Much of what you say rings true, however, having grown up in the city during the 70's I disagree it was "better" during: garbage strikes, pleas from the mayor to go out and shop (It's safe - look me and Adam Clayton Powell are walking down the street!), rampant violent crime, and the like. Yea, my mom could have purchased our 31st floor 2 br apt for $24,000 in 1975. Having the serendipity to catch Carlos Santana and Macglaughlin (sp?) jamming on a flatbed truck on Madison Ave on the way to a free concert in the park sure looks good through rose colored 20-20 hindsight as well. The issue I see is that the city has swung too far in the opposite direction fulfilling Robert Wagner's prohecy that Manhattan should become an enclave of the wealthy.

Regarding "there were man-in-the-street interviews", here is a true story: One Monday morning two friends had completed a weekend in a Harlem shooting gallery and were of course dead broke and completely smacked. Turning the corner near Rockefeller Center all of sudden a woman thrusts a microphone into their face, asks how they're enjoying the morning (inaudible slurring ensues) and then turns to the camera and announces, "Good Morning New York". Ah yes, those were the days :)