Thinking about moving TO Baltimore...am I nuts? (Hampstead: sex offenders, houses)

[drew127]

People who tell you this is a miserable place and you should never consider moving here are ignorant. So are the people who say to ignore shows such as "The Wire" because you can't believe everything you see on tv.

Just as with most things in life, there's a middle ground here. Yes, "The Wire" depicts Baltimore as a terrible, corrupt city. But it also garnered awards for it's accurate portrayal of inner-city crime and corruption. Every city faces the issues Baltimore faces, and every city has corruption in its government. Yes, Baltimore has its issues. Yes, in areas, these issues are prominent. But there are also many, many livable and even gorgeous parts of the city.

The school system is bad, I agree with that. I wouldn't want to send my kids to Baltimore city schools. The cops are a-holes as well. And our former governor, well, she stole money, broke the law and what did she get for it? An 80k/year pension that our tax dollars are going to pay. Corrupt to say the least.

But you can't let corruption stop you from living somewhere. Corruption is everywhere.

I guess the main point I want to drive home is that you shouldn't listen to those who label Baltimore exclusively as an awful, unlivable place. It's actually nice if you stick to the right areas. There's lots to see and do, not to mention the excellent geographical location - beaches and lots of destinations in the region.

[are you kidinme?]

Originally Posted by drew127

People who tell you this is a miserable place and you should never consider moving here are ignorant. So are the people who say to ignore shows such as "The Wire" because you can't believe everything you see on tv.

Just as with most things in life, there's a middle ground here. Yes, "The Wire" depicts Baltimore as a terrible, corrupt city. But it also garnered awards for it's accurate portrayal of inner-city crime and corruption. Every city faces the issues Baltimore faces, and every city has corruption in its government. Yes, Baltimore has its issues. Yes, in areas, these issues are prominent. But there are also many, many livable and even gorgeous parts of the city.

The school system is bad, I agree with that. I wouldn't want to send my kids to Baltimore city schools. The cops are a-holes as well. And our former governor, well, she stole money, broke the law and what did she get for it? An 80k/year pension that our tax dollars are going to pay. Corrupt to say the least.

But you can't let corruption stop you from living somewhere. Corruption is everywhere.

I guess the main point I want to drive home is that you shouldn't listen to those who label Baltimore exclusively as an awful, unlivable place. It's actually nice if you stick to the right areas. There's lots to see and do, not to mention the excellent geographical location - beaches and lots of destinations in the region.

10 people shot in Bmore this weekend. The shootings were "scattered around the city" as the article says, not in one area. Does this really "happen everywhere?"

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=736&sid=1984864 (broken link)

[mrboltonman]

Looks like it:
city shootings - Google Search

Crime is a major problem in the US.

Look at this one in Chicago:
Weekend Violence: Chicago Police Sup't. Jody Weis Attributes 18 Shootings To Gang Violence - WGN

This does not mean that Baltimore shouldn't do more to stop these shootings.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by mrboltonman

Looks like it:
city shootings - Google Search

Crime is a major problem in the US.

Look at this one in Chicago:
Weekend Violence: Chicago Police Sup't. Jody Weis Attributes 18 Shootings To Gang Violence - WGN

This does not mean that Baltimore shouldn't do more to stop these shootings.

Holy Mackeral. Fathers Day weekend? That was a bloodbath in Chicago!
I guess summer has arrived.

[Bong477]

I live in the city right around where you are looking (at the border of federal hill & locust point). I think you'd be boderline nuts to move here by choice with school age kids. Its not exactly hell on earth as some might suggest, but I don't think its very conducive to a great family life. I wouldn't live in this city with kids past early elementary school age (Roland Park being an exception).

[jonjj]

The only reason why I would hesitate not raising my child in a good neighborhood in Baltimore City is if I doubted my parenting skills. City-living has a lot to offer children. There are plenty of families doing just that in the city.

[KennyP]

Yeah, my initial reaction was, "I wouldn't raise kids here" and then I remembered my friend Irene. She was raised in Baltimore, graduated Hopkins, and went on to be a very, very fast promote (well past me as a peer) in our firm.

She was my boss w/i 2 years, and damn near THE boss before she 'retired' at 26 to have babies (her words, not mine).

Then I started thinking about NYC, Chicago, LA, Nashville, Cleveland, Miami, etc. I will say that if you're not an involved, dedicated parent, there's as much opportunity for trouble here as anywhere. It's not a Dallas Suburb, or the Hills in California. It's a hard, East Coast city.

Baltimore has issues, but it seems to me that when you make friends here they take it pretty seriously. You know that old saying, "It takes a village"? I can't think of another urban city that takes that saying more seriously than once you've bonded w/ your neighbors here. The effort to bond will have to come from you, and you'll have to accept that your toothless neighbor might be pretty cool. You won't get that in a lot of other places.

If that's for you, and you want to share your family w/ the neighborhood, it's a great place. If you want to shut in, are not outgoing, or are easily intimidated, you're going to have a hard, lonely time here.

[cainanomar]

Originally Posted by ltong1009

Ignore all the people that say there are no good schools in Balt City. We live in Canton and will be sending our 1 y.o. to Hampstead Hill Academy. Go to http://[URL="http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens/sports/golf/apparel/tops/polos/pid1000492-Men-s-UA-Performance-Team-Polo/1000492-600"]www.mdreportcard.org/[/URL]
and check out the test scores. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of low scoring schools, but there are plenty of good ones too. Thomas Johnson Elementary in Fed Hill South has good scores and a good principal. The magnet high schools in Baltimore are excellent, some of the best in the state.

once you pass elementary the schools turn to crap.
what kind of 8 year old shoots up heroin and is a drug boy?

good luck on finding him a middle school.
HELLO TOWSON!

[ltong1009]

Hampstead Hill Academy is K-8.

Originally Posted by cainanomar

once you pass elementary the schools turn to crap.
what kind of 8 year old shoots up heroin and is a drug boy?

good luck on finding him a middle school.
HELLO TOWSON!

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by Bong477

I live in the city right around where you are looking (at the border of federal hill & locust point). I think you'd be boderline nuts to move here by choice with school age kids. Its not exactly hell on earth as some might suggest, but I don't think its very conducive to a great family life. I wouldn't live in this city with kids past early elementary school age (Roland Park being an exception).

Baltimore's City College High School rated one of the tops in the country. If your child has a high enough GPA, it's a great option:

98 Md. high schools ranked by national magazine - baltimoresun.com