Top 5 Suburbs and Bottom 5 Suburbs

[Milwaukee City]

It's the same way up here, just like you here 10 people say Cicero is 'hood you can meet 10 people that say it's not that bad.

[whitecollarboy]

Originally Posted by skyeINIL

So you're going to tell me that Lansing is worse than Riverdale, Dolton, Hazelcrest, Phoenix, Posen et.al? That tells me that you really don't know much about the south suburbs and, again, you add Lansing out of spite.

I don't think Hazel Crest is bad? I think East Hazel Crest is going through somethings. I don't even see Hazel Crest being on the worse list. They really don't have much going on in the township outside of debates on their road construction. It's rather modest living blue collar and lower end white collar African Americans who reside in Hazel Crest & Country Club Hills. Lansing shouldn't be on the list either. Lansing is rather swell. Some of the folks clearly don't know about the south burbs though.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by whitecollarboy

I don't think Hazel Crest is bad? I think East Hazel Crest is going through somethings. I don't even see Hazel Crest being on the worse list. They really don't have much going on in the township outside of debates on their road construction. It's rather modest living blue collar and lower end white collar African Americans who reside in Hazel Crest & Country Club Hills. Lansing shouldn't be on the list either. Lansing is rather swell. Some of the folks clearly don't know about the south burbs though.

Huh?

[whitecollarboy]

Originally Posted by deechee

Huh?

Don't be taken back. Majority of the folks who reside in Country Club Hills and Hazel Crest are teachers, modest doctors, nurses, financial advisor's, construction workers, small black private business entrepreneurs, cta bus drivers, and a lot of army,navy, and marines families are based in these communities i.e. Hazel Crest and CC. Hills.

I think these communities are quite traditional. Overall, it's still one of the best places to race a African American child. They can still hold on to their culture while cultivating a great education and maneuvering themselves into mainstream societies for career goals and beyond. It's sad that it's come to that though. The communities use to be a lot more diverse.

I feel that the only reason why Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills, and Homewood are being considered bad suburbs now are because, of the amount of African Americans, and Latino's in these communities. No one critiques Oak Forest on these same standards. When they all have the same standard housing and issues just in different locations.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by whitecollarboy

Don't be taken back. Majority of the folks who reside in Country Club Hills and Hazel Crest are teachers, modest doctors, nurses, financial advisor's, construction workers, small black private business entrepreneurs, cta bus drivers, and a lot of army,navy, and marines families are based in these communities i.e. Hazel Crest and CC. Hills.

I think these communities are quite traditional. Overall, it's still one of the best places to race a African American child. They can still hold on to their culture while cultivating a great education and maneuvering themselves into mainstream societies for career goals and beyond. It's sad that it's come to that though. The communities use to be a lot more diverse.

I feel that the only reason why Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills, and Homewood are being considered bad suburbs now are because, of the amount of African Americans, and Latino's in these communities. No one critiques Oak Forest on these same standards. When they all have the same standard housing and issues just in different locations.

I appreciate your honest answer. That is exactly how I see it. I wish more people could open their eyes...

I see many white families here, and they don't look like they are anxious to go. They have no reason to. You can still live here and raise your child. I don't know why whites think blacks are always out to get them

I ride through each of these suburbs every day, and not once have I seen a mean spirit. I see happy people minding their own business.

People keep talking about the schools, but they forget that no child is perfect. No one's family is perfect. The only reason people think the schools are bad is because they are more diverse now. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with the schools.

[Humboldt1]

As test scores drop, schools are viewed as "less" good, regardless of race.

When I have kids I care more about sending them to "good" schools than "diverse" schools.

My boss, an African-American lady, has 2 boys. One son attended Oak Park/River Forest High School and now she has a 12 year old that she is considering not enrolling in the high school out of fear of him becoming involved in gangs and the wrong crowd. Personally, I think she may be overreacting, but this is a case of a black person who does not want their child raised around ghetto elements. It is well-known that Oak Park becomes less affluent and more black as you move east towards Austin and white and more affluent as you move towards River Forest.

I would send my kids when I have them (most likely white/hispanic mix) to Oak Park because I view it as a good school. The diversity thing is okay, but that is a secondary consideration. The same is true for people buying homes. If you truly want "diversity" move to my neighborhood, Humboldt Park, we have Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Blacks, but they are almost all from lower socio-economic backgrounds, so not a place most of us with a choice would raise a family. Logan Square, on the other hand, has true diversity, virtually every race and fairly mixed. Personally, I would not raise a family there unless my kids when to Lane Tech as the schools suck in general (Notice the diversity of yuppies is not reflected so much in the school population, which tends to be from less-educated a poorer parents).

Also, diversity tends to happen in neighborhoods that are in transition. Evanston and Oak Park and Hyde Park have remained fairly stable over the years due to their relative affluence. Other suburbs and Chicago communities have not. Even Logan Square, as much as I like it (my neighbor to the north), is in transition. In 10-20 years, many of the schools will be shut down as yuppies who move into the area have no or fewer kids. The same is going on in West Town, east of California and Humboldt Park.

Everyone says they want diversity, but ultimately we go to areas where our kids have the best shot at getting a better life and education to get there.

[bG-1172]

People think just because a place is in the suburbs that its suppose to be clean and nice ,they must aint neva been ta Harvey , 154th (The Village), Robbins Projects on 136th, Ford Heights 12th & Wentworth(The Keyhole and Da Greasy) , they fit right in wit (Englewood , K-town, Roseland)

[deechee]

Can we all breathe a collective sigh?

[04JETTA]

There is no such thing it depends on who you ask

[At1WithNature]

I love cicero...tons of beautiful latinas.