West Park area? (Cleveland, Lakewood, Strongsville: insurance, budget, apartments)

[121804]

Originally Posted by WeSoHood

John Marshall isn't a HS I'd want kids to go to. All of the cities you listed are in or close to the city, affordable, and not typically 'bland' compared to other areas of Cleveland I've been. They actually have character.

John Marshall isn't a school i think anyone would WANT to go to or send their child too...

[cleveburg]

Originally Posted by WeSoHood

On a side note, if anyone thinks Rocky River is expensive.. they haven't lived ANYWHERE outside of Cleveland. Their ignorance shines through. Rocky River is a prosperous community - but not nearly as expensive as other cities around Cleveland. Honestly, live outside of Cleveland and tell me Rocky River is expensive... I will laugh in sheer irony of your reports.

Wow . . . can't let that one go can ya? Come on now Wesohood . . . are you on their city council or something . . . LOL!! Just kidding. Lighten up:-)

[WeSoHood]

Originally Posted by cleveburg

Wow . . . can't let that one go can ya? Come on now Wesohood . . . are you on their city council or something . . . LOL!! Just kidding. Lighten up:-)

I don't even live in Rocky River. I just hate when people get the hasty generalization about how pretentious River is. Hell, the median family income (via city data) is $52,000. Avon Lake, Westlake, Bay Village, Olmsted Falls, etc all have higher median family incomes. Rocky River, Fairview, Lakewood, and North Olmsted are all about the same.

I just hate when people perceive Rocky River as very expensive when in reality, it's not the 70s. Most communities on the west side and all over Cleveland have surpassed Rocky River in terms of cost of living.

121804 makes some very good points as well.

[TheProf]

OK, I'll give you guys the Cleveland schools; that's a downer for practically everyone who lives w/in the City (except those in the Shaker Sq area who send their kids to Shaker schools)... But come on, I think you guys are a tad too negative about West Park. You make it sound like a glorified cesspool. It's a shame that, even w/ some of the problems you've noted, more of you aren't committed to staying and helping as opposed to running deep into the burbs -- a sad Cleveland tradition... I don't live in the WP area, but I can't believe it is as bad as you guys say. I actually have a WP refugee, who now lives in Beachwood, who misses WP every day.

[tribecavsbrowns]

Originally Posted by 121804

North Olmsted?? Heck no! I am not even going to go down that route of what N.O. is turning into. Schools are awful.

I think you should go "down that route" if you are going to refer to what is generally considered one of the best school systems in Cleveland as "awful." You might even know what you're talking about, but I think you need to explain yourself.

[tribecavsbrowns]

Originally Posted by TheProf

But come on, I think you guys are a tad too negative about West Park. You make it sound like a glorified cesspool. .

Don't you think you're being a little too sensitive? All I read in this thread was "nice area, schools suck, not enough cops." What in the world is inaccurate about that?

[TheProf]

^Can't be sensitive b/c I'm an East Sider who's only visited WP. It just seems folks seem a little hard on the area... I do get a little tired of the 'let's run to the lilly-white suburbs and everything will be alright' mentality. It's part of the reason Cleveland's losing so much population.

[cleveburg]

Originally Posted by TheProf

^Can't be sensitive b/c I'm an East Sider who's only visited WP. It just seems folks seem a little hard on the area... I do get a little tired of the 'let's run to the lilly-white suburbs and everything will be alright' mentality. It's part of the reason Cleveland's losing so much population.

Oh, that's right! It has nothing to do with the administration(s) that have run the city in the ground. High taxes, lousy schools, high crime rates.

and by the way . . . it's not only WHITES that go to the burbs. I LIVED in the hood of the lowest part of the West side. I fought my way out and would NEVER go back! I make absolutely NO apologies. Why do I say this? Because the people need to WANT to help themselves! I'm called a "sell-out" and "lucky" because I chose to bust my a** to get an education, work my way up, and want a better life for my kids. So don't give me that crap that we need to stay and make a difference. People have tried and it isn't working.

People need to WANT to help themselves!

[TheProf]

Excuse me, we're talking about WEST PARK, not the LOWEST PART OF THE WEST SIDE. So your comments are irrellevant... and for the record, I have all those attributes you talk about: education (3 college/university degrees) and hard work. And yet, I live happily in the City and have no inkling to rant like you, nor do my City friends. Why? Because it's a CITY. If you don't know how to handle the urban experience, of course you're free to leave, which you have. It's a free country... But please, don't bore us w/ your lame: hate the city with all it's lazy, criminal people (citizens and pols) who don't want to work rant. It's tired. It's stereotypical. And most importantly, it's boty OLD and TIRED.

[cleveburg]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Excuse me, we're talking about WEST PARK, not the LOWEST PART OF THE WEST SIDE. So your comments are irrellevant... and for the record, I have all those attributes you talk about: education (3 college/university degrees) and hard work. And yet, I live happily in the City and have no inkling to rant like you, nor do my City friends. Why? Because it's a CITY. If you don't know how to handle the urban experience, of course you're free to leave, which you have. It's a free country... But please, don't bore us w/ your lame: hate the city with all it's lazy, criminal people (citizens and pols) who don't want to work rant. It's tired. It's stereotypical. And most importantly, it's boty OLD and TIRED.

All this coming from a person that has only "visited" WP. And if you actually read the post, you would see that I WAS referring to WP *AND* the entire reason for referring to *where* I grew up (oh, and I did LIVE in WP too) is in response to your comment about "let's run to the lilly-white suburbs and everything will be alright mentality," and . . . that "It's a "shame that more of you aren't committed to staying and helping as opposed to running deep into the burbs." Your implying a "sell-out" mentality and are making the assumption that nobody on this thread has helped try and make the community better. Careful on the assumptions.

I don't consider growing up in the hood not handling the *urban experience* - - - it's called wanting a better life and leaving drugs, crime, and poor educational standards. --- CASE IN POINT: THIS is exactly why people are leaving WP!

So next time, maybe you should *comprehend* what you actually read. After all, you do have three degrees. And most importantly, your typical comment is OLD and TIRED.

Have a great day!