Moving to Long Island (New York, Glen Cove: salon, condo, houses)

[Mike98WS6]

I've lived on LI for all of my life. I live in Lindenhurst right now. It's a decent, middle-class town. But I work for the post office so I can take my "New York salary" and move anywhere I want to. I'm moving to Florida. I've had it with LI. So many promises from these overpaid corrupt politicians it makes me sick. Between the taxes and the expenses, ie. LIPA you cant' afford to live here. We pay the highest utilities in the nation and thier customer service blows! IMO, LI is the very near future is going to be for the very rich, and the very poor.

[LongIsland]

Long Island is still a great place to raise a family. No where in this country can you find the quality of education for your children.

One poster in this thread complained how they could not get their kids involved in activities beacuse of the crowding. To that person I would like to suggest you look into the extra-curricular activities offered by your school system (with only a few exceptions all school districts offer a tremendous and varied list of activities), scouting, churches, Kiwanis Key Clubs, Town summer programmes, and many others, all of which are either free or at cost.

To the original poster of this string, I suggest you contact the local Chamber of Commerce, or any number of local civic associations that can be found in virtually all towns in Long island for information about their community. One poster mentioned some North Shore and South Shore towns. They are all fine but they are also fairly far from NYC (if that is where your spouse will be working).Take a look at a map and decide just how far or long you are willing to travel to/from work. The public transportation system (ie: Long Island Railroad) in and out of Manhattan is pretty good but crowded during peak hours. Expect to travel at least 1 hour each way into Manhattan.

As far as teaching, Long Island has the highest paid salaries in the country (along with Police Officers) but we also expect the best. All must have a degrees for their respective fields. You may have to wait a while for openings, but they are well worth the wait. In the meantime, involve yourself in local community affairs. You will get to know the kids and their parents, which can only help you in the long run.

I do not know where you are moving from, but if you like water, Long Island can't be beat. From boating (Great South Bay & Atlantic Ocean in the South, Long Island Sound to the North) to beaches (who in the USA has not heard of Jones Beach?), this is a wonderful place. If you are or want to be a boater, I would suggest the South shore area where you can purchase a house right on the water and step into your boat, of course the prices are quite a bit higher than land-locked homes (generally costing 400-600K), but you will never lose on this investment. The North Shore has beautiful vistas overlooking the Long Island Sound but you will need to trailer your boat or keep it in a Marina unless you are very well off (ever read The Great Gatsby?).

Every town has good and bad points but they all have one thing in common, they all want the best for their families.

I live and work in Lindenhurst, within the Town of Babylon, within Suffolk County. I grew up in Massapequa, within the Town of Oyster Bay, within Nassau County. I love both. Their school systems are wonderful, the civic organizations are many, the opportunities for enjoyment abound.

Long Island is what you make it to be.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Long Island is still a great place to raise a family. No where in this country can you find the quality of education for your children.

Long Island is what you make it to be.

If you net $15,000 - $20,000 a month after taxes and don't mind spending $5,000 on housing expenses per month, $3,000 on clothing, another $3,000 on entertainment & "activities", $1,000 on gas & upkeep for car, another $2,000 a month on restaurants, then yes Long Island is still a great place to raise a family.

Unfortunately, not everyone lives in your hedonistic fantasy world and makes $200,000 - $500,000 a year. Making less than $100,000 a year anywhere in NYC or Long Island is a very hard struggle. Not to mention that everyone is defined by what they have and what they are wearing

[GypsySoul22]

If you are well off, you can't beat Long Island. However, most people aren't so if they have any sense, they leave.

I believe the educational aspect is over-rated. 26 kids per class...not very good IMO..very high taxes for ?

[mmdj43]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

I believe the educational aspect is over-rated. 26 kids per class...not very good IMO..very high taxes for ?

I have to agree. Yes, the schools are good, but they are not perfect either. And little by little we're hearing stories of how some of the school districts infated their high ratings to get excellent school report cards. And with the very high taxes that we're paying, we don't have much to show for it. When it snows, we have the town coming once thru the night (if we're lucky) to plow the streets. And our street has been in dire need to be replaced, not repaired. After 6 years of the residents on our block complaining about the road, they finally came, but only to repair it. So we have patchwork. But a politician around the corner from us has his street sealed every year since it was completely replaced several years ago (which was still in better shape than our street). Guess it makes a world of difference to have political connections.

[GypsySoul22]

mmdj43--you've hit the nail on the head. Long Island is very 'old boy' network. I also know what I am talking about because it is VERY hard (not just a 'waiting game') to get a teaching job here. (I've been a certified teacher since 1991 and unless you KNOW someone (meaning you are a shoo in) you don't even get an interview. Not even in your 'local school.'

Obviously anyone studying LI can see how many 'adminstrators' both in schools and in government have been in the news for corruption/bribes/stealing money. Not that this doesn't happen all over, but when people are being taxed to death, their kids crammed into schoolrooms, bragging about 'greatest place to live' is sort of a joke.

As for getting 'my child' involved in 'cheap local activities' there aren't any. Also because I don't have the money for the overpriced second car (plus over priced gas/overpriced insurance to pay for all the 'awful drivers' here) I can't get my son to these 'free' activities. Just to go to my local 'town' beach means I HAVE to get a pass from town hall.

His school (when they have these so called 'free' activities-which they don't) charge $8 per session (one session), no transportation home, and you better 'win the lottery' to get into it.

We take him out on the weekend and at night or we WALK to what little is available here. (risking being hit by RUDE drivers because sidewalks/crossings are few and far between.

Oh, and as for 'great bus service' here, it doesn't exist (the bus stops north of sunrise..meaning I would HAVE to cross Sunrise Hwy (without a walking lane) with a child.

I've lived in better places, and for me, this isn't it. (don't know why I moved back here..)

By the way, I don't mean to slam people who 'love it here' because I don't doubt you do if you live well. (or have debt).

[Glen NY]

I wanted to comment on how much I disagree with the comments of member "Long Island" and that is why I moved. Yet in her/his defense many of our freinds thought we were crazy to leave Long Island, many cheered us. There are several families that we were very close with and they seem pretty comfortable. Each family makes a combine salary of over 250k, none are living fancy. They have average cars and small homes, but they live nice, nothing fancy

[ny2scottsdale]

I have lived on Long Island most of my life, but many other places too ..Long Island is a great place to live and work.. There are many interesting and charming towns, with diverse topography and character. Yes the taxes are high...because the library and school systems are among the best in the country...the teachers the highest paid. Lots of cultural opportunities...Check out the townships of Huntington and Smithtown..and all the villages in those townships. Northport, East Northport Huntington Greenlawn Commack, all great places...I am most familiar with the NOrth Shore;;the South Shore is completely different..Perhaps another poster from that area could suggest towns there. The traffic is no picnic, but you can learn to deal with it, and travel on off hours....If you work near where you live then that will eliminate the problem. I have family scattered all over from Long Island to Texas an Phoenix. Each area has its attributes and problems and life is what you make of it. You will find an abundance of cultural opportunities here, many museums, performing arts theatres, may things to do ...There are some wealthy towns where some of the people can be a bit snobby as a prior poster suggested, but overall I find the people to be as friendly and down to earth as you will find. I suggest renting a home until you have an opportunity to explore and research....YOu may get a job in a certain area and that will dictate where you live. Make it an adventure..You will find a town that suits your lifestyle. Good luck with your move!!

[fopt65]

Originally Posted by NickL28

If you net $15,000 - $20,000 a month after taxes and don't mind spending $5,000 on housing expenses per month, $3,000 on clothing, another $3,000 on entertainment & "activities", $1,000 on gas & upkeep for car, another $2,000 a month on restaurants, then yes Long Island is still a great place to raise a family.

Unfortunately, not everyone lives in your hedonistic fantasy world and makes $200,000 - $500,000 a year. Making less than $100,000 a year anywhere in NYC or Long Island is a very hard struggle. Not to mention that everyone is defined by what they have and what they are wearing

Not sure where you're getting your figures from, but I can assure you that an average middle class Long Islander doesn't net or spend as much as you claim. Decent houses can still be purchased, albeit without the bells and whistles that you could get for the same price in a different, upcoming area. Just remember that a popular, upcoming area equals an explosion in property tax rate in the future as schools and roads need to be built, people added to the payrolls of the local goverment etc.
I don't know why you seem so focused on what a "hedonistic" world Long Island is. Sure, you have areas like the Hamptons, and the Gold Coast, but don't worry, NONE of us will have have to worry about living there. The vast majority of Long Island, and outer boroughs of NYC are still primarily filled with hard working people who are sacrificing to remain in the area.

[GypsySoul22]

I think the lastest statistic were to 'live on Long Island' your family had to make at least $60,000 thought I find this hard to believe (maybe you have a trust fund somewhere you can live off?).

Anyone who wants to buy his or her own house now, be prepared to plunk down $300,00 on average.

Get Newsday or go online and look at house prices. Look for a LEGAL apartment (if you can find one!). Now go look for your second job, and your spouse's job and someone (hey, maybe Grandma) to watch your kids. Don't have that? Then you better get a nice downpayment or get off the island.