Stroudsburg?

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Summering

Lets not forget that Allentown is its own cesspool, if thats the word you seem to like......there is drugs, and shootings as well , right there.
Everytime I pick up the local paper in that area, some horror has happened.
Crime and drugs are all over the place now. Everywhere..........just go to the other states on city-data and its evident that everyone is complaining of the same issues. As much as I like Lehigh, it too has big problems.
I remember a teacher who went shopping at the Mall and was murdered that evening.( right there at the Mall lot) This was just before my own daughter was buying a home near there, and I was frightened for her.
Our towns are all getting wacked with this crazyness, of crime, drugs, hoodlums roaming..........Something has to be done, but what?

I agree Allentown is also a cesspool, but the fact of the matter is that Allentown/Lehigh Valley is the third largest area in our state. Comparing Stroudsburg to Allentown is comparing apples to oranges.

[Summering]

Ok lets compare these apples and oranges:

Stroudsburg ( and areas)*************************** Allentown ( and areas )

Influx of NY,NJ people ***************************** Influx of NY, NJ people.
Crime getting worse ******************************* Crime getting worse
Schools getting overburdened************************ Schools getting overburdened
Large commute for workers************************** Large commute for workers
Drug busts**************************************** Drug busts
Gangs ******************************************* Gangs
Shootings downtown******************************** Shootings downtown
Stabbing of inocent people*************************** Stabbing of inocent people
Effecting , other town areas************************** Effecting Bethlehem and other areas

Whats being done to stop it?************************* Whats being done to stop it?
Will Monroe Cty be taken over?*********************** Will all of Lehigh be taken over?

We have the same problems, spreading over a wide area.......
Because we are both border towns, that use to live in a friendlier time and place. Some of the problems are spreading way beyond our township names. Monroe is a big county, and we come in second if I am not mistaken in "newcomers" entering. ( First being Pike)

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Summering

Ok lets compare these apples and oranges:
[/b]

The problem is not the influx of NY/NJ people. It is the influx of criminals, drug dealers, unemployed, welfare families....... These type of people only bring down an area and do not contribute anything positive. I am speaking in general, I know some unemployed/welfare families contribute positive things. These types of people can come from anywhere, even, hold your breath, Philly. Although it is undeniable that a large % come from NY/NJ, it does not make it all NY/NJ.
The Lehigh Valley has flourished in part BECAUSE of the influx of NJ/NY. The money they spend here, buying 400,000.00 homes, new cars, blah, blah, has fueled the economy.

To keep out undesirables, more cops, pass the 3 strikes law, inforce existing law, don't allow people to move into our state and collect welfare/section 8 benefits for at least a year. I could go on, but it is fruitless.

[timberbear47]

Originally Posted by hspj

From what I can tell on the internet this looks like just the kind of place I am looking for- but of course the internet can be deceptive! I was hoping to hear from people what it's like to live there (and surrounding areas)? I am looking to relocate from Northern VA to Northeastern PA somewhere. I looking for good schools for my 2 kids, an area that is scenic with easy access to recreation such as biking and camping, low traffic and generally just a good place to raise a family. Oh and also somewhere that is less competitive than here with a slower pace of life. Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

If you want to check out Milford, Pa area, its scenic and good school districts check out my website Pennsylvania Homes for Sale

[Summering]

Originally Posted by lookin'for"home"

Hey- drove through the other day and was happy to see Stroudsburg was free of traffic and the stores and houses looked great. Better than two years ago when I was last there. Brodheadsville is where I usually brace for
traffic (along 209 and 115) and it was not too bad.
Yes- it's relative.... traffic-wise.

I know, the crime I hear about is definitely upsetting but I always feel safe
when I'm in Stroudsburg. Admittedly, I've been there only during the day
and have never spent oodles of time there.

Brodheadsville can be crowded during race times, but it wasn't so bad this year. It is the worst for the one week of the Fair. But, thats ok........one week is not going to hurt my life.
I think our land being a minimum of one acre and usually more is a good thing. We are center to Stroudsburg and Easton ......so we can use both places without much of an issue.
I love the quiet evenings, looking out over the mountains.
The school is here is one of the best of the area. The library is huge and full of light, inviting! I see Soccer classes, rock climbing classes, dancing, and gym classes......lots of things for kids.
Its just an idea place to live, and still reasonable right now. Very much so...........

[NEPA-x-pat]

Seems to be a double edged sword. I grew up in the Scranton area back in the late 60's and 70's. I attended East Stroudsburg State College (as it was then known). Stroudsburg was a GREAT town...wonderful. As was Monroe County. I worked summers for the county rec dept. in Mt. Pocono and Canadensis as well as at Dansbury Park in East Stroudsburg. I graduated in 1979 and returned for many homecomings. Initially I was impressed with the development. New trendy stores, little bistros, but eventually saw the gridlocked traffic, short tempers, aggressive driving, and heard about the crime. A fellow teacher from my district took a principal position at Mt. Pocono. He said he spends over half his time at the magistrate's office dealing with delinquent kids. I have taught in an inner city district my whole career and he was telling me stories about things I have never had to deal with. It seems that the discovery of the Poconos by the metro area seems to have brought prosperity to the area, but unfortunately many have brought the survival attitudes from the big cities with them. Perhaps it is inevitable. But you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

Now not all of the transplants are like that. A dear friend who used to live in NYC moved back to Scranton recently. Her boyfriend is a retired NYC fireman (and cop) who moved to an appartment in Scranton and loves ...I mean LOVES it. He can walk downtown, to a shop, pizza place, and his favorite Irish pub, the Banshee. He lives like a king on his pension and tells all his fireman friends what a find Scranton is. It is like the city without the problems he tells them. I want others to admire the city too. I would welcome them to the city, but I would admonish them to try to leave the big city survival attitudes behind. Boy didn't want to hijack this one, but I felt I could respond to the trend this thead was moving. Oh, yeah, Stroudsburg...I can only hope that the growing pains ease up time. I miss my alma mater.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by NEPA-x-pat

Seems to be a double edged sword. I grew up in the Scranton area back in the late 60's and 70's. I attended East Stroudsburg State College (as it was then known). Stroudsburg was a GREAT town...wonderful. As was Monroe County. I worked summers for the county rec dept. in Mt. Pocono and Canadensis as well as at Dansbury Park in East Stroudsburg. I graduated in 1979 and returned for many homecomings. Initially I was impressed with the development. New trendy stores, little bistros, but eventually saw the gridlocked traffic, short tempers, aggressive driving, and heard about the crime. A fellow teacher from my district took a principal position at Mt. Pocono. He said he spends over half his time at the magistrate's office dealing with delinquent kids. I have taught in an inner city district my whole career and he was telling me stories about things I have never had to deal with. It seems that the discovery of the Poconos by the metro area seems to have brought prosperity to the area, but unfortunately many have brought the survival attitudes from the big cities with them. Perhaps it is inevitable. But you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

Now not all of the transplants are like that. A dear friend who used to live in NYC moved back to Scranton recently. Her boyfriend is a retired NYC fireman (and cop) who moved to an appartment in Scranton and loves ...I mean LOVES it. He can walk downtown, to a shop, pizza place, and his favorite Irish pub, the Banshee. He lives like a king on his pension and tells all his fireman friends what a find Scranton is. It is like the city without the problems he tells them. I want others to admire the city too. I would welcome them to the city, but I would admonish them to try to leave the big city survival attitudes behind. Boy didn't want to hijack this one, but I felt I could respond to the trend this thead was moving. Oh, yeah, Stroudsburg...I can only hope that the growing pains ease up time. I miss my alma mater.

Nothing wrong with Scranton at all. I happen to love that town. Your friend is right. You are also right about Stroudsburg.......as much as we want it to go back to its old self Rooting for ya' Stroudsburg..........
Some areas are way above or below the once glorious Stroudsburg........
So it can't be lumped as if it were a county. Its a town.........beyond that we have great places, and wonderful open spaces.
PS I am not happy with what I hear of the Mt.Pocono Schools......and wonder why........APCP has that rough crew who go to school there. Some schools are fantastic ,like ours here quite south of Stroudsburg.

[ScranBarre]

Scranton has been on the short end of the stick far too often, so I must admit it pleases me to see some positive comments about it for a change. I'm a firm believer that being optimistic about a city's future is the first step in heralding in a revival, and I truly am starting to see more and more people seeing beyond the Legion of Doom and DohertyDeceit to a city that is filled with safe streets, affordable historic housing, parks, unique boutiques and restaurants, galleries, festivals, friendly people, etc. Granted some people have legitimate gripes (Daniel with Daron Northeast and the flooding issues that have faced Lower Green Ridge, for example), but I'll be quite honest when I tell you that many people who approach the council podium, gripe on DohertyDeceit, etc. simply aren't happy unless they're complaining and raining on someone else's parade.

Just like NEPA-X-Pat's friends, I, too am excited about moving to Downtown Scranton in the upcoming years to be within walking distance of movies, college lecturers, galleries, shopping, dining, the library, the mall, the cultural center, banks, coffee houses, my office, etc. I can see through all of the "Chicken Littles" to see a diamond in the rough. Yes, Scranton is mired in red ink, has more potholes per capita than Baghdad, and is notorious for political corruption, but I feel as if the benefits outweigh the negatives. You have great historic walkable neighborhoods with tree-lined streets (The Abingtons can't boast about that). You have some sort of festival, fair, parade, race, etc. occurring every other week in the city (La Festa Italiana, Steamtown Marathon, Race for the Cure, Electric City Film Festival, Scranton Jazz Festival, First Fridays, Everhart After Dark, Cocktails in the City, Armed Services Parade, Santa Parade, First Night Scranton, "The Office" Convention, St. Ann's Novena, St. Joseph's Festival, etc.) You have awesome businesses in your city limits (Kelly's Pub, Poochie, Northern Lights, Molly Brannigan's, Thai Rak Thai, Cafe Beignet, Cooper's, Mansour's, Marquis Art & Frame, Outrageous, New Laundry, Osaka, Faccia Luna, etc.) I find it hard to believe that so many people can allow all of these benefits to fall by the wayside in order to bash the city.