I know I'm going to get slammed for asking this but... (Miami: home, neighborhoods)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Raffeer

[/u] ????????????????????

....and you are basing this on what?

//www.city-data.com/nbmaps/neig...d-Florida.html

Click around. It's a fairly integrated city in all respects but the largest Anglo population tends to be towards the east, where they still dominate the neighborhoods. This is in contrast to Coral Springs which tends to be predominately Anglo with significant black and Hispanic populations in all but a few areas. In other words, Coral Springs to Pembroke Pines is probably the frying pan to the fire for the OP, as I would say that the only "desirable" area in Pines with a solid Anglo majority is Pembroke Lakes, while other Anglo dominated areas can be a little iffy.

[Nolefan34]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

//www.city-data.com/nbmaps/neig...d-Florida.html

Click around. It's a fairly integrated city in all respects but the largest Anglo population tends to be towards the east.

I don't agree with this. The eastern portion of Pembroke Pines as you get closer to the Turnpike and 441 seems to be predominantly minorities. There are lots of Hispanics as well as some Indian groups living around the Turnpike and 441 corridor.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

I don't agree with this. The eastern portion of Pembroke Pines as you get closer to the Turnpike and 441 seems to be predominantly minorities. There are lots of Hispanics as well as some Indian groups living around the Turnpike and 441 corridor.

Maybe around Boulevard Heights and right between 441 and the turnpike, but not really in the Pines city limits. And Hollywood is pretty much solidly white across the board, exceptions Liberia and Pembroke Road area. Basically, a lot of scummy areas around Pines are predominantly white and a lot of more desirable areas are predominantly Hispanic with more black presence. An unusual setup, but check out the maps and even many of the schools.

[jgennaro]

It's time to get out of this hell hole. Earlier today I witnessed 3 young guys smoking marijuana at the pool. They were no more than 20 feet away from the kid's playground. Then, last night when my husband and I were out walking our pups and we found a marijuana pipe with marijuana in it on a mechanical box on the side of our building. BUT...the most troubling event happened earlier this week. The police were called in because a 5-6 year old girl got angry at another child, went into her house and brought out a knife and tried to stab another child. I saw police go to their apartment with, what looked like a social worker. I am beside myself because my kids play outside too. I don't know how I'm going to manage to live here another 9 months.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by jgennaro

It's time to get out of this hell hole. Earlier today I witnessed 3 young guys smoking marijuana at the pool. They were no more than 20 feet away from the kid's playground. Then, last night when my husband and I were out walking our pups and we found a marijuana pipe with marijuana in it on a mechanical box on the side of our building. BUT...the most troubling event happened earlier this week. The police were called in because a 5-6 year old girl got angry at another child, went into her house and brought out a knife and tried to stab another child. I saw police go to their apartment with, what looked like a social worker. I am beside myself because my kids play outside too. I don't know how I'm going to manage to live here another 9 months.

Something doesn't add up here. Did you rent on Long Island?

Why didn't your husband come down first and rent a month to month studio apt and look around? And if you couldn't come down to assist, then let him use his own judgement to rent something?

Or maybe your husband should have passed on this job if it seemed too rushed to relocate.

The easiest way to get a feel for the neighorhood is go to the local supermarket. If you don't care for the clientle you see in Publix for whatever reason then you pass.

Your posts similar to this guy who moved to Miami from TX and then was horrified as to the area he moved into. In his case it was "Little Haiti"(that should have been a clue).

He also rented sight unseen. I don't get how people get themselves into these jams when you can go online and view pictures, get crime stats, all the demographic information you need.

[jujulu]

Originally Posted by jgennaro

It's time to get out of this hell hole. Earlier today I witnessed 3 young guys smoking marijuana at the pool. They were no more than 20 feet away from the kid's playground. Then, last night when my husband and I were out walking our pups and we found a marijuana pipe with marijuana in it on a mechanical box on the side of our building. BUT...the most troubling event happened earlier this week. .

It could have been medical marijuana they were smoking. Next time don't be so quick to judge other people you've never met.

[maybesefl]

Originally Posted by jgennaro

It's time to get out of this hell hole. Earlier today I witnessed 3 young guys smoking marijuana at the pool. They were no more than 20 feet away from the kid's playground. Then, last night when my husband and I were out walking our pups and we found a marijuana pipe with marijuana in it on a mechanical box on the side of our building. BUT...the most troubling event happened earlier this week. The police were called in because a 5-6 year old girl got angry at another child, went into her house and brought out a knife and tried to stab another child. I saw police go to their apartment with, what looked like a social worker. I am beside myself because my kids play outside too. I don't know how I'm going to manage to live here another 9 months.

Check out the NW part of Coral Springs: Look between the border of the Sawgrass, Wiles, and University. Those homes look nice (more expensive) and the school district seems to be the best in Coral Springs.

[robz]

Wait.... What is wrong with wanting to live in a white neighborhood??? Nothing. Gay people prefer to live in Gay neighborhoods.. Hispanics like to live in hispanic neighborhoods ect. Im half italian ahd half northern Spain. Both white. I live in western tamarac. Mostly white. If you need any help finding some good italian food, bread ect. Let me Know...

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by jujulu

It could have been medical marijuana they were smoking. Next time don't be so quick to judge other people you've never met.

Only "medical marijuana use" is not legal in Florida, lol.

I'm all for legalization of the stuff (I see it as no worse than cigarettes... and I do neither), but let's not be dense!

[jgennaro]

Seriously?? Medical marijuana?? No. They were 3 young healthy looking guys (I don't think any of them had glaucoma or anything).

And as far as my husband's job...he works for the US Postal Service as a safety specialist. He was losing his job because of cuts. He had sent his resume everywhere from FEMA, OSHA, and anywhere there was work. 2 days before "D Day" we got a call from the Miami district of the US Postal Service with a job offer. If he didn't take it, we would've been screwed. His best opportunity was as a mail handler (back at entry level), part time, working 7 days, losing 25 % of his salary and we would've lost our benefits. It was a no brainer. They were very understanding about our situation. They gave us a month instead of 5 days. We didn't have the luxury of him coming down early and looking because his job allowed him to stay on for another 3 weeks. And I couldn't do it because we have the kids and it was impossible.

I did do as much research as possible but I guess I didn't do enough. I did look at pictures and crime statistics and the first place we were interested in was nice on the inside but I found out it was even worse than here.

Believe me, this has been such a cray transition for all of us. Thank goodness my kids are happy as clams. They love the weather (especially being able to swim in the winter). They have made friends and their transfer to different schools went fairly smoothly.

My husband loves his job and (as far as career moves go) was the best thing to happen to him. He has a chance to get further here than he ever could in NY.

Hopefully, we'll be able to start looking for a house to buy. Maybe if we start looking now it'll take about 6 months and the landlord will have a heart and let us out early.