I don't know about San Francisco and New Orleans, but New York City pays $13 billion more in federal taxes than it receives in federal spending -- even after 9/11!  I'm not sure where you are, but it's more likely that New York is propping up where you live than vice versa.
Most places pay in more than they get out - how else can we fund our wars? Maybe farm states with low population and large subidies are an exception, but there is no reason to think NO is one, too.