Moving to New Orleans? (Atlanta: to rent, homes, buy)

[sumwunzma]

Originally Posted by Magic Maggie

My husband and sister-in-law and I just returned from Marrero on the Westbank where my mother-in-law still lives. I could take only 3 days of this...

First, the weather was so oppressively HUMID and I've lived in Florida, but its nothing like LA

Second, it seems like everyone SMOKES! I mean everybody...it's sickening to see little kids in a car with mom blowing smoke at them. Tons of obese people (pun intended). LA is recently ranked 49th out of 50 for quality of life in USA. West VA is last.


Third, crime and corruption. Some low-life even stole my mother-in-laws Mary statue from her front yard. It's like the wild west. My m-i-l said the Jefferson Parish police encourage homeowners to shoot-to-kill.

The place is dirty, rundown, just plain filthy. I would never, ever, raise a child there. Once my m-i-l passes away, both my husband and s-i-l swear they will never return there again.

The positive side is fabulous food and cheap seafood, but that's about it.

There are many other great places in USA to live. This ain't one of em.

Yep, it's the wild west since Katrina in a lot of areas, but Marrero has ALWAYS been like that. Most people in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans would never go to Marrero. How sad that you married into that. Your description of them is pretty accurate. It is, however, against the law here to smoke in a car with a child under 12. If I had seen that, I would have called the police, not just complained about it. Maybe you should have visited some nicer parts of Jefferson Parish - like where people can read and don't marry their first cousins. People on the East bank started calling the West Bank "the best bank" to keep those people over there.

[Vampgrrl]

The weather isn't that bad. I hate humidity and heat...but being from Atlanta I only find the evenings terrible, the day time heat isn't much worse than what I grew up in.
Marrero isn't exactly a bastion of intellectual thought. New Orleans has it's problems too but 5 Universities 1 tech school, it's fine.
Only thing that ticks me off about SE LA are the crappy roads.

[Caa]

Originally Posted by bluebird39

I'd stay in Colorado if I were you.

I just got back from a visit to New Orleans, and I agree, that it is not the same as before regarding the outskirts of the French Quarter, but the French Quarter is the same to me as of was before the storm. People everywhere having a lot of funa nd enjoying themsleves. I do disagree with you reagrding Louisiana as bad place to raise a family. WE live in Baton Rouge and have our daughter in private school and there are more things to keep her busy and away from drungs etc than any other town I have lived in! I think this area is wonderful as far as raising a child, but you are right about New Orleans, I would not want that for my child. A friend of mine just moved to Northshore and he and his kids just love it. It depends on the person! I also don't think Colorado is all that great. When I went there, I really thought the people there were some of the rudest I have ever met. Southern hosptiality is still alive here! I am sure Colorado is great, but it seems everyone is moving there and maybe that is why they are rude!

Originally Posted by Teamfour

If you want to live among people who want everything for nothing, have an entitlement mentality, are lazy, and just don't give a RA, then move on in.

I have been in the area for years and have had it with this social environment. I'm moving out ASAP!

I don't think people here are like that-well, certain people are!! Remeber, people really are pretty much the same everywhere!

Originally Posted by jbaudoin1

Mamma, you sound just like me except I am clawing at every option to get out of Louisiana. I can tell you love your babies, so I promise not to sugar coat!

I am sorry that happened to your step siter. The same type of thing happened to my friend, but that was in Palm Harbor Florida! The thing I want to say is that crime happens everywhere, and Palm Harbor has one of the lowest crime rate in Pinellas County. I really think it is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was just in New Orleans and felt fine, at least inthe French Quarter!

[sumwunzma]

Here, here on the roads! I just want to get out there myself with some pebbles and mud and fill the darned things in! That's frustrating!!!

[kevinj]

Lived in New Orleans and loved it, but the crime rate was very bad. Moved to Mandeville for school system. Not only were we happy with the public schools (had to do private school in L.A. and Miami), but with the city itself, do not know how it is since Katrina. Not a typical suburb, Mandeville had character. Before moving to the area we lived in L.A., DC's Virginia suburbs, Manhattan, and currently live in Miami. New Orleans is very different and not for everyone. If you like middle of the road, suburban life style you may not be happy, but we loved it, (again before Katrina). I have family in Colorado Springs, and would much prefer to raise my daughter in the New Orleans area if I had to choose,(not as closed minded as Colorado). We found it to be very open to different lifestyles and cultures. Like everywhere else it has problems, but overall I would live there again over most places in the US.
Good luck with your decision.

[ohadnot]

To all the people that posted bad comments about New Orleans!..Moderator cut: knock it off, unnecessary..l I personally am from New Orleans & I must say that New Orleans is a wonderful place to live. Once you are in the environment and settled everything is great! yes people pickpocket, but in what city and state do they not! really & truely nowhere in the world is safe! But as far as you not being sure if you want to move or not, what we say can only make you think but what you feel is what you are going to want to do!

[Nette061966]

HELLO EVERYONE! I AM ON A DIFFERENT PAGE BUT I HAVE TOO SAY I VISITED NO,ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I LOVE IT, THE PARKS, THE BRIDGES, THE PEOPLE, THE WEATHER, EVERYTHING A BUT IT MADE FEEL GOOD A BUT MOVING THERE. I LIVE IN WASHINGTON DC HUmmmmm!!!, COLUMBUS OHIO "WHAT"PITTSBURGH "DIRTY" AND I HAVE SEE ABOUT 33 STATE, SO PROBLEM IS EVERY WHERE IT'S WHAT YOU MAKE IT. PRAY ABOUT YOUR MOVE ASK GOD HELP YOU PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY EVERY DAY. SEE IN COLUMBUS ITS VERY, VERY COOL WHICH CAUSE ME HEALTH PROBLEM I NEED TOO MOVE FOR BETTER, NOT WORSE, AND IF THIS IS GOOD FOR YOU THEN GO FOR IT. MOVE WHERE ITS GOING TOO BETTER YOUR LIFE STYLE. EVERY BODY HAVE THINGS TOO SAY, BUT THE MOST IS BE BLESS.CRIME IS EVERY WHERE BAD SCHOOLS IS EVERY WHERE, PEOPLE ARE LOSTING THIER JOBS NATIONWIDE, THANK GOD HE HAS A JOB. AND IF THE SCHOOL IS NOT GOOD HOW ABOUT HOME SCHOOLING.' BE BLESS' MAMMA

[Nette061966]

Its me again i need a act of kindness. With moving from columbus ohio too new orleans
thank too anyone who will.

[MSvirgo]

I am a 31 year old single mother of three from Jackson, MS. I am struggling with a decision to move to New Orleans and attend graduate school at UNO or FSU in Tallahassee. I am a French major and I'm thinking that New Orleans may be better for me in finding a career in that field of study than Tallahassee. Even after receiveing my Master's, I would like to stay in the city for a while and allow my children to finish school. I've visited New Orleans several times post Katrina, and I LOVED it. My children also loved it. We will return to Nola in March 2009. I have been everywhere from Orlando to Memphis, to Chicago and Milwaukee, but nothing compares to New Orleans. I understand that the crime rate is high and that the public school system aren't all that great. It is something about that city that won't let me even seriously think about going anywhere else. I don't know what to do. I really would like to be apart of Nola's rebirth and possibly teach in its schools. I know that it will be my decision on what I will end up doing, but I would like y'all opinion on this matter. Thanks.

[tekboi]

Originally Posted by catluvr

Tough decision. I am not from Louisiana. I am from Minnesota and have a quick story about New Orleans. My brother in law was there on business. He ate at the restaraunt across from his hotel. On his way back crossing the street, 2 males jumped him from behind, wanted his wallet. He gave him his wallet and they proceeded the kick him in the head, the stomach and hold a gun to his head. Meanwhile he was trying to tell them to take the money out of his pocket also. He was so beaten up, the hotel did not say anything except they can't get involved. The police didn't care. He had to have help boarding the airplane because his face was so swelled he couldn't see.

Another friend of mine got his wallet pickpocketed. On the same trip, his car windows were beat in.

I personally have a hard time justifying rebuilding that crappy city with our tax dollars. Most of the good people have moved on or moved to a different city. Sorry if I have offended any good people that live there. I feel for ya'll.

Those are the only 2 people I know that have visited there. Both have very bad stories. Not very good for the tourism industry.

Good luck with your decision to move there. You're right, it may be life changing. I'm sure there are good places to live outside of N.O. Home is what you make of it...but be careful where you choose your home.

Sorry for the bad stories. I just had to share them because you seem like a nice person.

They probably didn't know where they were. It's just like any city in America when it comes to crime. We have pockets of high crime areas throughout the city. You're from the country so you wouldn't know anything about.

Why comment on a city you don't know anything about, or have ever been to?



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