It's such a mess that we can't keep people away? You sound a little like Yogi Berra.
I don’t know anyone who thinks, “Gosh, when I retire I hope I can afford to retire and live on Manhattan!”
Cities are for liberals, and who can figure out the stupid mind of a liberal.
P.S. Yes, a mess. Any place that has to violate private property rights with such nonsense as “tenant protection” laws is a mess.