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[quote=EdwardA;25958209]I'll give you New Orleans but I'd argue there are similarities between Detroit and DC. Both are dominated by one industry, both have thriving suburbs. The incomes are not that far apart when comparing suburbs to suburbs.
This is true but one is driven by the public sector and the other private. As such when the auto industry tanked in Detroit, the Detroit economy crumbled like a deck of card. The same could happen to DC but to date the economy has been insulated.
From what some of my friends from Detroit say Motor City draws heavily on the ghetto crowd whereas MGM doesn't have that problem due to the type of clientele it draws and the level of security they have there. Just like in school, people only show out in places where they know they can.
Well I know for one even when I was coming up Virginia had a rep of not being particularly hospitable to criminals especially black ones. So I think many of these guys just stick to DC and PG.
NH hasn't had a reputation of welcoming the criminal element either. Remember they are patrolled by PG County police, Park Police, Federal Police for waterways as well as having their own security. Add to that the security personnel and equipment that a casino would have and the closer proximity of the Ft. Wash Police Station sticking someone up may be a little more challenging . Another thing to consider is that most casinos offer escorts to cars for patrons concerned about safety. I don't see National Harbor not offering that service.
Perception often trumps reality. All it'll take is a few sensational incidents and folks will stay away. It'll merely confirm what they think of PG and that will be the end of that.
Not necessarily, remember AA Mall had a few highly publicized shootings, robberies, and murders previously. People stayed away for a second but once the casino opened up they came in droves.
And just to hammer the point home. I believe you were the one that said that the casino would have not have issues with prostitution and it was ridiculous to suggest that it could happen.
Not saying that this will happen at National Harbor, but I wanted to point out that this has been an issue within the county and it is possible that could be an issue at the casino, although I hope won't be.
Well based on the article, its probably happening already since the prostitutes in question are using the internet to find customers. Considering the prices of hotel rooms down there their overhead would be outrageous
Both you and EdwardA are correct in that people especially immigrants are choosing counties like Fairfax, Alexandria City, etc. because they have some of the better schools in the area as well as the fact that those areas have established ethnic clusters that ease assimilation. The problem is that those systems can only absorb so much before there is institutional failure. The more ESOL students that say Fairfax has, the more in-school services that they have to provide in the school. Additional services take away from existing programs and so on and so on. Although it doesn't take PG off the hook for improvement it does show that the grass is not that much greener. As for PG, those diminishing numbers should be a wake-up call to improving school since, as others have noted, that is one of the fundamental keys that they control to enticing businesses to move to the county.
I'd trade Fairfax problems for PG's problems anyday of the week. Atleast with the immigrants, most of them view school as a way up. I'm not so sure that's the reality for many PG public school students.
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As for a casino changing the perception of the county, that change will be as significant as what was done in Anne Arundel and other MD counties in regards to public perception
So you think a casino is what significantly changed the perception of Anne Arundel County? What was the perception before?
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Due to the uptick in consumers and that area becoming more of a 24/7 destination (per the county's current plan), there will be additional businesses to cater to that type of market. Some may be new others may change their hours to compliment what is there (for example IHOP). As for the length of time it will take before the casino resort has a positive impact on the region? That is contingent on a few things but what is most critical is how it opens. Its opening (especially since it will be coming out the gate with established competition) will be critical to how fast it builds a positive reputation. They would be well served to look at the lessons learned/reviews from neighboring casinos and build upon it from there.
Arundel Mills Mall probably has had an even greater impact.
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Another thing that they will need to do is figure out a way to improve the foot traffic that is destined to come from the Outlet across the street from it. May be able to resolve it using a pedestrian bridge across Oxon Hill Road or a tunnel under (less likely). It will be interesting to see how they address that.
I guess I'm becomining too cynical but I hope you're right.
I asked for some stats. I asked for a breakdown. I could give a rats ass if it's obvious are not. I want to know the breakdown of why rolls are dropping. So, don't feed me BS about what's obvious. Show me the numbers of what's truly going on. The article, to which I was referring to, did not mention ANYTHING about county to county migration. Yet, you are drawing conclusions and expect others to draw the same. I could give a flying flip about Alexandria and Fairfax.
Okay you need to calm down. Why are you so upset? I mean do you honestly think people going to send their kids purposefully to the worse schools in the region? What kind of sense does that make? If people value the education of their children, then they are not going to compromise.
Also who said anything about people moving from county to county? I didn't.
If you had a choice, would you send your kids to the worse schools in an area, without considering other factors?
Prince George’s County public schools have lost more students over the past eight years than any other Washington suburban system, averaging an enrollment decline of more than 1,000 students a year.
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In recent years, Prince George’s has made considerable progress in state test scores. But the system has been plagued by a history of low achievement in many schools, political infighting and rapid leadership turnover.
Seems like you went to support your own argument than to find out why the school system is losing enrollment.
Also consider that DC has been for years losing students. Again, what do you think makes these school systems different than the others?
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Originally Posted by adelphi_sky
I see the next time I won't even ask. I'll do it myself because everyone on here seems to know everything.
The next time someone asks for a breakdown of a statement, try not to be so quick and assume what YOU THINK should be obvious is obvious to others. The above is all that I was asking for which is not so obvious from the statement in the article I was referring to.
I know you read the news, so I know it's not news to you that the schools are bad. Again, why would people send their kids to bad schools?
The article never stated why rolls dropped in PG. Let's face it. It's not like everyone in PG can afford private school. So, why the drop? It's not all because of immigrant choice. Teen pregnancy is down in the county. I'm sure that can cause rolls to drop. I do know there are more jobs in Fairfax and Alexandria. Good schools help too. I'm not sure why the article would mention PG without stating why there was a drop. That leaves the door open to too much speculation. Where did the students go? Did more graduate than came in? Whatever the case may be, I'd like to know.
I think you were on this thread when this stroy was discussed. Here's a reminder.
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From Loudoun to Fairfax to Montgomery, communities that are growing are also growing more integrated, with people of every race and ethnicity living side by side. Prince George’s stands virtually alone as a place that is gaining population yet has an increasing number of residents living in neighborhoods that are overwhelmingly one race — in this case, African American. A Washington Post analysis of census data shows that the number of Prince George’s neighborhoods where more than 85 percent of residents are the same race or ethnicity — what demographers consider a high level of segregation — has inched up, from 25 percent in 1990 to 27 percent last year.
About the motivation of immigrants in particular:
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But Asians “would rather come here to visit than live here,” said Gayatri Varma, an immigrant from India who works at the University of Maryland and lives in Beltsville. Many Asians buy houses elsewhere, Varma and others said, because they are looking for the best public schools. The Prince George’s schools rank among the lowest in the state in test scores, though they have been improving in recent years.
This is why Fairfax can whether a macro downturn better than PG. The demand is always there while the demand for PG fluctuates greatly depending on what else is going on.
I'd trade Fairfax problems for PG's problems anyday of the week. Atleast with the immigrants, most of them view school as a way up. I'm not so sure that's the reality for many PG public school students.
I agree but we have to work with what we have in PG. Don't get me started on education in PG or in this country really (compared to other 1st world countries). But generally speaking PG students have a long way to go in terms of drive and comparable academic excellence.
So you think a casino is what significantly changed the perception of Anne Arundel County? What was the perception before?
No, my point was that having a casino hasn't changed or negatively impacted public perception. My thought is that, if a casino comes to PG, the perception that the rest of the region has will not change significantly because it is there. Those that don't like PG will continue not to like it. Those that do like the casino, will think that the National Harbor is awesome but the area outside it as well as the rest of PG will be looked at with the same disdain.
Arundel Mills Mall probably has had an even greater impact.
Not saying that it hasn't but the crime issues that the mall has had has not deterred people from going to the casino there. And it appears that the casino has mellowed the concerns that others had previously.
I think you were on this thread when this stroy was discussed. Here's a reminder.
About the motivation of immigrants in particular:
This is why Fairfax can whether a macro downturn better than PG. The demand is always there while the demand for PG fluctuates greatly depending on what else is going on.
This is why PG need to build amenities that help draw people without kids. The school system in PG is deeply flawed and won't change anytime soon. That said they need to play on strengths and not their weaknesses until they can improve their weakness. What could that be? Target those individuals (late 20s to early 40s professionals with no kids or empty nesters) who like the idea of being near a city but not in the city. Fewer people are having kids now so work on that in the background. The nuclear family with 2.3 kids and a dog is a dying model. They need to look at other groups where the school factor is not significant. That is a strategy that was employed by DC about a decade ago before they began transforming neighborhoods.
My family is Asian American. Between my wife and I, we have 9 collegiate degrees (4 of which are at the graduate level). We have a child. We bought in PG County. How do they say it in America? 'IN YO' FACE, Gayatri Varma!!'.
How many schools do you know of in the DC area where shootings and stabbings occur on the regular? How many schools in the DMV do you know of that had rioting inside of the school in the past few years? That's right, rioting. How many colleges in the DMV riot like they do every year at the University of Md? The reality is Prince Georges County is not a climate for learning, its a climate of violence. Central High had a fight that encompassed most of the school to include parents who responded to join the fray as well. Wasn't it Dr. Wise High school last year was featured because the ENTIRE SCHOOL was fighting? Let's not forget those awesome football game stands fights that are always featured on video. And of course the fight that broke out last year at a basketball game where the officer was overwhelmed and forced to pepper spray the animals fighting. Bowie state had a murder on campus, roomates killing each other over music. Even a kid who was incarcerated murdered his teacher at cheltenham. Its to my understanding that the school police and county officers who are assigned to the schools are frequently overwhelmed, just like the sheriffs were. Fights between warring streetgangs consume parkinglots after school on the regular. Yea, on the path to greatness.
National Harbor is a sinking ship. I've already seen the garbage running loose down there. Yea I've seen the usual gang related neighborhood trash filming their gangster rap music videos on the piers and watching dudes rockin all red arguing with the rent a cops. I've seen cadillac ranch get out of control weekly. Its simply an extension of College Parks fight club bars. I've seen that geek a thon that goes on yearly get absolutely wild with all sorts of mayhem from people smashing TV's and throwing things at the helpless cops to running amuck wrecking that classy hotel.
The police are overwhelmed and mismanaged. Criminals run free because the police have no power. They can't chase you if you run. They wont beat you no more if your a badguy. They are poorly equiped from what I've seen, driving old vehicles, and simply "providing a presence." Once again, even if your arrested, the odds of you serving jailtime for your offense is slim in Prince Georges County. Being poorly equipped and managed will not only leave them unable to deal with comon criminals but also international terrorists who seek to destroy major american attractions like casinos etc. I think the most they can do is take a report. The private security that patrols the harbor is a joke. They don't even carry jumper cables, much less have arrest powers. The criminals are armed better than the county police and the security that patrols. So with both of those entities really unable to respond to and deal with the existing crime that occurs in the county, what makes you think they can control a casino? I sure hope MGM hires some machine gun toting goons who dress well in suits and carry a big stick because its become clear the other groups that patrol NH are overwhelmed as it is.
Priorities in Prince Georges County should be
1. Improving the school security situation.
2. Improving the readiness of the police and sheriffs and giving back the ability to deal with the criminal element. If this cannot be done, im in favor of disbanding and relinquishing control to MSP to see what they can do with the area.
3. Once crime is under control and schools are better, bring quality business to the county.
How many schools do you know of in the DC area where shootings and stabbings occur on the regular? How many schools in the DMV do you know of that had rioting inside of the school in the past few years? That's right, rioting. How many colleges in the DMV riot like they do every year at the University of Md? The reality is Prince Georges County is not a climate for learning, its a climate of violence. Central High had a fight that encompassed most of the school to include parents who responded to join the fray as well. Wasn't it Dr. Wise High school last year was featured because the ENTIRE SCHOOL was fighting? Let's not forget those awesome football game stands fights that are always featured on video. And of course the fight that broke out last year at a basketball game where the officer was overwhelmed and forced to pepper spray the animals fighting. Bowie state had a murder on campus, roomates killing each other over music. Even a kid who was incarcerated murdered his teacher at cheltenham. Its to my understanding that the school police and county officers who are assigned to the schools are frequently overwhelmed, just like the sheriffs were. Fights between warring streetgangs consume parkinglots after school on the regular. Yea, on the path to greatness.
National Harbor is a sinking ship. I've already seen the garbage running loose down there. Yea I've seen the usual gang related neighborhood trash filming their gangster rap music videos on the piers and watching dudes rockin all red arguing with the rent a cops. I've seen cadillac ranch get out of control weekly. Its simply an extension of College Parks fight club bars. I've seen that geek a thon that goes on yearly get absolutely wild with all sorts of mayhem from people smashing TV's and throwing things at the helpless cops to running amuck wrecking that classy hotel.
The police are overwhelmed and mismanaged. Criminals run free because the police have no power. They can't chase you if you run. They wont beat you no more if your a badguy. They are poorly equiped from what I've seen, driving old vehicles, and simply "providing a presence." Once again, even if your arrested, the odds of you serving jailtime for your offense is slim in Prince Georges County. Being poorly equipped and managed will not only leave them unable to deal with comon criminals but also international terrorists who seek to destroy major american attractions like casinos etc. I think the most they can do is take a report. The private security that patrols the harbor is a joke. They don't even carry jumper cables, much less have arrest powers. The criminals are armed better than the county police and the security that patrols. So with both of those entities really unable to respond to and deal with the existing crime that occurs in the county, what makes you think they can control a casino? I sure hope MGM hires some machine gun toting goons who dress well in suits and carry a big stick because its become clear the other groups that patrol NH are overwhelmed as it is.
Priorities in Prince Georges County should be
1. Improving the school security situation.
2. Improving the readiness of the police and sheriffs and giving back the ability to deal with the criminal element. If this cannot be done, im in favor of disbanding and relinquishing control to MSP to see what they can do with the area.
3. Once crime is under control and schools are better, bring quality business to the county.
Derailing potential Business, Economic, and Revenue Growth by using the County's little short comings is an agenda to keep Suburban Maryland depressed under Northern Virginia so that Northern Virginia continues to out perform Suurban Maryland in Business, Economic, and Revenue Growth.......
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