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New York City,
United States
New York is a major business, cultural and retail center in
the United States and a leading world center for trade and
finance. It is a unique city that attracts visitors and
immigrants from allover the world. Its population in 1995 reached
16.3 million and it currently has a positive annual growth rate
of 0.3%. Its population has not grown constantly, however. The
population reached 16.2 million in 1970 and then declined to 15.6
in 1980. It was only after 1980 that the population began to grow
again.
Finance, insurance and real estate have been the largest
contributors to the city's economy. While it is a strong
financial centre, unemployment can sometimes reach high peaks, as
in 1985 when over half the region's residents were unemployed.
With sky-high prices, housing is a serious problem in the central
city. Estimates of the number of homeless in Manhattan alone run
as high as 90,000.
Waste is another serious problem. New York City generates
23,600 metric tons of waste every day. The problem is in its
disposal. Environmental problems have made the city reconsider
its waste disposal system which consisted of 8 incinerators to
burn waste and 11 landfill sites in which to dump them. Now most
of the disposal takes place in a few major dump sites, including
the massive (1,214 hectares) Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten
Island. The question remains, where will the waste go after that
site is full and closed?
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