South MoCo, Take II (California, Chevy Chase: loan, townhouse, employment)

[vanyali]

I didn't get a chance to say, in my last thread, that despite its reputation, Chevy Chase in MoCo isn't really all ritsy. There are definitely really showy new-money too-expensive spots (especially along major roads to maximize the number of people forced to look as they drive past) and one super high-end shopping strip that no one seems to ever shop at, but a lot of the tucked-away streets of older houses are really redneck areas that have been putting on airs in recent years.

The houses where I am in Chevy Chase were, just a few years ago, selling for less than 30 or 40-year-old split-levels outside the beltway off of Rt 1 (I just happen to know that area, I'm not saying anything bad about it other than it's farther out of town).

Even at stupidly inflated bubble prices (shouldn't they come down already?) you can still get a nice brick townhouse around the corner for a price within real reach (not "I'll qualify anyone for as big a loan as they want" reach, but within reach under traditional criteria) of a young professional couple.

The problems I've seen aren't really with the kind of rich snoot neighbors you'd expect when you hear "Chevy Chase". Nor really with the biggest rednecks. The problems seem to come with the people who are trying to put on airs. They're the ones in everyone's business, forming cliques to include or exclude or hassle the other neighbors. They're socially ambitious, so they are, above all, socially active, which can really make them a nasty pain in the butt.


On the subject of ghettos, I really don't mind living around areas that a lot of people label "ghetto". How often have any of you *actually* been mugged? I've lived amongst urban and suburban "ghetto" areas for most of my life and only ever been held up once, and I wasn't even hurt, and was pretty much asking for it. Not really that big a deal.

I heard an interesting factoid on NPR yesterday about that new gang everyone's complaining about in Virginia -- MS-13. The police officer being interviewed said that about 95% of the members of that gang held down legit jobs. I couldn't believe it -- even the gang members in NoVa are relatively responsible, productive people.

Anyway, MoCo stinks, but not because it's too rich. MoCo stinks for the same intangible reasons that suburban New Jersey close to NYC stinks. It's hard to describe, but it's not because it's too rich, and not because it's too "ghetto"; it just is what it is.

[Merlander]

Originally Posted by vanyali

I heard an interesting factoid on NPR yesterday about that new gang everyone's complaining about in Virginia -- MS-13. The police officer being interviewed said that about 95% of the members of that gang held down legit jobs. I couldn't believe it -- even the gang members in NoVa are relatively responsible, productive people.

Vanyali, MS-13 is not that new in the DC metro area. They've been established here for quite some time, and have spread relatively quickly across the country.

A lot of people were shocked when a few years ago they chopped off some kid's hands with a machete in NOVA, but MS-13 violence has been around for quite some time.

Btw, most of us are very supportive of responsible, productive immigrants. Responsible and productive, but extremely violent, gang members are a whole different story.

America's Most Dangerous Gang - MS13 - Violent, Vicious, and Spreading Fast.

[vanyali]

I guess I meant that they're new to me -- I grew up in NoVa, left for about a decade, and then came back to the area. Hadn't heard about that gang when I lived here before.

Yes, gangs are bad, that's a given. If there are going to be gangs around, though, isn't it better for the gang members to have to hold down day jobs? At the very least, I would think it would cut down on the amount of time they have to devote to mischief.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by vanyali

I didn't get a chance to say, in my last thread, that despite its reputation, Chevy Chase in MoCo isn't really all ritsy. There are definitely really showy new-money too-expensive spots (especially along major roads to maximize the number of people forced to look as they drive past) and one super high-end shopping strip that no one seems to ever shop at, but a lot of the tucked-away streets of older houses are really redneck areas that have been putting on airs in recent years.

The houses where I am in Chevy Chase were, just a few years ago, selling for less than 30 or 40-year-old split-levels outside the beltway off of Rt 1 (I just happen to know that area, I'm not saying anything bad about it other than it's farther out of town).

Even at stupidly inflated bubble prices (shouldn't they come down already?) you can still get a nice brick townhouse around the corner for a price within real reach (not "I'll qualify anyone for as big a loan as they want" reach, but within reach under traditional criteria) of a young professional couple.

The problems I've seen aren't really with the kind of rich snoot neighbors you'd expect when you hear "Chevy Chase". Nor really with the biggest rednecks. The problems seem to come with the people who are trying to put on airs. They're the ones in everyone's business, forming cliques to include or exclude or hassle the other neighbors. They're socially ambitious, so they are, above all, socially active, which can really make them a nasty pain in the butt.


On the subject of ghettos, I really don't mind living around areas that a lot of people label "ghetto". How often have any of you *actually* been mugged? I've lived amongst urban and suburban "ghetto" areas for most of my life and only ever been held up once, and I wasn't even hurt, and was pretty much asking for it. Not really that big a deal.

I heard an interesting factoid on NPR yesterday about that new gang everyone's complaining about in Virginia -- MS-13. The police officer being interviewed said that about 95% of the members of that gang held down legit jobs. I couldn't believe it -- even the gang members in NoVa are relatively responsible, productive people.

Anyway, MoCo stinks, but not because it's too rich. MoCo stinks for the same intangible reasons that suburban New Jersey close to NYC stinks. It's hard to describe, but it's not because it's too rich, and not because it's too "ghetto"; it just is what it is.

I guess I meant that they're new to me -- I grew up in NoVa, left for about a decade, and then came back to the area. Hadn't heard about that gang when I lived here before.

Yes, gangs are bad, that's a given. If there are going to be gangs around, though, isn't it better for the gang members to have to hold down day jobs? At the very least, I would think it would cut down on the amount of time they have to devote to mischief.

So I'm trying to figure out the point of this post??? Lets see if I get it or not ? Is it that MoCo stinks (but poster doesn't know why?) and its ok to have gangs as long as the gang bangers hold down gainful employment its OK?

Does that sound right or AM I off my rocker !!!!!!!!!

[vanyali]

The original thread got shut down. The point was that MoCo stinks. The other stuff just came up in the other thread in the course of discussion.

[TrippingJay]

Originally Posted by vanyali

The original thread got shut down. The point was that MoCo stinks. The other stuff just came up in the other thread in the course of discussion.

I think you make a career out of being unhappy. When you have some real problems, maybe I'll care.

[vanyali]

Originally Posted by TrippingJay

I think you make a career out of being unhappy. When you have some real problems, maybe I'll care.

If you don't care, why not just ignore the thread?

[MagicFiresmoke]

Originally Posted by vanyali

I didn't get a chance to say, in my last thread, that despite its reputation, Chevy Chase in MoCo isn't really all ritsy. There are definitely really showy new-money too-expensive spots (especially along major roads to maximize the number of people forced to look as they drive past) and one super high-end shopping strip that no one seems to ever shop at, but a lot of the tucked-away streets of older houses are really redneck areas that have been putting on airs in recent years.

The houses where I am in Chevy Chase were, just a few years ago, selling for less than 30 or 40-year-old split-levels outside the beltway off of Rt 1 (I just happen to know that area, I'm not saying anything bad about it other than it's farther out of town).

Even at stupidly inflated bubble prices (shouldn't they come down already?) you can still get a nice brick townhouse around the corner for a price within real reach (not "I'll qualify anyone for as big a loan as they want" reach, but within reach under traditional criteria) of a young professional couple.

The problems I've seen aren't really with the kind of rich snoot neighbors you'd expect when you hear "Chevy Chase". Nor really with the biggest rednecks. The problems seem to come with the people who are trying to put on airs. They're the ones in everyone's business, forming cliques to include or exclude or hassle the other neighbors. They're socially ambitious, so they are, above all, socially active, which can really make them a nasty pain in the butt.


On the subject of ghettos, I really don't mind living around areas that a lot of people label "ghetto". How often have any of you *actually* been mugged? I've lived amongst urban and suburban "ghetto" areas for most of my life and only ever been held up once, and I wasn't even hurt, and was pretty much asking for it. Not really that big a deal.

I heard an interesting factoid on NPR yesterday about that new gang everyone's complaining about in Virginia -- MS-13. The police officer being interviewed said that about 95% of the members of that gang held down legit jobs. I couldn't believe it -- even the gang members in NoVa are relatively responsible, productive people.

Anyway, MoCo stinks, but not because it's too rich. MoCo stinks for the same intangible reasons that suburban New Jersey close to NYC stinks. It's hard to describe, but it's not because it's too rich, and not because it's too "ghetto"; it just is what it is.

I know exactly what you mean, like when ur away, and people ask u where your from your like...ughh, do I say maryland and then go on and on about how its not just suburbs and there are places like silverspring, or do I say DC, and just leave it at that.. and your so close but so far, and its not really just suburbs but no one knows that, and its really ****ing annoying and u just want to leave....yes, good comparison...that is why we all flee to NYC and never come back except for thanksgiving

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by vanyali

I guess I meant that they're new to me -- I grew up in NoVa, left for about a decade, and then came back to the area. Hadn't heard about that gang when I lived here before.

Yes, gangs are bad, that's a given. If there are going to be gangs around, though, isn't it better for the gang members to have to hold down day jobs? At the very least, I would think it would cut down on the amount of time they have to devote to mischief.

Well, gee. How can one reconcile gang membership and responsibility? The two don't agree with each other. So, an employed gang member can kill more responsibly than one who isn't? How does gang employment make the victim feel any better about the person that victimized them? "Sure that gang member stabbed me in the back and stole my wallet, but he works at the local grocery store so it's cool."

[e30is]

Old thread is well...old. If you think this area has a huge gang problem, try Los Angeles or Northern California where they have gangs actually fighting each other rather than just being there and being courted off by the heavy police presence in Montgomery County.