Is Miami really as dangerous and nasty as everyone says? (Jacksonville: crimes, buy)

[blackklight]

i've only been to nyc and cities in massachusetts before but i can testify that i've never seen ducks in the streets or chickens anywhere but here; my cousins boyfriend hadn't either and he's from new jersey

[Miami Vice]

Originally Posted by blackklight

i've only been to nyc and cities in massachusetts before but i can testify that i've never seen ducks in the streets or chickens anywhere but here; my cousins boyfriend hadn't either and he's from new jersey

Yeah, I can't imagine chickens running around in NYC. Some people who have immigrated here don't see the big deal in having chickens in their backyard. I guess that it makes them feel more at home. I also don't think that chickens will do very well in the extreme cold weather.

I haven't seen any chickens in my neighborhood or the wealthier parts of the county. I'd rather see a chicken running around, than a old rusted pick up truck with flat tires and weeds growing into it like there is in multiple parts of the county.

I'd also prefer that to having some thug selling crack on the corner or hanging out in front of the Qwik Mart.

[TannerMan]

The whole chicken thing which is not all that common as it is thought to be is also a joke in LA, I also lived in NJ years ago and its the same thing, up in northern jesey in towns like patterson and passaic. Its just a joke anywhere there are lots of hispanics. and whats wrong with ducks? I see them all the time near canals and lakes, just like you would anywhere else.

[Miami Vice]

Originally Posted by TannerMan

The whole chicken thing which is not all that common as it is thought to be is also a joke in LA, I also lived in NJ years ago and its the same thing, up in northern jesey in towns like patterson and passaic. Its just a joke anywhere there are lots of hispanics. and whats wrong with ducks? I see them all the time near canals and lakes, just like you would anywhere else.

I guess some can take it as a joke, while others as an insult. Where there's lakes and canals, there will be ducks. I guess that it's also a shocker to some.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Miami Vice

I guess some can take it as a joke, while others as an insult. Where there's lakes and canals, there will be ducks. I guess that it's also a shocker to some.

Ducks in the street? I see those in Weston. Does that mean I live in a third world country? I think it does. No evil rude ducks that refuse to speak English in Tennessee! I'm breaking my lease now.

[REMiROMJONI]

Originally Posted by Daniel_T

I keep hearing from people I know who have lived in Miami that it is a disgusting trashy place with no character and is filled with crime. The other night I saw a presentation on CNN and they were talking about (I believe the Liberty City area) and how you can't go out at night because the crime is so high and how it's affecting Miami.

I guess in Liberty City they even let the traffic lights flash yellow so you don't have to stop (to prevent carjacking). Is it like that all over Miami? What is the real scoop?

Daniel_T

I lived in Miami from 1968-2003, and can recall very little fond memories of the city after living there so long; it's survival mode living with a few perks, and I lived through the best and the worst: Hurricane Hugo. My most pronounce memory is one night four years ago when I decided it's time to go:

After having dinner with friends in Coconut Grove restaurant. I stopped at a red light, Grand Ave & 37th, my car window down I was enjoying the cool night. Then suddenly out of nowhere I felt four arms dragging me out of the car through the open windows. I was beaten with a pipe on the head, my arm twisted until they dislocated the shoulder, robbed of my wallet, car, some clothing I was wearing, and left for dead.

I was taken to in Merci Hospital, and lucky to have come out of the trauma induced coma in two weeks. This by no means is the first time I've been robbed, assaulted, or my car stolen; it was just the worst.

This is no way is an isolated incident, nor is the brutality unique. Crime reports in Miami have a unique way of being cataloged by the Police Department to minimize the real crime impact rate, like the crime wave during the Cocaine Cowboys of the 80's. I know the City like the back of my hand, the shortcuts to work, the good, and the bad areas to avoid, but it's all a blur now.

Priorities are totally screed up; no civic planning takes place, just sleaze under payoffs will get you approval variances to build 120 floors two-twin towers should you wish.

Take the Miami Arena, the darling of the basketball team. Even Madonna, a devotee of Dennis Rodman, was spotted frequently at the Arena; of now closed, and a potential crack house. Next they built the American Airline Arena (renamed a few times) with the Stefan's restaurant Congo's, beautiful and empty. Subsidized by the city, I don't believe we've actually seen a profit from the investment on that piece of property..

Next: The over budget, and 2 years delayed 250M Opera Center by Biscayne Blvd, designed to usher a new sense of civic pride. I know everyone rushed to get tickets for Puccini's "Madam Butterfly"; Miami is so culturally oriented, only 2nd to New York.

They spent 250M, and left the surrounding drug infested high crime area intact. But, there is a silver lining, if by chance you forgot to bring a date or escort: Walk west two blocks, the north one, and you can get just about every illicit drug available, and hire a hooker as an escort to the Opera. Even when the event is finished there is a strong police presence to direct you out of the high-crime area.

Where are the millions collected from road-impact fees from the huge developments throughout Miami. To be used to create, fix and improve the added volume of traffic, unknown?


Instead downtown streets look like a labyrinth of roads to nowhere. They are also hard at work looking to build yet another 400M stadium in downtown, never mind the city's sewer system, and transportation are nonexistent. The cleanup of the Miami River (Miami River Project), designed to create a la Paris-Cafe Rhine River atmosphere, gone in 60 seconds.

My sister purchased a now finished condo a pre-construction cost, to flip like everyone else: The Latitude Condo, marketed under the impression the Miami River would be cleaned, it's not, and so the view from the apartment is that of rusting, derelict freight boats.

But somehow the owner's of the Pleasure Emporium, demolished when the Airport expanded in LeJeune Road, was able to get permits and build the Wal-Mart of adult toys, in Pepto-Bismol pink right across this expensive condo: a good positive; they deliver 24/7!

Now days, if you are concerned on safety & security: Order a custom armored Hummer, with grenade launcher, if you can get the permit, a clocked KRISS Super V .45-caliber submachine gun, and last a Micro-Uzi for backup.

Today's south Beach nightlife, compared to when the .COM moguls would blow $ 7,000 for a few bottles of DOM at the champagne lounge a distant memory. No Versace, Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, even Shakil O'Neil who plays for the Miami Heat, lives in Ft. Lauderdale.

Rumor has it that local icons Emilio & Gloria Stefan are reportedly building to move to Manalapan, Florida from Star Island, one of the few gated communities in Miami.

I absolutely love living in Palm Beach, the work from a Master Plan and any construction delays are minimized, even less affluent areas are well maintained, crime is but a fraction of Miami. And in Wellington you can purchase a high-end 8,000 SQ Home 1.5 acres with built in stables for 6 horses for less than 2+2 condo in Miami.

When I travel to Miami to see my sisters that live there, the place in comparison looks like some city from a third world.

The only place I loved from Miami is STILTSVILLE - Small Houses that are built in waters that are between 6 - 20 feet deep, STILTSVILLE is just south of Key Biscayne. A loophole allowed them to be built, but once they are gone, that's it, another sad chapter.

[MiamiVice1985]

Originally Posted by REMiROMJONI

After having dinner with friends in Coconut Grove restaurant. I stopped at a red light, Grand Ave & 37th, my car window down I was enjoying the cool night. Then suddenly out of nowhere I felt four arms dragging me out of the car through the open windows. I was beaten with a pipe on the head, my arm twisted until they dislocated the shoulder, robbed of my wallet, car, some clothing I was wearing, and left for dead.

The barrio is not nearly as dangerous as the ghetto. That area is like a mini-ghetto in an otherwise nice stretch of land in Miami, and nothing but bad things come from there. The same thing goes for all the other African American communities in Miami Dade. Trouble, drugs, disenfranchised youth who cling to rap as a bible for living. They listen to Rick Ross or Trick Daddy and carry out the actual crimes that these rappers preach. Its a cycle that needs to be broken...To hell with the first amendment in this case...

[PBCboy]

I think a lack of adequate parenting is more responsible for these kid's growing up into lives of crime than Trick Daddy.

[PBCboy]

Originally Posted by REMiROMJONI

I absolutely love living in Palm Beach, the work from a Master Plan and any construction delays are minimized, even less affluent areas are well maintained, crime is but a fraction of Miami. And in Wellington you can purchase a high-end 8,000 SQ Home 1.5 acres with built in stables for 6 horses for less than 2+2 condo in Miami.

.

Actually the crime in many areas are higher than areas in Miami-Dade. Belle-Glade in Palm Beach County is the most third-world city in South Florida. Riviera Beach is as bad as they come. Hell I live in West Palm Beach and thing's aren't well maintained here outside of the sections that would appeal to the wealthy people/tourists. Maybe in the gated communities in Wellington they are, but so are the gated communities in Doral.

Yes Miami-Dade as a county is more dangerous than Palm Beach but the statement you've said is not true for the whole county. In Wellington it is, but not every city, especially the run down ones that are certainly not "well-maintained". The housing prices are certainly superior though.

[compelled to reply]

The only area in S. FL with well maintained lower income areas are Margate, North Lauderdale (parts),Tamarac, Sunrise and limited parts of Hollywood. All in Broward. Palm Beach has the LEAST well maintained low income areas. Even lower income areas in Dade like Sweetwater aren't THAT bad. The paved lawn, burglar bar motif is neater looking than the overgrown shack/borderline shanty look in low income Palm Beach.