Portuguese and thinking of moving to Mass... questions!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Karenb1955

My daughter is attending Bristol Comm College in the fall. We need to move an are considering New Bedford. I have heard horror stories lately about this town but thought it was really nice. Does anyone have more info on the town itself regarding safety and living situations there?

Hi, and welcome to the area.

New Bedford has its fair share of problems. It certainly does. It also has a significant upside. First, I'd like to clarify that the crime is really isolated in certain areas of the city. Particularly areas of the South End and certain areas not so far off of I-195 in the North End.

I personally like New Bedford a lot (I don't and never have lived IN the city). It's often compared to Fall River, Brockton, Lawrence, etc but it's really a lot different. For all its problems, New Bedford has a lot of redeeming qualities and is really on an upswing. One of the best things about the city is the cost of housing. It's cheaper than most areas in MA and you can get a lot of bang for your buck. I would seriously suggest looking downtown (near the Whaling District), the Buttonwood Park area, the West End, Sassaquin, the Northern portion of the North End (North of Brooklawn park), and along Southern Rodney French Boulevard. These are all nice areas in the city itself.

Another option would be to look in Dartmouth or Acushnet near the New Bedford line. Fairhaven is gorgeous too and I would recommend looking there. If you have another child that is going to be attending public schools, I would suggest looking in these towns instead of New Bedford as one of New Bedford's greatest weaknesses is the public school system. B.C.C.'s New Bedford Campus is right downtown and VERY nice. There are also plans to expand it here too. So if you don't have a child that's school age and your daughter will just be attending college, you can find some wonderful value in the city.

I don't know if you plan to work. Work is and always has been an issue in New Bedford. The unemployment rate is almost double the state average (I believe it's right around 12%). This is in large part due to the exodus of manufacturing in the past 20 years, but also related to high dropout rates (which is why I wouldn't suggest New Bedford with a kid in public schools) and the lack of college education among studnets (which is why your daughter will have a SIGNIFICANT advantage). If you're looking for a good job you'll likely have to commute to Boston or Providence. Providence is an easy 25 minute drive from New Bedford (directly West on 195) and Boston is about an hour North. There is bus service from NB to Boston but it's not totally convenient and commuter rail is on the way, but it's not expected until 2016 so it's hardly a help right now. Take advantage of the Work Force Investment Board (WIB) in New Bedford as well as the Career Center. If you have qualifications, they'll help you find work.

New Bedford is a gem in that it has a lot of amenities and still a low cost of living. There are tons of excellent restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, etc. The downtown area is simply stunning. If you like Museums, New Bedford has bunches. For all it's problems it's still a nice little city and one that's improving. I think you can find excellent value in the New Bedford area. Good luck!

[Jpierpont]

Originally Posted by Goncalves-Rouse

The WereRabbit, Cape-Verdeans are not black as you make it sound like they all are. Eighty percent are Mestizos (sp?), which means they are of many different races, mostly European, 17% are all black and 3% are all white. All Spanish speaking people are not Puerto Ricans or Mexicans....aret they? So, to make it sound like Cape-Verdeans are of ALL black ancestry is an unfair statement.

Cape Verdeans are largely mulatto and there are far more Black CV's than white CV's. A quick visit to their nations web site will you this.
Many CV's ID as Black many don't and some aren't.

[westernmass101]

Idk about eastern mass as much as western mass. there's really not a lot of racism. We're more of a relaxed state when it comes to what color your skin is or ethnicity. In western mass. we all are somewhat a large community.

Look for towns like Ludlow they have a major population of both blacks, portuguese, and hispanic. We all get alogn no matter what.... I happen to have two best friends one black and the other portuguese they get alogn and have no problems in where they live or the way of life.

But good luck with your search.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by westernmass101

Idk about eastern mass as much as western mass. there's really not a lot of racism. We're more of a relaxed state when it comes to what color your skin is or ethnicity. In western mass. we all are somewhat a large community.

Right. Because Eastern Mass is just so racist with no sense of community and Western Mass is just a perfect utopian slice of heaven.

It's clear from looking at your screen name that you love your area. However, your comments a bout Eastern MA seem to be misguided.

There is certainly a sense of community in Southestern MA. I witnessed the community coming out in full force yesterday to pay respects to fallen soldier, Tyler Trahan as thousands lined the route from Freetown to Bourne to pay respects and a funeral procession that stretched 4 miles long temprarily closed I-495. The night before, 3 blocks of a major road in New Bedford were closed as thousands more waited for upto 3 hours to pay respects at his wake ( a wake that lasted more than 9 hours). The participation and support of the entire region was incredible. This happens regularly. The communities in Eastern MA comes together when needed to support and look after their own. I would expect that this is the case in most places in the U.S. It's certainly not something special or unique to Western MA.

Second of all, what on earth makes Eastern MA any more racist than Western MA? the Eastern (and more heavily populated) portion of the state is much more diverse than Western MA. If anything, it's harder to find diverse communities out in Western Ma.

Finally, the Southeastern portion of Massachusetts (particularly in and around Fall River and New Bedford) has the highest concentration of Portuguese people out of any place in the United States. There's a reason that number is so large-- Work and Community. Some come here to work, but many others come to be close Portuguese community that exists. With that community comes amenities for Portuguese-Americans that you can only find in this area. Authentic Portuguese restaurants, groceries, bakeries, community centers, and even some all Portuguese libraries are what make the region so attractive to that particular demographic.

There's a thriving Portuguese community with related amenities in the Southcoast that you just can't find anywhere else outside of Portugal. Not even in Western MA.

[Madaly]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Right. Because Eastern Mass is just so racist with no sense of community and Western Mass is just a perfect utopian slice of heaven.

It's clear from looking at your screen name that you love your area. However, your comments a bout Eastern MA seem to be misguided.

There is certainly a sense of community in Southestern MA. I witnessed the community coming out in full force yesterday to pay respects to fallen soldier, Tyler Trahan as thousands lined the route from Freetown to Bourne to pay respects and a funeral procession that stretched 4 miles long temprarily closed I-495. The night before, 3 blocks of a major road in New Bedford were closed as thousands more waited for upto 3 hours to pay respects at his wake ( a wake that lasted more than 9 hours). The participation and support of the entire region was incredible. This happens regularly. The communities in Eastern MA comes together when needed to support and look after their own. I would expect that this is the case in most places in the U.S. It's certainly not something special or unique to Western MA.

Second of all, what on earth makes Eastern MA any more racist than Western MA? the Eastern (and more heavily populated) portion of the state is much more diverse than Western MA. If anything, it's harder to find diverse communities out in Western Ma.

Finally, the Southeastern portion of Massachusetts (particularly in and around Fall River and New Bedford) has the highest concentration of Portuguese people out of any place in the United States. There's a reason that number is so large-- Work and Community. Some come here to work, but many others come to be close Portuguese community that exists. With that community comes amenities for Portuguese-Americans that you can only find in this area. Authentic Portuguese restaurants, groceries, bakeries, community centers, and even some all Portuguese libraries are what make the region so attractive to that particular demographic.

There's a thriving Portuguese community with related amenities in the Southcoast that you just can't find anywhere else outside of Portugal. Not even in Western MA.

Irfox is right. For the first 21 years of my life, I lived right outside of Boston. I moved down here to the New Bedford area and I LOVE it.

The Portuguese population here is HUGE. I would be willing to say that most of the people who live here are either Portuguese, or have some amount of portuguese lineage in them. Signs are written in Portuguese, Portuguese restaurants are everywhere, and many dishes in other restaurants have been influenced by the Portuguese. I have never seen anything like it in my life.

[lmcdonnellgraceliv]

I have always lived in Eastern Ma. Let me tell you, if you choose a community with a lot of diversity like some mentioned above like New Bedford Fall River, Lowell, Hudson etc. you may not see the racism. if you choose a suburb like a grew up in Wakefield, Melrose, Reading, Burlington area or where I live now Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, Norwell is prodominantly white. You may not see outward racism but I think it exists still. It is weird, in my opinion if there is a black family in town but they have been in town for years and he or she or both have a good job etc. they are accepted. The black family renting in a apartment in said white suburban town, not so accepted. That has been my reality.
I have a friend from Akron Ohio area and she says the school she attended was very mixed and common to see that in that area. I don't see that in the suburbs here in Ma. What a shame!!!

[Missmoose]

Originally Posted by lmcdonnellgraceliv

I have always lived in Eastern Ma. Let me tell you, if you choose a community with a lot of diversity like some mentioned above like New Bedford Fall River, Lowell, Hudson etc. you may not see the racism. if you choose a suburb like a grew up in Wakefield, Melrose, Reading, Burlington area or where I live now Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, Norwell is prodominantly white. You may not see outward racism but I think it exists still. It is weird, in my opinion if there is a black family in town but they have been in town for years and he or she or both have a good job etc. they are accepted. The black family renting in a apartment in said white suburban town, not so accepted. That has been my reality.
I have a friend from Akron Ohio area and she says the school she attended was very mixed and common to see that in that area. I don't see that in the suburbs here in Ma. What a shame!!!

Isn't that more classism? I'm not saying it's better, but I me it's substantially different.

[jpq]

Attleboro, Stoughton, Taunton, Bristol have a large Portuguese population. Also, in the other direction, Milford does as well.

[KarynO]

What about Peabody and Gloucester?