While there might be some truth to that expression, almost every city has a unique aspect to it that makes it successful. If you took away the harbor, New York never would have emerged to be what it is today. Take away the 330 days of sunshine and Los Angeles (and most of California for that matter) would be like Wyoming and New Mexico. Washington, DC, without the federal government, is a swamp along a river.
I get what you're saying, but we really need to retire that expression. Most cities are only a few steps away from being Detroit. Likewise, most cities (when you strip away the Yuppie veneer) are "Dunkin Donuts" types of towns. The ones that aren't like Detroit are the way they are because they DO have unique, hard-to-move industries. Like, say, education or healthcare that contribute to the city's overall well-being and functionality.
Again, I understand what you're saying, but it's hardly a trait unique to Boston. At the end of the day, a failure to adapt to changing realities means we're all only a short jump from being Detroit.
And yes, that last sentence is equally applicable to NIMBYs as well. Nothing should be taken for granted and expected to endure.
