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Hey. 23 year Italian American working class guy. From Bensonhurst but now it is pretty much like living in a foreign (Asian) country and I don't like it. I guess I am of the last generation of 'old school' NYers. You know, have an accent, of "white ethnic" descent. Working class. Vote Dem for unions not for communism or super social justice causes, goes to church on Sunday etc.
I feel increasingly alienated in my hometown, and there are no neighborhoods for Italian Americans anymore and I really feel like I got the short end of the stick for not being born 25 years earlier. The city had changed big time and I am not a fan. Williamsburg is now like the village, Bensonhurst is Shanghai, Bay Ridge is Beirut and even the Russians in Brighton Beach are getting pushed out by Mexicans. On top of that, I can't even go to work without hearing morons chant their stupid "No Justice No Peace!" BS, which coming from a long line of NYPD officers, one of which was killed on duty in the '90s, is really offensive.(I want to become a cop as well but it's kind of pointless when even our mayor sides with protestors over officers). I could go to SI or Howard Beach but now that the hood like Bushwick is so expensive it is just a matter of time before those places "diversify" and lose their Italian-ness and I do not want to spend my life "white flighting" every couple of years. Even areas of Long Island are changing.
Anyhow, I would like to stay in New York State, so I would like to find a city upstate (a city, not a suburb of a city!) that is of decent size, has jobs, but isn't interesting enough that it will gentrify or diversify. Somewhere that is solidly blue collar and has a large Italian community.
I am thinking Schenectady/Rotterdam/Saratoga/Ballston Spa area, but also South Buffalo or Niagara Falls (yes I know it's a little gritty).
Somewhere a bit old school, working class and "entrenched"/not going to change significantly anytime soon.
Any suggestions???
Oh, PLEASE spare me lectures about how I am a horrible racist and how great diversity and change is. I ain't gonna change your opinion and you ain't gonna change mine. If you have nothing to contribute and thinking I am misguided or provincial or whatever, just save your breath. Sorry I have to put that disclaimer but I am anticipating the social justice brigade telling me how bad I am and not being of any help.
I commented on it.! That poster was very similar to me. It's actually comforting to know that I am not the only one feeling so alienated in my home town.
I've heard the Utica-Rome area is solidly Italian... probably the most Italian place in Upstate NY
Good point and if the OP wants a specific community, look into Frankfort. It has one of the highest percentages of Italians for any municipality in the US. It is just east of Utica in western Herkimer County. East Utica, which is the traditional Italian section of town, isn't as Italian as it once was, it is still pretty high in the outer neighborhoods around the Proctor Parks. Rome also has a Little Italy around East Dominick Street. Both have a decent to good amount of diversity, but you may find that specific neighborhoods may work.
Yeah, Utica-Rome would definitely be a better fit based on what I'm reading. It definitely has a larger conservative population than the Albany area. There just aren't as many jobs or economic opportunities, and the area is more depressed.
You mentioned Saratoga. Yes, the city is mostly white, but it's also a very liberal-minded city. In the summer, with Long Islanders coming up to have some fun, it feels kind of like The Hamptons Part 2.
Rotterdam is more of a suburb of Schenectady, which you mentioned you didn't want. It is, however, more conservative than Schenectady (as most suburbs are). Schenectady is also lacking a booming economy, like Utica-Rome. But it is getting a casino, so who knows what the future holds.
In the Capital Region, I would say that the most conservative areas would have to be Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake, and anywhere in Schoharie County (but it's incredibly rural backcountry).
If you don't mind a village, Seneca Falls between Syracuse and Rochester also has a pretty high Italian percentage and ITT/Gould Pumps is a company there that has expanded/added jobs recently. Seneca Falls, NY Population and Races - USA.comâ„¢
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