Elmwood Park residents - Have you noticed the big Latino influx into town?

[citygrl707]

Part of the problem is all the apartment building in elmwood park, when the market was good home owners refinances there homes and added floors or took a single family home and made them into 3-6 units aparmtents. I think is more ways then one its greed . When you can rent a apartment for 1000.00 a month why not make a little extra . Some landlords got greedy and didn't even screen the tenants , this way your getting drug dealers and gangbankers.

Now the drug addicts didn't have to go into the city it was right there in there neighborhood. The one we had up stairs from us must of been making a fortune, he had 20-30 customers in one night.
They started tagging the park on fullerton and 76th and then the garages , then there was a drive by at central park. When people are being robbed in the daylight its becomes scary.

We had are apartment door almost kicked in and it scared me. Allot of the condos and townhomes are being rented out now with second eight in elmwood park, you going to get low lifes when people don't have to work.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by citygrl707

Part of the problem is all the apartment building in elmwood park, when the market was good home owners refinances there homes and added floors or took a single family home and made them into 3-6 units aparmtents. I think is more ways then one its greed . When you can rent a apartment for 1000.00 a month why not make a little extra . Some landlords got greedy and didn't even screen the tenants , this way your getting drug dealers and gangbankers.

Now the drug addicts didn't have to go into the city it was right there in there neighborhood. The one we had up stairs from us must of been making a fortune, he had 20-30 customers in one night.
They started tagging the park on fullerton and 76th and then the garages , then there was a drive by at central park. When people are being robbed in the daylight its becomes scary.

We had are apartment door almost kicked in and it scared me. Allot of the condos and townhomes are being rented out now with second eight in elmwood park, you going to get low lifes when people don't have to work.

Your story is told in the majority of city and inner ring suburbs across the country today. The problem is not just Elmwood Park, but most of this once beloved and proud country. We have opened up the borders, allowed section 8 housing, and have not acted proactively addressing crime- especially gang crimes. But there is no excuse that a town of about 25,000 people(Elmwood park), should go to hell. The town is centrally located, has a great variety of homes, especially on the southside of town, and is also a very clean town-in terms of public works dept. But the answer is not to run- because the crap will also follow you- there will be nowhere left to hide if you are not upper class. So, once again, gather residents nad attend board meetings. Pressure your local politicians and let them know that a lax police dept. is not acceptable. Make your voices be heard. And dont give up your faith and pride in the town that you once loved- start a neighborhood watch and find ways to attract new businesses in the community. But the more we run- the more we all lose in the end!

[otters21]

Originally Posted by promis1

Your story is told in the majority of city and inner ring suburbs across the country today. The problem is not just Elmwood Park, but most of this once beloved and proud country. We have opened up the borders, allowed section 8 housing, and have not acted proactively addressing crime- especially gang crimes. But there is no excuse that a town of about 25,000 people(Elmwood park), should go to hell. The town is centrally located, has a great variety of homes, especially on the southside of town, and is also a very clean town-in terms of public works dept. But the answer is not to run- because the crap will also follow you- there will be nowhere left to hide if you are not upper class. So, once again, gather residents nad attend board meetings. Pressure your local politicians and let them know that a lax police dept. is not acceptable. Make your voices be heard. And dont give up your faith and pride in the town that you once loved- start a neighborhood watch and find ways to attract new businesses in the community. But the more we run- the more we all lose in the end!

I agree 100%! IMHO white and / or middle class flight is NOT the answer, especially in today's economy. Also I believe by "pulling the suitcases out of the closet,pack up and flee" people are giving the hated enemies ( thugs, gangbangers and criminals along with the filth they bring in-drugs,shootings, crime and neighborhood decline etc.) the victory.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by otters21

I agree 100%! IMHO white and / or middle class flight is NOT the answer, especially in today's economy. Also I believe by "pulling the suitcases out of the closet,pack up and flee" people are giving the hated enemies ( thugs, gangbangers and criminals along with the filth they bring in-drugs,shootings, crime and neighborhood decline etc.) the victory.

Totally agree, in fact there has to be a time, and the time may be now, where we stand up to these low lifes and let them know that they will not bully us. We were here first, and we shall remain here till the end! Section 8 needs to be fought on a national level, the borders need to close, the police must get tougher as they once were, and the project scum must realize that they do not have more rights than the rest of us. Equality is one thing- but many of the lower class, section 8 scum, feel that deserve more rights than the average joe.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by otters21

I agree 100%! IMHO white and / or middle class flight is NOT the answer, especially in today's economy. Also I believe by "pulling the suitcases out of the closet,pack up and flee" people are giving the hated enemies ( thugs, gangbangers and criminals along with the filth they bring in-drugs,shootings, crime and neighborhood decline etc.) the victory.

It's also not the answer because it won't work in the long run. What has historically happened is that the "hated enemies," as you define them, crap up their new neighborhood and the demographic group they stem from flees, often to the same places the white and/or middle class went to. And then the cycle starts anew.

It may take years, which will give the white/middle class a sense of security, but it will happen eventually. Most Chicago neighborhoods that experienced "white flight" suffered massive population declines in the decades following the flight. East Garfield Park, Washington Park, and North Lawndale are good examples. The only way to really avoid getting caught in the cycle again is to move somewhere so expensive that this has little chance of happening.

Thus far, the solution has been to move further and further away from the City center but this will reach a breaking point, as you can only go so far out. Plus, fuel prices will probably put a natural brake on the growth of most exburbs.

[wjt]

To all you hateful people. As for the section 8 there are many nice families on section 8. One family living here have two kids going to college and another a senior in H.S.She is a widowed mother who works two part time jobs. Elmwood Park has been changing for a long time. It was once known to have mafia connections. It is common knowledge that the mafia runs guns,drugs and prostution. How differant is that from the african amerian,latino,polish ,and white gangs. As for the drug dealers they would not be here if the kids were not buying. The upper class parents here are buying there 16 year olds 40 thousand dollar cars and supplying there kids the money to buy these drugs. While there off on vacation some where their kids are having sex and drug parties. As long as someone buying the drug dealers will stay.Lastly Elmwood Park is a racist suburb. I know first hand. I moved here 7 years ago from Chicago ( Harlem & Belmont). Both my kids had issues with other kids when they found out my kids had black and latino friends. I am white and my husband is half latino. He does not look latino or speak spanish. One day our Italian landlord who thought my husband was also Italian was making racist comments about the blacks and spics(as he called them)who have been moving into his town. When my husband told him he was mexican he did'nt speak to him any more and soon after we got a eviction notice. People of Elmwood Park follow Gods law Love your neighbor. If not I guess you will all be going to HELL>