It’s sort of an outdated idea, most major US cities are a lot nicer than they are given credit for. (maybe not Baltimore) But over the last decade or two there has been a lot of urban renewal or gentrification whatever you want to call it and the suburbs and rural areas have a lot more negatives than people talk about openly. A lot of the poverty and things associated with it (drugs, crime, teen pregnancy what have you) are much worse in the cheaper suburbs and rural areas
Just me personally but I live in DFW and it’s so much better here now than it was in the 70s & 80s and I slowly realized this wasn’t just here but basically everywhere
I understand what you’re saying, but that doesn’t apply across the board. Jersey City NJ has seen similar gentrification IN PARTS (but in general isn’t a great place), while Newark NJ (slightly further from NYC) is still a dangerous dump - attempts to gentrify are falling flat. Like Baltimore, Newark has a primarily black power structure, while Jersey City does not.
Our rural areas see some poverty (it is “The Garden State” - we do have a lot of farms here), but the cost of living in the suburbs is so high (primarily due to property taxes) that people who get caught up in destructive behavior can only live where a massive nanny-state will provide for all of their needs - and only cities here are really equipped to do that. I assume from my limited knowledge of Seattle, San Francisco, even Baltimore, that there is a huge industry in giving sh!t away that attracts people who can’t provide for themselves - or use proper bathrooms.