Young Professional looking for a place to reside OUTSIDE of Baltimore, MD (Ellicott City: young professionals, commuting to)

[designer_genes]

Originally Posted by ajacksb

The likelihood of being a victim of a random, violent crime increases greatly in Baltimore. It's statistics, not ideology. For every county mailman stealing mail story you cite, I can link to stories about college students getting smashed in the face with bricks in "safe" neighborhoods like Canton or 10+ cyclists per year getting attacked by gangs of teenagers. These crimes are different than drug deals gone bad or gang shootings. They affect the innocent. They affect people who are trying to make the city better.

If I saw the city actually trying to address crime and quality of life issues, I wouldn't be such a downer. What I do see is apathy, pathological tolerance, and general incompetence in dealing with crime in Baltimore by the city's leaders. Until that changes, I wouldn't recommend a move to the city for anyone.

I guess I just don't see the same place that you see. I live in Patterson Park, which is said to be less far along in the gentrification process than Canton and I have never once felt unsafe nor have I ever seen gangs of teenagers wandering around my block. And I haven't seen it in Canton either, where I walk around all the time by myself (single white female) without a problem. You know where I did see them and actually have direct encounters with them, though? In East Baltimore where I lived for a year before Patterson Park.

On our block there is usually at least someone outside sitting on their stoop at any given time keeping an eye out. Usually that's all it takes to avoid incidents like that. Really the vast majority of the time it just boils down to not being an idiot. Don't walk around gabbing on your cell phone and not being aware of your surroundings. Don't leave valuables visible inside your car. Really simple stuff.

The more you talk like this about Baltimore, the more you perpetuate the problem by chasing people like the OP away. "Let someone else deal with the problem" is such a poor attitude and doesn't really help anyone (other than oneself I guess). You can look your nose down on me all you want, but I'm proud to be one of the people gentrifying these areas. I like to think I'm part of the change and part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

[lanhvtnymd]

Originally Posted by designer_genes

I guess I just don't see the same place that you see. I live in Patterson Park, which is said to be less far along in the gentrification process than Canton and I have never once felt unsafe nor have I ever seen gangs of teenagers wandering around my block. And I haven't seen it in Canton either, where I walk around all the time by myself (single white female) without a problem. You know where I did see them and actually have direct encounters with them, though? In East Baltimore where I lived for a year before Patterson Park.

On our block there is usually at least someone outside sitting on their stoop at any given time keeping an eye out. Usually that's all it takes to avoid incidents like that. Really the vast majority of the time it just boils down to not being an idiot. Don't walk around gabbing on your cell phone and not being aware of your surroundings. Don't leave valuables visible inside your car. Really simple stuff.

The more you talk like this about Baltimore, the more you perpetuate the problem by chasing people like the OP away. "Let someone else deal with the problem" is such a poor attitude and doesn't really help anyone (other than oneself I guess). You can look your nose down on me all you want, but I'm proud to be one of the people gentrifying these areas. I like to think I'm part of the change and part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

+1000. There's yet another thread asking where are the black professionals, and all I can think is "are you serious right now?" All of the negative, demoralizing posts on the Baltimore forum aren't helping anything. It is actually possible to be honest without being demoralizing, just saying.

It amazes me how murderous and drug addicted Baltimore is only when there are no Orioles or Ravens games going on in town. Isn't that amazing? When there are games, somehow all of these scared county people seem to make their way in and out of Baltimore unscathed. Things that make you go "hmm" I guess.

[designer_genes]

Originally Posted by lanhvtnymd

+1000. There's yet another thread asking where are the black professionals, and all I can think is "are you serious right now?" All of the negative, demoralizing posts on the Baltimore forum aren't helping anything. It is actually possible to be honest without being demoralizing, just saying.

It amazes me how murderous and drug addicted Baltimore is only when there are no Orioles or Ravens games going on in town. Isn't that amazing? When there are games, somehow all of these scared county people seem to make their way in and out of Baltimore unscathed. Things that make you go "hmm" I guess.

Yes, absolutely! I'm not saying we should turn a blind eye to Baltimore's problems. But, I am saying it is possible to be objective about them without just throwing up one's hands and saying, "I'm taking my ball and going home." You hit the nail right on the head.

You are also so spot on about the sports teams, which is something I had never really thought about before. People from the county seem to turn their nose down at the city, but suddenly the Ravens win the Super Bowl and they have so much "Baltimore pride." Give me a break.

[imay11102]

Ellicott city sounds like as good match for you but it is a little pricey I dont know what your price point is.

[ajacksb]

I live in Patterson Park, which is said to be less far along in the gentrification process than Canton and I have never once felt unsafe nor have I ever seen gangs of teenagers wandering around my block

All of the negative, demoralizing posts on the Baltimore forum aren't helping anything.

Where is the line between stating facts and being demoralizing? Prospective residents need to know the issues before they invest their time, money and possibly personal safety in a U.S. city with one of the highest crime rates.

Also, more teen mob attacks in Baltimore, this time in Patterson Park:

Man jumped by teenagers who were filming attack; victim speaks out on Reddit - Baltimore Sun

[DetailSymbolizes]

Originally Posted by designer_genes

What do you have to say about those "youths"?

That's an "isolated incident"....

[designer_genes]

Originally Posted by ajacksb

Where is the line between stating facts and being demoralizing? Prospective residents need to know the issues before they invest their time, money and possibly personal safety in a U.S. city with one of the highest crime rates.

Also, more teen mob attacks in Baltimore, this time in Patterson Park:

Man jumped by teenagers who were filming attack; victim speaks out on Reddit - Baltimore Sun

It's simple. You can state facts that show a balanced picture or you can only post articles about crime. By painting an extremely one-sided picture, you are being demoralizing. When I talk about Baltimore to others, I speak about both my positive and negative experiences and allow them to draw their own conclusions, rather than trying to color their opinions with mine.

Also the park is closed after dusk, so again it boils down following some simple guidelines like don't wander around in a closed park at night. I am not excusing what those kids did and it's terrible that he was attacked, but I know better than to wander around the park by myself at night (when the park is closed) and so should pretty much anyone.

[lanhvtnymd]

Originally Posted by ajacksb

Where is the line between stating facts and being demoralizing? Prospective residents need to know the issues before they invest their time, money and possibly personal safety in a U.S. city with one of the highest crime rates.

Also, more teen mob attacks in Baltimore, this time in Patterson Park:

Man jumped by teenagers who were filming attack; victim speaks out on Reddit - Baltimore Sun

I think most reasonable people can tell the difference. I mean, lots of young white men do shoot-em-ups in suburbs and other low density residential areas, but for some reason people still flock to those places. I'm going to guess that's because.....those are isolated incidents. Continuing with the shootings example, most people getting shot and killed in Baltimore are involved in drugs and gangs. So it's not isolated within those cohorts, but it is isolated for the general population of Baltimore City.

I would guess if you looked at violent criminal acts against members of the Baltimore City gentry (or whatever you want to call the people who can afford) living in Federal Hill, Fells, Inner Harbor, Canton, etc....violent crime is rather isolated.

If you really wanted to be honest, just compare prevalence or incidence of violent criminal acts in the city to the county. But when people just post articles of the latest "sexy" headline of blood and gore, you get a really distorted idea of what Baltimore City is all about.

[designer_genes]

Originally Posted by lanhvtnymd

if you really wanted to be honest, just compare prevalence or incidence of violent criminal acts in the city to the county. But when people just post articles of the latest "sexy" headline of blood and gore, you get a really distorted idea of what baltimore city is all about.

+1.

[Mvmdmd]

For outside the city, I would say either Towson or Pikesville. If you're Jewish, then more so Pikesville. Towson is more urban feeling and more dense than Pikesville. You will feel more tied into Baltimore living in Towson. Pikesville is more suburban feeling. Towson probably has the edge over Pikesville for interesting food choices, fewer chains and more eclectic, funky places to try. I would recommend against cutting your teeth on city living as a single female until you've had a year or longer to get a feel for where you want to be if you decide later to go for city living.