I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...
... can someone help me balance the reputation of Harrisburg PA?
To be fair, the references to what was my hometown from 98-01 (I'm definitely a "wherever I lay my hat is home kind of guy) are all pre-Lee so there's no doubt in my mind that issues may have been aggravated-- on both sides of this reputation-fence -- since last month).
That disclaimer aside, I was surprised to see that good old Harrisburg was announced to be a runner-up (that's in the top 10 people ) for places that AARP said were the most affordable locations in which to retire ... at approximately the same time that it was national news that Harrisburg was "flirting with Chapter 9 [bankruptcy] in the face of a fiscal crisis" -- an apparently rare turn of events for municipalities.
So what is it that makes John Harris' city so affordable for seniors? Is it the fact that there's a city endorsed court alternative to paying your bills? Or is this all just a marketing ploy (and some good AARP lobbying dollars spent by those in the know) to get those seasoned citizens inside the city limits to boost the revenue?
How's about we get our affairs in order (and by "we", I mean those who took over for Mayor Reed and dealt with the occasional mal-purchased Civil War artifact or other oddities connected to his legacy) before we trick those old folks (and by "old folks", I mean folks at 49 and a half years, since apparently, that's when AARP starts reaching out to people nowadays) into coming on over?
THE ARTICLE FROM WHENCE THE FLIRTING WAS QUOTED:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-08-01-central-falls-bankruptcy_n.htm
IN THE TOP 10 -- NO SIGN OF MONEY TROUBLE (and look how low the river is):
http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-07-2011/affordable-cities.11.html
IS THE LATEST NEWS ... A PERIOD OF FORCED NEGOTIATIONS:
http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Bankruptcy/News/2011/09_-_September/Harrisburg_may_avoid_default;_Pa__looks_at_control/
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