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Yesterday, I posted http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2011/12/whos-best-for-99.html which relates to the Urban Institute's conclusion that Oklahoma City is the #1 city of 100 USA metros to weather the "Great Recession" in terms of the 99% vs. 1% of the population at large. Steve posted an article (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-gets-high-ranks-in-new-surveys/article/3632119) on that in today's Oklahoman.

This analysis ought to be taken more seriously than some "best" badges we've received which are less objectively demonstrated. The Urban Institute includes a very serious group of people who view facts objectively and without any partisanship. The study's author is from New York although she presumably lives in Washington DC today. It is a non-political organization which employs about 350 people which began in 1968. The study represents a detailed economic analysis form 2nd quarter 2007 though 3rd quarter 2011 based on 4 criteria: (1) change in housing prices; (2) unemployment; (3) affordable housing for low wage workers; and (4) mortgage delinquency. It backs its conclusions up with very precise detail.

The result of that study is that Oklahoma City gets #1 of 100 ranking, and that ain't too shabby.

This is exciting. I agree, Doug, this isn't one of those "Ten Best Cities To Retire" that rehash statistics the reporters get from God only knows where. Those have little credibility. They're fun to read ( I always do), but serious journalism it is not. This study from the Urban Institute is very serious, grounded in recent statistics with assistance all along the way from economists. With this study, Oklahoma City at #1 will turn a few heads.

Here is Steve's article about this.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-gets-high-ranks-in-new-surveys/article/3632119

Sid, are you a Lawton native? graduate of LHS? I think we were classmates

I graduated from LHS, dc, but I'm sure it was well before your time there. I'm a 1961 grad.