Anyone move to the Youngstown/Warren/Boardman metro???? (Columbus, Cleveland: middle-class, fit in)

[CortlandGirl79]

Originally Posted by 1phwalls

Anyone moving to this area is out of their mind! Don't bother coming to this dump, and if you're already here, get out before it's too late!

Well, maybe if you lived in a nice area of the Valley instead of the city of Youngstown you might not think it was a dump. I'm so sick of hearing the negativity around here. If you don't like it leave. Besides complaining doesn't do any good, why don't you volunteer and do some good for the area instead of being a downer!

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

Well, maybe if you lived in a nice area of the Valley instead of the city of Youngstown you might not think it was a dump. I'm so sick of hearing the negativity around here. If you don't like it leave. Besides complaining doesn't do any good, why don't you volunteer and do some good for the area instead of being a downer!

Thank you for saying that. Unfortunately, everyone has something negative to say about some area that they live in. It will never change. Instead of saying, why don't people start doing? It just doesn't make sense to me.

[1phwalls]

Actually I am doing something about it. I graduate in August and I'm moving away. Neither one of you live in Youngstown, and let me tell you, there is nothing here for anyone. Now, if you move out of Youngstown, some of the surrounding areas are nice.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by 1phwalls

Actually I am doing something about it. I graduate in August and I'm moving away. Neither one of you live in Youngstown, and let me tell you, there is nothing here for anyone. Now, if you move out of Youngstown, some of the surrounding areas are nice.

Well, I do live in Youngstown, and I like it here. I think it's worth "defending."

I'm glad you're leaving because you'll hopefully find happiness where you're going, and there will be one less unhappy person here.

[StephandTerry4]

Originally Posted by 1phwalls

Actually I am doing something about it. I graduate in August and I'm moving away. Neither one of you live in Youngstown, and let me tell you, there is nothing here for anyone. Now, if you move out of Youngstown, some of the surrounding areas are nice.

You know I am getting ready to relocate to the youngstown area (more like the surrounding area like warren, canton, or boardman, or cortland) but as of right now I live in a big city. and between me and my husband we have lived in michigan, colorado, delaware, west virgina, Ohio, and Florida(where we are presently at) what we have learned to realize over the period of our travels is that everywhere you go there are the good parts, the bad parts, and the parts where people just don't care. when your unhappy your problems don't go away in fact they follow you wherever you go. We aren't moving out of florida because we hate the place in fact my husband loves it, but because I want to move somewhere where they have the four seasons, where my children can play in the road and I not worry if they are going to get run over, kidnapped and the other million things mothers worry about, we want to give them a life where its not about where you live or how much money you bring home its about family, friends, and being there for each other. trust me I know what its like to not have anyone because both of my parents have passed away and I have no family left. So I want to move somewhere where you can learn what family is really like. I want my kids to experiance snow, and the changing of leaves, how everything starts fresh in the spring, because that teaches them that no matter what you can alway's start fresh. So 1phwalls. Just try and be happy because crime and dirty cities and rude people are everywhere. Its what you make of your life that sets the bar. If you sit around and complain then it won't matter where you live because believe it or not its not about where you live it how you live.

Stephanie

[1phwalls]

I'm sure this is shocking, but I'm actually a very happy person. Except when it's cold, I don't like cold weather, I like hot summer weather. But I do love snow. I geuss I can't have both.

Youngstown is a specific area, and that is what I am saying you should not move to. But like I've said, there are very nice areas on the outskirts. Actually my friend just bought a house in a great family oriented neighborhood. And if I could deal with winter, I would love to live there. Maybe I won't like AZ and I'll come back and live there. I better learn some Spanish.

Specifically talking about Youngstown, there are no jobs if you actually want to make more than minimum wage. The public schools are horrible. And the crime rate is high. Those are the things that matter to me because I am a single mother of two kids in elementary school. But you won't find those things here. So I have to go elsewhere to find them.

Since I have to pack up and move, I figure I may as well go to AZ since I've always wanted to. I can always come back (not to youngstown) if I don't like it. I only live in Youngstown because this is where I was raised and right now I need low rent while I get through school.

To the person who said "do something", what would you like me to do? I'm involved in my kids school, I make it a point to get to know my neighbors, I vote, I send letters to our congress people (they are probably sick of me and just throw them away, LOL).

To the person who said "Youngstown is worth defending", what is good about Youngstown? And I seriously want to know, because I can't find anyone else who shares that veiwpoint. You have obviously had a much different experience than me.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by 1phwalls

Specifically talking about Youngstown, there are no jobs if you actually want to make more than minimum wage.

This simply isn't true. It can be really hard to find a good job here, but they're here. My company hired me because they couldn't find anyone locally at the time. That's why I moved to the Youngstown area in the first place. Now, we have 2 more interns who live in the area. One is out of school, and works full time. And, the other is still in school, but can work here after graduation, if they want.

The public schools are horrible.

The Youngstown City Schools are in serious trouble. Many, many city school districts across the country are in trouble for the same reasons that the YCSD is in trouble. City schools get the reputation of being "bad" (deserved or not) and so most parents who care about their child, and have the money, pull them out. This leaves only the impoverished children, (a larger percentage of whom are special needs) or those with parents who don't care. In each case, these children aren't going to be the best students. And now, the city schools have a higher concentration of these types of students.

And the crime rate is high.

Actually, except for the homicide rate which is horrible, Youngstown's crime rate per capita is comparabe with most cities in the midwest.

To the person who said "do something", what would you like me to do? I'm involved in my kids school, I make it a point to get to know my neighbors, I vote, I send letters to our congress people.

That's great, and I'm sorry you're still not happy here. (not accusing you of being an unhappy person) Were you involved in your block watch, too?

To the person who said "Youngstown is worth defending", what is good about Youngstown? And I seriously want to know, because I can't find anyone else who shares that veiwpoint.

There are plenty of people who share my opinion of Youngstown. Many of them have blogs, like: Defend Youngstown blog I WILL SHOUT YOUNGSTOWN The Youngstown Renaissance blog The Mahoning Valley View blog (broken link) The Art Youngstown blog The Youngstown Moxie blog and Tales from the Rust Belt among others. (These were all taken from the Defend Ytown page or the Shout Youngstown page)

I like Youngstown, and living in the city for the following reasons. (this is just off the top of my head, and I don't have time to write as much as I'd like)

1. I like the architecture. Many of downtown's buildings were designed by a famous architect of the day. And, many of the neighborhoods are filled with houses that have rich detail and character.

2 and 3. I love Mill Creek Park. I can walk to Fellows Gardens in about 10 minutes. My property is adjacant to the park. In any other city, I wouldn't be able to afford such a prime piece of real estate.

4. Because it's a smaller city, I feel like I can make more of a difference. If I moved to Cleveland, (and I plan to someday) I'd be just another person in the crowd.

Unfortunately, that's all I have time for right now, but I think you get the idea.

[1phwalls]

It's amzing how people see things differently, you see amazing architecture and I see boarded up crumbling houses. The one building I loved was the Wick Pollick Inn downtown by YSU. It was victorian and I thought it was just fabulous on the inside. I don't understand why YSU doesn't do something with it.

There is no block watch on my street. But my street has no crime, except the occasional domestic disturbance, and those are few and far between and they happen after I've gone to bed so I don't have to deal with it (it's 945 and I'm already tired, pathetic I know!)

I'll have to check out your links another day and see what those people have to say. I think it does make it easier to see the good things if someone points them out to you, especially when you're so used to focusing on the bad.

[paulmcall]

I am planning on visiting my aunt in Youngstown this week. Any suggestions on what there is to see besides Mill Creek Park, Butler Institute of American Art and Youngstown Historical Center?
I am from the Detroit area so I know all about urban decay.

[South Range Family]

Originally Posted by paulmcall

I am planning on visiting my aunt in Youngstown this week. Any suggestions on what there is to see besides Mill Creek Park, Butler Institute of American Art and Youngstown Historical Center?
I am from the Detroit area so I know all about urban decay.

It will be too late to see the Rock-N-Rib fest at Quaker City Drag strip, but you can always take a ride out to Berlin Lake for a picnic.

Quaker City Raceway Home Page There is racing 4 days a week.