Runner up? Fughedaboutit!
A ritzy area of Brooklyn was named as one of America’s nicest places, according to Reader’s Digest, but fell short of the Mormon territory winner Provo, Utah.
Judges, which included the likes of Al Roker, crowned the Salt Lake City area spot over the gorgeous Fort Greene for a strong sense of community and volunteerism. The list, now in its eighth year, specifically seeks to “uncover places where stories of kindness, respect, and community shine bright.”
The northwest Brooklyn nabe — where the median income was over $136K in 2022 — had also been touted as a place where it is “cool to be kind.”
Apparently, not everyone got the message though as crime complaints are up 15% from last year in its local 88th Precinct, according to NYPD stats.
Nevertheless, Carlos Jones, 56, CEO of the youth violence intervention group Switching Lifestylez told Reader’s Digest that they are looking to make the area feel more neighborly and family-oriented as it did in decades past.
“Now, it’s totally different, but we are bringing that vibe back,” he said.
On a high note, Fort Greene is well known culturally for the Brooklyn Academy of Music along with its abundance of charming brownstones.
Other finalists on the list include Silver Spring, Maryland, which boasted a philanthropic bike shop owner, and Cashiers, North Carolina where the community brushed together to create a feel dental clinic.
Mining town Butte, Montana was praised for locals regularly volunteering to aid those struggling with food insecurity. Horseshoe Beach on Florida’s west coast and Big Bend were given well-deserved recognition for how residents picked one another up after the devastating 2023 Hurricane Idalia as well.
Provo replaces the 2023 winner of Buffalo, New York, a city known for its camaraderie and Semper Fidelis through the toughest of times, including football and hockey heartbreaks.
Read the full article here
