Black mother trying to find a good Columbus neighborhood (frank post). (Cleveland: rent, high crime)

[BelieveInCleve]

I do agree that the thread starter could have worded it better, but its not that hard to understand why she said that. Most people would prefer living in an area that is mostly people who look and act like them. Hopefully we will get past this one day, but a lot of people still prefer that.

I saw one report that said the average white person lives in a neighborhood that is around 90% white. There have been people on city-data who ask to live in mostly white neighborhoods and they were attacked more than the thread starter, so I also understand why you guys would say that. Racist? maybe. But the thread starter was being honest, so I cant attack her for that.

[Zippy7fo]

Lmaooooooo.......I'm upset that nobody called her out for wanting to live in a middle class neighborhood.. How dare you look down on the poor and upper class....

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by xnyer

If a white person openly stated an outrageous preference to live in a neighborhood that was 60-80% white, they would be prosecuted for committing a hate crime.

Nonsense. Stating a living preference is protected speech. And even if it wasn't, all white person would have to do is express a desire to live in Worthington/Dublin/Grove City/Westerville/Hiliard and you'd be accomplishing essentially the same thing.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

Black or white, just go to college and stop having so many brats and you will not end up in the slums making a living cleaning toilets. End of story.

Hah, yeah, just go to college. Gosh, I wonder why no one's ever thought of that before?

[stupafly]

Hi Sara - I'm white and I don't think I was offended by anything you said. There's nothing wrong with trying to live close to a culture where you feel comfortable when you are moving in from out of town. That being said, I agree with the person who said to stay out of the Linden area - that's a pretty bad neighborhood. I live in Gahanna and it's actually becoming a lot more diverse, and it's a nice neighborhood on the northeast side of Columbus. Areas near here which are predominantly black but still good neighborhoods seem to be in the Mifflin township area. I would go with the Northeast side or the "Northland" area, like Mrb69 says. Streets to look around in my area would be Sunbury Road, Agler Road, Cook Road, Mock Road. I would stay east of Westerville Road on the Northeast side. On the southeast side (closer to Canal Winchester), the suburb of Groveport might be ideal. There are some apartments off East Broad Street by Mount Carmel East hospital called "Cabot's Cove" that you might like - those are actually smaller 3 bedroom single family homes.

[HuskerDu]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

Hah, yeah, just go to college. Gosh, I wonder why no one's ever thought of that before?

They can't and usually don't even try. It pains me (not really).

[HuskerDu]

sorry...really.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

They can't and usually don't even try.

Generalize much?

Perhaps in affluent, whitebread suburbia going to college isn't so much a question as it is a rite, but that isn't the case for many inner-city schoolchildren, who lack the financial resources, tools, knowledge and/or guidance to select, attend and graduate from a college.

And this line of thinking presupposes that a college education is the be all/end all for self-worth and an escape from crime and poverty--as if no one with a college education has ever committed a crime, been unemployed for significant periods of time, and/or didn't find their lives otherwise supremely enriched. A college education can be a rewarding, enriching experience for many, but by no means is it the proper path for everyone.

Rather than making blanket, ill-informed comments about "everyone attending college", perhaps you could put forth some suggestions on how to make college more accessible and/or affordable for inner-city students? Or suggest improvements to our public education system that present these students with the tools necessary to succeed in college? Or recommend vocational and career-training programs as alternatives for those who do not wish to/cannot attend college?

Or maybe you find it easier to rattle off ignorant statements on an Internet message board?

[naturalsoul54]

Columbus is a lot different than Cleveland, with more integrated neighborhoods. There are a lot of nice areas in the city of Columbus, so you don't necessarily have to live in a "suburb." There just may not be rental housing in these areas. Berwick, near Bexley College Ave. McCutcheon Rd area in Northeast Columbus near Stelzer.
One difference is that you may have access to a suburban school district while living technically in Columbus. Like Reynoldsburg schools while living in an Apartment building off of Main St. between Whitehall and Reynoldsburg.

[naturalsoul54]

xyner you are a little overboard with your outrage. Unless it's manufactured. Coming from Cleveland in which many neighborhoods are segregated, she may expect that other cities in Ohio would be similar. Plus there may be neighborhoods that she may move in to that would necessarily welcome her and her children. This is not uncommon in Cleveland. Plus Columbus residents have a much more RURAL mindset. Less cosmopolitan.