Gosh H-town, you could be the best city in the country..... (Houston: real estate, crime)

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Mister Mister

Yeah, but you can't really compare Baton Rouge to Houston. It's not comparable. This OP is very spot on, and so is testmo. It'll change, though. A lot of outsiders are moving in, and many of them feel the way the OP does. What I'm noticing is a lot of Republicans are moving from other states, but they are nothing like the average Republican in Texas. In fact, I would argue Texas (and in turn because of this, Houston) is the way it is because of these Perry Republicans. I'm a socially liberal/fiscal conservative who actually used to vote for Republicans. Part of the reason the GOP cannot win a presidential election (and I assure you they won't in 2016 either whether Hillary Clinton or Morty Moose runs) is because swing state residents see how our politicians are and it's a huge turnoff.

I agree with you but we shall not turn this into a political debate.

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

All I know is I live in what Angelenos consider "ghetto", but I find it to be a largely working class Mexican American neighborhood with relatively little crime. It's just old. It's just dated and looks like it hasn't been re-developed since the 80s minus the roads. But I feel safer here than I would in say the low income ghetto areas of Houston.

There is no amount of low COL that will get me to live in some areas near Fondren, Hilcroft or the lawless areas on the Northside. Living in the ghetto in Houston is not that cost effective, unless maybe you're in the loop.

Well, it's important to point out that the ghettoes of Houston are in no way unique. Cities like Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, Detroit, and Philadelphia have slums that are just as if not more blighted and dangerous than Houston's. Also, a lot of these poor Houstonians come from generations of old fashioned southern poverty. I certainly don't think it's accurate to say that they have a standard of living that is significantly below that of most low income American neighborhoods.

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

HAHAHAHAHA


Someone said something about not living near Hillcroft or Fondren. I don't see anything wrong with those areas. Many of the areas I've seen in the SW look like typical suburbs to me with the apartment complexes being the worst. Our ghettos here look like third world countries compared to Houston. I've been to Mo City, Greenspoint, SW, Aleif, 3rd ward, 2nd and 1st wards, etc. The worst I've seen was around Griggs and the rest of the SE area, reminds me of here. That's Greater 4th ward?

Those are neighborhoods with some rougher parts, but they're hardly "the ghetto". The slums of Houston are places like Sunnyside, 5th ward, Kashmere, Settegast, etc.

[Oildog]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Thank you. This is what I was referring to and I think that people seem to think of only LA from the movies. I happen to know personally that what is considered "ghetto" in LA, places like Watts, Compton, North Hollywood are not as ghetto as Houston ghettos. I mean Houston poor areas are BAD. Really bad.

Most people just assume Los Angeles is the same city from the 90s but it's a statistical fact that it's one of the safest major cities in America and is safer than Houston.

Houston is really dog eat dog for the poorest. The answer most Texans have to that is "so what, they just need to pull themselves up. Personal responsibility. Don't ask for a handout". Despite the overcrowding, the lack of space and the unemployment, Los Angeles still manages to maintain itself and not descend into total destitution. But some areas of Houston's poorer sections look straight out of NOLA, Detroit and Camden, NJ.

I am just saying it wouldn't hurt to invest a little in social services. It's not f-ing socialism, people. It does help.

That's why Houston zig zags between nice developed areas to horrid squalor. The development has been largely limited because it relies a lot on private initiative. The development is also very uneven.

There are a number of jobs available here for the 'poor'. But you have to be able to read and pass a drug screen...its a sign of the times. If your willing to move to south TX you can get 80k easy for driving a truck.

[Oildog]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I bet $1 million that Houston would change instantly if we built a light-rail connecting downtown to the airports and one to Galveston.
Millions of people would visit Houston every year if we did that.

No. Wrong again.

It would help business travel but certainly wouldn't make us a tourism hotspot.

[crono_clone]

Originally Posted by Oildog

No. Wrong again.

It would help business travel but certainly wouldn't make us a tourism hotspot.

Legalizing gambling in Galveston would though!

[GTRdad]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

All I know is I live in what Angelenos consider "ghetto", but I find it to be a largely working class Mexican American neighborhood with relatively little crime. It's just old. It's just dated and looks like it hasn't been re-developed since the 80s minus the roads. But I feel safer here than I would in say the low income ghetto areas of Houston.

There is no amount of low COL that will get me to live in some areas near Fondren, Hilcroft or the lawless areas on the Northside. Living in the ghetto in Houston is not that cost effective, unless maybe you're in the loop.

That sound like my ghetto. Just more mexican a little east and more chinese vietnamese on the west. I walked and bike'd around here a lot if times with my babies and never had an issue. We blend in though.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Right. No elitism in California.

Stereotype much?

Lets break it down to make it fair.

In Texas there is racism, it's not as prevalent enough to stop anyone from getting ahead (which is what matters most) but it does exist and leads to relatively mild or moderate inconveniences for most people of color.

As for "elitism" Texans are much more egalitarian in the sense that you're not going to be judged too much based on income.

In California, racism, even in jest is not tolerated and will make you stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe in San Diego (which is the only city Southerners like in CA, LOL) you could get away with some of it, but for the most part Californians are pretty sensitive to it. Racism is much less prevalent and people of color are slightly better off for that.

BUT and this is a huge but. While California and especially Los Angeles, is not a bastion of racism, it is still a very elitist place where your income defines you. Angelenos are very much divided by class. Image is very important in places like West Los Angeles where your wardrobe tells people what class you belong to. People aren't outright rude like they exaggerate in the movies but you will get the vibe that people do not want to associate with you too much if they do not find you important. They really care about image! They don't care if you have the next million dollar idea if you're not dressed for the part they will by pass you without hearing you out.

So take your pick; racism or elitism?

[xsatyr]

Originally Posted by crono_clone

Legalizing gambling in Galveston would though!

I am a huge proponent for this. So many Texans are giving their money away; keep that money here.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by crono_clone

Legalizing gambling in Galveston would though!

If I could I would vote for it!