To those who also live in the Bronx (New York, York: crime, neighborhoods)

[Elvira Black]

Yes, I know things happen. I described in one of the threads what happened in my boyfriend's apt and hood in Fordham over the past 9 years, and why it seems to me that OVERALL things are improving.

But crime happens in every borough. People do live here and survive. The odds are better if you don't wander around late at night; if you're not living on some deserted side street, etc. But some people are victims of crime nevertheless, of course.

You survived this past summer in Mott Haven. Does that mean no one else had problems there? My point is that my personal experience has been more positive. Not everyone gets killed, raped, jumped there.

I have not been directly victimized, and I've been around the hood for 9 years, but my boyfriend's building had some incidents which I witnessed (including threats to him from a crackhead who was ousted shortly thereafter by the cops). Another kid was killed after a party in the front of the building. And I know that the University Heights area still has crime too.

Others have posted that they have not been crime victims. But I'm aware that crime happens here. I mentioned the fact that down the street from him four or five people were attacked late at night and one died. We used to go to the local bar on that block at night, and could have been victimized too. Do you want me to make something up about my own experience?

This is life in the city. Some people can't afford to live elsewhere. We might get attacked again by terrorists, but still people move to NYC. You might get hit by one of those crazy drivers on Fordham or Jerome. But posters like Hustla, though he has valuable info, are only focusing on the negative. Others have had more positive experiences here. You have to be cautious, but I and a lot of others go about their business and don't assume they are going to die every time they go out the door. Sure, it's possible. But you live here too, right? I'm sure there's reasons you continue to live here, and there's reasons others do too.

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

Yes, I know things happen. I described in one of the threads what happened in my boyfriend's apt and hood in Fordham over the past 9 years, and why it seems to me that OVERALL things are improving.

But crime happens in every borough. People do live here and survive. The odds are better if you don't wander around late at night; if you're not living on some deserted side street, etc. But some people are victims of crime nevertheless, of course.

You survived this past summer in Mott Haven. Does that mean no one else had problems there? My point is that my personal experience has been more positive. Not everyone gets killed, raped, jumped there.

I have not been directly victimized, and I've been around the hood for 9 years, but my boyfriend's building had some incidents which I witnessed (including threats to him from a crackhead who was ousted shortly thereafter by the cops). Another kid was killed after a party in the front of the building. And I know that the University Heights area still has crime too.

Others have posted that they have not been crime victims. But I'm aware that crime happens here. I mentioned the fact that down the street from him four or five people were attacked late at night and one died. We used to go to the local bar on that block at night, and could have been victimized too. Do you want me to make something up about my own experience?

This is life in the city. Some people can't afford to live elsewhere. We might get attacked again by terrorists, but still people move to NYC. You might get hit by one of those crazy drivers on Fordham or Jerome. But posters like Hustla, though he has valuable info, are only focusing on the negative. Others have had more positive experiences here. You have to be cautious, but I and a lot of others go about their business and don't assume they are going to die every time they go out the door. Sure, it's possible. But you live here too, right? I'm sure there's reasons you continue to live here, and there's reasons others do too.

I don't recall anyone saying you are guerenteed dead in the South Bronx. The start of this thread was a women who honestly feels unsafe for good reason in the South Bronx. The most obvious sign being harassment from strangers who do not welcome her presence.

I once read almost every American will be the victim of a crime at some point. Not a violent crime, crime in general. In the South Bronx, I would say most residents have been violently assualted at some point in life. Many multiple times. 10% of South Bronx youth under 18 (Mostly males) have been shot or stabbed and over 75% of youth in the South Bronx fear for their safety in their neighborhoods. That was a survey I once took a look at. In another survey over 60% of all South Bronxites felt unsafe in their neighborhoods. For some reason the fear percentage was higher around the neighborhoods of the Grand Concourse. Over 75%. I belive this is due to density, more crime in a smaller area that effects more people. I really wish I had the links for these. In these neighborhoods you fight for respect or you are seen as a *****, that means if you don't fight you still get abused. I don't know anyone who has not been harrassed by another. Be it someone on a corner starting a problem over a stare, or a drunk/high/homeless person getting loose with the mouth over a dollar.

Yes crime goes down in every borough but violent crime is more common in high poverty areas. The South Bronx is a high poverty area far north as Bedford Park Blvd. The Bronx has the largest concentration of poverty in NYC. Some of the poorest neighborhoods in the country.

People also like to say things are IMPROVING but what is improving? The underlining cause, POVERTY, is only getting worse.

And no I don't focus on the negative. You throw me a neighborhood like Cambria Heights, Queens, a middle class Black neighborhood and I have good things to say, some bad like everything else but mostly good. Same for an area like the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Bay Ridge Brooklyn. You throw me the an area like the South Bronx from all places and the negatives always greatly outweight the positives. For example it's nice fewer buildings are boarded up across the South Bronx but on the other hand they are full of poor struggling people.

Originally Posted by SuperMario

My friends were jumped on Fordham rd and Morris Ave by DDP's because they tought they were 3nitarios.

The DDP's are Trinitarios are so difficult to identify. I never see any actively flagging. However the gangs have grown so large, so fast they are considered nations now like the Latin Kings.

[Elvira Black]

My boyfriend has had some "close encounters" with aggressive panhandlers that got a little hairy, but he stood his ground. I once got into a heated (verbal) fight with some guy who insisted on planting himself on the top of the steps at the subway station, blocking people from passing without moving to the left (I admit it might have been a stupid thing to do, but I was so pissed I did it).

You learn from your experience. When someone asks you for change, if you ignore them they may get indignant or pissed (my boyfriend's experience). So I just shrug apologetically and keep on walking.

There's a scam in the local supermarkets where a young woman will approach a white person and ask if they are paying cash and if they can swipe their food stamp card so you can give them cash back. This happened to me twice. The first time I didn't understand what she was talking about, but I didn't do it. The second time I realized the correct response was no and that was the end of it.

We are unlikely to be going back to the bar where all those guys were attacked down the block from my b/f's apt--at least not late at night. In fact, we don't go anywhere around here late at night. Seems like the vast majority of murders happen then.

In other words, you learn to adapt as best you can. Poor struggling people are NOT ALL criminals.

If someone can't afford to live elsewhere, they may move here for that reason. Of course the UEs is safer, but it is waaaay out of the range of most people in 2007. It gets tiring to live in tiny Manhattan spaces or have 3 roomates. That affects your quality of life too. The poor struggling people have been joined by the middle class struggling people, or those just starting out who want to live in NYC too.

[Elvira Black]

Recently I went to the local liquor store and some drunk in front of me started pulling some scam about how he couldn't find the 50 dollar bill he just had. I knew there was trouble ahead. He asked the clerk and then he asked me if I had it. I told him I didn't have it, no, the clerk gave me the correct change, etc. He followed me to the street and I actually showed him the change I had (he had a huge wad of cash in his hand.) Before I know it he was yelling at me to give me his fifty back. I yelled I don't have your money and walked away.

In other words, I refused to be a victim. Yes, I could have been killed, but if I live in fear and let everyone intimidate me it might be worse. I could tell the guy was just a drunk and probably wouldn't hurt me. Some people will mess with you if they think you will buckle, and sometimes because you are white they think you are naive.

I remember a much worse climate when I lived in Manhattan and had to take the trains within the borough (way before I ever set foot in the Bronx). Lots of threatening people all around the city and esp the subways, and it was no country club. I lived in Manhattan when everyone else who could afford to was fleeing. So I'm not coming from some crime free paradise.

On the other hand, I have had no probs with the subways in the Bronx, because the climate has changed and people mind their business. This is a profound change from the way it used to be. It's palpable.

Just my experience for what it's worth. Everyone's is different.

[Hustla718]

Yes, not all poor struggling people are criminals. I don't remember anyone typing that either. However survival the most basic instinct is prevalent among these people. They will do what they have to do in order to survive. That includes violent crime. These high poverty areas breed criminals. Criminals cause crime.

Normal people don't want to deal with street people either. What you describe is a huge quality of life concern for the average American. Those are bottom feeders. Petty scammers. An every day annoyance in the South Bronx. Wait until some teen wants to make an example out of you to impress your friends. As time passes you will grow tired of the bull****. If not then that's your own problem.

[Elvira Black]

I've lived in NYC for fifty years, so if I'm not tired by now, I guess I'm happy here.

Wait until...that's what I mean, Hustla. Your claim seems to be that at some point I will get jacked up. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. That's just not true. It could happen, but it's not inevitable. And I refuse to live in perpeual fear. I have my own NYC "survival instinct" of 50 years which also helps me endure. I am not stupid...I know there's crime and I'm not immune. But for me personally, the "tradeoffs" are excellent so far.

[Rudbeckia]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

I've lived in NYC for fifty years, so if I'm not tired by now, I guess I'm happy here.

Wait until...that's what I mean, Hustla. Your claim seems to be that at some point I will get jacked up. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. That's just not true. It could happen, but it's not inevitable. And I refuse to live in perpeual fear. I have my own NYC "survival instinct" of 50 years which also helps me endure. I am not stupid...I know there's crime and I'm not immune. But for me personally, the "tradeoffs" are excellent so far.

The "tradeoffs" what are those? What are the tradeoffs to living in a questionable neighborhood?




Bronxchick: You are crazy to stay there. Being a white female myself, I would never put myself through that kind of harrassment. Why does your boyfriend not insist that you guys move? NYC is not worth jeapordizing your safety every time you walk home at night. Once you have been attacked, you can't go back and you will have wished you broke your lease and paid the landlord and moved.

[Elvira Black]

Hmmmm, aren't you the same poster who just got here and is already scared of NYC? I have a lot of experience living here...a whole lifetime. Now you're telling another poster all about it? Lol..

What are the "tradeoffs" for You, khmh, living as you do in a "questionable" neighborhood?

Here I go like a broken record...and from the perspective of someone who lived in Manhattan a long time...

Spacious, beautiful landscaped coop apt that I can easily afford with a panoramic river view. Beautifully maintained. 24 hour security. Shopping and transit nearby. Middle class (mostly black) residents. Plentiful shopping--cheaper than Manhattan. A lot of good decent people in the 'hood. Just for starters.

But I do agree with your advice. That boyfriend would have hell to pay from me. That particular area (crack house across the street, etc) is not an area I would want to live in either. You have to check out the specific area/block you want to move to, esp at nighttime, and do your research. As others have said, for the same money or less, they could live in safer areas in the Bronx. But that doesn't mean you have to dismiss a whole borough out of hand (esp if you've never lived there) just because that area or block is a s*#thole.

Bronxchick: the landlord may let you opt out of your lease, since he can then charge more to the next tenant. It's worth asking.

[Rudbeckia]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

Hmmmm, aren't you the same poster who just got here and is already scared of NYC? I have a lot of experience living here...a whole lifetime. Now you're telling another poster all about it? Lol..

What are the "tradeoffs" for You, khmh, living as you do in a "questionable" neighborhood?

.

yc


Yes, I am knew to nyc and this city does scare me. I do not like the neighborhood I am in and yes, I am looking for another place to live. I was mis-lead on where to live when I was looking for apartments. There are no "trade offs" in my oppion to living near crime.

I was giving her advice female to female, not as a " native new yorker".

[Elvira Black]

It may be hard to find what you're looking for unless you have unlimited funds, and it might be a long commute to school as well. Others on this forum recommend various safer areas. But the reality is that it is very very expensive to live in most of the "desirable" areas in this city. If you can live in the dorms there, you'd probably be happier.

A lot of real estate agents have no scruples. I'd check out listings for myself (NY Times, NY Post, Daily News Classifieds, maybe Craigslist) and the recommendations on this forum from people familiar with different areas. You might be very shocked at the prices.