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We were there in January. There are some amazing, modern, clean and green parts of the city. The botanic gardens (Jardín Botánico de Medellín) are beautiful and

by jonah 3y ago

We were there in January. There are some amazing, modern, clean and green parts of the city. The botanic gardens (Jardín Botánico de Medellín) are beautiful and considerably cooler than the surrounding parts of town. The metro - with cable cars linking off to the hillside neighborhoods - is very clean, modern, and efficient. We saw the city hall vertical garden - pretty neat. An immense amount of effort has gone into revitalizing the city in recent years. One thing that struck me though, is that the rising tide hasn't quite lifted all boats - or people to be more precise. I saw a lot more beggars, people living on the streets, and homeless encampments than in Bogotá, or Cali or other cities. It feels like a disconnection from community and family that is still present in other places - especially smaller cities and towns. I hope they can figure out ways to help the bottom 1%. (Realizing that is a common refrain worldwide.)

p_j_w 3y ago
>the rising tide hasn't quite lifted all boats It turns out that, in spite of what libertarians might like to tell everyone, people and societies aren't actually boats and marinas. Who would've thought?
BizarroLand 3y ago
One possibility is that some homeless may move to the city in hopes of either finding work or catching a break to get out of the homelessness. We see that a lot in Seattle, that people who became homeless out in Enumclaw or Goldbar or wherever slowly get drawn towards the city because the systems that support the homeless are there, whether it be infrastructure that can be used for shelter or soup kitchens or day labor or even just a good corner to beg from. Its not the only source of the homeless by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a source.
- Tiktaalik 3y ago
  It really does make sense. If you have no job and are at risk of homelessness why would you hang around some small town with no jobs and no services instead of going to the economic centre of your region? The odds of both getting support and work are highest in the cities.

by jonah 3y ago

p_j_w 3y ago

>the rising tide hasn't quite lifted all boats It turns out that, in spite of what libertarians might like to tell everyone, people and societies aren't actually boats and marinas. Who would've thought?

BizarroLand 3y ago

One possibility is that some homeless may move to the city in hopes of either finding work or catching a break to get out of the homelessness. We see that a lot in Seattle, that people who became homeless out in Enumclaw or Goldbar or wherever slowly get drawn towards the city because the systems that support the homeless are there, whether it be infrastructure that can be used for shelter or soup kitchens or day labor or even just a good corner to beg from. Its not the only source of the homeless by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a source.

Tiktaalik 3y ago
It really does make sense. If you have no job and are at risk of homelessness why would you hang around some small town with no jobs and no services instead of going to the economic centre of your region? The odds of both getting support and work are highest in the cities.