If Memphis is “most miserable,” we’d hate to see what “most desirable” looks like. At least that’s the attitude many locals seem to have regarding the Bluff City’s placement on the annual Forbes “Most Miserable Cities” list.
This weekend, the Hi-Tone is throwing a “Misery Loves Company” Ball, both as an excuse to celebrate the good things about Memphis and as a way to give the Forbes list the proverbial middle finger. The event goes down on Saturday, February 12th at 9 p.m. and features DJ Buck Wilders and the Hook-Up.
Memphis came in at number six in the 2011 list of the top 20 U.S. cities with the highest crime, taxes and unemployment rates, the worst weather, the longest commute times, and the least successful sports teams. According to Forbes, high sales tax plus a still-high crime rate are responsible for Memphis’ miserable status. The article fails to mention new crime statistics that show a 24 percent drop in violent crime in Memphis since 2006.
On a more positive note, Memphis also just ranked number six on CareerBliss.com’s list of the happiest cities to work in.
“We can’t take these rankings very seriously, especially given how we were ranked on the Most Miserable list and the Happiest Cities to Work list,” said Mary Cashiola, the city’s brand manager. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with them. Or at least prove them partly wrong.”
For more on the “Misery Loves Company” Ball, check out the event’s Facebook page.