What is so great about living in/near Orlando? Who loves or hates it & WHY? (Miami: relocating)

[ag8rfan]

I grew up in Signal Hill and lived there from 1976-2005. I went to Rolling Hills Elem., Meadowbrook Middle School, and Orlando Christian School. I bought my house from my parents in 1995. I watched my neighborhood go from an area full of middle-class FAMILIES to a concentration of drug dealers and car theives. Police helicopters circling the neighborhood every other night.
The final draw that convinced me to move was when some idiot jumped our fence running through our backyard while being pursued by the cops. We sold our house and moved to Sabal Point in Longwood. It isn't perfect, but pretty close. My daughter goes to one of the top rated PUBLIC elementary schools in Florida. Neighborhood kids play in our culdesac, and we don't have to fear a drive by shooting or vehicles with loud car stereos blarring. Neighbors are considerate of each other and help each other out.
While I've been deployed, neighbors have been very gracious to my wife and daughter ensuring their safety and needs are met. Our realtor Kim Best still contacts us and checks up on them. SHE IS FANTASTIC.

Bryan

[A2Mich]

After living in Orlando twice, I eventually grew to dislike the Orlando area. When I first moved there in 1980, it was a medium-sized city that was a great place to live. In my last Orlando-stint (2003-2007), I grew to dislike the area very much for several reasons. Houses are WAY OVERPRICED. Jobs do not pay enough. Entertainment options are many, but are too expensive for residents to enjoy. Orlando was built up by Disney, who was given a great deal to create thousands of minimum-wage jobs in Central FLorida, and have rewarded Central Florida by not paying any property taxes on the 45 square miles of land they own. You, the residents, generously pay that for them, while you still pay full price to enjoy all of the wonderful Disney amenities. I, being a caucasian, English-speaking person, had practically become a minority to a certain ethnic group of people, who while legally born US citizens, paid no income taxes while on their native island, can come to the mainland, and are automatically eligible for welfare, WIC, unemployment, etc., though they have paid nothing into these various programs through taxes. Furthermore, these people expect YOU--the NATIVES- to learn espanol, because they don't want to bother to learn the English language, which our immigrant great-grandparents all had to do in order to land a job. Not to mention the high number of illegal immigrants in Florida, taking jobs that should be going to Americans. Also, summers were too hot in Florida, though winters are gorgeous. I really have no good place in my heart for Orlando, until the economics of the area improve and all legal workers can make a decent living wage. BTW, I have nothing against immigration to this country, but these immigrants need to learn and adapt to our American way of life. If we were to emigrate to their former homes, we would be responsible to change our lifestyle to blend in with theirs. For whatever reason, the State of FLorida thinks they need to print street signs in and have grocery stores made just for spanish speaking people---shame on you Florida for allowing it!

[Silence Dogood]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

After living in Orlando twice, I eventually grew to dislike the Orlando area. When I first moved there in 1980, it was a medium-sized city that was a great place to live. In my last Orlando-stint (2003-2007), I grew to dislike the area very much for several reasons. Houses are WAY OVERPRICED. Jobs do not pay enough. Entertainment options are many, but are too expensive for residents to enjoy. Orlando was built up by Disney, who was given a great deal to create thousands of minimum-wage jobs in Central FLorida, and have rewarded Central Florida by not paying any property taxes on the 45 square miles of land they own. You, the residents, generously pay that for them, while you still pay full price to enjoy all of the wonderful Disney amenities. I, being a caucasian, English-speaking person, had practically become a minority to a certain ethnic group of people, who while legally born US citizens, paid no income taxes while on their native island, can come to the mainland, and are automatically eligible for welfare, WIC, unemployment, etc., though they have paid nothing into these various programs through taxes. Furthermore, these people expect YOU--the NATIVES- to learn espanol, because they don't want to bother to learn the English language, which our immigrant great-grandparents all had to do in order to land a job. Not to mention the high number of illegal immigrants in Florida, taking jobs that should be going to Americans. Also, summers were too hot in Florida, though winters are gorgeous. I really have no good place in my heart for Orlando, until the economics of the area improve and all legal workers can make a decent living wage. BTW, I have nothing against immigration to this country, but these immigrants need to learn and adapt to our American way of life. If we were to emigrate to their former homes, we would be responsible to change our lifestyle to blend in with theirs. For whatever reason, the State of FLorida thinks they need to print street signs in and have grocery stores made just for spanish speaking people---shame on you Florida for allowing it!

It's refreshing to see a burst of truth on this board from time to time. Well written.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by Silence Dogood

It's refreshing to see a burst of truth on this board from time to time. Well written.

I don't disagree with the post at all, it was well written and does accurately describe some problems evident in Orlando. People only have a problem with some of your posts Silence because of the way you deliver the information. You essentially say all these things that A2Mich talked about but blow them way out of proportion and say Orlando is a third world country when it is a unique city with unique challenges. It is good to have a place to vent and offer valid suggestions of problems Orlando has.

[adigitalmoment]

i went up there for about 3 months. lemme tell you that orlando is very very segregated. in an all 4 areas divided equally there are rednecks, low, mid and high class and poverty just like every where else but every area pretty has their own type of living. its not like south florida where everything is blended together, everything up their is split accordingly to living i think

[A2Mich]

Originally Posted by adigitalmoment

i went up there for about 3 months. lemme tell you that orlando is very very segregated. in an all 4 areas divided equally there are rednecks, low, mid and high class and poverty just like every where else but every area pretty has their own type of living. its not like south florida where everything is blended together, everything up their is split accordingly to living i think

I used to notice that very much so. Before the blow-torches come out, these are general areas, and they do now have a more-thorough mix....

Azalea Park--Hispanic
Kissimmee --Hispanic / Country (as opposed to saying "redneck")
St. Cloud -- Country
Downtown/west of downtown -- African-American
Winter Garden -- Country (older areas) - Mixed (newer areas)
Ocoee -- Country
Eastside -- Caucasian
Altamonte/Maitland/Winter Springs/Longwood -- Somewhat wealthier area
Sanford -- Country / African American
Sky Lake -- African American
Windermere/Bay Lakes -- Wealthy
Apopka -- Country / African American (as of late)

Note, in Windermere/Bay Lakes area, there are many gated communities...gated either to keep the housing prices astronomically high, or to keep us "riff-raff" / blue collared workers out of their golf course communities.

[GARTROT]

Originally Posted by TravelingDude

There is NOTHING great about living IN Orlando. Orlando, my 'hometown', has become a crime-infested area where people are kidnapped while jogging, people are shot while isnide convenience stores, babies get carjacked, women are stabbed at bus stops, and 80 year old ladies drive their cars into stores with people inside.

If you live in the "metro area", meaning in areas that are north of orlando, you will actually be happy to be home every night after work. I can suggest several other areas right outside of Orlando that are quite nice and are still safe.

As for the upsides ot living in orlando... well....The weather is one of the few plus in the wintertime.... and i know it is not bad at all in NC in the winter. You can drive to the beach... which you also can in NC... uh... i dunno... i think that's about it. you can wrestle gators in gator farms if you like...

FYI - I see you are from NC.... boy will you be shocked when you see the high insurance costs, the high home prices, high rent, high property taxes, and the ridiculously low wages. I think you are VERY brave to want to move to Orlando. IMO, it's suicide coming from NC to try and live in orlando... i have a few family members who live outside Raleigh/Durham and they live lifestyles that are just no longer possible in Orlando, due to the fast and continual increases in the cost of living and wage stagnation. I think you got a great thing going in nc and you will be trading an area for another area that is not as financially viable.

You will also have to compete with several other applicants for job openings that are not horrible Disney-type jobs (I am not talking about 2 or 3 other candidates competing against you, which is usually expected anywhere else; I am talking 30+ candidates for 1 job opening). This is what causes wages to remain depressed.... you see, we have way too many people in orlando, people are moving down here in droves from northern states... peple move here w/o a job trusting that "fla creates a lot of jobs", ecept they do not know these jobs are low paying service jobs...

So think CAREFULLY BEFORE moving to Orlando so you don't throw away a nice life you have in NC for a dream in fla.

Anyone who could write this is not a reliable source of information. Do us all a favor and please move away from Orlando if this is your impression of our city. Orlando has a lot to offer, including good people, great weather, great entertainment, nice neighborhoods, nearly indestructible tourist based economy...I could go on for a while on the pros. If you have any experience with life in a medium to large city you won't find this an uncomfortable place to be. If you are of limited social exposure as many of the posters here seem to be, than maybe try Ocala. My two cents.

[jemelb]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

After living in Orlando twice, I eventually grew to dislike the Orlando area. When I first moved there in 1980, it was a medium-sized city that was a great place to live. In my last Orlando-stint (2003-2007), I grew to dislike the area very much for several reasons. Houses are WAY OVERPRICED. Jobs do not pay enough. Entertainment options are many, but are too expensive for residents to enjoy. Orlando was built up by Disney, who was given a great deal to create thousands of minimum-wage jobs in Central FLorida, and have rewarded Central Florida by not paying any property taxes on the 45 square miles of land they own. You, the residents, generously pay that for them, while you still pay full price to enjoy all of the wonderful Disney amenities. I, being a caucasian, English-speaking person, had practically become a minority to a certain ethnic group of people, who while legally born US citizens, paid no income taxes while on their native island, can come to the mainland, and are automatically eligible for welfare, WIC, unemployment, etc., though they have paid nothing into these various programs through taxes. Furthermore, these people expect YOU--the NATIVES- to learn espanol, because they don't want to bother to learn the English language, which our immigrant great-grandparents all had to do in order to land a job. Not to mention the high number of illegal immigrants in Florida, taking jobs that should be going to Americans. Also, summers were too hot in Florida, though winters are gorgeous. I really have no good place in my heart for Orlando, until the economics of the area improve and all legal workers can make a decent living wage. BTW, I have nothing against immigration to this country, but these immigrants need to learn and adapt to our American way of life. If we were to emigrate to their former homes, we would be responsible to change our lifestyle to blend in with theirs. For whatever reason, the State of FLorida thinks they need to print street signs in and have grocery stores made just for spanish speaking people---shame on you Florida for allowing it!

Seven states choose to impose no income tax. These states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Additionally, New Hampshire and Tennessee limit their state income taxes.


Unemployment Insurance (UI) is an employer-paid insurance program that helps workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. It provides temporary financial help to qualified individuals, based on their previous earnings, while they are looking for other work. Employer taxes and reimbursements support the Unemployment Trust Fund.


Boy, you are a wealth of information, and we are fortunate you are caucasian, English-speaking person.
How exactly do you contribute to my or anyone’s unemployment?
What I gather is your knees are shaking, as you become a minority. LOL!!!
I don’t think the “Natives” spoke English.

[A2Mich]

Originally Posted by jemelb

Seven states choose to impose no income tax. These states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Additionally, New Hampshire and Tennessee limit their state income taxes.


Unemployment Insurance (UI) is an employer-paid insurance program that helps workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. It provides temporary financial help to qualified individuals, based on their previous earnings, while they are looking for other work. Employer taxes and reimbursements support the Unemployment Trust Fund.


Boy, you are a wealth of information, and we are fortunate you are caucasian, English-speaking person.
How exactly do you contribute to my or anyone’s unemployment?
What I gather is your knees are shaking, as you become a minority. LOL!!!
I don’t think the “Natives” spoke English.

Let me rephrase that. You are assuming I am referring to a "state" which I am not. I am referring to an island in the Atlantic Ocean which the US claims as a US Territory. When these people lived on their home island, they did not pay taxes, however, when they come to the mainland, they are entitles to every government program available (and many make great use of it at that). Maybe natives was a poor choice of words, as we're not all Seminole Indians. So many things had changed in the 23 years that I lived in Florida (off and on, mostly on), when I first moved there in 1980 from Georgia, at least a large majority of the Central Florida residents were English-speaking. Mind you, I have nothing against foreigners per se, they can speak their native language at home with their family and friends. The business/workplace is not the place for it. When I went into Publix supermarket one time to order a deli sandwich, it took 15 minutes to find an employee that even spoke broken English. And then this person was mad at me because I didn't speak Spanish! In the United States, a country founded by ENGLISHMEN, later settled by immigrants who learned to speak the ENGLISH language if they were to get jobs, it is NOT acceptable for other cultures to try and change the American culture and way of life. The state of Florida lets you take your driver's license exam in Spanish, and will find a Spanish-speaking employee if needed, there is a spin-off of Publix, called Publix Sabor---the entire store has signs in Spanish, and next to nobody that can speak English. Either way, this is the American way of life being infringed upon. Try moving to France, you'll be learning French pretty quick--you can't realistically expect the entire nation of France to learn English for you. Try moving to Germany--you'll have to learn German there. The fact is that if people are coming to the United States, they need to learn our language and way of life. This business of catering to the non-English speaking population is a bunch of BS. My mother, who still lives in Orlando, reminded me of when the last census came out. The canvassers came to her door, and the VERY FIRST question on the form was "do you speak Spanish?" You would think that name, number of residents, etc. would be first...nope! Needless to say, she slammed the door and didn't answer anything. She also received a notice in the mail that if she wanted to receive "El Sentinel," she could get it for free. If she wants to read the newspaper in English, it will cost her. Does any of this really seem right to you? When I was still living in Florida, I was in a service industry. I would be sent to homes where only the school-aged children spoke any English, or absolutely no-one spoke English, and I was expected to call for a translator. Needless to say, I would leave their homes without performing any work. Once you see millions of foreigners trying to change your way of life, maybe you'll understand.

BTW, forgot to mention, and you think that becoming a minority to a culture of immigrants is a good thing??? Thanks for your tidbit of info about which states do not impose an income tax and the clarification of unemployment insurance. I forgot that UI was employer paid, but other programs are not...those were the ones I was trying to specifically point out.

[jemelb]

A2Mich,

I agree with many of your points of view, and I feel your pain. My problem with some of your statements is that you are generalizing.

Puerto Ricans were made American citizens in 1917, almost two decades after the United States invaded the island during the Spanish- American war. Those who live in the U.S. territory are exempted from paying federal income taxes unless they are federal employees. Island residents do pay social security and Medicare taxes.