Why is Cutler Ridge/Bay so da*n ghetto? (Miami: foreclosure, crime)

[rogerbacon]

Originally Posted by stat3man

Hehe. i guess no one wants to be part of "the ridge." that's probably a big reason why, when the area recently incorporated, they chose the name of cutler bay, to divorce themselves from the negative image associated with cutler ridge.

Yeah, they changed the name of the mall a few years ago from "Cutler Ridge Mall" to "Southland Mall". I heard the reason was that too many cars were being stolen so it was getting a bad reputation.

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

I actually don't even think Cutler Bay is that bad compared to Naranja or Goulds. Those places are just crazy.

I have to drive through part of Goulds on the way to my home. Whenever someone comes to my house for the first time they start to get this 'look' on theri face when we enter that part of town. I just laugh and tell them, "Don't worry. It get's better again soon".

[eufo]

Originally Posted by rogerbacon

Yeah, they changed the name of the mall a few years ago from "Cutler Ridge Mall" to "Southland Mall". I heard the reason was that too many cars were being stolen so it was getting a bad reputation.

A crap hole by any another name is still a crap hole.

I would like to see a change for the better in the area, but changing the name isn't really the answer.

[PBCboy]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Thats why our ghettos are still shrinking in Broward, At least for now...:/

Actually, It's a combination of a lot of racial tension in South Dade in the past and Hurricane Andrew. The poor stayed, the middle class just left.

Some of my family moved to Broward County after that (from various parts of Dade) and never looked back.

[PBCboy]

Originally Posted by rogerbacon

Yeah, they changed the name of the mall a few years ago from "Cutler Ridge Mall" to "Southland Mall". I heard the reason was that too many cars were being stolen so it was getting a bad reputation.

Maybe they'll change the names of the 'Boynton Beach Malls' and 'Palm Beach Malls' then, just because of the bad reputation they have.

Naw, I don't it.

Reminds me of how they changed the name of 'South Central' to 'South Los Angeles'... does a name change really do anything?

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by eufo

A crap hole by any another name is still a crap hole.
I would like to see a change for the better in the area, but changing the name isn't really the answer.

The only way the area will change is if the actual people change (if they move out) but them leaving isn't the answer. The people that are there right now are not going to help make the area better for many reasons maybe money. This is a cheaper area of Miami-Dade to live and with a cheaper place you get less affluent people that might not have money to keep up their homes. And there is nothing wrong with that, there needs to be places for people with lower incomes to live. If not then there will not be the cashier at the local grocery store or the teller at the bank. All of Miami-Dade can't be like Coral Gables it would be unaffordable to many.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

The only way the area will change is if the actual people change (if the move out). Because the people that are there right now are not going to help make the area better. This is a cheaper area of Miami-Dade to live and with a cheaper place you get less affluent people that might not have money to keep up their homes. And there is nothing wrong with that, there needs to be places for people with lower incomes to live. If not then there will not be the cashier at the grocery store or the teller at the bank.

What is a shame is that the cashier at the grocery store lives in those conditions.

[compelled to reply]

I'm just realizing, I am thinking about those working class neighborhoods in areas like Hollywood and North Lauderdale where those people might chose to live, and although a lot of them are not that pretty, they tend to keep things as clean and tidy as all possible. There is care for their neighborhood. Why is it not like that down there? I know there are a couple of decently kept working class Miami neighborhoods but why is it not the norm, especially down that way?

[doggiebus]

I don't know, I wonder the same thing. I think it goes back to how someone was raised and where they were raised, is what they do now with their own homes. Money too.

[rogerbacon]

Lack of money is not the reason that neighborhoods fall into squalor. It is an insult to poor people to think that way. There are plenty of poor neighborhoods around the coutry that have well kept homes. It doesn't take much money to go out and pull weeds or cut the grass.
Bad neighborhoods occur when peopel don't care. Sometimes they are too lazy or they find a slovenly apperance to be acceptable.
Six months ago I moved in to a new house. The landscaping that was ther was pretty bad so my wife and I went down to the nursuries in Homestead and bought some small plants and flowers. I was amazed at how cheap they were. Then we tore up the old stuff and planted the new plants. Now I can say my front yard looks like the third best one in the community. It didn't take a lot of money but it did take some hard work with the pick axe digging holes. Maybe next time I'll help my wife with that part. (Just kidding)

Roger Bacon

[Chelito23]

Well, the poorer areas in Dade County may be in squalor for these reasons: unattainable housing, therefore the vast majority of the people rent. Most renters choose NOT to invest in a property they don't own, much less take care of the yard.

Very selfish, ME syndrome. "Why should I fix up my place? I don't care if it makes the neighborhood look bad, it's all about me up in here. You don't own me."

Many people are also working to make ends meet and don't have the time, interest or money to fix things up. The problems are probably much worse than what we see: rat infestations, leaking rooves, shotty plumbing etc. Of course, what little resources they have probably go to the major problems first.

These are the reasons I suppose based on people I have met throughout my life.