Why do you hate it here? (Palm Beach, Harlem: credit, high school, vs.)

[Refuge51]

Originally Posted by adam.g.harpool

I'm not an idiot, but yes, finding such BLATANT anti-Hispanic racism prominently on display is a tad shocking. If that were targeted against Blacks (which I am, for the record), I don't think that it would be tolerated to the same degree that it is when Hispanics are the target.

I'm just frankly sick of reading about people who move to Florida, especially South Florida, and then become utterly shocked and irritated that everyone doesn't look like them. Nobody is keeping them here; there are plenty of roads leading to Nebraska, Kansas, or Kentucky if they want to live in some 95% conservative rural WASP paradise. They do nothing to inform people about the region, and as citizens they do nothing to advance a constructive dialogue to help solve our real problems such as poverty, crime, traffic, and lack of educational attainment. Complaining about the horrible mess that is I-95 during rush hour is one thing; complaining about having "too many Cubans in my neighborhood" is nothing but racism at its lowest, dirtiest level.

I live in Nebraska, and we have lots of Hispanics here. Wonderful family oriented people who include their children in everything. I love living near them because they beautify their homes with such great handiwork, and care, and it's usually something they have made or sewn. My sister's neighbors are hispanic and sometimes they come over and shovel the snow from her walk just as an act of kindness because they know she's not physically able. We all gotta live together in the same country..and they sure are doing their part.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by fauve

And, you've just proved your own point.

Lol, here's a hint for ya, because you're glaringly "obvious": Stop trying so hard. You'll go a lot further in those circles you desperately want to be a part of.

[fauve]

Tungsten...we owned a house in Delray, and I am about to buy an apartment on Atlantic Ave in order to rent it out. Your argument regarding whether *** A LOCAL **** can ever possibly know an area better than non-locals is specious on its face.

Hope that's clear now. Gotta run out for a bit. It's been fun.

[fauve]

Lol, here's a hint for ya, because you're glaringly "obvious": Stop trying so hard. You'll go a lot further in those circles you desperately want to be a part of.

When did I say I wanted to be a part of any "circle"? I grew up on the upper east side for heaven's sake. If I wasn't in the very center of the circle, I certainly flitted about it. I know better than you what you're intimating I'm about.

Now, I really have to go.

[planetsurf]

Originally Posted by fauve

I don't participate in church activities because I'm not aware of them because I am not religious. I'll look into that - thanks.

I'm Jewish! Their concert series has nothing to do with the "church" part -- it just happens to be just about the best "event" going on during the summer.

Originally Posted by fauve

I recognize that there are activities to enjoy, but I just don't find that "progressive tilt" that intellectuals bring to many of the towns I have mentioned.

Agree!

Good luck.

[Desdemona25]

Originally Posted by BornInFL

Not to put words into her mouth, but if she doesnt like what S FL has become, why would she like NYC? Its the same people pretty much, lol.

Actually, that's a lot to do with it. I'm a Florida native (3rd generation at that) and I don't like how the place has turned. It's also become too expensive for me to live here. I've really outgrown my current place of residence, but cannot afford to upgrade. How fair is it that me, a lifelong resident, will pay more in taxes for a house that is half the size of what my former inlaws own only because they bought it in 1989? I was only 14 years old then, so it wasn't like I was going to be buying property back then.

I'm one of many natives that has been priced out.

[Desdemona25]

Originally Posted by fauve

^^^^Although, in fairness, I can think of at least 3 great national politicians from the area off the top of my head (at least in Brwd and Plm beach)....Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ron Klein and David Wexler.

Schultz and Klein, I'll agree with. A former acquaintance of mine actually worked for Klein in the law practice he was a partner in prior to being elected and said he was wonderful. Apparently he lives close by to me too, go figure.

Robert Wexler, I have issues with him. His so-called residence was his inlaws' condo that was located in a 55+ community. He has a family for goodness sake! Technically, he should have been a representative for the state of Maryland since that's where his residence actually is. But then he ended up ghost-renting an apartment within his district.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by fauve

When did I say I wanted to be a part of any "circle"? I grew up on the upper east side for heaven's sake. If I wasn't in the very center of the circle, I certainly flitted about it. I know better than what you're intimating I'm about.

Now, I really have to go.

From the center of the Upper East Side "Circle" to live amongst the dregs and hoi polloi of Delray Beach. Oh heavens.

If only everyone could live in proximity to culture and intellectualism, they too will become cultured and intellectual through an osmosis-like process. After all, look what it's done for Harlem!

Buffy, Mimsy, to the jet!

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Desdemona25

Actually, that's a lot to do with it. I'm a Florida native (3rd generation at that) and I don't like how the place has turned. It's also become too expensive for me to live here. I've really outgrown my current place of residence, but cannot afford to upgrade. How fair is it that me, a lifelong resident, will pay more in taxes for a house that is half the size of what my former inlaws own only because they bought it in 1989? I was only 14 years old then, so it wasn't like I was going to be buying property back then.

I'm one of many natives that has been priced out.

Is it the taxes or the home prices that is keeping you locked out? Because home prices are ripe for bargain hunters. The "fairness" of whatever your neighbor is paying should not calculate into your analysis of home affordability.

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by fauve

Hope that's clear now. Gotta run out for a bit. It's been fun.

Hmm . . . but the problem is that I wouldn't agree with, "It's not the case that a local could ever know an area better than a non-local". I'd say, "No, that's false".

Did they teach you guys what a "straw man" is at Nova?

One of the reasons I'd say that proposition is false is because it's very vague. Know what about an area? About what area--the town(s) (and actually we should say the streets) the local lives and works in(/on) (and travels back and forth to work on)? Or towns/streets that the local just visits every once in awhile, and maybe knows someone from that area? Etc.

There are many variables there. Sometimes the local could know something about an area better than a non-local could. Sometimes the non-local could know something about an area better than a local could.

Not all locals and non-locals are the same for such things. A non-local who lived somewhere longer than the local in question, had more of the relevant experiences, etc. could easily know something much better than a local. If it's something that the local hardly ever does, or somewhere that the local hardly ever goes, then they're in exactly the same boat with a non-local who does those things or visits those places occasionally . It hardly matters that one person has to travel 1100 miles to the location in question and the other person only has to travel 30 or 40. Neither of them live in that exact location.

For example, someone who has been living in Florida for ten years but visits friends and relatives in Hackensack regularly since they've lived in Florida could easily know way more about Hackensack, NJ than I do, even though I live only 14 miles away from it. I don't know anyone who lives in Hackensack, and I've only been there a handful of times. There wasn't any particular reason for me to go back there, although I've certainly driven around it hundreds of times, but that doesn't tell me anything about it. So I'm a local--I'm in that area, but that person is going to know more about Hackensack than I do.

Likewise, there are people who live in the same building that I live in who would know absolutely nothing about particular neighborhoods and streets just 10-15 blocks away in Jersey City. They never go there. They do not know anyone who lives there. How the heck would they know anything about them? (And the only reason I know something about them is because I take long walks every day (at least on the days when I can't do a "real" hike).)

Now, someone who used to live in Jersey City, even if they lived here for 30 years, say, but who tries to avoid it now, and has since, say, 1995, I might argue with (and have right here on City-Data) that they don't really know what it's like NOW, as it's changed a lot since 1995, and, well, they've admitted that they haven't really been in it at all since 1995. However, I wouldn't say, "You don't live here" as a response to them if they spend a month or two per year living in Jersey City. That would be pretty stupid for me to say. Then, "You don't live here" would only be relevant for something like a claim about what Jersey City is like during a particular season now, where it's something that's changed in recent years and where they've said that they do not live here during that season.

Also, people who live in an area don't all live there the same amount of time. Some people travel for business. Some people take vacations. So wherever most folks go, they do not usually go there for 365 days per year (unless we're talking about someone's home and it's just someone who never goes anywhere for more than a day trip). So just how often do folks have to be in whatever specific locations we're talking about for them to be qualified to say something about it, to know as much about it as someone else? (And actually, there were a few years when I lived in Florida, where that was my ONLY "permanent address", when my "location" data up there would have said, "Royal Palm Beach", where I was actually in the state fewer days out of the year than I've been there in the last few years--because I was on the road as a musician more than I was at home.)

. . . it seems absurd to me that I have to even bother explaining any of this, but, well . . .