British Girl moving to Baltimore, where should I live?

[nikkibailey2009]

Bolton Hill. I currently rent in the neighborhood, it's great for young, liberal minded professionals, easy access to the harbor, lots of stuff to do around the area, fantastic neighbors.

[thedirtycalvinist]

As a right-wing Christian fundamentalist and Republican who lives in (and enjoys) the city of Baltimore, I will say you won't find the same attitudes you would in some deep South states. I went to school outside Chattanooga, TN and lived in Greenville, SC for a year. There are relatively few militant, middle-class(in the American sense) evangelicals in Maryland, much less Baltimore, in comparison to Georgia or Kentucky. And the city is overwhelmingly Democratic in a state that is by some measures the most Democratic in the union. I didn't bother to vote in the Republican primary here in the city because it just doesn't matter. And we have no Tories to speak of.

Renting a place as big as the one you outlined is going to be pricey in some of the city's more upscale neighborhoods, like Federal Hill, Fells Point or Canton. However, there are some great neighborhoods that are not so expensive. Given your requirements and the fact that you probably don't want to buy a car, I would suggest Hampden. It's walkable, safe and self-contained. There are two grocery stores, some nice restaurants and people are friendly and out and about. Lots of young professionals, plus a native culture that is...interesting.

Baltimore as a whole tends to be a place you live, not a place you come visit. It's called "Charm City" for a reason. It's also called "Harm City" for a reason. A lot of it is pretty gritty, and relatively few parts of it are polished and shiny. So if you do come here, you will have to learn to love it for its unique charms; it's something of an acquired taste.

As an aside, the British newsmedia's coverage of American news and politics is pretty uniformly un-nuanced. They seem to only understand events from the perspective of the more-or-less unicultural elite of major urban centers, notably New York and Washington DC. Our conservatives are not your Conservatives. Our liberals are not your Labour. We talk about race differently, we talk about class differently and we talk about the role of government differently. Please don't make false mappings between the two.

[boomtownfunlover]

Originally Posted by britishgirl29

Dear All,

I am moving to Baltimore, am female, british and 29, any ideas where i should live. My only proviso is that Right wing christian funadmentalist and Republicans scare me. I would also like to be in the City rather than the county, thanks

Any ideas?

British Girl

Christian fundamentalists scare us too! I suggest Mt. Vernon. Close to downtown and also the train station if you will be traveling to New York or Boston.

[Cruzincat]

Originally Posted by britishgirl29

I
But I stand by my original statement, I am sadly white and middle class London Girl who grew up with tonnes of diversity in my life, and I would like to find a diverse area to live in. I grew up in Brixton, I would like the same feel. I am scared by the Westbro Baptist Church lot and my grandmother is religious but is not a lunatic.

Obviously, the British press tainted all religious people as party to Westboro. 99% of people in all walks of life in the US find these idiots reprehensible, even us Republicans.

As for where you should live, I couldn't say. I know that if I were young, and single, and didn't have a dog, I would probably lean toward DC. In my career (Field service, working out of the house), I have worked in both cities, and I felt much safer in DC, however, since I am married, have dogs, and we are empty nesters, I prefer to live away from all that. It's so much easier to open the back door and let the dogs into the fenced in, half acre, backyard than to have to walk them in a park several times a day, while carrying around their poop.Did I mention, that we occasionally get snowstorms that paralyze the city? Makes dog walking a real challenge.

[ZT1911]

Definitely check out the Orleans Street and Front Street neighborhood in south Baltimore. Absolute hidden treasure where you won't find any nasty right wing conservatives there.

And just like Great Britain, guns are illegal to carry in Baltimore so the only chances of guns being used against you in a crime, say.... gang rape, is if you accidentally wander into a rapist's home. Make sure to get a giant Union Jack decal and put it on the hood of your car like Austin Powers too. That would look awesome.

[Cruzincat]

Originally Posted by ZT1911

And just like Great Britain, guns are illegal to carry in Baltimore so the only chances of guns being used against you in a crime, say.... gang rape, is if you accidentally wander into a rapist's home.

Great statement! - not!

Chances are, if it were a gang rape she would be greatly outnumbered and they wouldn't need a gun. If she were to be victimized by someone using a gun, it would more likely happen in Baltimore than anywhere else in the metropolitan area, including Washington, DC.

It is illegal to carry guns in MD unless you are politically connected so you can get a permit. This does NOT mean that criminals do not carry guns. Carrying without a pemit is a crime. People who are about to commit crimes don't consider it to be a great stretch to break more than one law at a time, so, if there's a chance they might need it, they bring a gun with them.

And, unfortunately, there are a large proportion of people in Baltimore committing crimes, mostly black on black or black on white.

[ToneGrail]

Originally Posted by Cruzincat

Great statement! - not!

Chances are, if it were a gang rape she would be greatly outnumbered and they wouldn't need a gun. If she were to be victimized by someone using a gun, it would more likely happen in Baltimore than anywhere else in the metropolitan area, including Washington, DC.

It is illegal to carry guns in MD unless you are politically connected so you can get a permit. This does NOT mean that criminals do not carry guns. Carrying without a pemit is a crime. People who are about to commit crimes don't consider it to be a great stretch to break more than one law at a time, so, if there's a chance they might need it, they bring a gun with them.

And, unfortunately, there are a large proportion of people in Baltimore committing crimes, mostly black on black or black on white.

I think ZT1911 was being sarcastic. You seem to have missed the humor.

That being said, I agree with your post. The discriminatory May-Issue system only disarms potential victims and empowers only criminals and the elite politicians whom they vote for.