Hoquiam/Aberdeen Washington Friend or Foe (Monroe, Westport: for sale, construction, schools)

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by mrkool

...There is no horrible problem with racism in the Grays Harbor area, and what does exist is probably little more than people opinions and viewpoints...

You don't need to burn crosses or lynch people to be Racist, opinions and attitudes are more than enough to qualify you for a white robe and pointed hood.

[ElkHunter]

Come on FF, is that fair for the post that was planted? I know enough about you that your not going to climb on that band wagon. Been posted, been noted, now we can get back to fair, unbiased information. haha Thanks, it was noted. Now be good. haha

[bmsea]

I think there probably is racism, (I have overheard some off color remarks) but its not any more or less a problem than any non-urban area in Washington.

I've definitely experienced worse in Maple Valley and Marysville.

[ralphhogaboom]

There are also those people actively fighting it.

My wife is involved in the Hoquiam Community Garden that's starting. She's in the majority of the committee who firmly believe that all materials & logos are in English & Spanish. Even the sign that'll be going in at the site of the garden will be in both.

Yes, there's racism. Just like anywhere. There's also efforts to curb it, just like anywhere.

I have to say, though, moving from Port Townsend, the real racism here is better than the fake non-racism of Port Townsend.

[CFiona]

i have not read everything, but agree with this:

Aberdeen/Hoquiam are the two cities that comprise the Grays Harbor Metro area. This area used to be home to booming fishing and timber industries, and then kind of deteriorated along the 80's and 90's.

As far as beautiful you must never have been there. It is an ugly town for the most part. There are some very nice blocks with old (for Washington) houses but mostly it's industrial, run-down, or cheap strip mall. The look of the downtown has really improved the last few years if you like quirky art.

The highway runs through town, and I have to admit that's all i've seen, but it winds though neighborhoods and by a highschool, and you see lots of sad little run down houses that are unkept. There just doesnt' seem to be any ecomony there. I would not be surprised to hear schools are poor....

and the waterfront there is not pretty, its stagnant and stinky. The drive from Aberdeen to Ocean Shore starts off nice with big tall trees, but then there is clear cutting and just tall grass. sorta dull.


And it does rain A LOT more than seattle - my brother is in Ocean Shores and its COLD

[BryanK]

I am from New York City, (so I know all about a cold nasty Winter and a hot miserable Summer!) and moved here, and I really like it. I live in a very nice neighborhood, in a house that would have cost triple elsewhere. I look out the window and see water, hills, trees and sky. I am also not old, and I am not "rich". My neighbors are not at all unfriendly, and I hang out with some of them regularly. If they didn't like me because I was a "stranger in town", well that would be their #*@)'in problem, not mine.

I have been out and about and have never seen any "racism", but being from a big city, what would I know about that? Everybody knows the only racists in this country are white people in small towns! (sarcasm)

I find the natives to be very pleasant, and I must say, even small children, are much better behaved than in larger cities. I went to the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam (google it) last weekend to see ET, it was packed with kiddies and they were all really cool, no screaming or fits of any kind. I was impressed! Cute, well behaved small children are a definite asset to any town.

I have noticed in the past two years, the dumpy neighborhoods seem to be shrinking, home prices are going up. I see people painting and fixing up their yards, even on East First St, which has been a horror for years. On my days off I either drive to the beach, or drive through the Wiskhak Valley, or various country roads, and nearby neighborhoods, and marvel at all the gorgeous-ness of nature. From where I live, it's quite a long walk to "depressing and dumpy". (that's poetry)

I could live in Seattle, which I love, and have a ridiculously inflated mortgage, or super high rent, have all conveniences nearby, but have to deal with the drawbacks, such as traffic, parking problems, throngs of people, so I did the math, and it =Aberdeen. Oh, there are no bad neighborhoods in Seattle, or any other city! (more sarcasm)

If someone is thinking of moving here, they should stay a few days, get a map, drive around, get off the main drags, look things up on realtor dot com.

If you travel in negative circles, with negative woe-is-me minded people, then that's all you are going to see, and that's all you're going to have, no matter where you go. Everybody doesn't have to like it here, that's ok.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by BryanK

I have been out and about and have never seen any "racism"..

Evidently you missed this story from the Daily World yesterday (6-19-08)

"A street fight involving as many as 40 people in Hoquiam ended in five arrests...the fight, which may have been racially motivated, began at about 6:30 p.m. as at least 10 men began fighting near the 300 block of Adams Street...racial slurs were exchanged between the group of white and Hispanic men...Officers arrived to find many people bloodied by the confrontation while some continued shouting racial slurs and threats."

[bmsea]

Fat Freddy,

that's a matter of perspective. I saw that article, and thought, "I can't believe that made the news when there weren't any serious injuries." Coming from LA and Seattle, it's amazing that 40 men could get into a fight (one that makes the local news) and no one was killed! It's nice to live somewhere where this sort of thing is at least moderately noteworthy, rather than commonplace.

It's also important to note that it was not newsworthy or noteworthy enough to be reported ahead of:

"30 Year Instructor Loves the Harbor"
"City asks developer to get permit before continuing more renovation work"
"Cancer Fundraiser to be held Saturday"
"Fire Authority Idea draws crowd"
"7th street theater gets facelift"
"Permits dictated by International Building Code"
"Counterfeit $5 bill pops up in Ocean Shores"
"So Far, Hoquiam Teachers have not Responded to the Example"
"Dust off the Gangplank" (Pirate Daze Festival)
"Mayor Vetos ban on guns at City Parks"

Like I said before, find me a City in America that doesn't have any racial issues, and I'll give you a dollar. But Hoquiam, Aberdeen and the South Beach are fairly benign as far as racial tension. (Now it may suck where you live in the North Beach/Ocean Shores area, I don't go there often, so maybe Ocean Shores is just waiting to erupt in racial unrest - I wouldn't know, but I'd doubt it, considering their biggest news on Friday was the discover of a counterfeit $5).

[robbyeddy]

well, i am from aberdeen and hoquiam area. i grew up there throughout my teens and went to both schools. the good news about that place is the woods. you dont have to go very far to get lost. also, the beaches and just all around mother nature of the area.
but

[robbyeddy]

well, i am from aberdeen and hoquiam area. i grew up there throughout my teens and went to both schools. the good news about that place is the woods. you dont have to go very far to get lost. also, the beaches and just all around mother nature of the area.
but i couldnt take it down there any longer because of the people and the drugs. it makes everything in the area disgusting. from the schools to the jobs. its terrible how bad it is. i couldnt even leave my vehicle unlocked at a convinient store. no joke. and as for the jobs. they are very scarce and low paying. i did some crabbing and construction and i noticed that when people would get paid, they would leave for a week and come back all drugged up expecting to get back to work.
i havent lived there for almost 2 years now but i still go back to see family and everytime its getting worse and worse. youll see crackheads panhandling and dumpster diving in broad daylight. imagine what they would do at night. i dont trust anyone down there.
well thats all i have to say. hopefully it will deter you from making a bad decision. seriously! quarintine the area!