Do residents of the west side of Montgomery County really believe

[Anonymous]

PP, pay more attention to news reports and to your own whereabouts. Black Market Bistro is in Garrett Park, not Kensington. The issue you reference was at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. Silver Spring encompasses a huge swath of eastern Montgomery County, from downtown (even a little south and east of there) up to Burtonsville, east to the border of PG County and west to Rockville. Usually news reports will (or should) be a little more specific in their descriptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, pay more attention to news reports and to your own whereabouts. Black Market Bistro is in Garrett Park, not Kensington. The issue you reference was at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. Silver Spring encompasses a huge swath of eastern Montgomery County, from downtown (even a little south and east of there) up to Burtonsville, east to the border of PG County and west to Rockville. Usually news reports will (or should) be a little more specific in their descriptions.

Ugh, doesn't Chevy Chase butt up to Silver Spring off East West Highway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I bet my house in Gaithersburg cost more and is nicer than your house in Chevy Chase, and I bet my Quince Orchard teen is getting a better education than those teens at BCC."

We gave up more house for less money to be in the Wooten cluster over Quince Orchard. Its funny because there are so many less expensive options and I always wish we would have bought one of those houses we drive by and be closer to the Kentlands. I remind myself though that we would be in Quince Orchard HS.

So you are happy with your teachers selling cocaine to students? Great! We don't have that nonsense at QO.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Silver Spring extends to the border of Chevy Chase as well, along East-West Highway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, not the cute or charming part (which still has crime even though it's cute...) because I was broke and took what I could afford. I saw a teenager get the crap kicked out of him lying on the street right in front of our house while I was holding my toddler; I waited for the police to arrive while one woman held another woman at knife point kitty-corner across the street (in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house); I pretended nothing was happening while my DC and I walked past a policeman who drew his gun and pointed it at a group of fist-fighting teenage girls five feet away from us on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op; my next door neighbor's basement unit was robbed twice.....As a single mother, sorry, it was not what I wanted for myself or for my DC. I moved to a super cheap house in Bethesda and although sometimes cars get broken into (or so I'm told), there is just NO comparison to the level of safety here. None. I am thankful every day that as a single mother, I am living somewhere safe. Diversity or lack of diversity takes a back seat for me at this point.

I'm not here to fight the diversity battle -- I frankly don't care. However, I can't resist your Takoma story. You must've lived in a really shitty part, because you encountered more crime (in one afternoon?) than I encountered living there for 10 years! Mazel tov!

You got me, I just made it all up. We all know Takoma Park is too groovy for any of the crime I wrote. (Kidding. The crimes I witnessed took place over the course of a year, you dunce, not an afternoon.) Yes, as I said it was not the nice part of Takoma Park. I seriously doubt you have lived in takoma Park for ten years if you think there is no crime there. Maybe you should join a neighborhood listerv if you don't ever leave your house.

You got me, I just made it all up about living in Takoma for 10 years. Kidding. In fact, I'm still on two different listservs, and I still live in the same general area. Just like many other areas in DC, Takoma has some safe areas and some not-safe areas. The worst I got in 10 years is that once someone broke into a visiting relative's car overnight and stole some change. I'm know a couple of neighbors were robbed of purses/wallets while walking home at night, one in the 1970s and another in 2007, and of course the listservs report almost every crime. Like I said, you must've lived in a really shitty part to have experienced all that personally, especially in one year. Maybe you're just unlucky. And by the way, screw you -- with an obnoxious attitude like that, I'm glad you left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, ... in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house ... on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op

Where in Takoma were you living? What streets? Is the "crunchy-granola co-op" you mention is the market on Carroll Avenue at Takoma Junction? I'm trying to figure out what areas could be so bad that are in walking distance of that co-op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, not the cute or charming part (which still has crime even though it's cute...) because I was broke and took what I could afford. I saw a teenager get the crap kicked out of him lying on the street right in front of our house while I was holding my toddler; I waited for the police to arrive while one woman held another woman at knife point kitty-corner across the street (in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house); I pretended nothing was happening while my DC and I walked past a policeman who drew his gun and pointed it at a group of fist-fighting teenage girls five feet away from us on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op; my next door neighbor's basement unit was robbed twice.....As a single mother, sorry, it was not what I wanted for myself or for my DC. I moved to a super cheap house in Bethesda and although sometimes cars get broken into (or so I'm told), there is just NO comparison to the level of safety here. None. I am thankful every day that as a single mother, I am living somewhere safe. Diversity or lack of diversity takes a back seat for me at this point.

I'm not here to fight the diversity battle -- I frankly don't care. However, I can't resist your Takoma story. You must've lived in a really shitty part, because you encountered more crime (in one afternoon?) than I encountered living there for 10 years! Mazel tov!

You got me, I just made it all up. We all know Takoma Park is too groovy for any of the crime I wrote. (Kidding. The crimes I witnessed took place over the course of a year, you dunce, not an afternoon.) Yes, as I said it was not the nice part of Takoma Park. I seriously doubt you have lived in takoma Park for ten years if you think there is no crime there. Maybe you should join a neighborhood listerv if you don't ever leave your house.

You got me, I just made it all up about living in Takoma for 10 years. Kidding. In fact, I'm still on two different listservs, and I still live in the same general area. Just like many other areas in DC, Takoma has some safe areas and some not-safe areas. The worst I got in 10 years is that once someone broke into a visiting relative's car overnight and stole some change. I'm know a couple of neighbors were robbed of purses/wallets while walking home at night, one in the 1970s and another in 2007, and of course the listservs report almost every crime. Like I said, you must've lived in a really shitty part to have experienced all that personally, especially in one year. Maybe you're just unlucky. And by the way, screw you -- with an obnoxious attitude like that, I'm glad you left.

Screw you, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I bet my house in Gaithersburg cost more and is nicer than your house in Chevy Chase, and I bet my Quince Orchard teen is getting a better education than those teens at BCC."

We gave up more house for less money to be in the Wooten cluster over Quince Orchard. Its funny because there are so many less expensive options and I always wish we would have bought one of those houses we drive by and be closer to the Kentlands. I remind myself though that we would be in Quince Orchard HS.

So you are happy with your teachers selling cocaine to students? Great! We don't have that nonsense at QO.

link? This I gotta see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I bet my house in Gaithersburg cost more and is nicer than your house in Chevy Chase, and I bet my Quince Orchard teen is getting a better education than those teens at BCC."

We gave up more house for less money to be in the Wooten cluster over Quince Orchard. Its funny because there are so many less expensive options and I always wish we would have bought one of those houses we drive by and be closer to the Kentlands. I remind myself though that we would be in Quince Orchard HS.

So you are happy with your teachers selling cocaine to students? Great! We don't have that nonsense at QO.

In QO they are selling meth. Not upscale enough for coke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, ... in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house ... on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op

Where in Takoma were you living? What streets? Is the "crunchy-granola co-op" you mention is the market on Carroll Avenue at Takoma Junction? I'm trying to figure out what areas could be so bad that are in walking distance of that co-op.

Near Sligo Creek Parkway and Piney Branch. I'm sure you know many parts of that area are not safe but the rest of Takoma Park isn't free of crime, either. But don't take my word for it. Here is Crimereports.com where you can compare crime in takoma park with crime in betheda. it speaks for itself.

http://www.crimereports.com/map?search=Takoma+Park,+maryland&searchButton.x=0&searchButton.y=0&searchButton=SEARCH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I bet my house in Gaithersburg cost more and is nicer than your house in Chevy Chase, and I bet my Quince Orchard teen is getting a better education than those teens at BCC."

We gave up more house for less money to be in the Wooten cluster over Quince Orchard. Its funny because there are so many less expensive options and I always wish we would have bought one of those houses we drive by and be closer to the Kentlands. I remind myself though that we would be in Quince Orchard HS.

So you are happy with your teachers selling cocaine to students? Great! We don't have that nonsense at QO.

In QO they are selling meth. Not upscale enough for coke.

No, kids only do Meth in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I bet my house in Gaithersburg cost more and is nicer than your house in Chevy Chase, and I bet my Quince Orchard teen is getting a better education than those teens at BCC."

We gave up more house for less money to be in the Wooten cluster over Quince Orchard. Its funny because there are so many less expensive options and I always wish we would have bought one of those houses we drive by and be closer to the Kentlands. I remind myself though that we would be in Quince Orchard HS.

So you are happy with your teachers selling cocaine to students? Great! We don't have that nonsense at QO.

link? This I gotta see.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603099.html

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=706&sid=1467003

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=706&sid=1467003

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sprigg_Wootton_High_School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, ... in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house ... on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op

Where in Takoma were you living? What streets? Is the "crunchy-granola co-op" you mention is the market on Carroll Avenue at Takoma Junction? I'm trying to figure out what areas could be so bad that are in walking distance of that co-op.

Near Sligo Creek Parkway and Piney Branch. I'm sure you know many parts of that area are not safe but the rest of Takoma Park isn't free of crime, either. But don't take my word for it. Here is Crimereports.com where you can compare crime in takoma park with crime in betheda. it speaks for itself.

http://www.crimereports.com/map?search=Takoma+Park,+maryland&searchButton.x=0&searchButton.y=0&searchButton=SEARCH

Here's my problem: I have lived in Takoma Park for many years. My children are growing up in Takoma Park and going to school there. When they were babies, I bought milk for them from that market. We play in the parks every day, and we watch the Fourth of July parade every year. My friends and many of my extended family live in Takoma Park. Takoma Park is my neighborhood, and 17,000 people call it home. I'm sorry your one year in Takoma Park was not pleasant, and that you felt it necessary to retreat to "bland Bethesda" (your term, not mine). But I'd really appreciate it if you'd refrain from crapping on my home. Thanks for your consideration.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone so nasty and defensive?

As this thread illustrates, regardless of crime stats and standarized test scores, there are unpleasant people everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone else in Bethesda, but after growing up in 'bland' Bethesda, I always said the only suburb of dc I ever wanted to live in was Takoma Park. I did live in Takoma Park -- a really shitty part, ... in the front yard of some kind of half way or rehab house ... on our way to the crunchy-granola co-op

Where in Takoma were you living? What streets? Is the "crunchy-granola co-op" you mention is the market on Carroll Avenue at Takoma Junction? I'm trying to figure out what areas could be so bad that are in walking distance of that co-op.

Near Sligo Creek Parkway and Piney Branch. I'm sure you know many parts of that area are not safe but the rest of Takoma Park isn't free of crime, either. But don't take my word for it. Here is Crimereports.com where you can compare crime in takoma park with crime in betheda. it speaks for itself.

http://www.crimereports.com/map?search=Takoma+Park,+maryland&searchButton.x=0&searchButton.y=0&searchButton=SEARCH

Here's my problem: I have lived in Takoma Park for many years. My children are growing up in Takoma Park and going to school there. When they were babies, I bought milk for them from that market. We play in the parks every day, and we watch the Fourth of July parade every year. My friends and many of my extended family live in Takoma Park. Takoma Park is my neighborhood, and 17,000 people call it home. I'm sorry your one year in Takoma Park was not pleasant, and that you felt it necessary to retreat to "bland Bethesda" (your term, not mine). But I'd really appreciate it if you'd refrain from crapping on my home. Thanks for your consideration.

I wasn't "crapping on your home." Someone on another thread asked how anyone could justify living in Bethesda and I explained that while I always thought Takoma Park was the only suburb of dc I would ever be willing to live in, my time there as a single parent was very stressful because of all the crime that I experienced. Someone else posted my response here as a way of illustrating that yes, people from some parts of mo. co. look down their noses on other parts of mo. co. based on stupid stereotypes. My decision to move was not based on stupid stereotypes or on wanting to be in an all-white neighborhood. I'm glad you live in the all-american part of Takoma Park where you enjoy 4th of July parades but that was not where I lived and not my experience.