Los Gatos and Willow Glen unfriendly to foreigners? (Mountain View, Palo Alto: appointed, houses)

[syborg]

Ive lived in SJ two years now and ive got enough experience in these areas to have formed my opinion. Most of it comes from looking at homes in these areas, shopping and dining (especially downtown). Would love to hear other explanations besides my interpretation that the locals here just dont like nonwhites hanging out or moving into their pristine neighborhoods. In stark contrast to these two areas, we love Saratoga, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Mountain View.

[bobby_guz_man]

Maybe if you get your butt into downtown SJ instead of the other bathroom-sized towns then you will see that it's very welcoming to foreigners...

[gone down south]

Silicon Valley is the ultimate meritocracy. Be the best at what you do and no one will care what you look like .

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by syborg

Ive lived in SJ two years now and ive got enough experience in these areas to have formed my opinion. Most of it comes from looking at homes in this area, shopping and dining (especially downtown). Would love to hear other explanations besides my interpretation that the locals here just don't like nonwhites hanging out or moving into their pristine neighborhoods. In stark contrast to these two areas, we love Saratoga, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Mountain View.

Call me biased because I'm white, but I don't think this is true.

[syborg]

Originally Posted by bobby_guz_man

Maybe if you get your butt into downtown SJ instead of the other bathroom-sized towns then you will see that it's very welcoming to foreigners...

I lived very close to downtown for a year before moving to mnt view. We enjoyed it quite a bit, so I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that I said all of SJ was unwelcoming?

[zombocom]

Originally Posted by syborg

Ive lived in SJ two years now and ive got enough experience in these areas to have formed my opinion. Most of it comes from looking at homes in these areas, shopping and dining (especially downtown). Would love to hear other explanations besides my interpretation that the locals here just dont like nonwhites hanging out or moving into their pristine neighborhoods. In stark contrast to these two areas, we love Saratoga, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Mountain View.

I have no explanation to give - I'm not sure how looking at houses and shopping results in you thinking an area is racist.

Do you have a specific example of conduct exhibited by the population of those areas that would lead you to conclude they are racist?

[syborg]

1. Listing agents that dont greet you at open houses while greeting white shoppers, with a bright smile.
2. Neighbors giving you the evil eye or not responding to a friendly hi when shopping for homes in these areas...even from my two little children
3. Business owners that dont greet you or offer assistance, while doing the exact opposite for white customers
4. Poor service and being skipped over in restaurant wait lists.
5. Rude drivers that exhibit road rage or whatever else you want to call it towards my family as pedestrians or driving

All of the above experienced multiple times.

I actually OK with this despite being disappointed. We stay away from these areas now and have friends that say the same thing. There are plenty of good diverse areas in the Bay Area, so it's all good.

Edit: I wanted to add that Willow Glen has been pleasant at times, so I'd put LG as the lowest.

[bobby_guz_man]

Originally Posted by syborg

I lived very close to downtown for a year before moving to mnt view. We enjoyed it quite a bit, so I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that I said all of SJ was unwelcoming?

Apologies for my snarkiness then. Carry on

[nagleepark]

Originally Posted by syborg

1. Listing agents that dont greet you at open houses while greeting white shoppers, with a bright smile.
2. Neighbors giving you the evil eye or not responding to a friendly hi when shopping for homes in these areas...even from my two little children
3. Business owners that dont greet you or offer assistance, while doing the exact opposite for white customers
4. Poor service and being skipped over in restaurant wait lists.
5. Rude drivers that exhibit road rage or whatever else you want to call it towards my family as pedestrians or driving

All of the above experienced multiple times.

I actually OK with this despite being disappointed. We stay away from these areas now and have friends that say the same thing. There are plenty of good diverse areas in the Bay Area, so it's all good.

Edit: I wanted to add that Willow Glen has been pleasant at times, so I'd put LG as the lowest.

I'm white but I know this happens. It's not constant and rampant but it does happen at times.

Your explanation is spot on: Some American whites don't like non-whites or foreign whites moving into their neighborhoods.

[bobby_guz_man]

Originally Posted by nagleepark

I'm white but I know this happens. It's not constant and rampant but it does happen at times.

Your explanation is spot on: Some American whites don't like non-whites or foreign whites moving into their neighborhoods.

This is a FACT. But you just learn to steer away from those corners of the Bay that has this attitude. And not just whites, every race does this from time to time and places to places. Even in the Bay Area.

But the cases are few in between. In my opinion this area is still EXTREMELY tolerant of all races, BY FAR. I can count on one hand the number of times I was racially discriminated against, and I've been living in the South Bay for the last 20-odd years.

Look, you can't shut out all the racist folks (whites, blacks, yellows, browns). There are some here, but they certainly are the exceptions, not the rules.