South Bronx continues its upswing (to rent, neighborhood, construction)

[Sha83]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

Plus a lot of White people need to stop believing they are more likely to be victims of crime simply because they are White. I'm starting to get a little tired of the I'm white and I'm scared to move into this neighborhood threads If you are a young Black or Hispanic male your chances of being killed or being a victim of a crime are much higher in this city.

Well, I would like to agree with you, but in the past week I have dealt with BS in my own neighborhood because of someone on my block spreading the rumor that I'm an undercover cop looking to implicate people (because I'm White), and since Obama won, I've gotten various racist/anti-White comments. All is right in the world!

[Sha83]

Originally Posted by NYCwoman

A) My posts when replying to Supermario are, I admit, a bit faciscious NooYowkur81. I am only responding to his prior posts (that he is "worried" about white woman coming innocently into the Bronx) that make me crazy!!! I am a white, middle class female supporting all the great stuff going on in The Bronx and have debated (time and time again) on this thread the Supermario "types" who want to keep newbies (white and otherwise) out of the Bronx. It is getting really tiresome...I walk around taking photos and talking to Bronxites nearly every weekend and have never had an ounce of trouble (despite SM's contention that had I spent as much time in the South Bronx as I claim to have had, I would necessarily have been a victim of crime). Please do not think that I am seriously saying that white women or men will have any problems in the Bronx if they exercise the usual NYC caution and awareness...

B) I will post re: the various art scenes going on in the South Bronx (mostly Mott Haven) tomorrow....

Night!

Yet you are a visitor and don't actually LIVE there! The only reason I probably don't have issues where I live is because of my profession and because all the people on that block whom I would have a problem with are friends and family members of one of my friend. You are quite naive to assume that living here is the same deal. I would also advise you to watch yourself taking pictures here. Two of my friends have been threatened with robbery.bodily harm taking pictures. You people don't get it, do you?

[Sha83]

Originally Posted by DesiArnez6

Well, the South Bronx LOOKS much better than it used to. But I wonder if anyone else notices, that at the same time these beautiful new buildings and apartments are going up everywhere, and all those abandoned buildings are being torn down or renovated..... Did anyone notice that with all the NEW People, IT seem to be getting more dangerous?

Before this area used to be ugly, but seem relatively safe. Now it looks nicer. New apartments, but much more dangerous than before.

Good points, Desi; yes I did notice. It seems that they are trying to take neighborhoods that were previously underpopulated and abandoned (FYI, the South Bronx lost 40% of its housing stock in the 1960s-1980s due to arson and abandonment) and now all of a sudden they are building these huge complexes and squeezing as many people in as possible. More people = more crime. They have the empty lots on which to build, but they are not upgrading the services around at the same rate, so it creates a very dense, overcrowded feeling.

Look at Melrose Avenue. Less than 10 years ago it was filled with empty lots. Now you have a bunch of mammoth new buildings. Mind you, even in the 1970s, 1960s, and before the neighborhood burnt the buildings there were probably only 4-6 stories, but are replaced by 8-10+ story buildings; it doesn't make sense. Plus, a lot of those folks are Section 8/public assistance/mentally ill. In essence, NYCHA housing projects failed because of how they concentrated the poor densely into large buildings and they obviously have learned from their mistakes.

[NYCwoman]

I don't live in the South Bronx, no. I DO, however, live in another part of the Bronx and spend time on the weekends in many different neighborhoods in this borough, Mott Haven included. And hey, thanks for your concern for my safety. It's touching. Really, it is. But don't you worry, I am FAR from naive...

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by Sha83

Well, I would like to agree with you, but in the past week I have dealt with BS in my own neighborhood because of someone on my block spreading the rumor that I'm an undercover cop looking to implicate people (because I'm White), and since Obama won, I've gotten various racist/anti-White comments. All is right in the world!

I feel very sorry for you and embarrassed for this city considering that type of stuff still happens, but you did not in your post indicate that you were a victim of a crime. Harrasment, bad treatment yes, but a crime no. Also there are many examples (a few in my building and neighborhood) of people that are White and doing just fine in mostly non-White neighborhoods, why should your example count more.

[NYCwoman]

"...and since Obama won, I've gotten various racist/anti-White comments."

Wow. I find that hard to believe, actually....I actually have had the opposite experience. People of all colors seem to be looking at others of different races with a new sense of pride, accomplishment, joy and elation at what we have just achieved. I have had a lot more looks and feelings of "goodwill" from from my non-white fellow Bronxites (on the trains, in the shops, walking down the streets, etc.) and it fills me with hope and joy and an inner peace! We are all in this together and we have just accomplished what no one thought was possible!

There will, of course, be those that will try to divide and to tear down what has been achieved (both on these threads and out there in real life). But, those "types" are very much outnumbered! And God Bless America for THAT!!!!

[DjRey]

[quote=SuperMario;5930609]

Originally Posted by NYCwoman

Yes, too true, cryusjul - some parts of East LA and South Central make the Bronx look like Disneyland! quote]

Nope. Los Angeles, even in it's worst ghettos consist of palm trees and private homes. The Bronx is mostly dense tenements with graffiti. The Bronx has a more ghetto look, and this can not be disputed. You can say what you want about safety, but I will not argue with you on visuals. Los Angeles can be very decieving in that manner.


As for safety, the reason you to felt unsafe was because you are unfamiliar with Los Angeles. Unfamiliarity makes people uncomfortable. Also the nice weather in Los Angeles means people are always going to be outside. I can guarantee you that a Mexican from East LA, walking down Cypress avenue on a summer night would **** bricks. For one, there are more people here, meaning more gang bangers, drug dealers, stick up kids etc right on the street. And two, the large apartment buildings and enormous housing projects cast a shadow on people, as if it were looking down on you, that can make people shake to their very core.

As a matter of fact, my sister was working in Minnesota over the summer. In her job there were many people from different places. She met this hispanic girl from New Mexico and they started conversing. When my sister says she is from the Bronx, the girl gasped. She said " I passed through the Bronx when I was in NYC, we didn't stop there, but it was scary."

Side note : I was in Harlem last weekend. I walked 125th Amsterdam to 125th Lexington. My lord how many vagrants! Harlem looked as bad as ever. I saw a rat lifting a Pizza box over his back, garbage all over, and thugs in front of the PJ's and by the train station. It was 2 am in the morning but still. And I just shook my head at how blind you people are. Gentrification? lol. I cant believe some of the things you people write on here. Seriously. Get out more. I never want to hear about Harlem being "not so bad" again, or else why the **** were there so many bums and people wanting to rob me. Same with Mott Haven. Even though I have not been there for a while, I know if I go, I would see the real Mott Haven. Not what NYCwoman sees at 2 pm in the afternoon on a work day passing through on a tour bus.

You are right about the Bronx aint no Disneyland!(S*** is crazy ruggeded.)I was feelin it though. But L.A. aint no joke in some places,(watch TRAINING DAY again).See what I'm saying. And people already know You just dont go hang out where YOU shouldn't be at.Some neighborhoods are very terrortorial. I just got back from NYC last week and some places have improved GREATLY,and some have not. I was thrilled to be back where my fam is from,and enjoy myself out there.One thing that I noticed on both Coasts though is, Too many dudes stilll only live the thugged out mentality.I'm 30 now, so I'm past all that. Alot of people in the hood still need to step they life game up,and see the bigger picture..My 2 cents.

[SobroGuy]

Sha83..your posts on numerous threads are outright racist and small minded. As a result, I cannot in good faith take your posts seriously. Am I supposed to believe that as a white person in the Bronx you are the real victim here because people annoy you? With the unabashed hostility towards people of color on this board, if you gave off 1/10 of that negativity in real life, I am wondering why you have not had more problems in your neighborhoods. As a 3rd generation of Mott Haven, I can say that the massive changes that are occuring are good for the area. You are complaining that instead of maintaing empty lots, it is a problem that the city is developing housing on these empty lots? Did I read that right? The city is "squeezing people in"? What a joke! There is far more demand for AFFORDABLE housing in this city than supply, and yet you actually are complaining the city is building affordable housing for residents! Laughable indeed...

[WildCardSteve]

Originally Posted by NYCwoman

"...and since Obama won, I've gotten various racist/anti-White comments."

Wow. I find that hard to believe, actually....I actually have had the opposite experience. People of all colors seem to be looking at others of different races with a new sense of pride, accomplishment, joy and elation at what we have just achieved. I have had a lot more looks and feelings of "goodwill" from from my non-white fellow Bronxites (on the trains, in the shops, walking down the streets, etc.) and it fills me with hope and joy and an inner peace! We are all in this together and we have just accomplished what no one thought was possible!

There will, of course, be those that will try to divide and to tear down what has been achieved (both on these threads and out there in real life). But, those "types" are very much outnumbered! And God Bless America for THAT!!!!

Couldn't agree more.

I live and work in the Bronx, and at least five different black and latino people have struck up spontaneous conversations with me, a total (white) stranger, about how happy we are that Obama won.

I see uptight white folks all the time. They have this constipated look on their faces. They really belong elsewhere, like crappy Long Island, instead of coming here, being unpleasant, and bidding up the rent in the last affordable place in NYC.

[SobroGuy]

Wildcard I think thats a bit much. They have every right to be here as much as anyone else. Nobody is "bidding up the rent" nor are white people all in cahoots to move into these neighborhoods and drive anyone out. People typically move into affordable areas for the same reason people of color live there..because it's cheap! As a result of supply and demand..rents do go up as other neighborhoods become more expensive and these affordable communities receive more interest. So let's be reasonable and not assign blame ...because there is alot of blame for alof of things for everyone. There is in fact ENOUGH room for whites, blacks, asians, and everyone else in the Bronx, and the SOuth Bronx in particular. It is being repositioned back to its original purpose, as the working/middle class affordable enclave...for ALL NYers..not just for some.