Is Kenosha the newest "whiteflight" suburb of Chicago? (Milwaukee: section 8, crime)

[stanley47inripon]

The following article is from the Chicago Tribune. In a Tribune study they found Chicago Illinois is the most segregated city in America. With the influx of nearly 60,000 people to Kenosha County and thousands more to suburbs of IL in recent years, are these places simply the new "white flight" areas? Or are the middle and lower class truly being priced out of their own city? How might this affect Wisconsin?

[URL]http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/dec/26/local/chi-segregation-26-dec26[/URL]

[dcisive]

There are some undeniable realities in humanity. It is that where there is poverty there is going to be MORE crime. You don't have to be well studied to know this, and it becomes painfully real when you go through ANY city in the United States where this applies.

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago (SE just South of the South Shore area). Back in the day (like 1940's to about 1967) this was a rather idyllic area as city life goes. Neighbors knew neighbors and while there was a considerable mix of religions, the basic foundation was a strong white majority. While I don't wish to sound prejudiced here, it is only my intention to point out some of the obvious. Most who lived there considered education paramount for both themselves and their children. The schools reflected this. Crime was, for the most part minimal and in some cases nearly non existent. Hard to believe I know, but that's how tight the neighborhoods were.

It all came to a sad but not surprising end when the end of the 60's brought with it the now well known and well documented "White Flight" out to the suburbs. The folks leaving took with them their money, their intellect and what was left behind was a void being quickly filled by African Americans who, in many cases were merely looking for a better life. With the proliferation of the drug and gang culture laid on their doorstep, it could only go in one direction.

There is by NO means a intent to pidgeon hole but rather to say that there are good and bad in all people, however how it manifests itself is not always the same. There are numerous books that are in print about the wonders of the South Side and how it was in it's day, but how it was lost. I look back fondly on those days growing up and how it was. I also am a realist and know in most cases like this "you can't go home". I've looked on line to note that gangs have sorely infested the area now, and it is far from what I remember. I feel just as bad for those good folks that have NO choice but to put up with it. But make NO mistake, in many cases the so called flight away from the city was well founded. Whether some of the reasons were inspired by hysterical folks or by reality it can still be argued.

So yes indeed the movement out further from the typical city life with all of it's trappings of crime, gridlock and lowered lifestyle are upon us. It is virtually everywhere....even in smaller cities around the U.S. I've watched my now home town go from a moderate conservative small City to a huge metropolitan area also now well infested with gangs, crime, low life's galore, urban sprawl, gridlock and higher taxes. So what's new right! Only the areas of Wisconsin that are too distant to make a quick trip to Chicago impractical are safe so to speak. Otherwise....good luck with that. Prepare for the invasion as it IS coming.

[Wellstone]

I'm sure the biggest reason anyone would choose Kenosha while still commuting into Chicago is price. They can still ride the Metra in but buy property for less than half the price.

[tully]

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kenosha itself is somewhat segregated. (white areas being primarily west, far south, and a narrow strip along the lake.. but again don't quote me on that.) The remainder is pretty mixed, and can feel spooky walking around in alone (the couple times I've done it).

I don't think there's any true "ghetto" there, but I'd hardly call Kenosha a Chi flight destination, unless the goal is to live across the border for whatever reason. You'd still be limited to specific "good" areas of the city, which obviously cost more to get into (and might even be comparable to a starter home in an established Chi suburb/exurb). You'd still have an "unpredictable" element right near your neighborhood, possibly within blocks. It just seems to defeat the purpose of "fleeing".

[Drover]

That Tribune "study" only measured black/white segregation, as if all other permutations of racial/ethnic integration somehow don't count. But that doesn't stop people from using this "study" as a cudgel to beat Chicago with.

[GQpilot3]

Lol don't get me started on Kenosha. The 909 of Chicago for sure.

[the fonz]

Originally Posted by tully

Don't quote me on this but I believe Kenosha itself is somewhat segregated. (white areas being primarily west, far south, and a narrow strip along the lake.. but again don't quote me on that.) The remainder is pretty mixed, and can feel spooky walking around in alone (the couple times I've done it).

I don't think there's any true "ghetto" there, but I'd hardly call Kenosha a Chi flight destination, unless the goal is to live across the border for whatever reason. You'd still be limited to specific "good" areas of the city, which obviously cost more to get into (and might even be comparable to a starter home in an established Chi suburb/exurb). You'd still have an "unpredictable" element right near your neighborhood, possibly within blocks. It just seems to defeat the purpose of "fleeing".

They are talking Kenosha County here, not just the city of Kenosha. Kenosha County is huge and includes Pleasant Prairie, where obviously a ton of former Chicagolanders are headed recently for financial and congestion relief, not to mention that Illinois section 8 housing is creeping further into their nicer suburbs of Chicago. Hard working suburban white people don't appreciate that, so some say bye bye to Illinois all together. Welcome to our high Wisconsin taxes!

[landshark77]

Younger yuppies are moving to Kenosha for the cheaper homes. Its a starting place for them and the Metra train is nearby. Many towns in Lake County IL are getting too expensive for younger people and many come to Kenosha from there. White flight from Chicago and Milwaukee areas has been happening for over half a century so yes that is part of it too.

[Milwaukee City]

I wouldn't call it white flight but more of 'money flight".

[son of chan 1]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I wouldn't call it white flight but more of 'money flight".

'Money flight' is about right. Most of what we see booming is in far west suburbs of Chicago. I know some guys who have moved their familiy to Wisconsin or Indiana to avoid excessive pricing and overhead issues, but not too many since the income tax there is so high. White flight is still around too. Look at it this way, we have all seen the maps which show the black neighborhoods expanding through Chicago. Well have you looked at the ones that show the expansion of illegal immigrants and Hispanic? It's incredible how fast this is happening. My 82 year old mother lives in a neighborhood in the western suburbs that has basically become a little Mexico in less than 10 years.