Why not Fall River?

[NEOhioBound]

Fall River actually has a high crime rate, unfortunately, but I still feel safe living here. I wish more of the parks were cleaner and had working play equipment and that some of the people living here would take care of their neighborhood better, but it is that way anywhere else you go. Just don't send your kids to the public schools here (only 77% graduation rate o_O)

[Southcoastres]

Originally Posted by NEOhioBound

Fall River actually has a high crime rate, unfortunately, but I still feel safe living here. I wish more of the parks were cleaner and had working play equipment and that some of the people living here would take care of their neighborhood better, but it is that way anywhere else you go. Just don't send your kids to the public schools here (only 77% graduation rate o_O)

To me personally the crime rate goes completely unnoticeable, have you had any negative situations with crime in the city? I agree on the fact that the parks could be nicer. Most of the parks have nice layouts such as North Park and Kennedy Park, but haven't been taken care of as well as they could. Still North Park is a nice place to go play baseball or go sledding and with the new Morton nearing completion the overall place will looker much better. As for sending your kids to the public schools, the graduation rate has nothing to do with how good the schools are (IMO) and if the parents stay on top of their kid, the child can do just fine. Obviously it makes the school look worse, but in 2012 one student went to Harvard, one went to UPenn, and one went to Yale ( All from Durfee .) This shows that the courses offered there are suitable to produce great students as long as they stay focused.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by Southcoastres

To me personally the crime rate goes completely unnoticeable, have you had any negative situations with crime in the city?

Your story is anecdotal - statistics are what matter when considering a probability for crime in Fall River relative to another locale, state, or the nation. It is what it is.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Southcoastres

To me personally the crime rate goes completely unnoticeable, have you had any negative situations with crime in the city? I agree on the fact that the parks could be nicer. Most of the parks have nice layouts such as North Park and Kennedy Park, but haven't been taken care of as well as they could. Still North Park is a nice place to go play baseball or go sledding and with the new Morton nearing completion the overall place will looker much better. As for sending your kids to the public schools, the graduation rate has nothing to do with how good the schools are (IMO) and if the parents stay on top of their kid, the child can do just fine. Obviously it makes the school look worse, but in 2012 one student went to Harvard, one went to UPenn, and one went to Yale ( All from Durfee .) This shows that the courses offered there are suitable to produce great students as long as they stay focused.

The reality is somewhere in the middle (it usually is with most debates).

Crime in Fall River exists and it impacts everyone although not always directly. While nobody I know in Fall River has been murdered or violently attacked, many have had items stolen or been verbally assaulted. Even constant news about robberies or assaults can indirectly impact people. It's depressing. Obviously Fall River isn't Detroit, Camden NJ, Richmond CA, or New Orleans when it comes to crime. However, it's hardly "unnoticeable."

The biggest problem with FR in my opinion is the culture. There are a lot of uneducated people. That's not the worst part of the problem. The worst part of the problem is that a lot of those uneducated people seem content with not being educated. Many abuse the system and live off of handouts. For every person who really loves and cares for Fall River, it seems like there are 100 who don't. Fall River needs more people to take pride in their city. When that happens, good things will definitely follow.

The parks are only in rough shape because they're fairly neglected. Kennedy Park, Bicentennial, and Heritage (which is state maintained), especially, all have lots of potential, but people seem to take them for granted. It goes back to pride. If more people take pride in the city, the parks will be better places to be.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by lrfox

The Portuguese Festivals are incredibly popular amongst thousands of people. The Madeira feast in New Bedford draws over 100,000 people annually. I go every year and I'm not Portuguese. Neither are most of the people who go. They have big time bands, great food, and lots to drink. So I don't think it's a niche market.

I think the same applies to any ethnic festival. I don't think it's just Brazilian folks who who go to Carnivale. The Italian feast in Boston is pretty big for Everyone. St. Patrick's Day festivities aren't just for the Irish. Ethnic festivals are a great way to experience a different culture. The Portuguese festivals in SE Mass are popular with everyone and none are bigger than New Bedford's.

But everything else you wrote is dead on.

Portuguese and Brazilians in the area, seem like a very interesting plus to me!

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by lrfox

The biggest problem with FR in my opinion is the culture. There are a lot of uneducated people. That's not the worst part of the problem. The worst part of the problem is that a lot of those uneducated people seem content with not being educated. Many abuse the system and live off of handouts. For every person who really loves and cares for Fall River, it seems like there are 100 who don't. Fall River needs more people to take pride in their city. When that happens, good things will definitely follow.
.

That's what I've heard. But on the inverse if people don't pay taxes or vote they have no real political power or importance. Nothing wrong with not learning another language but from what I hear is there are too many that just do not learn English. Nothing wrong with languages but frankly it helps to know the language of where you are. I've been to Europe and Asia and taken languages..why? Because that's what they use.

What business is going to bend over backwards to appeal to poorer people that speak other languages...domestically?

New Bedford at least gets it they are working on a fair amount of things. Frankly I think that there often times might not always be enough people to go around to all cities. If Providence and New Bedford were not so close maybe more attention could be given to Fall River. There are plenty of areas that have potential but there can only be so much attention. If Chinatown in Boston and Quincy both have a Asian fall or spring festival at the same time chances are it might be hard for people to decide what one to go to because they are so close.

[Utopian Slums]

I'm interested in the Fall River area as well (actually interested in getting out of NE all together but anyway. ...)

I love the price and that it's on the water. Are there any other areas like that close to it or in MA anywhere? ?

When you say "don't speak English, " is the secondary language more Spanish or Portuguese? I would assume Portuguese but Idk.

[n1ey]

Originally Posted by Utopian Slums

I'm interested in the Fall River area as well (actually interested in getting out of NE all together but anyway. ...)

I love the price and that it's on the water. Are there any other areas like that close to it or in MA anywhere? ?

When you say "don't speak English, " is the secondary language more Spanish or Portuguese? I would assume Portuguese but Idk.

I hear a lot of Portuguese in my daily travels. Spanish is actually a distant second.

Bill