Back of the Yards War Zone (Chicago: apartments, house, to live in)

[jwaiter]

[jwaiter]

The top 400 wealthiest americans own the same wealth as the bottom 150 million (50%).

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Assuming you're serious, all I can say is some of our south and west side brethren don't know nearly as much about the north side as they think they do.

Yes, Yuppie is a hugely derogatory term amongst most people I know. Why? Well, you can look it up, but it essentially is a slur to describe the gentrifiers who forced loads of people out of their neighborhoods.

In recent years it has taken on even more negative overtones to describe the tone-deaf types who see removing blue collar and less-than-6 figure making people as "urban renewal."

Or, you could also buy a used copy of any collection of Mike Royko's columns, he covered the topic in depth.

Yes, exactly on all fronts. I totally agree with you for why it's a derogatory term and also that people on the south/west sides don't know as much about the north side as they think they do - and the same can be said about north siders not knowing as much about the south/west sides as they think they do. The funny thing is that some people stereotype the entire north side as all white, when in reality, the areas like Uptown, Albany Park, Rogers Park, etc are all decently integrated amongst many races.

[jonnynonos]

Yes, well, some news has broken to make the whole thing even more depressing: The machine gunning essentially lacked a motive!

That's right: A gangbanger had been shot at earlier in the day so he and his pals simply drove by the park and sprayed it because it was in the other gang's territory. They weren't even going after a specific person!

Woo-hoo progress!

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by treemoni

Nice diversion tactic.

I presume having an education makes one a yuppie? Seriously? Hahahahahaha. Gee, I must be a yuppie too.

I can't really divert from something that doesn't exist, and that would be anything of value from you. Are you under the delusion we all want our neighborhoods to be more like West Garfield Park?

Please, educate us, O Wise One.

And yeah, you're on a computer and live in an urban area. So if you're less than 60 years old, yep, you're a yuppie too.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Yes, exactly on all fronts. I totally agree with you for why it's a derogatory term and also that people on the south/west sides don't know as much about the north side as they think they do - and the same can be said about north siders not knowing as much about the south/west sides as they think they do. The funny thing is that some people stereotype the entire north side as all white, when in reality, the areas like Uptown, Albany Park, Rogers Park, etc are all decently integrated amongst many races.

There's a huge divide, no doubt. And it's true that north siders can be clueless about other parts of the city, but nobody here is really personifying that (when we get a self-identifying Chad or LP Trixie, it'll be different).

In my experience, in the past 20 years it's been the south and west siders who are lucky.

Be wary when the developers/real estate cabal sets its sight on your neighborhood. What comes in short order is a lot of crappy construction and your friends and family being uprooted from their neighborhood. Progress is inevitable, but it doesn't mean much to those who can't afford to stick around and enjoy it.

[Chi-town Native]

btw, I was in the Back of Yards all day yesterday. Taking public transportation, even! I somehow survived.

I imagine it has something to do with not being stupid enough to time my visit with being in a place known for problems late on school nights.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

btw, I was in the Back of Yards all day yesterday. Taking public transportation, even! I somehow survived.

I imagine it has something to do with not being stupid enough to time my visit with being in a place known for problems late on school nights.

I'm glad you survived but that does nothing to negate the fact that it's a gang infested warzone.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

I'm glad you survived but that does nothing to negate the fact that it's a gang infested warzone.

In relative terms, yes, it's gang infested.

But I do wonder what that term actually means, in terms of hard stats.

What % of residents in an area have to be affiliated/self-identify with a gang for it to meet that threshold?

I have no idea. It seems like a pretty fluid kind of description which has to do with the feel of public spaces in the evening.

Meaning, I suspect that 90% of people in the Back of the Yards have nothing whatsoever to do with gangs and just avoid areas that are known to be problematic/hot spots.

They shouldn't have to do that, of course. In a perfect world I ought to be able to go out to a park at 10 pm and do whatever I damned well please. But knowingly putting your kids at risk is a different matter IMO.

[urza216]

My friend used to live in Back of The Yards.. He moved out because of issues with his roommates not the neighborhood. It varies block by block. There are parts you probably want to avoid but it's not really the whole neighborhood..