Big Bad New York
Unsavoury Aspects of Living in the Big Apple
When we moved to New York in June 2004, we made a conscious decision to NOT live in Manhattan. If we moved out to Brooklyn and Queens, we could get a comfortably-sized apartment for the price of a one-bedroom shoebox in Manhattan. And comfortable we are in our 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom (yes, one for Paul and one for me). Our neighbourhood is not so bad - lower middle class homeowners.
What is disconcerting? Every night, we watch Fox 5 News. It only reports news in New York yet it features more crime than the national news in UK! Some of it is in Manhattan and Brooklyn but an awful lot is in Queens too. Let's see - we have:
- a rampant rapist in the next neighbourhood Rego Park
- several murders a night, some due to just being caught in the "crossfire"! (The right to bear arms has a lot to answer for)
- couple of deadly accidents from trying to cross the streets (have you seen some of the streets here?) Get this: when pedestrians can cross is also the time when cars can turn. Pedestrians have the right of way but you can imagine, some cars just go if they think they can squeeze through. Best method to cross the street? Walk slowly but surely, keep your head down, no eye contact with driver.
I have given up watching the local news.
When we moved to New York in June 2004, we made a conscious decision to NOT live in Manhattan. If we moved out to Brooklyn and Queens, we could get a comfortably-sized apartment for the price of a one-bedroom shoebox in Manhattan. And comfortable we are in our 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom (yes, one for Paul and one for me). Our neighbourhood is not so bad - lower middle class homeowners.
What is disconcerting? Every night, we watch Fox 5 News. It only reports news in New York yet it features more crime than the national news in UK! Some of it is in Manhattan and Brooklyn but an awful lot is in Queens too. Let's see - we have:
- a rampant rapist in the next neighbourhood Rego Park
- several murders a night, some due to just being caught in the "crossfire"! (The right to bear arms has a lot to answer for)
- couple of deadly accidents from trying to cross the streets (have you seen some of the streets here?) Get this: when pedestrians can cross is also the time when cars can turn. Pedestrians have the right of way but you can imagine, some cars just go if they think they can squeeze through. Best method to cross the street? Walk slowly but surely, keep your head down, no eye contact with driver.
I have given up watching the local news.
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