Asking For Everyone's Write up On Sections Of Brooklyn (New York: appointed, real estate)

[whatsleftofbrooklyn]

I took the time to write this b/c I am so disappointed in what Brooklyn has become and really want to hear from the other folks in brooklyn that feel the same way.

Spare me the "race" comments, and "better then though" comments becuase you are wrong. I just want to be around my own people b/c lets face it, its not opposites that attract..... its similarities.

This thread is to review the demographic and quality of life situation in each part of brooklyn. I'm telling you ahead of time that I am white, 30 and I am of jewish and italian decsent. I have a masters degree and I am NOT a bigot.

My prediction is that wthin 10-15 years, all of brooklyn will be Russian, Asian, Spanish (not even black). Not being one of those ethic groups is bad, but I hate feeling pushed out of where I live because of the bad attitudes some ethnicities bring to the table as well as there ability to turn sections of brooklyn into slums and lower the quality of living standards.

The Russians are totally taking over brooklyn and slowly leaking into staten island. They have terrible attitudes and feel they own brooklyn. They are very dangerous drivers, very hot headed and feel the world owes them something. I feel threatened by them (and I'm a big guy) that a fight will always ensue b/c of their faux affulent attitudes and there willingness to slice someone's throat for a dollar.

RANDOM THOUGHTS. The homes and illegal aparements keep on going up in the east side of town (black sections), it takes 25 minutes to drive 2 miles on the streets, Real estate is on an increase despite the sub prime loan plague, medical and car insurance are the one of the highest in NY 5 boroughs (thank you Russians for the medical fraud and insurance fraud).

It is so sad to see a group of people living the way they do (the blacks) in areas like bedstuy, east new york, east flatbush, brownsville. Eventually they will be bought out by hard working minorities like Asians and Mexicans. Most of the blacks I run into now hate brooklyn and are moving to Georgia and Virginia (cheaper living, and surrounded by there own folks).

The Russians own Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, and Brighton Beach and they have turned it into what Americans now nicknamed "little Odessa". What a horrid group of individuals.

Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights... Guineas (hate them) ... now becoming Asian (look at sunset park). Borough Park and part of williamsburgh (the Jews their make all the stereotypes that apply to them seem true).

The yuppies are in park slope, downtown brooklyn, red hook, dumbo, etc.... They have money and they are slowly changing the neighborhood but they pay up to 3k for a studio apt.... This is one of the last decent spots in brooklyn but still, you cannot own a car there b/c of the parking situation...

I never thought I would say this but I am planning to move out of brooklyn when my finances work out and after the wedding.... Due to the line of business I am in, I still have to have access to the 5 boroughs, but I am thinking Long Island if I can pay the taxes out there, but most likely a nice part in north jersey.

It truly is a shame and misery needs company so I would really like to hear from others on the siutation as well.
Thanks
Derek L.

[sickofnyc]

Interesting that I did not come across your post sooner. I recently posted my grievances on the very same subject. I am disgusted as to what has happened in Brooklyn and agree with everything you stated. I am planning to relocate for these reasons. I just returned from a trip to Portland Oregon and it was wonderful to be among Americans. I think some ethnicity is good, but Brooklyn has been taken over by a rude arrogant bunch and you know who I mean. These people do not assimilate and I am not happy living amongst them. Good luck to you in your move and I'm sure you will be a lot happier.

[Elvira Black]

What's left of Bklyn sez:

"Spare me the "race" comments, and "better then though" comments becuase you are wrong. I just want to be around my own people b/c lets face it, its not opposites that attract..... its similarities."

This is partly a self-fulfilling prophecy. As long as people believe they can't live near anyone who is not "their kind," the ethnic enclaves will tend to remain. Of course it is more reassuring to be among people who share your cultural background, but the stereotyping I see on this forum goes far beyond rationality. There are African Americans and other minorities who post here, and I would feel angry at the obsession with how many whites are in certain areas, etc. Again, I understand the mindset but this is 2007. Yes, whites moving in usually indicates a demographic change but this can also lead to yuppie ghettos solely for the wealthy and privileged.

I'm Jewish and the Lower East Side coop complex on Grand Street was exclusively Jewish (and mostly Orthodox) up until around the 80s when there was a discrimination lawsuit. Like you, I'm sure many people didn't like the idea but it was time to let others in if they were financially qualified and do away with the "ghetto" mentality which is part of what you are complaining about. What's good for the goose is good for the gander though. You only want to preserve your white "ghetto" enclave and that is your motivation for this post.

NYC is supposed to be a melting pot, where people of all ethnicities can live. There are plenty of interracial couples and children here and nationwide. Each new ethnic wave in the early 20th century experienced the same derision because they were "different," (albeit mostly white) but most assimilated by the second generation.

You seem to resent the "hardworking Asians" (typically low crime, pro-education) along with everyone else on your list, so it's not merely a quality of life issue.

I can't speak for Brooklyn since I don't live there, but my impression was that it was becoming rapidly Yuppified in even the formerly "bad" sections. Some of those "bad" sections include black homeowners who have lived there for decades or longer.

Yes, I think that if you move to this country you should respect the larger culture and attempt to assimilate as much as possible. But older immigrants may find it harder to do. My grandmother's English was limited but she made sure that her children were educated and all but one of five were completely assimilated. (One of my aunts is an Orthodox Jew who has lived on the Lower East Side her entire life--but she is not ultra Orthodox and used to work in the public school system.)

[Elvira Black]

And if you only want to hear from people who disagree with you, I think this is the wrong outlet. "Misery loves company" indeed.

[Elvira Black]

Sorry, meant to say people who agree with you. My bad.

[scatman]

I'm an African-American Brooklynite, now living in the Bronx.

One thing I've learned about New York. It is a city of immigrants. Immigrants come and immigrants go. There are many, many reasons for that! Different backgrounds were here 40, 50 years ago. "Those people" were chastised. And "different people" will be here 40, 50 years from now. Unfortunately, it is likely they will be chastised, too! The chastisement is unfortunate.

This is what you will get in the City of New York. Whether it be immigrants, migrants, etc. One thing I realized is that anywhere you go, there will be tradeoffs that have to be dealt with (In know, there I go again with the word "tradeoffs"). How one responds to those tradeoffs will determine whether one has happy living or not!

[NooYowkur81]

I don't exactly get what the OP is complaining about. The lack of Jewish or Italian areas? Well the Italian and Jewish people that left those areas are partially to blame for that. So are you blaming Asian, Russians, Hispanics, etc, for forming their own enclaves, just like everyone else in this city does.

Also a good chunk of landlords are Jewish so they are also partially to blame for the poor living standards in some of these areas that are "slums."

[Elvira Black]

More stereotyping...what proof is there that a good chunk of landlords are Jewish? Not saying it's true or false, but hey. That's like the out of date claim that all business owners in minority 'hoods are white/Jewish. Many now are immigrants of all races, if my eyes don't deceive me.

Plenty of corporate "landlords" now though...I didn't know Donald Trump was Jewish. But yes, there are still a lot of ruthless landlords out there--as well as real estate agents, mortgage lenders, etc. Greed is a universal quality esp in the good old USA--and especially where real estate is concerned. Lots of red-lining in the real estate industry, which helped create ghettos here.

And what about the NYC housing authority--building all those projects which are isolated from the rest of the population?

I do agree with your point that landlords often neglect their buildings, harass tenants into leaving so they can charge higher rents, etc. Blaming the residents for all of a neighborhood's problems is short-sighted--though "bad" tenants are a source of grief to landlords as well.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by Elvira Black

More stereotyping...what proof is there that a good chunk of landlords are Jewish? Not saying it's true or false, but hey. That's like the out of date claim that all business owners in minority 'hoods are white/Jewish. Many now are immigrants of all races, if my eyes don't deceive me.

Plenty of corporate "landlords" now though...I didn't know Donald Trump was Jewish. But yes, there are still a lot of ruthless landlords out there--as well as real estate agents, mortgage lenders, etc. Greed is a universal quality esp in the good old USA--and especially where real estate is concerned. Lots of red-lining in the real estate industry, which helped create ghettos here.

And what about the NYC housing authority--building all those projects which are isolated from the rest of the population?

I do agree with your point that landlords often neglect their buildings, harass tenants into leaving so they can charge higher rents, etc. Blaming the residents for all of a neighborhood's problems is short-sighted--though "bad" tenants are a source of grief to landlords as well.

I want to point out that I don't believe all landlords are Jewish. Of course not. I was careful to use the term, "a good chunk," not all. God knows there are plenty of bad landlords in this city and they come from all kinds of backgrounds. I was just trying to make the point that Jewish and Italian people are partially to blame for some of the things the OP was complaining about.

[Elvira Black]

Yes, and it's despicable...though again, being a landlord can be a losing proposition in some cases.