"New York New York it's a hell of a town, you know the Bronx is up and I'm Brooklyn down."

I think beastie boys say it best.

I think so many times about leaving (better quality of life, more nature, blabla), but I'm still here, because new has something unique, a vibe, this interesting mix of people, and I still want all this, and put up with a tiny apartment, noise, expenses etc....

sigh...

I'm exiled from the City for a couple years in Boston (ugh). But I do keep my copy of E.B. White by my bed.

I'm sorry for you. Really. Boston rubs me the wrong way.

Isn't it against the law to "rub" in Boston? I thought only them minorities did that and they are against the law in Boston...

All i know is everything around me is delicious all the time. I have ADD of the palate and what living here really boils down to is, "whats for lunch?" And I'm pretty satisfied in that department. That and all the weirdos.

but the RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!

just let Sara Palin and his rabid zombies crap in NYC like she has done in the rest of the country!

Can`t wait till Bloomys term is OVER then I will LUV living in NYC again.

Jimmy McMillan for mayor!!

I've lived here since the 1830s. Standing still I've probably lived in ten totally different cities in that time. I try not to romanticize NYC. What NYC is changes too much to love it all the time.

there was a time it was a great city for immigrants, a time that it was a great city for blue collar workers, when it was a place for people raising a family, when it was a place for jazz, for artists, for yuppies.

its constantly changing. Not all the change is for me, sometimes things were better the way they were before....in some ways living in NYC can't compare to the lifestyle you can have living in other places...the nature, the space, the cost, the parking, noise....

that said I can't imagine ever leaving for good. That’s because the thing I like most about the city is that its constantly changing. Build it up, knock it down, create, destroy, start over, two steps forward, one step back, struggle, succumb, succeed...I've never been anywhere else in the world that has this much drama going on all the time... that’s what I like about NYC.

One of the most important things about this city to me is that it is tolerant of my culture. Even visiting most other cities, I feel a general air of prejudice against who I am. When I visited synagogues in European cities, for example, I had to go through several degrees of security; in NYC -- usually open doors.

So even with all the bad-day annoyances, it is the only place that I, and a lot of others I bet, are ultimately ABLE to live. And to those with more options: well, more power to them as well.

At no point in the city does a subway run under 3rd Ave.

Anyway, there are a lot of things about this city that make me feel like living here isn't sustainable for me. But it really boils down to money, it's just too goddamn expensive. But there's always Queens, I guess. Brooklyn is over in terms of affordability. Manhattan was too expensive decades ago.

Anyway, I still love ya, NYC.

It occurs to me that he may be referring to the L at 3rd Ave along 14th St, since he mentioned the East Village and Alphabet City.

I was born here. I think in order to appreciate the city I need to live some place where I can't get sushi delivered at midnight, where I have to drive 20 miles to buy toilet paper, where every store is in a strip mall that looks the same, where the people all are conservative and look the same, where I can join a good mega-church, where they'll teach my son that evolution is a myth, where gays stay in the closet, and where high school football on Friday night is the biggest activity.

NAH!!!!!!!!

I hate polls like this. In a city with millions of people they only use 1,005 people. Now 1,500 doesn't speak for the rest of us.

When the survey was announced at the Municipal Art Society's Summit for New York City, a lot of people were not surprised to hear that New Yorkers were happy. The survey did also point out that 24% of New Yorkers would leave. Additionally, there were some great disparities between the boroughs. You can view some of the highlights from MAS President Vin Cipolla's presentation of the results here: http://mas.org/summitnyc/videos

I agree with many of the comments here. the city is what you make of it, whether it be creating your own heaven or hell. I work here and am grateful to have a job so stay. moving to the city (for me) was more needing to try something new and I think that is the reason many people move here. sadly after that it's sink or swim. I'll admit it is tough and even more tough to make new friends, especially as an adult, but you have to try (as uncomfortable as it is) and often it is worth the risk.

my 2 cents.

I grew up lived in New York and then left, there is no city and I have lived around the World that can compare to New York and its people.

New Yorkers have the biggest Hearts are more compassionate and understanding then most cities. Oh! it has its moments but for that great City I have nothing but Love and Respect.

I challenge any other city to offer what new York has, Food, Customs ,Native dress of the different cultures, the restaurants and Entertainment.

Nothing in the World can compare to New York and its people.

Yes, NYC is the greatest city in the world, but don't forget that it does have downsides. I think a lot of the commenters who say good riddance to those who can't hack it are the same ones who complain that NYC is destroying or has already destroyed its middle class. You're either rich in this city, or borderline poor and below. It's still great to be here even if you're barely above the poverty line, but you can't expect everyone to enjoy that. It's a tradeoff many are willing to make and many aren't.

You could not be more right. There is no middle class here... we say it all the time - it is like they are purposely weeding us out to make this a 'rich' city. We can barely get by with GOOD income... we are ticketed for blocking the box on traffic ridden streets, we have to drive scared... We have a ski house in VT, up there when we see the police we wave and chat... here you see the police and feel like you are a criminal, though you are doing nothing wrong - you sit up straight, drive nervous... I know smoking is bad... but why do I pay $12 a pack here and $7 a pack in VT?? They want to tax everything... soda, tanning salons, water!

Now bed bugs... I mean come on already! They are bleeding us dry and then not doing a single thing about the bed bugs... there only response is to make the landlord responsible for the cost... so if you rent an apartment in your home and the person brings in bed bugs... you have to pay thousands to rid yourself of them! I am born and raised in Brooklyn - love my neighborhood - love what NY was... but seriously it is falling apart here!