudice, especially towards LBG community...but it is improving.

A lot of Good solid blue collar attitudes, good union support;...but it is on the endangered list IMHO mainly because of one issue - it's a strong Catholic community that is largely anti-Abortion...so any new progressive blood would be more than welcome!

Great family place. Relativly cheap housing - downside is shortage of high paying jobs. Any Blue corporations that have an interest, it is a good location, and you would have lots of candidates to choose from....

[RPM]

151. Penn Hills - land of my birth

Solid Dem, but a bit churchy for my liking - its a matter of what church you go to there, not whether you go.

Down here in squirrel hill it's less of an issue between the christinans, the jews, and the none of the aboves.

[Tommymac]

159. Hey, to a former Red Stater...

the whole Pittsburgh area is HEAVEN!B-)

[Lex]

19. NC: Chapel Hill & Carrboro, Durham, and Asheville.

And that's it for us (imho).

[Egalitariat]

133. Durham's an armpit. I agree with the rest though!!!!*****

nm

[zinndependence]

20. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is without a doubt...the most idyllic place I've ever lived.

I simply do not have the time or the talent to effectively do this town justice...perhaps others who are more gifted in their writing abilities can better describe this town's wonderful attributes...

[darkism]

77. I can't wait to arrive!

...for grad school next fall.

The first and only day I have ever spent in Madison thus far was one of the most pleasurable in recent memory. It was the friendliest, cleanest, most open place I've ever visited and the residents and atmosphere made me feel right at home. From discussing politics, raves and everything in between with the guy in the record shop to wandering around the beautiful campus to watching students take up a cause at one of the birthplaces of modern college activism, every aspect of the day left me thoroughly impressed and desperately wanting to return.

Hopefully in a year or so, I will. :D

[CTyankee]

129. My RW brother in law lives in Madison

I like to stick it to him that he lives in "the People's Republic of Madison." He realy doesn't deserve to live there, IMHO.

[Poiuyt]

137. He must be the only conservative that lives in Madison!

It's a great progressive city

[CTyankee]

144. That's what kills me

He really shouldn't reap the benefits of a great progressive city. I may suggest to him that if he can't stand Madison so much, he might prefer to get himself to Mississippi or some other red state where he would really feel at home (my apologies to the good progressives in Mississippi).

[Twist_U_Up]

23. Ithaca , NY

[Bleacher Creature]

27. Good old Ithaca.

How many other places have a real life socialist mayor?

I miss that place.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. Minneapolis

1. Scandinavian heritage overlaid with a more diverse recent population of Southeast Asians, East Africans, and Latinos.

2. Both major candidates for mayor are Democrats, and the third is a Green. Two Greens on the city council. My precinct went 80% for Kerry. Kucinich got 27% in the caucuses.

3. Great park system with eleven lakes in the city limits, all surrounded by walking and cycling trails and interconnected.

4. Thriving theater scene. The Minnesota Orchestra. The Minnesota Opera and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (okay, they're both in St. Paul).

5. Excellent public TV and radio, including a new public radio station that plays everything that isn't commercial pop and a progressive community radio station that plays you-name-it

6. Neighborhood associations and real neighborhoods

7. The University of Minnesota's main campus

8. Downtown, which seemed on the edge of extinction 20 years ago, is coming back with a vengeance and is full of new housing.

9. The good news: The international airport has flights to everywhere. The bad news: They're almost all on Northwest.

10. Lots of liberal religious groups, if that's your thing.

11. St. Paul is just across the river and shares many of the same advantages but somehow ended up with fewer lakes.

The bad news: mediocre public transit, some really bad urban planning decisions in the past twenty years, suburbs and exurbs full of empty-headed Republicans, winters can be cold (although not so much recently, thanks(?) to global warming, summers can be muggy.

[bvar22]

63. Added to LL's list on Minneapolis:

*Great museums (History, Science, and Art)

*Cutting edge local theater, many groups

*Large and growing group of Independent Movie Producers

*Large and very active DU group

*Healthiest City (?) in US

*Broad diverse spectrum of ethnic restaurants

*Great local liberal publications and neighborhood papers

*Many, many Mom & Pop businesses

*St Paul and Minneapolis interconnected with dedicated Bike Paths.
Bicycling BIG in Twin Cities. Busses and Light Rail accommodate bicycles.

*Strong and Active Gay Community

*STRONG Union Town

*Garrison Keillor

*Paul Wellstone
*Hebert Humphrey
*Fritz Mondale

*Superb Social Programs and Support System (currently suffering cutbacks)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. Oh, I feel so silly for forgetting the large and active DU group

:blush:

[seg4527]

101. i'm on the edge of being a leftist, and i moved from rural PA to Minneapol

and i felt right at home right away. got involved with some like minded people in campus, and have been involved in two campus activist groups, the Anti-War Organizing League, as well as the group that staged a sit-in, encampment, rallies to save general college at the U of M. I also have personal connections to Socialist Alternative.

It was like paradise to someone coming from rural PA. I can't wait to get back there for next semester!

[wookie294]

29. How about Provincetown, Massachusetts?

I remember traveling through Cape Cod and stumbling upon P-Town. I was stunned to notice that almost everybody who lives in the town is gay! I was floored! Of course, being gay doesn't necessarily make you "liberal" or "progressive" but I'd bet P-Town is anti-Republican all the way! I think it's located in Barney Frank's district.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

46. Provincetown is in Congressman Delahunt's district, not Frank's

P-Town is very progressive, very liberal, and a mix of gay and old Portuguese fishing families.

[CTyankee]

124. I remember P-town being called

"a drinking town with a fishing problem." Loved it.

[Quixote1818]

32. Santa Fe, New Mexico is Extremely Liberal. nt

[FlemingsGhost]

36. Worked at The New Mexican, for a while.

How is the "Land of Entrapment?"

[Quixote1818]

41. Well, we are no longer Blue

:puke:

I live in Albuquerque. Nothing too exciting or new. We are having a DU Meet Up tomorrow. Hopefully more than just me shows up.

[bliss_eternal]

43. kick

:kick:

[1gobluedem]

44. Ann Arbor, Michigan (Washtenaw County)

Which also consistently makes a great showing in any "best places to live survey."

Two Democrat US senators
Democrat US representative
Democrat Governor
Democrat Mayor
Only one Republican City Council member and he is not running again
Democrat State representative
Democrat State senator
8 of 10 Democrat county commissioners
Even our county clerk and drain commissioners are Democrats!

[really annoyed]

97. Second That

I've only been to Ann Arbor a few times. They have messages of tolerance scrawled on the sidewalks. Pretty cool. I assume college students from U of M did that.

[1gobluedem]

154. Possible, but could have been permanent residents too...

I live in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Ann Arbor (by a fluke), which has a pricey housing market in general, yet it is by far more Democrat than Repbulican; some of the hugest (as in $800,000+) houses in the 'hood sport "No War," "Peace," "Save Social Security," and "Bush Lied" signs. I love that. Only in Ann Arbor.

[Stinky The Clown]

45. Baltimore .... nice city .... VERY Dem

Just yer typical Baltimore mayor election ......

A Democrat many see as a future presidential candidate, Martin O’Malley, the incumbent Baltimore mayor, defeated Republican Elbert (Ray) Henderson, his only rival, by getting 88 per cent of the vote. Mr. O’Malley’s varied interests, seen by his supporters as evidence of a healthily versatile personality and a fertile mind, were turned by Mr. Henderson into a focus for criticism. Mr. Henderson also declined to advertise. An attorney and former Assistant State’s Attorney, Mr. O’Malley is a popular figure, credited with reducing the rates of homicides and of infant and drug related deaths and, especially, with saving Baltimore vast sums with the CitiStat accountability program.

http://www.citymayors.com/politics/usmayoral_elections.html

[sinjamin]

47. Most progressive with no university is

Marin County, California

[helderheid]

50. I like this idea - I nominate Oregon and I denounce my state, Utah.

[Griffy]

52. WASHINGTON DC 80% for Kerry.. highest in country!

and I see great bumper stickers everywhere.. like I saw a "regime change starts at home" today! ... funny, I also notice the SUV's with W stickers are from FL and TX.... seriously, they had to bring people in because not enough DC residents would work for these bastards! ...

I have a "bush cheated 04" sticker on my truck ...

[WCGreen]

53. Cyahoga County Ohio....

A lot of progressives here......

Went 64% for Kerry......

Adn we have Dennis the Menace as our congressman....

Plus there is great shopping and fabulous eateries....

What, you think all progressive are doom and gloom.....

[NEOBuckeye]

85. Akron and Cleveland areas are the most progressive in Ohio

Maybe we'll break away from Ohio and form our own blue state?

[formerrepuke]

112. Especially suburbs like Lakewood and Cleveland Heights, OH

[blm]

138. And Harvey Pekar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

[WCGreen]

145. I use to work on the same paper that Harvey Worked at...

The Downtown Tab....

I only met him once or twice but he would write Jazz stuff for us...

He told me he like my writing....

I said, cool, thanks.....

[Bouncy Ball]

54. Here's a list

http://www.cjnetworks.com/~cubsfan/geo.html

[bliss_eternal]

65. Interesting comments--great idea, too.

I like the idea of allowing people to make specific comments about specific areas. Visitors of the site get a varied cross section of comments.

:thumbsup:

[bliss_eternal]

82. Very surprised to read of Santa Rosa as NOT liberal!

I assumed (wrongly) that Sonoma County was as liberal as the rest of the Bay Area...:(

Anyone care to rebut the Santa Rosa depiction as non-liberal?

:shrug:

[redacted]

95. Sonoma County is very liberal. Moreso that many Bay Area places

Santa Rosa itself is the largest area and hence has a mix -- but overwhelmingly liberal, but have you ever been to Sebastopol. Sebastopol makes up for all the conservatives in the county, plus . . .

Sure that discussion wasn't abt Santa Rosa, NM

[MassLiberal]

57. Burlington, Vermont

Gorgeous setting, original home of Ben & Jerry's, elected a Socialist mayor in the '80s.

[IrateCitizen]

113. That socialist mayor is now a socialist Congressman...

... and possibly, in 2006, will become a socialist Senator -- Bernie Sanders.

[eleonora]

59. French Quarter New Orleans

A dem oasis in freeper land :)

[AnnInLa]

104. I second that vote for New Orleans

During our "Jazz Funeral for Democracy" march thru New Orleans on Inauguration Day, the people of New Orleans came out of their businesses to cheer and wave. After the march, I wore my Jazz Funeral button as we went into restaurants, bars and gift shops. All the sales people and patrons saw the button and praised our effort.

Of course, Louisiana is full of rabid-repuke bubbas, so one cannot venture out of New Orleans.

I love this thread....will retire soon after 23 years of teaching in the public school system. Was seriously considering relocating to a more progressive community (other than New Orleans) where I can feel comfortable and associate with other Dems. Here's hoping that some of you will mention the cost of living for people on a fixed income when discussing your community/state. I would love to relocate to a place that is not overly frigid in the winter....am too used to warm weather!

[CTyankee]

119. New Orleans has soul like no other city

My last visit was magical. I want to go back.

[osaMABUSh]

60. Austin, TX ?

I know it's in Texas but everytime I've been there it's seemed like a progressive place. Heck, I saw my first 'Dean for America' yard sign there way back in June 2003. And there's also a clothing optional beach on one of lakes outside of town.

[tanyev]

109. Oh, yes.

Austin is a wonderful liberal oasis in a lovely part of Texas. I went to college there and would love to move back someday.

[ceile]

141. Austin is a liberal bastion!

But stay mostly in south Austin. THe north is a giant parking lot full of people with too much money and one too many Suburbans and many of them have W stickers. And it's also the "Live Music Capital of the World"

[hedda_foil]

61. Evanston, Illinois

The most progressive town in our big blue state, aka Berkeley on the Lake. Jan Schakowski's district. 89% voted for Obama. Oak Park is runner up. Chicago isn't particularly progressive (except for Hyde Park and the Gold Coast); it's got an old-fashioned political machine that calls itself Dem because Da Mare's father (Da Mare Sr.)happened to have a "D" after his name.

On edit to debunk TurnLeft's listing of Skokie, the town nextdoor to Evanston, which is no longer particularly progressive, though they still vote Dem in the presidential election. They've actually elected a Republican state rep four times running, and she's likely to win again next year.

[bliss_eternal]

75. Evanston is just lovely! When I lived in Chicago

I was frequently in Evanston--the people were SO friendly. I really felt comfortable there, more so than I did a lot of the time in downtown Chicago.

:thumbsup: to Evanston!

[Hailtothechimp]

76. Have to disagree about Chicago

You say it's not particularly progressive, but consider who hails from Chicago:

Both Jesse Jacksons
Rahm Emanual
Barack Obama
Governor Blago
Jesse White
Lisa Madigan
Bobby Rush
Danny Davis
Luis Gutierrez

Chicago went 82% for John Kerry last time around. Living in this city, I can't think of any real conservative types I know (and I don't live in Hyde Park or the Gold Coast).

Evanston and Oak Park are both fine and dandy, but the truth is that Chicago is the difference between Illinois being a red state (like Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri are) and the blue state that it is. Illinois is indeed blue, but only because Chicago has the numbers to drown out the people in DuPage County and beyond. So think twice before bashing my city.

[Warren DeMontague]

90. I'd never bash Chicago

except for the weather, which does suck.

[Warren DeMontague]

89. Long ago, I used to live in Rogers Park--- off Sheridan near Touhy.

Love Chicago, hate the Weather.

[Hailtothechimp]

155. Imagine how many people would live in Chicago...

if the weather didn't suck. And, for my money, people in Florida who deal with hurricanes all the time have much suckier weather.

[redacted]

94. I spent 10 years in Evanston and if you think it's Berkeley on the lake

you obviously haven't spent much time in Berkeley.

Not that I didn't love Evanston, but it's a very moderate place by comparison. And in the Reagon GBush 1 era when I first moved there it was actually pretty damn conservative and poltically apathetic on campus.

So no, have to disagree. Pointed the right direction, but if ya think Evanston is anything remotely near as progressive as Berkeley you are kidding yourself.

Sorry to burst your ballon.

[hedda_foil]

158. It's WAY different now than in the '80's

Evanston was a pretty moderate, Republican leaning town for a long time. It's changed over the course of the past 25 years and is now flamingly liberal. Not the Northwestern campus, the town itself.

[slutticus]

70. San Francisco....Boston.....Austin

Amsterdam :D

[BrklynLiberal]

72. Well. Brooklyn, and therefore, NYC is pretty diverse..and progressive.

We do have 2 Democratic Senators, and my Rep (Nadler)is a Dem. I do see some W'astica's around town. They are few and far between.
Both Repuke mayors (Rudy and Bloomberg) actually started their careers as Democrats.

Truth be told, there isn't anything that you could want that you can't get here in NYC...and you can even get it at 3AM!!! And anything that you want to be..you can be, and no one will even look twice at you.

[JackDragna]

73. How about my town..New Orleans?

New Orleans is a sea of progressive living in a state dominated by Republican politics. The people are tolerant, not too uptight and get along with everyone. Even in the days when Jim Crow was still in effect, blacks and whites got along here much better than just about any major Southern city.

[devilgrrl]

78. West Hollywood, California

:patriot:

[K8-EEE]

80. Los Angeles!!

Representing L.A. County, I am in bee-yoo-ti-ful North Hollywood. I love L.A.!

[Lorien]

81. Yellow Springs, Ohio. n/t

[cire4]

86. Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Barcelona

Much of the world outside of America's borders is a progrssive haven. Don't think we should be limit the list to only American cities.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

115. Kyoto, Japan

The most left-wing city in that country.

[autorank]

91. Northern Virginia

Very progressive. The People's Free Republic of Arlington; Alexandria (Jim Moran country); Falls Church City (liberal intellectual elite); and Fairfax County (cited by Clinton as the example for diversity in the USA).

Quiet sort of liberal but I maintain that Fairfax County is the next Marin County (with some restraint).

[Tommymac]

140. Is Fredericksburg City still a good progressive place?

Not Spotsylvania or Stafford ... but the city itself... loved it back in the 80's and early 90's.

[autorank]

149. If it was then, it is now. Mary Washington University is "bohemian"

They opened up a train station direct to DC down there about 10 years ago. Lots of govt. workers moved there so it's got to be more Democratic. The city is probably what it was when you were there but more so since Mary Washington Univ. has grown a lot. It's a magnet for bright students who are, as we all know, 99% liberal.
:hi:

[Tommymac]

150. I lived there when they opened up the Train ....

that was in the early 90's.

Glad to hear ti is still a good place...I really liked Frediericksburg. They had a rocking mayor and a Great paper - The Free Lance Star.

[Tux]

92. Kentucky

Sucks. If a job requires a degree, it depends on contacts more than knowledge or skills. Fundies run the place. A creationism park is planed. We have the Corvette plant but GM won't hire anyone but prefers to transfer them from other plants. And, in general, they want more low paying jobs that don't require a degree so those godless intelletuals will leave.

Anyone know if New England has good job growth that can take a psych major?

[LaPera]

93. Arcata, CA..No place like it...anywhere...Mind blowing!

Six rivers, lakes, swimming, mountains, redwoods, University, Humboldt's finest, liberal, progressive, organic everything, lots of land, parties, Ocean, weather is great, Hi-tech, wonderful meadows, even casino's...Fantastic surfing, great seafood, property is reasonable for CA, (but don't wait too long), a skip to SF, earthy beautiful women everywhere, music, arts, crafts, lots of sports, semi-pro baseball team, a JC, NO Wal-Mart (voted them out twice, and will do it again) However, a Costco, (Buy Blue) Victorians, decent medical, very political, awareness, fun restaurants, beautiful area, Open, the most difficult area in the mainland to get to, you can fly into, decent roads, despite Arnold, and no one fucks with you!!! But don't tell anyone.

Arcata!

[bliss_eternal]

96. Would you mind terribly, sharing home price rates?

Feel free to pm me if you don't want to post it publicly. Dh and I would very much like to be in or near the Bay Area--yet SF is just WAY too expensive.

Look forward to hearing from you!
Bliss:)

[Shakespeare]

127. I loooooooooooove Arcata/Eureka....

And have been pouting because I haven't been able to go up for a visit in a few months (I live in Sonoma county).

Beware, though--there are still some freepy logger types who still inhabit the area.

redwoods, redwoods....I need a redwoods fix....

....and a trip to Eureka's Lost Coast Brewery.....

:whine: :pout:

[Ravy]

98. Spring Hill, Florida...

I know there are only like 10 or 12 liberals here, but I moved from Houston so it seems like Heaven to me.

[beltanefauve]

99. Oakland CA

1) Barbara Lee
2)One of the first three communities in the US to denounce the USA Patriot Act
3) Very gay-friendly: third largest gay population in the US (behind SF and Seattle), 1# for lesbian couples
4)and this (from Opensecrets.org):

Presidential Contributions
by Metro Area
for OAKLAND
(2004 Election Cycle)

Candidate Name
Amount

Kerry, John
$3,717,545

Bush, George W
$792,367

Dean, Howard
$434,371

Edwards, John
$182,700

Clark, Wesley
$154,771

Lieberman, Joe
$124,000

Kucinich, Dennis
$99,603

Gephardt, Dick
$95,780

Nader, Ralph
$28,775

Badnarik, Michael
$15,930

Graham, Bob
$4,250

Sharpton, Al
$3,750

Moseley Braun, Carol
$1,250

[demobabe]

100. Most progressive hands down: Hawaii!

Republicans are a scarce minority. Governor is Republican installed, but rest of government is Democrat dominated.

Lot of social programs - health care is provided for everyone under 21, pregnant women, and low income people. Hands down most progressive place I've seen. Bush bashing is the norm and you hear it regularly.

That, and there are some nice beaches. :)

[bloom]

139. I was impressed by how many voted for Kucinich... eom

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

105. Madison, WI

College Town. Very Liberal. Elected Tammy Baldwin to Congress.

[msrbly]

106. Ann Arbor or Madison, WI

Two fantastic college towns. I've lived in Madison and I would love to go back.

[theHandpuppet]

110. Ohio: Athens and Yellow Springs

Just don't get lost in Cincinnati!

[kittenpants]

128. also areas of Columbus-German Village & Victorian Village

are unique, beautiful, & progressive. avoid most of the Columbus suburbs though

[tex-wyo-dem]

114. The two states I've lived in...

Texas: Austin
Wyoming: Laramie (college town) and Jackson (kind of a high priced/elitist ski town, but with many liberal/progressives)

[Gruenemann]

116. "Liberal-Friendly" places list web site

http://www.turnleft.com/geo.html

[BiggJawn]

120. Bloomington, Indiana. The rest of the state is a Red Wasteland.

And the kicker is, if you get too far away from the city limits of Bloomington, you can SWEAR you can hear those banjos dueling...

[Tweed]

122. South Bend & Gary?

Red Wasteland? What? Indianapolis? Do you know your state at all?

[BiggJawn]

132. I used to LIVE in Indianapolis. During the Goldsmythe Era, even...

How about you?
I confess, I do not know South Bend, other than it's the home base of LeSEA Ministries and I know nothing of Gary.

I live in Buyer Country now. Pretty Red up here. Great place to be a Liberal if you hate people.

[suneel112]

156. True...

Bloomington is called the liberal fortress of Indiana for a reason. Even the other college town, my hometown of West Lafayette, IN, is 50-50 at best. Cookie cutter McMansions springing up everywhere. Fox News is watched on a regular basis. The police follow you for minutes if you are young and out after 10. In fact, the town itself is probably more liberal than the students who come there, quite a few from :puke: the suburbs of Indianapolis (notably Carmel). Northwest Indiana does, however, add somewhat of a liberal mix to the students at Purdue. There are quite a few politically active Democrats there, just that they are somewhat outnumbered.

In fact, when I put up a Kerry/Edwards sign in my lawn, a rightard came over and started lecturing me on how Bush was better. I learned then and there why Indiana will never be blue.

[BiggJawn]

157. I know, I keep wondering where that "Liberal College Campus" is...

Not anywhere around here. MBA's RULE!

And now that they've gotten into University Farms Phase III and Bob Rohrman has built a car lot on the far southside, NOW Rowsorski and Mills are all of a sudden concerned about "sprawl"...

My Kerry sign was stolen!

[SF Bay Area Dem]

126. Albuquerque/ Santa Fe/ Taos --- VERY progressive

South and east of Albuquerque's suburbs forget it --- Freeper idiots. North all the way to the Colorado border is one of the most beautiful, wealthy and progressive areas in the country. It is also an area that has an abundance of Gay and Lesbians who are successful and have become integral parts of the community. New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada will be blue again... I will put money on this. Many movie stars call Northern New Mexico home (for good reason).

[SF Bay Area Dem]

135. I might be a bit biased but.... NO. CAL & SF BAY AREA HANDS DOWN!

The greater nine county San Francisco Bay Area wins hands down as the most progressive area of the country...

When I travel to my corporate HQ in Charlotte the guys give me a hard time about the "libruul" Bay Area... My reply is usually something like this:

1. If the nine county Bay Area was it's own country would have the 21st largest economy by GDP in the world (not bad for a bunch of "libruuls"...)
2. Is the worldwide leader and ground zero for:
a. Computer and hi-tech
b. Nanotechnology
c. Biotechnology
d. Telecommunications
c. Stem cell research
e. Technology related venture capital related leader
f. After Wall St. (another blue area) Sand Hill Road (Palo Alto/ Menlo Park) and Montgomery St. (San Francisco) leaders in finance.
g. Over 190,000 companies
h. Some of the best Universities in the world
I. World Class wine producers
J. Considered gateway to the pacific
K. Opera and Symphony

Anyway I think you get the point... I am probably missing some items but it is my belief that the Bay Area wins hands down.

[warrens]

130. Chicago and Evanston, IL; Asheville, NC, southern Maine, Vermont

Most of Conn. and most of Mass. RI is just Dem, not particularly liberal.

[infinitehangover]

134. The places I've been

Seattle, WA - read people's posts about it. Growing up there and traveling has always made it easy to be an American (WTO protests fought our image of apathy)
Olympia, WA - The Evergreen State College is insane. But the die-hard townies are even more so. The town is obsessed with community. For such a small place there is alot going on. Though between the town are two conservative towns, makes for an odd mix.
Portland, OR - Sorta a utopia for kids (by which I mean adults without kids), job market sucks, but social services are awesome and housing is affordable. Thus alot of kids live there making it a nie place to be.
San Fransisco, CA - Burritos and Gay Marriage. What more do you really need?
Of course all these places are islands deep in an ocean of true-america.

[ceile]

142. Houston is not bad

Just stay out of the suburbs and it's great. Very multi-cultural, tolerant, and GREAT food.

[bliss_eternal]

147. progressive posting kick

:kick:

[bliss_eternal]

152. one last kick for others to weigh in on their areas...

[mvd]

153. Philadelphia's fine IMO

I'm just more used to living in the suburbs than a big city. Philly is the best Democratic area in Pennsylvania IMO. Great arts, education, and history - plus, the traffic's better than in NY, Baltimore, and Washington.