Use of "ghetto" in NYC (New York, York: income, live in)

[makossa]

Originally Posted by SuperMario

Haha. Why isn't it that bad?

What if I told you that the area had higher crime rate than Washington Heights last year?

The area of Inwood right around the University Heights bridge is as bad as University Heights. Lots of drugs, stabbings, loitering, trash and music. I visit the area frequently and I couldn't believe all the graffiti on the buildings and by the elevated. It looks like it did in 1989. Not all of Inwood is like this but the area around Dyckman, Post, 207th, Sherman, Academy, Isham, Nagle etc is the hood.

I dont know why people try playing down Inwood and Washington Heights, and yet say that Morris Heights and University Heights are the hood. The bridges there basically make the Uptown neighborhoods extension of the Bronx ones. Atleast in the immediate areas.

I heard that north of the GWB and west of Broadway was OK. Anyone know if this is true?

[Andysocks]

^^^ yeah they're talking about the Harlem River side.

[SuperMario]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

I don't think Harlem was bad back then. You have to remember there was a time when Uptown was the nicer area, and downtown was all slummy.

Early 1900's I meant from 1900-1930. Harlem was declining in the 30's.

[SobroGuy]

Makossa...think for a second..do you think going one black in from Broadway will somehoe insulate you from the rest of Inwood/Washington Heights? Those who say Washington Heights is good West of Broadway are either trying to sell you an apt that is West of Broadway, or have already bought an apt West of Broadway, or opened a business West of Broadway (aka it is those that look to benefit in some way that make this claim). The reality is, if you want to live your life in your apt, or in a 2 block radius, just about any neighborhood is great. Washington Heights and Inwood have problems, but they are improving.

[Gardier]

Originally Posted by SobroGuy

Gardier..in case your memory only goes back 30 years, or in case you did not get any education at all, you should know that the term "ghetto" did not originate here but in Europe to describe certain Jewish enclaves. It subsequently became the preferred term to describe slums here in NYC. The ghetto's were used here to describe Irish neighborhoods (aka slums), Italian neighborhoods (aka slums), and on and on. It is only recently that black and Hispanic neighborhoods have taken their turn, as did so many communities before. But thanks for your ignorant statement, I shall remember it for your future posts.

Yea, I know all that about the origin of the term ghetto. I was responding to another poster who named a list of neighborhoods that were considered the ghetto here in NYC. I made the statement, so what, get over it!

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by Gardier

Yea, I know all that about the origin of the term ghetto. I was responding to another poster who named a list of neighborhoods that were considered the ghetto here in NYC. I made the statement, so what, get over it!

Yeah I wasn't offended by what you said. I took it that you were just observing that most (read not just Whites) people in NYC tend to lump Hispanic and Black neighborhoods under the broad "ghetto" category.

[Gardier]

Thank you Noo Yowkur. I live in a black neighborhood. Always have. I made an observation based off what another poster wrote. I was being sarcastic when I made that statement. Pretty much saying, it's awfully funny how almost every black and hispanic community is labeled "the ghetto." The only "ignorant" person was the one barking at me.

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

I took it that you were just observing that most (read not just Whites) people in NYC tend to lump Hispanic and Black neighborhoods under the broad "ghetto" category.

I wouldn't even go as far to say that people, in general, consider "Hispanic" neighborhoods to be "ghetto" here in NYC. People consider low income Dominican and Puerto Rican neighborhoods to be ghetto. I rarely hear people talking about Jackson Heights (South American), parts of Astoria (South American/Mexican/Central American), Sunset Park (Mexican/Central American), and other heavily Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods as being ghetto.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by crisp444

I wouldn't even go as far to say that people, in general, consider "Hispanic" neighborhoods to be "ghetto" here in NYC. People consider low income Dominican and Puerto Rican neighborhoods to be ghetto. I rarely hear people talking about Jackson Heights (South American), parts of Astoria (South American/Mexican/Central American), Sunset Park (Mexican/Central American), and other heavily Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods as being ghetto.

Well I have heard several people at some point or another refer to the Latino portions of those areas as ghetto. Go figure.

A lot of people don't even make such distinctions. Hispanic people are just "Spanish," different, ethnic, and therefore "Ghetto."

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by Gardier

Yea, I know all that about the origin of the term ghetto. I was responding to another poster who named a list of neighborhoods that were considered the ghetto here in NYC. I made the statement, so what, get over it!

And, said statement to which you were responding was written by a non-New Yorker, so that needs to be taken with a grain of salt as well when projects are identified as neighborhoods. I found nothing wrong with your remarks and did get the sarcasm when you originally posted the response.