white flight (Miami, Coral Gables: crime rates, home, employment)

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by rocketman10

Lots of So Floridians have moved to Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Duval Counties. All in NE FL. We too left So. Fla several years ago. Best decision we ever made.

Friends from down there are also following our lead. Weather is great up this way and much cheaper to live!!

Since we're expressing our opinions on places, I'll express mine. Broward isn't turning "third world;" it's just diversifying. I would much rather live in the dynamic, beautiful region that is South Florida over every single one of those places you named above. I don't understand why people think South Florida is going downhill.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by crisp444

Since we're expressing our opinions on places, I'll express mine. Broward isn't turning "third world;" it's just diversifying. I would much rather live in the dynamic, beautiful region that is South Florida over every single one of those places you named above. I don't understand why people think South Florida is going downhill.

When did that poster say it was "third world"? I don't think they said anything like that at all, sounds like they just didn't like it and moved and saved money to boot. South Florida IS going downhill, as is the US in general, and yes it's going downhill at a faster pace in some ways.

[crisp444]

No one said "third world" in this particular thread; however, I have heard that comment many times in other threads and wanted to juxtapose it with how I see South Florida changing. I don't understand this feeling that South Florida is getting any worse.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by crisp444

No one said "third world" in this particular thread;

Don't jinx it, there was some good rational discussion here despite all of the differing viewpoints .

[crisp444]

Ima bring my "Made in Dade" attitude all up in heeya and tear things up.... Can't stop won't stop until Broward becomes Cuba!! (j/k, obviously)

[NCN]

Originally Posted by Cane Fan

Where do people come up with these stories ... I have lived here for thirteen years and I have never had a place "demand" money before I filled up ... funny that South Florida which is known as top vacation destination would be perceived by someone as a "pretty rough area " where did this person stay in "da hood " ... I find most people love it down here when they visit or vacation it is when you live here that many people change their tunes . Still I hate seeing people take unfair pot shots at South Florida ... again we have enough negatives with out having to hear tripe from posters that are out of state . I vacationed in Savannah , Georgia with family last year and thought it sucked ... hotel was a dump , area was ghetto , we witnessed an armed robbery and it was just plain dirty , yet I would never think of posting that in the Savananh , Georgia forum .. I just think we had some bad luck as well .. it had areas that were quite beautiful and full of history .. it was just a shame that it was in such dire need of upkeep . Again I travel to Houston quite a bit and like the city ( I was born there ) but it has many , many negatives including high crime , gangs , smog , brutal traffic , illegals .. yet I would not post that in the Houston forum .. why be a jerk and hurt native born Houstonians for instance or people that like the area ... hence my amazement at people who post garbage on these South Florida forums from other states !!

Sorry. I did not mean to ruffle your feathers, but when the clerk is behind a glass like a bank, it kind of gives you an idea the area is not safe. There was a guard in the parking lot of our condo and the condo was very nice, but the area was something I was not used to. I guess some of us country people get a little education when we go to other areas and it is bad enough here. I grew up in an area where we did not have to lock our doors when we left home. I had a friend go to Alexandria, Virginia and she said the people at the McDonalds was behind this type window there too. That is all right for the person inside the glass, but how about the poor person needing service. It really gives you an uncomfortable feeling. This is not garbage, it is the truth. We probably will never go back to that timeshare. They always seem to have space available. The room we stayed in there was the prettiest room we have had with our timeshare, but outside the gates was another story.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by NCN

Sorry. I did not mean to ruffle your feathers, but when the clerk is behind a glass like a bank, it kind of gives you an idea the area is not safe. There was a guard in the parking lot of our condo and the condo was very nice, but the area was something I was not used to. I guess some of us country people get a little education when we go to other areas and it is bad enough here. I grew up in an area where we did not have to lock our doors when we left home. I had a friend go to Alexandria, Virginia and she said the people at the McDonalds was behind this type window there too. That is all right for the person inside the glass, but how about the poor person needing service. It really gives you an uncomfortable feeling. This is not garbage, it is the truth. We probably will never go back to that timeshare. They always seem to have space available. The room we stayed in there was the prettiest room we have had with our timeshare, but outside the gates was another story.

Does your timeshare cover Vacation Village or anything in Weston? If you ever want to come back down (you may not after that experience), the area I live is the other big timeshare hotspot and is a much better place to stay. Very safe area and pretty convenient access to attractions, although it is pretty far from the beach. And no, I don't sell timeshares, but you won't see that kind of thing in a gas station out here (except in those modular ones that were designed that way in all places). I totally understand where you are coming from, it is shocking depending on where you were raised and what you are used to!

Palm Aire is beautiful and it can even be a good place to live (retire) believe it or not, but you have to be very careful as a tourist when you exit although as a resident you learn the areas to avoid. It's still generally a dicey part of town except that immediate area.

But I have to say, I have never seen that at a McDonalds before. That is insane!

[NCN]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Does your timeshare cover Vacation Village or anything in Weston? If you ever want to come back down (you may not after that experience), the area I live is the other big timeshare hotspot and is a much better place to stay. Very safe area and pretty convenient access to attractions, although it is pretty far from the beach. And no, I don't sell timeshares, but you won't see that kind of thing in a gas station out here (except in those modular ones that were designed that way in all places). I totally understand where you are coming from, it is shocking depending on where you were raised and what you are used to!

Palm Aire is beautiful and it can even be a good place to live (retire) believe it or not, but you have to be very careful as a tourist when you exit although as a resident you learn the areas to avoid. It's still generally a dicey part of town except that immediate area.

But I have to say, I have never seen that at a McDonalds before. That is insane!

We had our granddaughter with us and the only thing she wanted to do was swim in the Mouse shaped pool. Our daughter-in-law got to play the piano for everybody because there was a piano on the second level and anyone could go by and play and they did. We often heard music coming from there. We were in a protected area, but we did notice the area was a little different. We had a good time, but we are visiting all the condos in our timeshare group, so if we come back to Florida it will probably be Destin, since we have not been there yet. We can also choose, Orlando, Daytona, etc. My favorite place in Florida is Key West. I didn't mean to trash Florida, but we were just wondering what was going on. Again, our room was wonderful. We had two bedrooms(one queen size and one king size), two bathrooms with a huge whirlpool tub in one, a den, a livingroom, dining room and full kitchen, also a washer and dryer and a balcony surrounding the entire thing. We just didn't like that one service station. They were really rude. I usually go pay and my husband pumps. When I went back to the car and told him they wanted the money up front he just said, "I guess they don't want our business" and we just drove off. I had just never seen a service station operate like that before.

Since our granddaughter loved McDonald's and it was part of the shopping center joining the complex, we had a lot of meals there and there was a grocery store adjoining the place too. Not a bad place, but a little different. Nothing more! We were mostly entertaining our granddaughter.

[Cane Fan]

Originally Posted by rocketman10

Lots of So Floridians have moved to Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Duval Counties. All in NE FL. We too left So. Fla several years ago. Best decision we ever made.

Friends from down there are also following our lead. Weather is great up this way and much cheaper to live!!

I love St.John's county and especially Ponte Vedra .. also was very surprised how much I liked Jacksonville ... it is up and coming .. you actually have the seasons , plus the beaches , very nice people for the most part , lower cost of living ... I would live there in a heart beat !!

[Cane Fan]

Originally Posted by MisterNY

Not taking a shot at you, Cane Fan, but you seem to want everyone to sweep everything negative (about South Florida) under the rug. I dont see the reason why you dont want to hear others' experiences. If it's their reality or experience, why shouldn't they be able to express their dislike or displeasure from it? I completely understand where you are coming from, believe me I do, but I fail to see why they should not express it. If their experience was great, and they raved about it being the best place to live, would you honestly prevent them from saying it? You just shared your experience in Savannah and I dont think people from GA are going to come like the Gestapo telling you, "YOu should not have" . I dont get bent out of shape when people have issues with NY. That's their experience, feel free to share.

Another thing, I am used to paying before pumping gas. That has been the norm here and many big cities for ages. Nothing new. The only places I did not have to do that were in Dublin, GA and Upstate NY from what I can honestly remember. Other than that, it's been the norm and there is nothing wrong with it either. Why are people making a fuss over it? Enlighten me here. Am I missing something here?
And, I will not argue over people liking it here for vacation. It's usually been a pleasing experience from friends and family all over.

Mister NY ... my point is that I WOULD NEVER post a negative experience in the Savannah , Georgia , Houston , or San Antonio forums all cities that I have been to in the last year .. and I had negatives in all three ... I did not care to much for San Antonio ... the city is gray and grimy , only the hill country was nice , I saw illegals , gang bangers , ran into my share of rude people , bad drivers ... but AGAIN I DO NOT FEEL COMPELLED TO POST IT ON THEIR FORUMS ... people have enough problems and stress in their lives to have to read garbage about their cities ... not everyone is a jerk or bad driver , or rude in South Florida .. that is a fact thus I fail to see what you think is positive about posting negatives ... also I just took my frustration out on the OP , but every time I go on this forum I see a post from someone who is not from here bashing the area .. I just think that is twisted ... sorry .