The Supposed Affluence of PG County (Potomac: credit, equity, relocate)

[JaBradshaw]

That was a different era MarlowHeights.

[adio]

readin all this hurts my feelings

[doubbltunman]

Originally Posted by laurelengineer

...Lest we have 8 thousand "PG sucks/PG's Great" back-and-forths that are tired and useless, frankly. The reason for the affluence/Crime dichotomy is largely one of poor planning and corruption in 60 and seventies that resulted in many cheap garden-style apartments inside the beltway. Hence, they became the future breeding grounds of crime. This happens often. Here's the dichotomy part - Outside the beltway, none of this happened. Instead you have mostly single-family neighborhoods and the general peace/comfort that goes along with them. As a result, outside the beltway, it is a rare house that is under 400k. Inside the beltway, it is a rare house that is over it.
Now, toward solving the problem:
This really hasn't been highly publicized, but PG is slowly tearing down all those crime factories and replacing them with owner-occupied condos/townhouses, thus forcing out the crime producers. Since PG outside the beltway is unaffordable to most, it is highly likely that many would-be criminals will leave the county entirely, thus accomplishing 2 thing simultaneously: raising test scores and reducing crime levels. In fact, we are already seeing this. As reported in the Washington Examiner (but, strangely, not the Post), violent crime is down 10% year over year with car thefts down 30%!!! These numbers will continue to go down as the process of cleansing the county of the poor and unwanted continues. I hate to sound like some spiteful republican, but this strategy is the only one that has been shown to consistently work.
Finally, Would i move to Marlow Heights? Not a chance. Not even 10 years from now.
Would I move to another inside-the-beltway community on the Northern Green Line? You bet I would. The main difference between the two areas - jobs, jobs, jobs. And lots of private/public investment.

Hold on there partner!!!! I left P.G. county for what it has become!! And I wont speak for all other people who live in surrounding jurisdictions, but I will for those I know and myself. Let's hold the mess right at the border! Let's build a whole lot more apartments in laurel and calverton/beltsville. I will speak for myself when saying where are all these criminals going to go? Let's keep them all right in P.G. county in the border, and build more apartments and public housing. P.G. county created the mess it's in, and it's unfair to the surrounding counties to receive "any" "none" "zero" of "it's" "mess".

[lscalder]

No you hold on partner majority of the crime in Pg county happens at the border of SE DC and Pg county. Other surrounding areas county such as Montgomery county did the same thing, increase property tax out price lower income families out of the county now we are sending the crime back to the areas it came from. In Landover the couny is tearing down all of the apartments close to FED ED field and developing upscale condos,single family and townhomes with upscale shopping. The county is offering fewer section8 and public assistant so those folks have no choice but to go to Montgomery county,Charles or Baltimore city and county to receive public assistant. The county is putting millions to billions of dollars into the less desirable areas hoping to out price the area to get rid of lower income families. Areas such as Suitland,Hyattsville,District Heights are getting plenty of money from the county to build upscale communites,shopping and dining.

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by doubbltunman

Hold on there partner!!!! I left P.G. county for what it has become!! And I wont speak for all other people who live in surrounding jurisdictions, but I will for those I know and myself. Let's hold the mess right at the border! Let's build a whole lot more apartments in laurel and calverton/beltsville. I will speak for myself when saying where are all these criminals going to go? Let's keep them all right in P.G. county in the border, and build more apartments and public housing. P.G. county created the mess it's in, and it's unfair to the surrounding counties to receive "any" "none" "zero" of "it's" "mess".

What you write is strategic, wise and the best way for PG to move forward. It will create a better life for the remaining citizens. PG is to be applauded. Now to the other side of the coin and that being the recepients of the now displaced population. Their concerns are very accurate also. One person's property value gain will come at the expense of another. You can see it happening in Columbia now. Maryland has a tremendous challenge which is about to become even greater as revenues and thus services decline. The haves and the have nots competing for services. Those who pay more than their fair share of taxes competing with those who pay less than the norm. It is a challenging future that will impact the quality of life in the state for the next 100 years. Hoping that BRAC will change the equation is wishful thinking that may provide a bit of short term relief but one that will not address the overall equation. Education and test scores are one indicator of the change and we know what they do to property values.

[br1027]

I have lived in Prince George's County on and off for almost 50 years. I raised my children in Laurel, Maryland and I did not have too many problems. I have family in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, and Baltimore Counties, all of which have experienced numerous problems. However, Prince George is defiinitely gotten the worst over the years;the school system and crime rate have soared. I would not recommend any part of Prince George to live in regardless of the upcoming housing developments. PG has a lot more to improve upon than housing. Howard County is probably the best in terms of school systems and the community is diverse. I hope this will help and keep your options open.

[bright eyes]

Originally Posted by lscalder

No you hold on partner majority of the crime in Pg county happens at the border of SE DC and Pg county. Other surrounding areas county such as Montgomery county did the same thing, increase property tax out price lower income families out of the county now we are sending the crime back to the areas it came from. In Landover the couny is tearing down all of the apartments close to FED ED field and developing upscale condos,single family and townhomes with upscale shopping. The county is offering fewer section8 and public assistant so those folks have no choice but to go to Montgomery county,Charles or Baltimore city and county to receive public assistant. The county is putting millions to billions of dollars into the less desirable areas hoping to out price the area to get rid of lower income families. Areas such as Suitland,Hyattsville,District Heights are getting plenty of money from the county to build upscale communites,shopping and dining.

So what are they going to do with the area where landover mall was?

[bright eyes]

Originally Posted by fishfister

not to argue with you but your residences in cheverly and glenarden make my heart stop. glenarden was the murder capital of the USA in the late 1980s. anything that direction (west) of the beltway is still badlands. landover mall was not safe in the 1990s. your schools in mitchelville must have been the epitome of our most talented black educators because the rest of the county is going over the edge.
your last paragraph makes no sense at all. you lived in a country that demanded a quota system to ensure black children passed on through school with very little effort. i know of two doctors in the field of education that have nailed it on the head and are publishing a book concerning it. as far as getting good grades, i mentioned in an earlier post how my neighbor's daughter, transplanted from san diego, has been shunned and accused of trying to be white when doing well in school. i find that to be harrassment that the school should do something about.
as far as crime and school; that is a family matter that should be the concerns of parents of the criminals in the school. did your parents raise you to be a criminal? did they have some concern in your schooling or were they merely glad you had somewhere you were supposed to be during the day. your post was educated yet sheltered. the wire does not reflect the effects of crime/school and the value of parental participation in a student's life. you can point fingers at either one but the problem is lack of discipline which started in the home as a toddler. maybe the parents don't really care and behave the same. we are all taught to be wise asses that crack one liners if we live by what tv teaches us. you witness great self discipline at college in those that want to learn. others are there to party.
as far as thugs not hanging out on street corners, what corners did you watch?

You are right about glenarden. I lived there with my grandparents in the early 90's. It was bad and still is. They stole my grandfather car with a tow truck.
I seen a body near the basketball court. It hasnt changed much.

[fishfister]

Originally Posted by lscalder

No you hold on partner...increase property tax out price lower income families out of the county...those folks have no choice but to go to Montgomery county,Charles or Baltimore city and county to receive public assistant. The county is putting millions to billions of dollars into the less desirable areas hoping to out price the area to get rid of lower income families. Areas such as Suitland,Hyattsville,District Heights are getting plenty of money from the county to build upscale communites,shopping and dining.

Do you realize what you are saying to the entirety of PGC? This is pure republican fascist rhetoric that supports the upper class and stomps on the lower class. There are many fine people in this county not able to afford nor want/need to live in a mcmansion community. I am fine with my rambler with a walkout basement on 1/2 acre in a quiet neighborhood. I can close off 2 rooms as I do not use them at most times. The assessment value of my house and property has been raised unjustly in the past few years so the property tax is now criminal.
Running citizens out of the county because they do not meet YOUR standards is like violating another's civil rights. I don't know who you are a mouthpiece for but, this county has been here far longer than you have been alive - ask some of your black brethren on this site - and will be here after you die.
If you have ever paid attention to any of my posts you will see a dichotomy between my views and the lynching you support. I put the blame on county, state and federal governments.
This county is in the armpit of the nation's capital and should be treated as such. It should be the duty of citizens living here - regardless of race or class level - that they be mindful of where they are and not live up to the "welfare ghetto-gang badlands" reputation the county has gained over the past decades. This goes for white as well as black - no favorites as all are guilty.
Parents need to teach their children right from wrong and not leave it to an education system that is stagnant due to the fact the same old faces have been in place for too long. Many positions run unopposed at the polls. This leads to corruption and ineffective administrators. Corruption need not be the TV brand of court house drama - corruption is as simple as projects not started or completed. Every child gets let behind in this case.
Wherever in the world is "upscale shopping and dining" going to exist and thrive in this county? Are you going to bus in a whole new county of people that are going to patronize $35 per entree restaurants bi-weekly and spend $100 weekly in swank department stores?
I ask because it don't happen in this county at present and is the reason they don't exist.
Please list the names of upscale eateries and stores you patronize in the Upper Marlboro area; I would like to check them out. If you list a chain restaurant it negates the fact. Chili's, Ruby Tuesday's, Applebee's, Outback, LoneStar, Dead Lobster, Uno's, and Olive Garden are everywhere and not upscale. The Cheesecake Factory is in every town as well.

I have lived in other parts of the nation and in other states the citizens have pride in their state - this bleeds over to community and county. In Texas the state flag is prominent everywhere and every resident knows what it looks like. In Kansas are very friendly mid-western folks aware of where they are. People in California can be on the bizarre side but they know well what state they are in and will let you know. Way up in Maine are people that live along the coast or inland - I only know of the coastal areas and you have to be of a certain toughness to live up there - but, they are Mainers.
All of this brings me around to the mindset of folks that live in Maryland and PGC in particular. Most of the population of the state is seemingly without an identity as many take their's from so many other states, cities or countries. This is largely due to the fact many in the DC area are transplants and hug their former roots, cultures, ideals. How many can name the 4 colors in the Maryland state flag and what it represents? There is a lot of Maryland that is forgotten when we become a DC metroplitan area.
I found this site
Everything you want to know about Maryland - History Regions and Cities
for a lot of what I wanted to type. I have lived in MD since I was 16 and that was in Charles county. The DC metropolitan generalization was not felt down there and I learned of MD. I love this part of the USA - I don't like the politics that govern it and in the end ruin it.
Why this county has to rival the worse crime areas in the USA is a puzzle to me.

[lscalder]

Fishfister: Be quiet you do not know what you are talking about. You speak so highly about NOVA but the regular family can no longer afford to live in NOVA why? because the city made it that way. NOVA government increase property tax so lower class families can never ever dream of living in the area. Why not complain to NOVA government and resident and why do you speak so highly about an area that is known to out price everything so lower class or the normal blue colar family can not afford to live in NOVA but yet Pg county should be the only county to lower our standard so people like yourself can always point fingers. No its time for us to take charge and increase our standards. In April Pg county will have the most upscale restaurants in the entire east coast,what you just mention I bet you can never repeat those words starting April. we will have restaurants that you can only find in Las vegas or other high upscale resorts. You talk about the crime in Pg county and how the county needs to fix the problem but now the county is fixing the problem and people who live outside of Pg county are the only ones with the problem and it have to do more with us. People do not want any crimes in NOVA or other surrounding areas but if we are all equal, its seem to me you have an issue with having your neighborhood full with section8 residents,lower income families or crimes. PG county residents are tired of having issues with our county we are tired of people who live in NOVA point fingers at the county and say NOVA have nothing but upscale restaurants but when we are fixing the issues people like you point and say no you can not fix the issues because where are these citizens going and guess what NOVA residents can careless where the crimes in their city get push to as long as its not in NOVA so they can continue pointing their fingers. I can careless if the crimes get push in the NOVA. I SAY GET RID OF ALL THE SECTION8,CRIME RIDDEN FOLKS AND SHIP THEM WHERE EVER THEY FLOAT To. Pg county have always welcome lower inccome families we are the only county in Maryland for yrs have always welcome them. We are not getting rid of lower income families who are tring to survive and raise excelllent children. We are getting rid of the criminals.
Comparing homes have nothing to do with the topic.