MIAMI, FL - The City of Miami has been ranked number one on the Forbes.com list of America’s Cleanest Cities, topping Seattle (ranked 2), Portland (3), and Orlando (4).  Of the top ten rankings, four are in Florida.

“During my 2003 State of the City address, I issued a challenge to make Miami one of the cleanest large cities in the country," said Mayor Manny Diaz.  “I am pleased to see that our efforts have not gone unnoticed.  City staff and the people of the City of Miami deserve great praise in helping us achieve this honor and distinction.”

Forbes.com compiled the list based on air and water quality, clean streets, and investments in solid waste management and Brownfield remediation.  

According to the article, “[b]eyond health, cleanliness appears to have an important economic impact. While nine of [the] 10 cleanest cities showed population increases between 2000 and 2006, major metro areas losing residents over that period tend to rank near the bottom of the cleanliness list...Many factors, notably economic ones, go into a person's choice to move, of course. But a reputation for clean air, water and streets seems to count as well.”  The article further states that since the start of the decade, Miami’s population has increased by 11.5%.

Forbes.com boasts its reputation as one of the most trusted information resources for the world's business leaders, providing the uncompromising commentary, relevant tools, concise analysis and real-time reporting they need to succeed at work, profit from investing and have fun with the rewards of winning. According to their website www.forbes.com, more people get their business news from Forbes.com than any other source in the world.

To read the entire article America’s Cleanest Cities on Forbes.com, go to http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/17/miami-seattle-orlando-biz-logistics-cx_tvr_0317cleanest.html?partner=email