POLL: Are You Generally Content Living in NEPA? (Erie, Scranton: appointed, new house)

[to570717]

One other point, I was home for thankgiving and I noticed an awful lot of European cars, new homes and renovations happening all over. Maybe you lived in a poor neighborhood and where surronded by it. Your over-generalization is way off base.

Rooster......Get a job

[returningtonepa???]

Originally Posted by to570717

Well Miamiman, i'm sure you are loving driving around in your "Hummer" with your Scotsdale elite cheering you on as your tear around the bend into your brand new stucco house.

People who need affirmation by their surrondings are either new money or fake money. Which one are you? I live in Naples, people are ubsurd here. I long for the day I can be around unpretentious people later to find out their family once onwed the Erie -Lackawanna rail road and about 100,000 acres of land. People In NEPA dont need to tell you they are rich or poor, they judge by the content of one anothers character.

Drive your Hummer into your sterile neighborhood and blend in with all the other people escaping to the land stucco and skip trowlling. You can have it.

so well said--i am a bit north in sarasota---regardless of how elite the area may look--there is much poverty here as well--i am newly retired and will do much better in nepa---

i see the major wealth in nepa in its people---after living many places over the last 30 years--i continue to find the friendliest people in my "old neighborhoods"--- i continue to be amazed at the number of murders,home invasions,car breakins(and i live in a gated community)that continue to occur in sw florida----

by the way--mr arizona----most of your "cultured" friends will not have the time for you should you not be able to keep up with them financially--have seen it happen here in fla too many times

after spending the last few years in an area where neighbors DO NOT know one another--i am looking forward to the old nepa curiosity(lol)
my only big worry is I CANT SNOW DRIVE----ALL SUGGESTIONS TAKEN--lol

[nocturnal rooster]

Originally Posted by to570717

Rooster......Get a job

I have 2 jobs.

570717....learn how to read someone's profile.

It's still pretty bad when you need 2 jobs to live decent

[returningtonepa???]

most families here in sw fla have 2 incomes--you may have to work 2 jobs wherever you go

down here 70 and 80 yr olds work at stocking in walmart just to pay the rent on their trailers----never mind their expense for medications--and no PACE programs here

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

I think my depressing feel to the area is lack of trees. Living in Kingston, we have our tree lined streets, but they are almost non-existent in wilkes-barre, nanticoke, etc.

Agreed. This sharp contrast can best be seen when viewing Pittston from the West Pittston riverfront and vice-versa. You can sit in the waterfront dining room at Cooper's in Pittston and look across the river at the "Garden Village," named as such for its gorgeous tree lawns and "Tree City USA" status. Then you head out into the parking lot and survey the very bleak, treeless landscape of Pittston, which looks as if a bomb hit it. I can't for the life of my understand why the elected officials here in Pittston don't apply for state and/or Federal grants for urban forestry. The city's image would improve greatly if new shade trees were lining William Street, Broad Street, North & South Main Street, Mill Street, Kennedy Boulevard, and other gateways in and out of town. Mayor Doherty in Scranton, for as much as I disagree with a lot of his ideas, actually stands out in my book for pledging to plant 1,000 new trees in the city's SouthSide, which (outside of Minooka) has some very congested-looking and not-so-leafy unattractive areas.

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

Not to mention it seems like 90% of the houses here have white vinyl siding. To me it just is a bit depressing.

What's even more depressing is to consider that those homes with the fresh white vinyl siding all formerly had white aluminum siding. It's scary to think that so many in this valley view white as being the only attractive color to make their home's exteriors. I'm not saying we have to be as colorful as the Painted Ladies, but would it kill people in Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, and Pittston, for example, to ponder transitioning to light blue, beige, sage green, or some other colors when remodeling their home's exteriors? Variety is the spice of life, after all.

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

As far as schools in this area, I only have first hand knowledge of Valley West. The high school has holes in walls, trash all over the grounds, rusting exteriors, broken windows, not enough text books. But the football team sure has everything they need. I wonder how much they are paying that coach.

Never underestimate the resiliency of children who are commited to learning though. I happened to be a 2005 graduate of Pittston Area High School, which had water leaking out of lighting fixtures (how safe could that have been), outdated textbooks, and various other problems. Lo and behold everyone in the administration got down on their knees on a pretty regular basis to worship the football team though. I can rattle off plenty of times when I observed football players getting "breaks" when others in the same situation likely would have been treated differently. Nevertheless I scored a 1300 on my SAT, had a perfect score on part of my PSSA, and received decent grades on two AP tests I took. I felt "advanced" when I took many of my college courses. Why? It wasn't because I dwelt upon the leaky roof, outdated textbooks, or overhyped football team (which has barely won any games in the past two years anyways). It was because I paid attention to some rather dedicated, excellent teachers, many of whom were willing to wait after school for students who needed extra help or would even come in on weekends. Pittston Area's abysmal test scores can be blamed squarely upon the shoulders of a rather unintelligent community at-large that instills the sense of "you ain't need no edumacation" into their offspring. All of my friends applied themselves, and all are now success stories. ConorsDad has a similar story. He attended what he perceived as a sub-par school district (Valley View), but he seems to have turned out rather well in life with a good job and great family.

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

As far as politics here, it is insane. Luzerne county has 1,739 employees for a county population of 313,000. Northampton county has 1,359 employees for a county population of 291,000. That is almost 400 more employees for almost the same amount of people.

Unfortunately a great deal (not all) of these county employees would be in poverty if they were not suckling on the public tax payer teat because many (not all) of them are poorly educated and have no marketable skills that would permit them to succeed in the private sector if and when they were terminated. You almost need to ask yourself if it would be better to cut some of these folks loose only to have them applying for taxpayer-supported assistance for their families afterwards as a result.

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

What this county needs is a strong republican party to balance out the demos. It seems Urban likes to point out a lot of the problems, but the people don't listen to him because he never played football.

I don't agree that this is a partisan issue. I happen to be a socially-liberal Democrat, yet I'm also fiscally-conservative, can adhere to a budget, and feel as if this county has plenty of pork to trim before resorting to autonomous tax increases. I think we've all established the fact that Skrepenak is a moron, and the voters who overwhelmingly re-elected him likely aren't the brightest bulbs in the chandelier. Petrilla has some sense to her, but she doesn't let it be known. Urban has some sense to him, he lets it be known, but nobody listens to what he has to say. I agree the most with your last clause---for some reason or other people voted Skrepenak into office the first time simply because "football players must know how to lead and work together." No, not all of them do, as we've seen with Skrepenak, who seems to go it alone and then make a number of stupid mistakes.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by miamiman

It was the most horrid two weeks of my life.

Well, I'm glad you're somewhere nicer now that suits you better.

Originally Posted by miamiman

I moved away mainly because of the horribly low pay,

Median Household Incomes, 2006:
Lackawanna County, PA: $38,915
Luzerne County, PA: $39,687
State: $46,259
Nation: $48,451

Yes, you're feelings are visibly substantiated by facts. Average salaries in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lag severely, but Monroe County's income is actually much higher than the state and national averages, at over $50,000, with the majority of families earning between $50,000 and $74,999. Pike County is also above the state and national averages. This can be attributed though to the high number of residents in both counties who commute to NJ and NY for higher-paying salaries. If and when Wall Street West comes to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, we'll see wages rapidly catch up.

Originally Posted by miamiman

the immense poverty,

Percentage of Individuals Living in Poverty, 2006
Luzerne County, PA: 13.3%
Lackawanna County, PA: 12.9%
State: 12.1%
Nation: 13.3%

I wouldn't by any means call the poverty in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre "immense," as the figures for Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties are either at or below the national average for the percentage of individuals living in poverty.

Originally Posted by miamiman

the dreary weather,

"Dreary" is subjective. I think it would be horrible to live in Greater Phoenix, where you live, and be subjected to scorching 115-degree heat indices in the summer and never see snow in the winter. I'd hate to never see leaves change or to never feel my body tingle with warmth on the first pleasant Spring day after a hearty winter. I'd hate to live in Greater Atlanta and expect the rest of the nation to bail me out due to severe drought that was caused partially due to lack of rain (and partially due to overpopulation).

Originally Posted by miamiman

the lack of cultural activities,

NEPA Philharmonic
Everhart Museum
First Fridays Art Walks (Scranton or Wilkes-Barre)
AFA Gallery
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
Scranton Cultural Center
Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts
Dietrich Theatre
Scranton Jazz Festival
Electric City Film Festival
Fine Arts Fiesta
Arts YOUniverse
Upcoming Artists' Colony at the Irem Temple
Potential Artists' Colony at Scranton Lace Works site
Shall I continue?

Originally Posted by miamiman

the lack of sophistication in the area,

I know of at least two individuals who are members of MENSA. I know of several people who regularly visit Manhattan just to go fashion shopping. I know of people who are performing artists. Off-Broadway shows come here. The metrosexual craze for males is still alive and well (I should know after unsuccessfully hitting on a straight guy who I thought was gay). I talk to people who read the Wall Street Journal. There is a growing community of intellectuals all over NEPA.

Originally Posted by miamiman

and the lack of suburban amenities I enjoy (Starbucks, PF Changs).

Just how long has it been since you've been to NEPA? In the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area alone, the following Starbucks exist or are opening soon:

Wilkes-Barre/South Main (Coming Soon)
Wilkes-Barre/Inside the Downtown Barnes & Noble
Wilkes-Barre Township/Highland Park
Wilkes-Barre Township/Inside the Arena Hub Barnes & Noble
Back Mountain
Moosic/Shoppes at Montage
Scranton/Inside the Mall at Steamtown
Scranton/Inside the Hilton Hotel
The Abingtons
Dickson City

That's at least 10 Starbuck's locations that I can rattle off the top of my head here in the metroplex, and I've heard rumors that one is coming to Pittston Township as well to an outparcel of an upcoming shopping mall on the 315.

By PF Chang's are you referencing the chicken place? Who needs that with all of the great mom-and-pop eateries we have in NEPA?

Originally Posted by miamiman

I am much more content in my new community. I will take my 75 degree Sunbelt weather and savor it.

I'm happy for you. I truly am. After all, this is a prime case of "different strokes for different folks." I'm a snow lover, and I feel like running around my subdivision naked whenever the first flakes fall during each late-Fall season. However, I wish you would do some research on how much NEPA has started to turn itself around in the past few years since you left before you comment on your 1990s vision of this area---a time when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had probably hit rock bottom. After all, you were unaware that the region had any Starbuck's, and I believe the first one opened over five years ago if I'm not mistaken. If it's been that long since you've been to NEPA, then you're unaware of how much work has been done over the past few years to improve our quality-of-life, especially in the SWB metroplex.

Once again, best of luck to you in AZ, but just as SWB took decades to decline to its 1990s level, it will take decades to transform itself into something wonderful. I'm only 21 and will be able to live to see the point when our region's potential is fully-realized (unfortunately likely as the outermost exurb of NYC, but if that's what it takes to give us an economic shot in the arm, then so be it). I can see older folks being less optimistic about the region's future, as quite honestly they might be dead before they see this area become a true showplace.

The turnaround has already begun to occur, in my opinion---Luzerne County has grown in population from 2004-2005 and again from 2005-2006, and Lackawanna County has grown for 2005-2006 after both counties declined for decades without a single year of growth. Certainly this is an indicator that the growth in the Poconos is beginning to spill over into the SWB area.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by to570717

One other point, I was home for thankgiving and I noticed an awful lot of European cars, new homes and renovations happening all over. Maybe you lived in a poor neighborhood and where surronded by it. Your over-generalization is way off base.

Unfortunately this is a case of people in NEPA being in debt up to their eyeballs. Trust me. The 2006 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey statistics have yet to be released for Pittston Township, my hometown, but as of 2000 our median household income was only $41,339. Nevertheless you can't stop at a single red light in Greater Pittston without having several $25,000+ vehicles, especially higher-end SUVs, in sight. Out of all of the homes on my street, my parents are one of only two households who don't own a $25,000+ vehicle---my next-door neighbor just bought a 2007 BMW sedan, the other next-door neighbors' own a newer Honda Pilot SUV, their next-door neighbor owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz sedan, and so on. If half the people in the township earn above $41,000 or so, and half the folks earn below that, then why is it that seemingly 75% of the vehicles owned by township residents are higher-end ones? My parents earn about $75,000 gross combined (perhaps $55,000 net), which puts them amongst the higher earners in our town according to the U.S. Census Bureau, yet their budget has them living on a strict budget with a 2004 Subaru Forester and 2004 Ford F-150. Just how deeply in debt are folks in NEPA? Most people I meet think that Greater Pittston is a very affluent area due to our sudden proliferation of $300,000+ McMansions and Audi TT Roadsters on every street, but I think you'll find that many of these folks are gritting their teeth and barely squeaking by from month to month.

Originally Posted by to570717

Rooster......Get a job

For as much as nocturnal rooster gets on my nerves at times with his incessant pessimism, he's still entitled to his opinion, and I think the "get a job" comment was a bit harsh.

[ScranBarre]

Just as an aside, I'd like to thank everyone for participating in this poll. I can't remember the last time nearly 30 folks voted for one of my often boring and pointless polls! I feel special! Thanks!!! I'm also enjoying reading and responding to everyone's insight---keep the comments coming, whether they be positive or negative.

[nocturnal rooster]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

For as much as nocturnal rooster gets on my nerves at times with his incessant pessimism, he's still entitled to his opinion, and I think the "get a job" comment was a bit harsh.

Yeah well that's the way alot of people are in this state, downright nasty. Thanks for sticking up for me.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by nocturnal rooster

Yeah well that's the way alot of people are in this state, downright nasty. Thanks for sticking up for me.

You're welcome. For what it's worth though I've traveled quite a bit all over the Northeastern U.S., and I find people here to be no ruder (or nicer) than they are in Upstate NY or New England.