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I live in washington heights and I don't think it's dangerous at all! I can see how someone might not feel safe but thats because there are a lot of people hanging out on corners! There are some drug dealers but not nearly what an outsider would think! Thats just the way people around here are! They set up tables in the summer on corners and play dominos and checkers at all hours day or night! SUPERMARIO didn't you post 2007 crime stats and were surprised that Washington Heights crime rate was on par with upper west side and the Village? It has a ghetto look up here but people are wonderful! Atleast thats the way I feel!
This is an excellent point. Loud and hanging out on street corners does not automatically make a place dangerous; but this is the way most people think. My dad always told us never to date anyone who didn't have a job or who hung out on street corners because they had to be drug dealers.
I grew up on 150th street and worked late hours for months at one point. I used to go home at 1 am by train. I was annoyed by the loud music, the smoking, the catcalls etc that went on in the streets. But at the same time, I embraced it because I would have been scared to death to walk home from the train station on a dark, quiet street at 1 am. If something were to happen, no one would be around. I would have been the perfect target.
This is an excellent point. Loud and hanging out on street corners does not automatically make a place dangerous; but this is the way most people think. My dad always told us never to date anyone who didn't have a job or who hung out on street corners because they had to be drug dealers.
I grew up on 150th street and worked late hours for months at one point. I used to go home at 1 am by train. I was annoyed by the loud music, the smoking, the catcalls etc that went on in the streets. But at the same time, I embraced it because I would have been scared to death to walk home from the train station on a dark, quiet street at 1 am. If something were to happen, no one would be around. I would have been the perfect target.
My wife is from a small town in the midwest and works late sometimes 3am and has never felt uncomfortable! That said she still keeps her eyes open! You should always be aware no matter where you are anyway!
After White Flight in the 60-70's, there was a period of mass Dominican immigration which looking back on it now probably peaked around 92-93. So it became and is an ethnic enclave for Dominicans.
This happened throughout the city, Whites left, and other groups filled in the void. A lot of White people, mostly Italians and Irish, wanted to get away from the city and move to the burbs.
But maybe I'm reading too much into your post, but I sensed some veiled resentment towards Dominicans. Do you have something against Dominicans?
Nothing against Dominicans. I have lived in Inwood for about 4 months now and chose Inwood for its affordability and excellent transportation options.
It is just very frustrating to live in America and feel like your being taken over. Diversity is fine but when people make no effort to speak English and assimilate it creates problems. Also, the high rate of people on assistance gets on your nerves after a while.
Nothing against Dominicans. I have lived in Inwood for about 4 months now and chose Inwood for its affordability and excellent transportation options.
It is just very frustrating to live in America and feel like your being taken over. Diversity is fine but when people make no effort to speak English and assimilate it creates problems. Also, the high rate of people on assistance gets on your nerves after a while.
How do you know whose on assistance and who is not?
This happens all over. Go to "El Barrio" and the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans speak spanish. Go to Chinatown, and you hear chinese. Go to Corona and the Dominicans and Mexicans speak spanish...I could go on and on.
If you dont like it then move to an "english spoken" neighborhood. Dominicans have been speaking spanish there for 30 years, and they're not going to stop just cause you dont like it.
i agree on that pretty much. Inwood maybe ghetto though but its not rough, theres a difference between a neighborhood thats ghetto and a neighborhood that is really rough/dangerous, one does not always equal the other.
Nothing against Dominicans. I have lived in Inwood for about 4 months now and chose Inwood for its affordability and excellent transportation options.
It is just very frustrating to live in America and feel like your being taken over. Diversity is fine but when people make no effort to speak English and assimilate it creates problems. Also, the high rate of people on assistance gets on your nerves after a while.
In those Latino neighborhoods in NYC, you should just accept it for what it is. I do agree that people should assimilate to learn english though.. But if your not comfortable around Latinos and other immigrants Maybe New York City is not for you then...Or Los Angeles or Miami..Their's alot of Latinos in those cities. Just my thoughts.
Morningside Heights is, for the most part, safe and almost thoroughly gentrified.
Washington Heights has a lot of rough patches, but if you go from about 181st and above to the west of Broadway (and even more so to the west of Fort Washington) is a very safe neighborhood. You'll definitely see it in the strip of shops on 181st from Fort Washington down to river, and also on the strip of shops on 187th.
As for Inwood, generally the further north you go, and if you don't get too far east of Broadway, then it'll be really safe.
Truth be told though, I've been in Washington Heights for quite a while now, and I've never felt particularly unsafe living here.
I'd say lower Washington Heights, Central Harlem, and East Harlem/El Barrio can still get pretty hairy sometimes, but aren't all that bad as long as you aren't involved with anything (as is the case for most "bad" neighborhoods).
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