Visiting Wash. Heights in August...

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by SuperMario

How do you explain the people who came here after 1993 and still have good for nothing kids?

By 1993 it was ridiculously hard for Dominicans who came here. In some ways it was easier because by then they had an established community to arrive to, but economically it was way harder. Its no wonder so many turned to drug-dealing. To be honest it was diminishing returns by then. Too many of us here. lol. Too few jobs for a mostly uneducated, unskilled pool. If the dad was any good, you had him working crazy hours to support a family, probably as a cab driver or something like that. By that time it was required for both parents to work no matter what, which meant a lot less time dedicated on the kids. Bad mix.

I have some family trying to come over now from DR, and I don't know how the heck they are gonna make out. I honestly feel they'd do much better staying in DR at this point. There really isn't much here for them except struggle. At least in DR the weather is nice. Maybe if they immigrate to some other part of the U.S. but NYC, nope.

[quelinda]

Basically this discussion revolves around the reasons why poor people often stay poor and rich people stay rich. For those who complain about poor youth getting into trouble, you try growing up in some of the environments that people live in and then once you've walked in those people's shoes (actually lived the life and not imagining how things are), you should reserve comment. I know I did a lot of things as a teen to survive that I'm not proud of, but at the time I was all about surviving and that was what I cared about most.