Do you sometimes think of moving out of Chicago? (Normal: taxes, living in)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by alyssa luvs mojitos

Another thing I've always hated about Chicago is the lack of restrooms.

I've had this problem in pretty much every large American city I've been in. Europeans still belive in a public realm, but in America an open restroom is an invitation to the homeless to ruin it. It's particularly hard if you're a tourist and happen to get food poisoning or some other stomach ailment...

[alyssa luvs mojitos]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I've had this problem in pretty much every large American city I've been in. Europeans still belive in a public realm, but in America an open restroom is an invitation to the homeless to ruin it. It's particularly hard if you're a tourist and happen to get food poisoning or some other stomach ailment...

i have to kindly disagree. I think that the major cities like NY, Chicago, LA they might be harder to come by. but I don't have an issue in every large city in Ameirca. For a place with this many businesses you would think there would be more restrooms . Thats all.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

the 2000 census has bridgeport at >98% white.

Really?

White 41.0% Black 1.05% Hispanic 30.2% Asian 26.1% Other 1.63%

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

You are right, I was way too vague in my statement.

There is a big difference between coming in and spending your money and moving in or stopping at a park to shoot hoops etc...the 2000 census has bridgeport at >98% white.

I moved away 9 years ago but still have a number of friends\family in the area. I'm glad to hear it has improved a lot.

You are equating the treatment that people spending their money at stores are receiving vs. that of a kid that comes from one of the neighboring developments to play ball at one of the parks. I think that is where I was unclear and our opinions diverge.

The 2000 census showed that Bridgeport wasn't even majority white, much less >98% white. Also, I'm not equating anything with anything. I responded specifically to your implication that black people can't even go into Bridgeport without getting beat down or harassed by the cops.

I don't know how long it's been since you lived here or if you ever even spent any time in Bridgeport when you did. But you really need to re-evaluate what you think you know about the place.

[Lookout Kid]

My guess is that the hispanic population in Bridgeport now outnumbers the white population. I guess we'll see after the 2010 Census data is released. But it's pretty silly to assume a black person would be assaulted for walking into Bridgeport in 2009. That place does have a racist past, and I'm sure there are still many racists living there today, but they have lost their grip on the neighborhood.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by ManheimMadman

FWIW, in my search, every white landlord used the word ni**er. Obviously, I assume that they don't freely use it in casual conversation (or maybe they do?) I don't think there is too much of a correlation between saying the word and actually going out and beating up blacks.

Well, if they are willing to use that term around a stranger who is discussing business, I'm guessing they use it quite freely. It's strange to me. I've never heard any white person use the n-word in Chicago, but I'm not exactly hanging out with a lot of gritty South Side white guys who are in the trenches of neighborhood racial change. I do know a few, though.

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Well, if they are willing to use that term around a stranger who is discussing business, I'm guessing they use it quite freely. It's strange to me. I've never heard any white person use the n-word in Chicago, but I'm not exactly hanging out with a lot of gritty South Side white guys who are in the trenches of neighborhood racial change. I do know a few, though.

Good point. My grandfather used the word quite a bit, and he was a burly union piledriver from Bucktown. I'm only guessing that he was set in his ways from the 40's and 50's.

Of all the landlords with whom I spoke, only 1 was relatively young (in his 40's.) The others were very old school 'Porties, which could explain why they were like that.

[Drover]

Yeah, using the word with a complete stranger constitutes "casual conversation" to me. The only white person in Chicago I ever heard use that word casually was a girl from Beverly my brother dated -- briefly, as it would turn out. I don't doubt there are some crusty old dudes in Bridgeport who still use it casually among themselves, but to use it with a complete stranger strikes me as very odd.

[j33]

I've thought about moving on occasion. I really like New England and the Pacific Northwest and have debated seriously the merits of both. However, the reality is, if I were to make the plunge, it would probably be to New England, where I have family. I grew up here in the burbs (and still have family there), and moved up north to the city in 92, and I can't quite see myself making the trek back out to them anytime soon. However, I could see myself enjoying a smaller New England town reasonably close to Boston like where some of my family live.

[Lookout Kid]

I'm pretty sure I'll be moving out of Chicago proper before my kids are in Kindergarten (and definitely before they are both in Kindergarten). I'm just not willing to play the game with CPS selective admissions, and all of the good neighborhood schools are in areas that are either too expensive or just not a good fit for us. And we want a house, even if it's a small house.

We'll probably just move to an inner-ring Chicago suburb, however. The only other cities that are still convenient for us from a family perspective are unappealing for one reason or another. I love Boston, New York, SF, and DC--but it's nice to be able to go to Grandma's house without booking plane tickets for the entire family.