[RebeccaLeigh]

Are you really going to nit pick apart my sentences. I'm not trying to fight here. I am allowed to have an opinion and to state that opinion. Without someone attacking me.

I explained that I went to high school in waterbury, therefore if waterbury closed the schools I did not go. Very simple. Just because I did not go to woodland, I knew everyone who went there. And seeing as how Cheshire is literally across the street for me, I have many friends who went to cheshire schools. I am comparing based on what I have see. My personal veiw, of what the schools were like then and know.

I went to prospect schools for 5 years, and have lived there for the last 13. My grandparents built the house I now live in 55 years ago. When I said that it is the same as when I was there I was refering to the atmosphere of the school, and the cliques. I do not need test scores when I see what is being taught in the grade schools everyday. My sisters are 9,12, they are each in a different prospect school.And my third sister is 14 and in woodland now.

I am not trying to bash Waterbury or Prospect, I pointed out that there are nice aspects to both areas. Pointing out the bad is ok. I was not being gossipy, by giving my point of view. I did not name names or talk behind peoples backs. I said what i felt, and what I see. I admitted that I did exagerate, but exageration does not equal gossip.

I also did not compare waterbury to the other cities, all of which I have been to, I looked at waterbury on it's own, and told about what I see and feel. I don't hate Prospect, but it is not perfect, and pointing out faults is not bashing.

As far as the mayors, for many years the mayor's were corrupt, and Rowland has a right to work, but I, as in me, consider it a bit sketchy, and I know others who are uncomfortable with his current position.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by RebeccaLeigh

Are you really going to nit pick apart my sentences. I'm not trying to fight here. I am allowed to have an opinion and to state that opinion. Without someone attacking me.

I was not being gossipy, by giving my point of view. I did not name names or talk behind peoples backs.

1. I'm not attacking you. I am trying to figure what the "truth" to your statements are. You are presenting information about cities and towns in a false light and not backing it up with any substance.

2. Please remember, millions of people come here looking for information and schoolyard gossip and exaggerations give them a wrong impression. Sometimes life decisions are made based on said information. To exaggerate it is IMO irresponsible.

Listen, I'm not perfect either - never claimed to be. I'm simply trying to nail down what exactly it is you do believe and/or know about these cities because you are contradicting yourself on many fronts.

Just figure if what you are saying is reality and fact or not and post reality and not emotion. Believe me, I too go through emotions on this board and wish to post what I "feel" but then step back and try to look at it in a realistic light. Try to keep in mind what is reality and what is not.

[RebeccaLeigh]

I exagerated once, and the vibe that your comments have feels like an attack. I have explained my statements about the schools and was clear on where I have attended.

I at no point used school yard gossip, I don't gossip and I hate when people do. I stated what I see and what I saw. If someone wants detail about taxes and test scores there are many web sites that they can go to.

I know that when I am considering a move I like to get the views of a place, not just facts, but what people see and how thay feel about a place. How someone feels about a place is important, and can say a lot.

Waterbury can be a nice place to live, but you can't deny that it has had a lot of issues. I gave facts about some of the past mayors,and that waterbury has had a problem with how it is run. When it comes to the mayor's for a lot of years there was someone corrupt in office. Jarjura is doing a good job, and he is trying. Waterbury has no cash though, In HS we used to miss a lot of school because the town can not afford to plow the roads. And while yes taxes are high all over in CT, I know that in Prospect my taxes get the roads plowed, and town stays nice.

I wish waterbury were nicer, When I'm down there I love to look at the older buildings, I honestly think that there is alot that could be done if it was cleaned up. My parents do foster care and I am in waterbury all the time. Downtown, and it's surprising what you see sitting in the dcf parking lot on a saturday.

I know a lot about the area. I lived in Southington from the ages of 1-9, then Prospect since. I went to Prospect schools for 4-8th grade, and then because there was no HS my freshman year I went to Sacred Heart in Waterbury, and chose to stay there. A lot of people in my grade chose to not transfer to woodland for our sophmore year.

As for waterbury, Besides school I volunteer ar Girls Inc. for about 4 years, in the after school program and the summer camp. You learn a lot when you work with kids.
I also had play rehearsal, and plays for school at the mattatuck museum, and would often not get out until midnight. I was friends with a lot of people who lived and still live in Waterbury, and not all in safe areas.


Prospect- My family has been in prospect for over 50 years, actually closer to 60 now. Even before we moved to prospect I was ther all time. My mothers former job, meant that she and I, when I was working for her, knew every business owner in that town. The mayor of prospect is a good friend, and even went so far as to call my mother gimpy when she broke her leg. He's a character. There are many things about Prospect I like, but I have also seen a lot of things about the town that bother me, that the average citizen is not aware of. My mothers job guarenteed that she knew everything that was happening in the town.

Cheshire-the side of the street I live in is Prospect, the other side is cheshire, drives delivery people nuts. I spend a lot of time in cheshire, i go to church there, use there library,and have many friends who live ther and went to school there.

I don't think that I contradicted myself, my writing might be a little scattered but that has to do with the face that I am at work and attached to a phone so Going back and forth I may be scattered.

I love CT, but I try to be honest about what I see, and from my perspective, and when move I like to know all sides of a town. There are always plenty of people to point out the good sides and ignore the bad, I like a whole story.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by RebeccaLeigh

I exagerated once...I gave facts about some of the past mayors...

I promise you I am not trying to pick on you. I don't think you realize yourself what I'm talking about here.

Please let me give some detail based on your first post here.

Originally Posted by RebeccaLeigh

downtown still has a long way to go, business owners can't even be bothered to sweep outside their stores. I live in Prospect, however I went to high-school and waterbury and volunteered in down town waterbury.There is no way I would ever want to live there. The taxes are way to high, 9 out of every ten mayors, is corrupt.
The school system is horrible, I used to tutors kids who went to th epublic schools there.

It's just doesn't feel safe, and for what your paying, you could live in a nicer area. Waterbury is dirty, thats best way to describe it. There are to many renters, who don't care about the property. You drive downtown and you see garbage on every street, and homeless people walking around, it's not nice.

I would have play rehersals at the museum by the green, and we would get out late at night, to see drug dealers on every corner, oh and the hookers two streets over.

business owners can't even be bothered to sweep outside their stores

How do you know that it's the business owners that are responsible? Why are you blaming them? Maybe there is a law or liability that prevents them from "cleaning" public areas and it's the city's problem.

You don't know.

The taxes are way to high

Compared to what? What ARE the taxes? How much is the annual tax rate on the average home in Wtby?

You have no idea.

9 out of every ten mayors, is corrupt

Flat out fabrication.

The school system is horrible

You said the same for Prospect and it turns out your criteria was "gossip". So how do the Waterbury schools stack up to other cities in CT over 100K? How about compared to nationally?

It's just doesn't feel safe

Fair enough. That's your FEELING but I hate to tell you the facts speak differently.

Waterbury is boasting a new ranking that places it among the country's best places to raise a family.

At a time when news around Connecticut is all too often about high crime, high prices, and huge budget deficits, this is something Waterbury officials are clearly relishing.


Low crime was one of the criteria it used. While violent crime has been up all over Connecticut the last five years, in Waterbury it's gone steadily down.

"We've seen five straight years in a row for a city of at least 100,000. There's no one else in the northeast that can say they enjoy a benefit of a reduction in violent crime over the last five years," said Waterbury Police Chief, Neil O' Leary.

The other reasons cited for ranking are good schools, affordable housing, and good government.

WTNH.com, Connecticut News and Weather - Waterbury one of the best places to raise a family

Well how about that!

and for what your paying, you could live in a nicer area.

I hope Rich Lee can add to this as he is Mr Statistic...but I believe Waterbury has one of the lowest median home prices in the state.

There are to many renters, who don't care about the property

How do you know that? Seriously. How do you know whether someone in a "dirty" home is a renter. Wow.

You drive downtown and you see ...homeless people walking around

How do you know they are homeless? Did you ask? Did you follow them to their cardboard box?

and we would get out late at night, to see drug dealers on every corner, oh and the hookers two streets over

How do you know they are drug dealers? Did they just fit that profile a drug dealer has? Did they try and sell to you?

How did you know the other ladies were hookers? Did they approach you for a sale?

You have no clue. One of those ladies might have been waiting for a bus and you caller her a hooker. Nice. Yea maybe she doesn't dress the way you would but so what?

So you see my point? Your entire post is judgemental based on perception and assumptions and accusations you have NO clue are true! If you DO have facts to back up those accusations...post them!

Hope you see my point.

P.S. This is not an attack - trust me.

[Uconn97]

Its fine to share your "feelings" on an area as many on these forums already do. JViellos point it to back some of that up with solid figures which you are failing to provide. Providing information on CT's 5th largest city based soley on your "feelings" does a complete disservice to those who come to this forum looking for good information about a CT city or town. For the record, I think that waterbury still has the highest mill rate in CT at about 55.4, however I'm not sure what the average sales price is which would tell us roughly how the taxes really compare to other cities and towns....

[glxyman21]

Terms of Service

Our opinions on a location or issue are just that, opinions. Highly subjective. Personal preferences. Quirks, even. Leave wiggle room for dialogue, others may not see things the same as you, or been there as long as you, and any one of us can be wrong. Pouncing on someone you disagree with runs contrary to the spirit of this board and its members. We are here to help each other.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Uconn97

Its fine to share your "feelings" on an area as many on these forums already do. JViellos point it to back some of that up with solid figures which you are failing to provide. Providing information on CT's 5th largest city based soley on your "feelings" does a complete disservice to those who come to this forum looking for good information about a CT city or town. For the record, I think that waterbury still has the highest mill rate in CT at about 55.4, however I'm not sure what the average sales price is which would tell us roughly how the taxes really compare to other cities and towns....

For the record, they recently lowered the mill rate from 55.4 to 39 and the city is now running a surplus!

All things aside, I don't think any city or town in CT HISTORY has done such a drastic tax reduction! That fact alone had me doing a double take.

[Uconn97]

Good to know - thanks for the update. My guess is that was partly lowered due to reevaluation, but the surplus is great news too. Thanks for setting the record straight!

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JViello

For the record, they recently lowered the mill rate from 55.4 to 39 and the city is now running a surplus!

All things aside, I don't think any city or town in Connecticut HISTORY has done such a drastic tax reduction! That fact alone had me doing a double take.

Do you happen to know if this is a result of a revaluation (re-assessment)?

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JViello

and for what your paying, you could live in a nicer area.

I hope Rich Lee can add to this as he is Mr Statistic...but I believe Waterbury has one of the lowest median home prices in the state.

I grabbed some "averages" for our largest cities:

$209,249 - 271 single-family properties - Bridgeport
$276,857 - 220 single-family properties - Hartford
$194,322 - 134 single-family properties - New Haven
$546,184 - 335 single-family properties - Stamford
$151,972 - 393 single-family properties - Waterbury

These numbers represent single-family properties that have closed from 01/01/2008 - 09/10/2008.