Why do u like suburbs over city? (Chicago: real estate, homes)

[Humboldt1]

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Wheb blacks reach a certain percentage of the population in an area (section 8 apartments promote this bigtime) some of the lessor among them brings their ghetto culture (not always inner city) with them.

Skye,

This is starting to happen in your community of Lansing and will only accelerate in the next few years as more and more blacks move into your community and the remaining whites leave for greener (whiter) pastures.

Irishtom,

If you are ever in Chicago I would like to have a frank discussion regarding some of your experiences in Chicago.

[skyeINIL]

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Seriously, Humboldt, if you never responded to one of my posts again, it would make me the happiest woman on City-Data. You've already proven to me that your knowledge of my town is woefully deficient. Since I am involved in my community, I know that white people are still moving to Lansing simply because the town is still mostly white. It is in no danger of turning "ghetto" anytime soon.

[skyeINIL]

No one was debating that fact.

[Lookout Kid]

I personally wouldn't want to live around a bunch of whites in Appalachia or the boonies of Texas... So is class the new race? Do you think a lot of white people would mind living in a city that is 90% African American if those African Americans were alll surgeons, senators, and investment bankers?

[skyeINIL]

I think most whites would want to live in an area like that. The question is would blacks in this area "allow" integration. I know several well-to-do black people that would prefer to live in a city (or suburb) surrounded by people just like themselves.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I personally wouldn't want to live around a bunch of whites in Appalachia or the boonies of Texas... So is class the new race? Do you think a lot of white people would mind living in a city that is 90% African American if those African Americans were alll surgeons, senators, and investment bankers?

Class has ALWAYS been more important than race and racism is often used as a tool to seperate people who would otherwise share a common economic interest. That's why the union PAC I sat on always donated money to Bobby Rush and Jesse Jackson Jr---they shared a common economic interest with us.

Note that though discrimination by race, age and gender is illegal discrimination by social class is still allowed----zoning laws being a good example.

One could even argue that some people are anti-racist because of their classist agenda----thinking that if low class Whites are allowed to look down on higher class Blacks that harms the social interest of higher class Whites.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Note that though discrimination by race, age and gender is illegal discrimination by social class is still allowed----zoning laws being a good example.

I've been making that argument for a long time. Suburbs can use zoning to keep out low-income housing by only allowing large houses on large lots, and by limiting apartment buildings. This is a form of economic segregation, and is a large part of the reason that the central city declined after WWII. If no low-income housing can be built in the new suburbs, it ALL must go into the old city...

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I've been making that argument for a long time. Suburbs can use zoning to keep out low-income housing by only allowing large houses on large lots, and by limiting apartment buildings. This is a form of economic segregation, and is a large part of the reason that the central city declined after WWII. If no low-income housing can be built in the new suburbs, it ALL must go into the old city...

Indeed.

And it's the economic segregation that leads to the blandness of many suburbs. I remember when Naperville was a regular town with a mix of incomes. There were working man's taverns downtown, a neat bar in 1950s space-age decor called the Satellite Lounge and even a work clothes store downtown; all gone now. Now it's mostly cutesy-trendy crap for trophy wives.

[Maiden]

White folks are usually uncomfortable when they are in the minority, I see this in the workplace all the time. Some whites folks also have a problem when a group of blacks folks prefer to sit together rather than sit with the whites during job related functions. And just what the heck are uncontrolled blacks?

[cdc3217]

I like the suburbs and the city!
I like the affordability in my 'burb, and that there is quick access to the city, but not quite as high taxes.
I like that I can jump on the highway out of town without figthing thru city traffic.
I like having a garden.

Not all suburb-dwellers are white-flighters, so please don't lump us all in with IrishTom.