Bethesda vs Vienna/GF/Reston? Violent crime in MoCo is concerning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been hearing a lot about gun battles at Tyson's lately. Sounds very safe.

Fake news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy in VA.

Never again ever

Why not ?
OP is going to work in VA and her kids will have a better option for public colleges.
I live in MD but I am recommending VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live a block from that CVS and was also a little shocked at that stabbing (they did arrest the guy btw) but I don’t feel unsafe walking around.

Maybe there are reasons for you to live in Va but I donmt thi k fear of violent crime is a reason to stay away from Bethesda.

Of course this forum has people whose mission it is to complain about MoCo politics and policies and who are apparently on a mission to convince everyone MoCo will be a dystopian hellhole unless we adopt Singapore-style public canings so you can certainly expect to hear a different view on this thread (I’m going to assume for now this is a bona fide question and not a softball for those people to tee off on).

OP, this is hyperbole. Nobody on this forum is advocating for public canings in MoCo. Some people, like me, follow MoCo politics and therefore we are very aware of the discrepancy between what politicians want (fewer police) and what the county needs (more police). County task forces have called for a 50% reduction in police in the midst of this crime spike. The report suggests fewer police will lead to fewer police-related incidents:
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/rps/Resources/Files/reports/rps-task-force-recommendations-report.pdf

Some of us think this is short-sighted and a bad response to rising crime. Others think this is the right call. You can decide for yourself depending on your own comfort level. You can ignore the PP, however. Nobody is calling for public canings. Some of us would just prefer a more logical and reasonable response to rising crime.

(For what it’s worth, I say move to northern VA. I grew up there and now live in MD. We talk regularly about moving back.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Ashburn near the Dulles corridor. The worse crimes we have is maybe a soccer mom getting a speeding ticket. Besides that, very quiet and safe. Make the move.

Ashburn is the exurbs. No one commutes from Ashburn or Leesburg to DC proper, they all work in Reston/Herndon area. I know a coworker that does the commute, it takes her 2 hours each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Ashburn near the Dulles corridor. The worse crimes we have is maybe a soccer mom getting a speeding ticket. Besides that, very quiet and safe. Make the move.

Ashburn is the exurbs. No one commutes from Ashburn or Leesburg to DC proper, they all work in Reston/Herndon area. I know a coworker that does the commute, it takes her 2 hours each way.

OP isn’t commuting into DC either, her DH works in the Dulles corridor. Putting aside everything else, this is the top reason to pick VA over MD if OPs DH plans on going into the office occasionally.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would pick wherever is closest to your children's schools. There is not an appreciable difference in crime in Bethesda vs McLean.

[Anonymous]

OP: If you lived in this area you should know you are comparing apples and oranges.

The culture in Bethesda is diverse but there are lots of families who are all about their country club, the clothes they wear, the car they drive and parents that are super competitive. Parents are invested in their kids but it’s complicated. You will have lots of frienermies.

NOVA has many military families and government workers. Parents are involved with their kids, value education but, what you see is what you get. You will find families who support each other with no agenda. Kids go to mostly public schools and they are good. With lots of options students have opportunities to explore many different areas of interest and self actualize.

Bethesda snubs NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you lived in this area you should know you are comparing apples and oranges.

The culture in Bethesda is diverse but there are lots of families who are all about their country club, the clothes they wear, the car they drive and parents that are super competitive. Parents are invested in their kids but it’s complicated. You will have lots of frienermies.

NOVA has many military families and government workers. Parents are involved with their kids, value education but, what you see is what you get. You will find families who support each other with no agenda. Kids go to mostly public schools and they are good. With lots of options students have opportunities to explore many different areas of interest and self actualize.

Bethesda snubs NOVA.

Ok I have to chime in as people here have this distorted idea of Bethesda and the people who live there . We live in Bethesda and our kids go to WJ where most kids are down to earth and come from similarly down to earth families who value education too. Tons of families here also work for the government, many at NIH. We're not talking Uber wealthy families here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you lived in this area you should know you are comparing apples and oranges.

The culture in Bethesda is diverse but there are lots of families who are all about their country club, the clothes they wear, the car they drive and parents that are super competitive. Parents are invested in their kids but it’s complicated. You will have lots of frienermies.

NOVA has many military families and government workers. Parents are involved with their kids, value education but, what you see is what you get. You will find families who support each other with no agenda. Kids go to mostly public schools and they are good. With lots of options students have opportunities to explore many different areas of interest and self actualize.

Bethesda snubs NOVA.

Ok I have to chime in as people here have this distorted idea of Bethesda and the people who live there . We live in Bethesda and our kids go to WJ where most kids are down to earth and come from similarly down to earth families who value education too. Tons of families here also work for the government, many at NIH. We're not talking Uber wealthy families here.

There is North Bethesda (WJ) and then there is Bethesda (Whitman and B-CC). PP was referring to the latter.

[Anonymous]

You can't compare "NOVA" to Bethesda. Bethesda is the richest part of MoCo. Compare it to McLean. You can find down to earth parts of MoCo as well. Bethesda is extremely expensive to the people that live there are very wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you lived in this area you should know you are comparing apples and oranges.

The culture in Bethesda is diverse but there are lots of families who are all about their country club, the clothes they wear, the car they drive and parents that are super competitive. Parents are invested in their kids but it’s complicated. You will have lots of frienermies.

NOVA has many military families and government workers. Parents are involved with their kids, value education but, what you see is what you get. You will find families who support each other with no agenda. Kids go to mostly public schools and they are good. With lots of options students have opportunities to explore many different areas of interest and self actualize.

Bethesda snubs NOVA.

Ok I have to chime in as people here have this distorted idea of Bethesda and the people who live there . We live in Bethesda and our kids go to WJ where most kids are down to earth and come from similarly down to earth families who value education too. Tons of families here also work for the government, many at NIH. We're not talking Uber wealthy families here.

There is North Bethesda (WJ) and then there is Bethesda (Whitman and B-CC). PP was referring to the latter.

Nope. I live in Bethesda and we are assigned to WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't compare "NOVA" to Bethesda. Bethesda is the richest part of MoCo. Compare it to McLean. You can find down to earth parts of MoCo as well. Bethesda is extremely expensive to the people that live there are very wealthy.

Potomac is wealthier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live a block from that CVS and was also a little shocked at that stabbing (they did arrest the guy btw) but I don’t feel unsafe walking around.

Maybe there are reasons for you to live in Va but I donmt thi k fear of violent crime is a reason to stay away from Bethesda.

Of course this forum has people whose mission it is to complain about MoCo politics and policies and who are apparently on a mission to convince everyone MoCo will be a dystopian hellhole unless we adopt Singapore-style public canings so you can certainly expect to hear a different view on this thread (I’m going to assume for now this is a bona fide question and not a softball for those people to tee off on).

OP, this is hyperbole. Nobody on this forum is advocating for public canings in MoCo. Some people, like me, follow MoCo politics and therefore we are very aware of the discrepancy between what politicians want (fewer police) and what the county needs (more police). County task forces have called for a 50% reduction in police in the midst of this crime spike. The report suggests fewer police will lead to fewer police-related incidents:
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/rps/Resources/Files/reports/rps-task-force-recommendations-report.pdf

Some of us think this is short-sighted and a bad response to rising crime. Others think this is the right call. You can decide for yourself depending on your own comfort level. You can ignore the PP, however. Nobody is calling for public canings. Some of us would just prefer a more logical and reasonable response to rising crime.

(For what it’s worth, I say move to northern VA. I grew up there and now live in MD. We talk regularly about moving back.)

This is the op. Thanks for sharing the link to this report. I agree that while the authors likely have good intentions, this plan is short sighted and likely contributes to the rise in violent crime. This is why I am concerned that things will get worse not better. Here’s a few snips from the report that stood out to me:

“Lessen police presence on streets as a direct to help diminish impacts of racial bias in interactions with MCPD officers

More than 7 in 10 (72%) respondents supported reallocating funding from the police department to other services within the County.

Conduct a risk assessment of police activities to determine when it is necessary for officers to carry a gun. Conduct a risk assessment audit of policing activities to determine the need for and effectiveness of having all officers carry firearms at all times.

Re-engineer and smart design roadways to enhance safety for persons panhandling

Reduce sworn officer FTEs in police Districts 3 and 4 by 50 % to reduce patrol officer contact with residents in these districts. The more than $12,000,000 saved from these reductions should be shifted by the County Executive 50% to other agencies and departments for quality of life improvements in these districts, including Community Partnerships, Health and Human Services, Housing and Community Affairs, and Recreation; and 50% to a new Community Safety Grants Program that would award grants to residents and local organizations in districts 3 and 4 to complete projects that improve public safety, improve economic conditions and alleviate poverty, and increase community pride.

The reimagined public safety paradigm shifts from policing, prosecution, and incarceration as a default path from which potential violators of laws must qualify for diversion, towards a support-and-serve model as a default premise, with an aim to minimize aggregate harm.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live a block from that CVS and was also a little shocked at that stabbing (they did arrest the guy btw) but I don’t feel unsafe walking around.

Maybe there are reasons for you to live in Va but I donmt thi k fear of violent crime is a reason to stay away from Bethesda.

Of course this forum has people whose mission it is to complain about MoCo politics and policies and who are apparently on a mission to convince everyone MoCo will be a dystopian hellhole unless we adopt Singapore-style public canings so you can certainly expect to hear a different view on this thread (I’m going to assume for now this is a bona fide question and not a softball for those people to tee off on).

I appreciate your taking the time to reply and it is good to know that you don’t feel afraid in your day-to-day life. That’s good feedback to have. I admit that I am feeling even more hesitant about Bethesda having read the report posted about the vision for MCPD. I am not worried about the neighborhood where we would be, but rather about going to downtown B. Anyhow, I do sincerely appreciate your perspective. -OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you lived in this area you should know you are comparing apples and oranges.

The culture in Bethesda is diverse but there are lots of families who are all about their country club, the clothes they wear, the car they drive and parents that are super competitive. Parents are invested in their kids but it’s complicated. You will have lots of frienermies.

NOVA has many military families and government workers. Parents are involved with their kids, value education but, what you see is what you get. You will find families who support each other with no agenda. Kids go to mostly public schools and they are good. With lots of options students have opportunities to explore many different areas of interest and self actualize.

Bethesda snubs NOVA.

Ok I have to chime in as people here have this distorted idea of Bethesda and the people who live there . We live in Bethesda and our kids go to WJ where most kids are down to earth and come from similarly down to earth families who value education too. Tons of families here also work for the government, many at NIH. We're not talking Uber wealthy families here.

There is North Bethesda (WJ) and then there is Bethesda (Whitman and B-CC). PP was referring to the latter.

Nope. I live in Bethesda and we are assigned to WJ.

We are zoned for Whitman and plenty of people here are down to earth and wonderful. The comparison paragraphs above are ridiculous.