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NEW YORK ON WASHINGTON; WASHINGTON ON NEW YORK

NEW YORK ON WASHINGTON

As Washington DC teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, citizens of New York give their opinion on their capital city.

It started life as a swamp. It should have stayed that way - Addison, 30, television cameraman

It's the most boring town in America. With the exception of Duluth - Steve, 28, truck driver

It's got immense style. There's an electricity and a mystery. I like to walk past all those government buildings and sniff the odour of power - Marianne, 41, lawyer

It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. It's too clean - Andy, 22, barman

The people are strange. Not polite, but not rude. They seem to lack energy, it's like they're always looking over their shoulders - Susan, 34, pyschoanalyst

It scares me. Two officers were killed just sitting in their squad car the other day. I'd rather have the Bronx - Ian, 27, NYPD officer

I only go there when I have to. Washington is the capital of the US; New York is the capital of the world - Ed, 62, former Mayor of New York

JFK said it was a northern city with southern charm. That's true. But they can't make a good bagel - Tina, 42, magazine editor

WASHINGTON ON NEW YORK

As New York's crime rate falls to its lowest in 10 years, Washingtonians bite into the Big Apple.

It's dirty, dangerous and the people have no manners. I broke my ankle once when a guy pushed me as we both ran for the same cab - Ann, 31, public relations consultant

I'm gay, so I wish I still lived there - Steve, 26, librarian

It's not very clean and the people always seem to be in a hurry. But it does have the world's greatest restaurants - Paul, 61, Senator

There's a lot of competition there. People just don't see you. You can spend a whole hour and not get a dime - Jack, 53, homeless man

New Yorkers have such attitude. It's like they're fighting for every inch of space. They talk so fast I can barely understand what they're saying. They even have their own timescale. People say, "In a New York minute." You can bet that's less time than it is here - Amy, 24, waitress

If you make it there, you're probably a psychopath - Carlos, 31, former actor

It's much prettier here, but New York is the big city. Nowhere else comes close - Sarah, 28, lecturer

It has the most fabulous skyline. Arriving from the airport at night, my first glimpse of Manhattan never fails to stir my spirit. When I leave I feel anxious, like I'm just leaving a party that is about to get really exciting - Ari, 40, architect

Daniel Jeffreys