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I'm a native upstate NYer (Mohawk Valley) and moved to Cairo about 3 years ago. Being white, and middle income, I can still relate to the posts on this blog. I still feel very unwelcome in Cairo and can't seem to figure out where the hostility comes from. Don't get me wrong, I have met some very nice people, but the overall feeling you get walking through stores or dealing with people in offices is not very welcoming.
I will have to agree to the lack of friendly factor in the upstate area.. I lived there for 19 years then joined the service and settled in California, but return frequently to visit family. There sure as heck are much friendlier places in the country (US country), such as a recent visit to Kentucky found the people there extremely friendly, and my experience has been that most of the south is friendly. I still have not figured out why the upstate NY is a little behind the friendliness curve, after all, when I was young, the main local industry was tourism..which reminds me of all the NYCity people who used to vacation in upstate, an yet rag on the fact that there isn't the stores, etc, like in NY, and "we can get it cheaper in NYC".. attitude,, which was irritating to us hill billies.
For those of you who don't understand the "mentality" of the residents of Cairo, I suggest you attend a Planning Board meeting. The meetings provide insight into why many folks, both long-time, full-time residents and those who spend weekends and summers here, are concerned.
We are experiencing an influx of transients. In the recent past, that has meant a rise in crime. Sorry, it is a fact, and it's that simple.
This summer two people, not at all associated with one another, moved into town, situated in the same area. Within 10 weeks of their moving in, 8 homes in the area were broken into. In the end, one was evicted, and the other went back to jail.
That is what scares full-time residents. As well, when word gets out that transients have moved in the value of one's home depreciates and the quality of life suffers. To many in this town, their biggest asset is their home. You simply cannot expect those folks to sit back and allow that to happen to them, and it is ridiculous to think that anyone would be happy with that proposition.
If transients want to enjoy the pleasures associated with rural living, they have to offer something of value to the community. Drugs, domestic violence, late-night parties till all hours of the night just won't work, or be tolerated.
It's not about color or sexuality. It's about behavior. Come on - be real!
Two points here...
I think there is a resentment of the haves-vs-have nots. In the 1000 Islands the locals in Alex Bay have a deep resentment towards the tourists. It is the lifeblood of much of their livelihood...but there is an underlying disdain that is not so subtle. They need the tourists....but deeply dislike the way they roam "their turf". This has festered for a long time...to the point where the REALLY wealthy islanders stay clear of Alex Bay, leaving the town to cater to those with less means....yet still relying on their tourist dollar.
In the Catskills and Columbia, much of the downstate crowd playing country realizes that it is chic now to live that life and have an organic farm (often to sell to the eateries in NYC). Much of their contributions (restoring homes...) are admirable, but I think what burns the locals is the underlying motivations for many coming up to these regions...to drive up the real estate prices to make a buck (organic farms is secondary)....often at the expense of driving the locals out. Assimilation has to be a concious choice...and to be an upstater in the true sense really means cutting your NYC umbilical cord.
Had to chime in... We are ex-pats from downstate living in the Catskills....come into a poop-storm regarding wind turbines-an issue that divided even the best of friends. That issue is over, but it did show us the division and the "truth" about the feelings of "locals" versus newcomers. In spite of a difference of opinion on a particular issue, we have found that with the right attitude, the right reasons for moving to the region, and the right "state of mind" that we all can and do get along swell. We did not try to change the local ways to suit our needs-we embraced (which is why we live here) and respect the local culture and the success of the town's survival, we are doing all we can to help in that sustainability, and we are honored to be a resident. We have found that there really is no line in the sand-us versus them (new versus old). I have read time and time again that the biggest issue is respect-going both ways-for each other. And that is what has kept this small town going, and will keep it going. Yes, we are outsiders, but we contribute and participate in the town, the economy, the "being." That is what, I believe, has allowed us, and many like us, to be welcomed upstate.
There are plenty of weekenders, driving SUVs and Mercs and Lexi, that do not respect, participate, or care about us full-timers. That is their right for sure, and it is the right of the full-timers to fewl the same way about them.
My point, it is all about attitude, not money. Do your own yard work, plow your own snow, chop your own wood, take your garbage to the dump in appropriate clothing, and resect and appreciate each other. In our area, the size of your house and land is not the decideing factor, it is what and how you do that is. Be polite, kind, and community-spirited because you want to be, not because you have to be. That is what we have found to make the difference. Wave, stop and help, stop and chat, just STOP and participate and interact and be REAL.
Just a persective from an "outsider" living and loving and having pride in our very small, unknown, and deeply rooted town in the middle of the Catskill Mountains. It is possible!
I recently moved here from Colorado and I've actually found people in the area to be friendlier here than Colorado/Nebraska. Maybe it's just Ballston Spa, the Village of Friends But I've experienced this friendliness all over the capital district and in the Adirondacks too.
Sadly enough, after living and working in the area for just a few short months, I actually ran into a gal that was racist and not afraid to admit it. She wasn't white trash either (although there is plenty of that around here). She was young, educated and came from a fairly well to do family.
I didn't ask where you were from, and I don't care that it's Cairo
I'm sorry the original poster experienced this blatant racism, particularly in this day and age! But as somebody else has already said, don't let the rotten 10% ruin things for you... most people are probably not so bigoted.
I'm posting in this thread for another reason. (Although perhaps it's related to this issue.) What's with the inexplicable sense of pride that natives of Cairo seem to have for their hometown? I've spent nearly my entire life (I'm 40 years old) in nearby Albany, and have several times heard people boisterously announce, with a braggart's voice, "I'm from Cairo!" Now, I've never been to the town, but I can't imagine any reason to brag about being from it. These Cairo natives love to tell you where they're from, even when they weren't asked. What's the big deal with this town? Should I be impressed or even care that you're from Cairo? Because I'm not and I don't; it means nothing to me. You might as well tell me you're from Saginaw.
Perhaps this "hometown pride" in Cairo leads to provincialism and then to a fear of outsiders? Maybe it helps to explain the inexcusable behavior that inspired the thread.
(BTW, I've heard that natives of Chicago do this, too. They love to tell others that they're from Chicago, even when they're not asked.)
I live in the very heart of Cairo and have for the past 3 years. I am 23 and live in a small house with my boyfriend and we are expecting. I have always been weary of Cairo, I grew up in the nearby town of Greenville. Cairo has been alright but I tend to stay very much to myself. I do work right in town as well where I get a nice observation of the community. Indeed there are many who commute from downstate which seems to be good because they are the only people who spend a lot of money. So despite their sometimes extreame difference, they help the local economy. I have met some very friendly part-timers from downstate and I have met people that I would really rather not do business with because they are just disgraceful to humanity. Most local residents I deal with cannot afford much and are either passive completely or will only return friendliness when it has already been given. The nicest people in Cairo I have come to know are the librarians who are always friendly and considerate. Cairo-Durham school I believe has come a long way, it is the drop outs that seem to cause so many problems and I don't blame the school for their drop out rate because yes, there is plenty of white-trash in Cairo, poorly educated poor people who need someone to take their plight in life out on which I am sure can account for some of the hatred in town. There has been a lot of crime in Cairo which is why we have our own police force even for our small town and despite the local trooper station. Leave the lights on and lock your doors, don't be afraid to excerise that second amendment, only in self-defense of course. But indeed discrimination occurs everywhere, I noticed a greater problem with it in Coxsackie (nearby) when I lived there than I have here but I do believe it is here. However I think pointing the finger directly at Cairo as a town of discrimination would be discriminatory. Discrimination is something we all know on a national level because it occurs on a national level. If it didn't happen everywhere, not many of us would be very aware. In terms of friendliness we need to remember that hate breeds hate and to try to overcome that otherwise we would be doing something like say fighting terrorism with terrorism. I have learned that unfortunately even if people are not so nice I need to just walk away or continue to be nice in return. Normally folks come around or I kill them with kindness, either way it seems to help.
I lived in Columbia County for years. There were pockets of prejudice, amongst other types of ignorance, but it depended on which areas. It definitely existed, esp. in the 70's, when I was in high school, but unfortunately I've found even worse conditions elsewhere. I think some smaller towns can be very unsophisticated and backwards, so to speak, but it depends on the town and the people there. Some small towns in upstate NY are very saavy and smart.
If you think it's bad in upstate NY small towns, you should experience what it's like in smaller towns in the south. I moved to a small town in Central Florida (which, to many, isn't considered the "south" )and could not believe the attitudes. This was the mid 90's, too. Extreme and blatant prejudice. We had a realtor apologize to us for showing our house to "the black couple." We couldn't believe it. Stuff like this happened alot. Fortunately, we don't live there anymore.
Last edited by Nanny Goat; 06-03-2008 at 03:23 PM..
Reason: spelling
not a progressive place sadly. Not much to do here in that the town closes by 5 PM. The general population seems to be uneducated and barely has a GED let alone a college education. The average salary here is 19 grand which is extremely low. Many are on disability or welfare and are poor. They seem able bodied to me and must be able to do something yet they don't . Instead they seem to lurk about,staring. I have found since my arrival a real drug problem here and the Main St has endured a string of burglaries in their stores causing one shop keeper I was friendly with to close shop.
I moved up state to get away from this yet I have had the experience of dealing right under my roof! The 2 dealers that were liivng there have since left but..it took a while and not much help came from the police locally or state and the absentee land lord either!
My apartment has roaches but the landlord refuses to exterminate but instead bombed the place. I don't want to continually bomb because I have pets and it's not healthy. My neighbors next door do'nt clean and have even kept garbage in their place for days,ugh! dumpster outside went unpicked up for 3 weeks until the neighbors in the area wrote to the town! How sick is that?!
There seems to be a lack of communty here and neighborliness as people tend to keep to selves and do not welcome strangers eventhough at one time many of them were themselves as many did come up from city. Some are townies tho and ignorant at that. I don't think they even know what a book is let alone have read one.
As for the hate of which you speak of..that I have not seen..as there seems to be some blacks and hispanics here. It is not culturely diverse tho by any means here..The main street is full of empty or ugly stores. Property taxes are strangely high. In my neighborhood alone you will find 5 abandoned homes in a block radius. I think it sends a clear message in that people want out of Cairo and the ones who are there don't want you in or if you do come they want nothing to do with you! I have been on my own to fend for myself since I came here last October of 2007. Mind you I am sure three are some intelligent nice people. I have met some in the library. Some are fortunate to have jobs in the banks,schools,or work for the town but the majority of the towns folk appear out to lunch. Sorry but taht is just my take on Cairo and in fact many towns up this way.
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Transients in Cairo
But I've experienced this friendliness all over the capital district and in the Adirondacks too.
