Crime/Gangs in Charlotte (Henderson: rent, jobs, schools)

[Vegas Grl]

Someone had a post not too long ago about the MS 13 gang and their presence in NC (Charlotte specifically) I was looking for it but couldn't find it. Anyways, just wondering what the locals have to say about this issue...is it really as awful as what's reported in the magazines and is there a specific area of town to avoid or are they just everywhere?. I visited Charlotte two weeks ago and I didn't really think it seemed like such a war zone (although I did get lost driving around an area called Ford/Freedom or something like that and I didn't feel safe at all). Thanks, any information is greatly appreciated as all of these articles and reports are rather scary and I don't usually scare easily (currently live in Vegas, originally from NYC).

[mountain_time_Blues]

Part of town to avoid is west charlotte. Alot of gang activity over there. Also the gangs are poping up on the schools causing alot of problems. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being North Dakota 10 being Compton Charlotte is about a 5.

[U120]

...thats pretty funny, a blanket statement like Charlotte is a five! Priceless. Just check your zip code demographics. Where there is a high Latin, Spanish population is where you will find gangs, period!

not too many parts of Charlotte fitting that criterior.

[TornadoAlley]

Originally Posted by U120

...thats pretty funny, a blanket statement like Charlotte is a five! Priceless. Just check your zip code demographics. Where there is a high Latin, Spanish population is where you will find gangs, period!

not too many parts of Charlotte fitting that criterior.

In other states its the black who control the gangs. So, your saying it is the Latinos or Mexicans (two different back grounds)?

[Vegas Grl]

U120,

I kind of take offense to your post. I am hispanic (Puerto Rican) and I'm sure people assume because of that I'm a gang banger, drug dealer, low life on welfare with 5 kids all with different dads. I am actually a happily married mom who works full-time and always has, I hold a professional position and I was raised with strong morals and values as well as tolerance of different races/ethnicities. I was also taught that although there are people who may view us in a negative way because of our ethnicity and make rude comments we should still respect them. While it is true that there are some hispanics who are into this "bad" type of lifestyle, there are also hispanics who are hard-working and who do the types of jobs I'm sure you and I would probably think are beneath us. I understand what you were trying to say and I appreciate your response but to generalize and say that hispanics as a whole are what brings crime to neighborhoods is wrong as I'm sure there are decent hard-working families that also have to live in these neighborhoods.

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by Vegas Grl

Someone had a post not too long ago about the MS 13 gang and their presence in NC (Charlotte specifically) I was looking for it but couldn't find it. Anyways, just wondering what the locals have to say about this issue...is it really as awful as what's reported in the magazines and is there a specific area of town to avoid or are they just everywhere?. I visited Charlotte two weeks ago and I didn't really think it seemed like such a war zone (although I did get lost driving around an area called Ford/Freedom or something like that and I didn't feel safe at all). Thanks, any information is greatly appreciated as all of these articles and reports are rather scary and I don't usually scare easily (currently live in Vegas, originally from NYC).

That was just some unhappy idiot complaining here.

Charlotte - LAME

What have magazines reported about it?

I am almost certain that Las Vegas has way more than Charlotte. Do they scare you in Las Vegas? Do you see them often there? Are you going to actually live in the city rather than a suburb?

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by Vegas Grl

U120,

I kind of take offense to your post. I am hispanic (Puerto Rican) and I'm sure people assume because of that I'm a gang banger, drug dealer, low life on welfare with 5 kids all with different dads. I am actually a happily married mom who works full-time and always has, I hold a professional position and I was raised with strong morals and values as well as tolerance of different races/ethnicities. I was also taught that although there are people who may view us in a negative way because of our ethnicity and make rude comments we should still respect them. While it is true that there are some hispanics who are into this "bad" type of lifestyle, there are also hispanics who are hard-working and who do the types of jobs I'm sure you and I would probably think are beneath us. I understand what you were trying to say and I appreciate your response but to generalize and say that hispanics as a whole are what brings crime to neighborhoods is wrong as I'm sure there are decent hard-working families that also have to live in these neighborhoods.

You are the one that asked about MS13 which is a hispanic gang. What areas do you think a hispanic gang is going to be located? The white neighborhoods?

[Vegas Grl]

Hey there T.S,

They've reported on how these gangs are infiltrating "good" areas of Charlotte and how in some states you know what areas to stay away from but they're "mobile" in Charlotte. I wan't sure what to believe which is why I posted here since I could probably get real information from locals than from hysterical reporters trying to sell magazines. I live in Henderson which is somewhat of a suburb and I feel safe there, there are parts of Vegas that I as well as a lot of other residents here will not go to because of the crime. There are some neighborhoods that actually are scary to be caught in at night and even during the day.

[Vegas Grl]

T.S.

Like I said, the reports stated that this gang was mobile and not concentrated in the "hispanic" areas, they were in all neighborhoods regardless of what ethnicity/race lived there. Geez, had I known people where going to get offended by what I had to say I wouldn't have posted anything.

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by Vegas Grl

Geez, had I known people where going to get offended by what I had to say I wouldn't have posted anything.

Originally Posted by Vegas Grl

U120,

I kind of take offense to your post.