Many many people, especially in the burbs, talk about Baltimore (and american cities in general, though applicably globally) back in the day as some wonderland. But cities were significantly dirtier, water more polluted, and more run down. Not to even bring up the smack in your face racism and in general discrimination.

We've had amazing progress in the last 50yrs. And we need to stop romanticizing the past. The past was the worst.