Seriously is THIS the way it is here? (Washington: lease, crime)

[newtodc0408]

Hello everyone,

Please before you read this.... this is my opinion and I am here merely for advice in my situation...

I have just moved to D.C from NY with my boyfriend for his job. I'm not trashing D.C but there already things here that make me fear for my safety here. I live in the NE in the Hill district and my block and blocks surrounding it are beautiful lots of families and professionals but you round the corner 2 blocks in any direction and it changes and it's jarring. People that you KNOW want more from you then a dollar, vagrants who knock on your car window when your waiting in line at a drive thru to get food, asking you to "roll it down" for what? My inner city girl kicked in and I told my boyfriend "lets get the eff outta here"

I was never this way in NY, I would ride the 6 train from Spanish Harlem at 3 am with my ipod blasting not caring at all. Felt completely safe on the subway so much so I feel asleep on it many of times never wondering or worrying about anything.

Look again everyone I'm not trashing it here I am trying really hard to make heads or tails and I'm used to a place where there are loads of people so if crap goes down at least there many many eyes who will see it. Here everything is quiet and scarce even in the daytime. I am not used to it. The old saying "strength in numbers" really makes sense to me. I mean at 7 pm you dont hear a peep! But if you go to the store you got 3 or 4 people you know are there for other reasons then hanging out at a store. Bad things just keep jarring me from feeling safe. I keep getting reinforcements to be afraid. And I am not that person and its pissing me off.

Is there anything I can do to feel better about being here. I really want to love it!

Thank you

[jeepejeep]

Washington DC is and has been for many years the murder capital of the country or at least in the top 5. Don't be surprised by what you see.

[newtodc0408]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

Washington DC is and has been for many years the murder capital of the country or at least in the top 5. Don't be surprised by what you see.

your from ny like me..... i was NEVER scared EVER its weird

[jeepejeep]

I've never felt as secure here as you have but It's not too bad either. My neighborhood on LI is getting bad though. Gangs in the high schools, my neighbor's kid being held up at gunpoint are just some of the changes here. I work in Manhattan and as long as I keep aware of what and who's around me, I feel safe enough. I'll be moving out west as soon as I retire though.

[newtodc0408]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

I've never felt as secure here as you have but It's not too bad either. My neighborhood on LI is getting bad though. Gangs in the high schools, my neighbor's kid being held up at gunpoint are just some of the changes here. I work in Manhattan and as long as I keep aware of what and who's around me, I feel safe enough. I'll be moving out west as soon as I retire though.

See Im only 26 and I lived in NY all my life except for now and I never ever felt weird I was looking for tips about where not to go etc....

Oh damn where in LI? Roosevelt?

[vanyali]

Yeah, I think you moved to an "emerging" area, which means, among other things, that there's going to be some crime and there are going to be "old timers" around from the un-gentrified fringes and even in the neighborhood itself. A friend of a friend bought a row house in Capital Hill a few years ago, and had to clean crack vials and hypodermic needles out of her new backyard. That said, you shouldn't let one neighborhood color your perception of the whole city. Maybe you should look for a new neighborhood to move to when your lease is up. You should also consider looking just outside of the city in MD and VA. DC is too small a place to completely rule out any neighborhood outside of its borders.

[jeepejeep]

No, Valley Stream where I've lived for 29 years! It's changing big time and not for the better.

[newtodc0408]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

No, Valley Stream where I've lived for 29 years! It's changing big time and not for the better.

I've to Valley Stream, I had no idea it was getting that bad. I'm ready to cash it all in and move to Colorado or Vermont lol.

I know I cannot have a family here! Not at all. Thank God I have no children yet...

[vanyali]

"Emerging" generally refers to a place that pioneering childless young professionals have started moving to because the realestate is cheap, but which not too long ago was a cracked-out slum.

[jm67]

Yes I moved to a quiet transitional area a number of years ago and was terrified by the hoodlums hanging out on the corners, etc. Then I said "hi" to them and they said "hi" back. And I realized they were mostly talking about football, or cars, or girls... pretty much the same as the white neighbors from my old neighborhood.

I'm not trying to gloss over some ugly realities - some of those guys will hold you up given the chance. And I certainly wouldn't walk around at night with an iPod. But 90% of them are just hanging out drinking a beer and want to be left alone with their friends.