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I live in one of the small towns/suburbs of Utica and things are not as bad as your experience was. Like any city you have some rough parts, but you also have the suburbs and the malls and the parks. You also have a small quaint zoo, a ski slope right in town, a great theatre with national acts and musicals, wonderful organizations and people, nearby lakes and resorts, good schools and small colleges, and all of this is easily accessible on the Thruway. We go to NYC, Boston, Philly, and DC if we want the big city museums and clubs within a seven hour ride. What we don't have is gridlocks even during "rush" hour, homes are still affordable and nice for about 100 to 150k, taxes are only OK but they are like that in all of NY state (far worse downstate). I've been at dozens of cities and Utica has the same stuff. Home Depot, Lowes, Macys, what else do you want?
I am a resident of Utica. I moved here when I was 3 years old from Puerto Rico. Growing up I detested it, mainly because all of my family lived in Orlando. And everytime I went to visit them, they always had something fun planned, and all I could do was my ride my bike around the neighborhood I lived in. As time passed my parents made the decesion to move to Orlando, and really that was like the root of all evil, the life there is so full of choices, of which my parents made all the wrong ones; they forgot about family value, and forgot how to keep a family together. Before there seperation we came back to Utica but by them it was to late, I finished High school locally, even though they seperated they both maintained residency here. Now that I am older, married, with a child I realize the importance of the culture that Utica has implemented in my family. Although I am from Puerto Rico, the culture around here seems to be more Italian based, the foods are delicious, the people in all- BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC or ASIAN are friendly. I've adapted alot of the local culture, I attend all local events, teaching my child family values, learning to embrace life. Yes, Utica has its moments, the State needs to do more to help the appearance of the city in some areas. I for one, live on James St., blocks away from the heart of the city, of which many crimes are committed, but it is getting better. They have added a new Public Saftey center in the middle of James St., the people are friendly in my neighborhood, i have really nice neighboors, and I have a really beautiful house and a great job. Utica needs some TLC, the "Pot Hole Killer" is not doing enough, but please do not bash a City that you apparently are not from, being here 3/4 years or a "semester" of school is not enough to say your from Utica; there is crime all over the world there are places much more condemmed. I LOVE UTICA this will be my home forever!
I love going to Utica and hearing all the people speaking different languages.
Utica is actually growing. In Upstate!!! Its a flicker of hope but still hope. A city in NY GROWING.
Go Utica!!!!!!!!!
Actually, Plattsburgh, Watertown, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and some other cities grew or held steady in population. So, there are some other examples in Upstate NY.
Ithaca, Oneonta, Corning, somewhere in the Catskills? Its going to be hard to escape collapsing infrastructure but everything will come around and every city has its good and bad.
We have a discussion and a poll going on in the NYC forum entitled "ending the high cost of living in NYC". Would be great if some of you stop by and share your thoughts about possible future development in the upstate NY region.
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