Best places to live for an unabashed progressive/leftist?

[Anonymous]

20910

[Anonymous]

Historic Anacostia. Almost entirely Democratic; easy to get around by bus, bike, or metro; and there's Turning Natural and other vegan-friendly places nearby. Cheaper housing than most of DC.

[Anonymous]

Actually unlike what one PP said Falls Church City is much like you describe although housing is very expensive there because most people move there for the schools and that will jack up housing prices a lot. If you have no need for the schools it might be a waste of a lot of money just for the political vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually unlike what one PP said Falls Church City is much like you describe although housing is very expensive there because most people move there for the schools and that will jack up housing prices a lot. If you have no need for the schools it might be a waste of a lot of money just for the political vibe.

I mean, "for the schools" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, though. The schools are "better" in part because they are economically segregated. For OP, who seems like someone who genuinely wants to live their values, I'm not sure a highly segregated community that people choose in order to ensure their kids get "the best" education is going to be a good cultural fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a co-housing community in Takoma Park that might fit you well: https://takomavillage.org/

Just so you know your political context/where your vote counts (or doesn't), Takoma Village is in Takoma DC, not Maryland.

Takoma Park itself is expensive, as is much of Takoma DC with the historic bungalows. Very nearby neighborhoods like Lamond and Manor Park are also potential options.

I loved this story about single moms buying a house together! https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/03/17/single-moms-share-house-maryland/

[Anonymous]

Southern US border. Maybe even the Mexico side.

[Anonymous]

This doesn't fit my political views, but there is a lot of progressivism in these cities I enjoy: Denver, Boulder, Ann Arbor (MI), Chapel Hill (NC), San Francisco, Traverse City (MI)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This doesn't fit my political views, but there is a lot of progressivism in these cities I enjoy: Denver, Boulder, Ann Arbor (MI), Chapel Hill (NC), San Francisco, Traverse City (MI)

oh sorry thought you meant broader, didn't notice which forum it was in.
I would say probably not on the VA side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hyattsville or Mt. Rainier.

Takoma Park is liberal but mostly nuclear families.

Just Mt. Rainier. Takoma Park is more traditional democrat, definitely less accepting of alternative lifestyles.

Takoma Park is where the most MoCo County politicians live. Silver Spring would be another place to look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Until your last line I was going to suggest a community with a relatively high BIPOC population. Generally speaking (and yes these are generalities!!) BIPOC have never stood to benefit much from compromising with moderates, or centrism, and they actually understand how to make progress thanks to their experience in activism and organizing.

But when you say you want the most vegan-friendly neighborhood or city, I dunno, I think that would be a pretty white place and white people have a sad reputation of advocating for progressive things until it doesn't serve their interests so often it's a lot of fake progressivism.

Is this why Ward 8 was the only Ward to vote against gay marriage? Socially BIPOC are more conservative than white people on average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until your last line I was going to suggest a community with a relatively high BIPOC population. Generally speaking (and yes these are generalities!!) BIPOC have never stood to benefit much from compromising with moderates, or centrism, and they actually understand how to make progress thanks to their experience in activism and organizing.

But when you say you want the most vegan-friendly neighborhood or city, I dunno, I think that would be a pretty white place and white people have a sad reputation of advocating for progressive things until it doesn't serve their interests so often it's a lot of fake progressivism.

Are you sure? In all the places I lived with a high % of Blacks, especially working class/LMC Blacks, their vote skewed heavily toward moderate Democratic candidates, the people who've been around for a long time and know how to make deals. The community leaders in those areas are usually the older homeowners, small business owners and church leaders, and they define the voting patterns. You wouldn't see them on twitter, but they are a force.

+1. It is the moderate, issue-focused democrats in those neighborhoods.

+2 As a moderate I have found much more common cause about blacks and Latinos because they aren’t trying to virtue signal all the time. The extreme LGBTQ stances, demands to defund the police, and other “woke” pronouncements usually come from UMC white people, not people of color. The most annoying progressives I’ve met were privileged white people. Middle and working class whites, blacks, and Latinos are more practical and care more about real world material left leaning politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until your last line I was going to suggest a community with a relatively high BIPOC population. Generally speaking (and yes these are generalities!!) BIPOC have never stood to benefit much from compromising with moderates, or centrism, and they actually understand how to make progress thanks to their experience in activism and organizing.

But when you say you want the most vegan-friendly neighborhood or city, I dunno, I think that would be a pretty white place and white people have a sad reputation of advocating for progressive things until it doesn't serve their interests so often it's a lot of fake progressivism.

Is this why Ward 8 was the only Ward to vote against gay marriage? Socially BIPOC are more conservative than white people on average.

Shh! You're ruining the narrative.

[Anonymous]

PG county, southeast DC or northeast DC. There you can see first hand the effect of your political policy beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hyattsville or Mt. Rainier.

Takoma Park is liberal but mostly nuclear families.

Hyattsville is a classic "liberal" "progressive" place - they love to pretend they're so great and precious and progressive but the high income liberal crowd is annoying and tone deaf af.

[Anonymous]

Definitely Falls Church, VA for everything except your last line but I’m not sure you will find that. There are a few co housing communities but I actually think Falls Church is a better fit for you. I am pretty middle of the road and I can’t wait to move because it has become so overwhelming progressive. I feel like I’m in a different world and I want out. You will like it since it sounds like exactly what you are looking for.