Anonymous wrote:Posturing aside, Bowie only currently appeals in mass to middle class black people. There are simply not enough of them to drive up prices when balanced to the supply at hand in the area. Bowie is a fine area and if the demand side increased or the supply side were to shrink then prices would reflect that. The problem for Bowie's demand is symptomatic of some of our country's deepest ongoing issues and not likely to change anytime soon.

The residents arguing logistics and quality of life stats as if they induce color blindness are naïve and often a little envious of the neighboring county's price gains that they feel are due locally. The posters who insinuate that any black majority area is the same to the south side of Chicago are guilty of racial stereotyping at best and more than a little afraid that they will lose the premium they paid to avoid black people on their home if they resale post racial divide if that were to happen.

There is also a little bit of by keeping PG cheap it becomes a vacuum for the people who can't afford better which typically is minorities and immigrants statistically. If PG got expensive then the people they want avoid might come to them. People jump at the opportunity to keep the status quo for PG's perception problem in that regard.

We can chat on why those situations are as they are but that is basically the truth of the matter.

Can you be any more condescending or racist? Not likely.

I happen to know dozens of middle class white families that live and love living in Bowie. We work for a nearby federal agency. Even though I live in Laurel, I participate in several social activities in the Bowie area and know a lot of families that love it there. None of us have any interest in paying triple a reasonable amount of money to live in a tiny little 60 year old house that needs renovations just so that we can avoid living near black families. PG County is far more color blind than Montgomery County will ever be and it's refreshing to actually be around people who actually really treat each other color blindly unlike so many MoCo residents.

There are thousands of white families that CHOOSE to live in PG County rather than only live there because that's what they could afford. I work with them, shop with them, play with them, and socialize with them. We talk about how much we love our communities and the good aspects of our communities.

And no, most of us are not "envious" of anything in MoCo, not even the price gains. I would not deal with the traffic, the higher COL, the attitudes (the number of people who shop at Whole Paycheck and look down their noses at those who don't) and who protect white privilege. Gag. You couldn't pay me to move to MoCo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posturing aside, Bowie only currently appeals in mass to middle class black people. There are simply not enough of them to drive up prices when balanced to the supply at hand in the area. Bowie is a fine area and if the demand side increased or the supply side were to shrink then prices would reflect that. The problem for Bowie's demand is symptomatic of some of our country's deepest ongoing issues and not likely to change anytime soon.

The residents arguing logistics and quality of life stats as if they induce color blindness are naïve and often a little envious of the neighboring county's price gains that they feel are due locally. The posters who insinuate that any black majority area is the same to the south side of Chicago are guilty of racial stereotyping at best and more than a little afraid that they will lose the premium they paid to avoid black people on their home if they resale post racial divide if that were to happen.

There is also a little bit of by keeping PG cheap it becomes a vacuum for the people who can't afford better which typically is minorities and immigrants statistically. If PG got expensive then the people they want avoid might come to them. People jump at the opportunity to keep the status quo for PG's perception problem in that regard.

We can chat on why those situations are as they are but that is basically the truth of the matter.

Eye roll

I thought that was brutally fair

Anonymous wrote:Posturing aside, Bowie only currently appeals in mass to middle class black people. There are simply not enough of them to drive up prices when balanced to the supply at hand in the area. Bowie is a fine area and if the demand side increased or the supply side were to shrink then prices would reflect that. The problem for Bowie's demand is symptomatic of some of our country's deepest ongoing issues and not likely to change anytime soon.

The residents arguing logistics and quality of life stats as if they induce color blindness are naïve and often a little envious of the neighboring county's price gains that they feel are due locally. The posters who insinuate that any black majority area is the same to the south side of Chicago are guilty of racial stereotyping at best and more than a little afraid that they will lose the premium they paid to avoid black people on their home if they resale post racial divide if that were to happen.

There is also a little bit of by keeping PG cheap it becomes a vacuum for the people who can't afford better which typically is minorities and immigrants statistically. If PG got expensive then the people they want avoid might come to them. People jump at the opportunity to keep the status quo for PG's perception problem in that regard.

We can chat on why those situations are as they are but that is basically the truth of the matter.

Eye roll

Posturing aside, Bowie only currently appeals in mass to middle class black people. There are simply not enough of them to drive up prices when balanced to the supply at hand in the area. Bowie is a fine area and if the demand side increased or the supply side were to shrink then prices would reflect that. The problem for Bowie's demand is symptomatic of some of our country's deepest ongoing issues and not likely to change anytime soon.

The residents arguing logistics and quality of life stats as if they induce color blindness are naïve and often a little envious of the neighboring county's price gains that they feel are due locally. The posters who insinuate that any black majority area is the same to the south side of Chicago are guilty of racial stereotyping at best and more than a little afraid that they will lose the premium they paid to avoid black people on their home if they resale post racial divide if that were to happen.

There is also a little bit of by keeping PG cheap it becomes a vacuum for the people who can't afford better which typically is minorities and immigrants statistically. If PG got expensive then the people they want avoid might come to them. People jump at the opportunity to keep the status quo for PG's perception problem in that regard.

We can chat on why those situations are as they are but that is basically the truth of the matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a forum where people discuss whether "CCMD" or "CCDC" is better, which tony zip code of Bethesda has better schools, or what is the BEST school "pyramid" you can buy into for $2million, as though there are any noticeable differences in any neighborhood with a median home price of $2 million. If people think there are serious distinctions between the various million dollar + neighborhoods of Bethesda, you can't expect them to have reasonable or well-informed opinions of where real, normal people live. It's not even worth bringing up PGC here and why the schools have their own forum.

Is this an excuse, or an explanation? Why would someone who looks at $2 million neighborhoods feel the need to trash a middle class area because it is black? I don't think those are the people who trash Bowie and communities like it. I think the people who trash Bowie are the people living in really shitty houses in Bethesda and Arlington and drowning in ridiculous mortgages who need to feel like the "compromises" they made were worth something.

Guess what, jokers, everything you are compromising to avoid black people is going to be worth nothing in the long run. A 2-fed family's mortgage is only going to go so high, and meanwhile developers and middle class families are taking PG county more seriously.

Well, I agree.

I don't know why people feel the need to trash other communities. Maybe they have profound psychological issues. Maybe they have no friends. Maybe their parents didn't love them enough. Maybe they live paycheck to paycheck and will never retire so they can afford Bethesda or McLean because they wanted a school rated a 10 instead of a 9. I am always taken aback by the vile things said on this forum. (And yet I keep coming back because it's like rubbernecking an accident .)

But if there are people who legitimately rank the different zip codes of Bethesda, I can only imagine what they think of my county!

But whatever. My kids are in a good Montessori public, I have a cheap ass mortgage, 20 minute commute and will retire around 60, and will have that third "status" kid all before I turn 35. (Assuming life goes according to plan.) And all on a fed salary in a job I love! Living in PG has allowed us the kind of life we wanted without making any sacrifices. I kind of feel like I won at life. But others can enjoy their McMansions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a forum where people discuss whether "CCMD" or "CCDC" is better, which tony zip code of Bethesda has better schools, or what is the BEST school "pyramid" you can buy into for $2million, as though there are any noticeable differences in any neighborhood with a median home price of $2 million. If people think there are serious distinctions between the various million dollar + neighborhoods of Bethesda, you can't expect them to have reasonable or well-informed opinions of where real, normal people live. It's not even worth bringing up PGC here and why the schools have their own forum.

Is this an excuse, or an explanation? Why would someone who looks at $2 million neighborhoods feel the need to trash a middle class area because it is black? I don't think those are the people who trash Bowie and communities like it. I think the people who trash Bowie are the people living in really shitty houses in Bethesda and Arlington and drowning in ridiculous mortgages who need to feel like the "compromises" they made were worth something.

Guess what, jokers, everything you are compromising to avoid black people is going to be worth nothing in the long run. A 2-fed family's mortgage is only going to go so high, and meanwhile developers and middle class families are taking PG county more seriously.

To be fair, this is easily the vast majority of recent purchasers in those cities. Even those who can "afford" a $1.5m mortgage in Bethesda will feel inadequate to the guy down the street building the $3m house. And, even with a $500K downpayment, a $1m mortgage is no joke and easily strains the finances of a $250-300K HHI. You're a slave to that house and you can't get off the hamster wheel.

Anonymous wrote:This is a forum where people discuss whether "CCMD" or "CCDC" is better, which tony zip code of Bethesda has better schools, or what is the BEST school "pyramid" you can buy into for $2million, as though there are any noticeable differences in any neighborhood with a median home price of $2 million. If people think there are serious distinctions between the various million dollar + neighborhoods of Bethesda, you can't expect them to have reasonable or well-informed opinions of where real, normal people live. It's not even worth bringing up PGC here and why the schools have their own forum.

Is this an excuse, or an explanation? Why would someone who looks at $2 million neighborhoods feel the need to trash a middle class area because it is black? I don't think those are the people who trash Bowie and communities like it. I think the people who trash Bowie are the people living in really shitty houses in Bethesda and Arlington and drowning in ridiculous mortgages who need to feel like the "compromises" they made were worth something.

Guess what, jokers, everything you are compromising to avoid black people is going to be worth nothing in the long run. A 2-fed family's mortgage is only going to go so high, and meanwhile developers and middle class families are taking PG county more seriously.

Anonymous wrote:This is a forum where people discuss whether "CCMD" or "CCDC" is better, which tony zip code of Bethesda has better schools, or what is the BEST school "pyramid" you can buy into for $2million, as though there are any noticeable differences in any neighborhood with a median home price of $2 million. If people think there are serious distinctions between the various million dollar + neighborhoods of Bethesda, you can't expect them to have reasonable or well-informed opinions of where real, normal people live. It's not even worth bringing up PGC here and why the schools have their own forum.

Can't decide.
Does the PP sound snooty or snotty?

This is a forum where people discuss whether "CCMD" or "CCDC" is better, which tony zip code of Bethesda has better schools, or what is the BEST school "pyramid" you can buy into for $2million, as though there are any noticeable differences in any neighborhood with a median home price of $2 million. If people think there are serious distinctions between the various million dollar + neighborhoods of Bethesda, you can't expect them to have reasonable or well-informed opinions of where real, normal people live. It's not even worth bringing up PGC here and why the schools have their own forum.

^ Very well said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bowie and commute to D.C. I have neighbors who do the same. Some take the MARC; others drive.

It's actually a shorter commute than it would be from Silver Spring or Bethesda.

A lot depends on where in D.C. you are commuting to, whether you can avoid the beltway and some of the major chokepoints.

But whatever. I wish this thread would get closed. I'm tired of reading what people who don't live in Bowie have to say about a commute they never make or a neighborhood they're completely unfamiliar with.

When people are accused of racism for not moving to a particular area, that is sort of hard to avoid.

No one is accusing people of being racist for not moving to a particular area. They are accusing people of being racist (and rightfully so) for saying that Bowie is a bad choice because of the demographics and that it won't be a good choice until more white people live there. That is racist. Like it or not, if part of your argument for not moving to Bowie and discouraging others from moving there is because of the racial demographics, then you are being racist.

I don't care if people don't want to live here. And yes, for some people, Bowie does not work commute-wise. If you work in Northern VA or if you work in certain sections of D.C., the commute probably won't work. However, if you work in other sections of D.C., the commute from Bowie is better than the commute from MOCO or VA. It all depends on where you are going in D.C. So all of this "it takes 90 minutes to get to D.C." or "it takes 30 minutes to get to D.C." is all irrelevant if you don't specify *where* in D.C. you are trying to get to.

And aside from all of that, if you didn't move to Bowie, haven't lived here, did a test run *1 day*, then don't act like you are some sort of expert who *knows* Bowie.

There are also public transit options in Bowie that are very good, depending on where you are headed. But I'm tired of arguing with people who have flat out decided anywhere in PG is a bad move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bowie and commute to D.C. I have neighbors who do the same. Some take the MARC; others drive.

It's actually a shorter commute than it would be from Silver Spring or Bethesda.

A lot depends on where in D.C. you are commuting to, whether you can avoid the beltway and some of the major chokepoints.

But whatever. I wish this thread would get closed. I'm tired of reading what people who don't live in Bowie have to say about a commute they never make or a neighborhood they're completely unfamiliar with.

When people are accused of racism for not moving to a particular area, that is sort of hard to avoid.

No. It's when people who didn't move here spend time talking about how awful it is. That is racist (not sure if that's you, but you know if it applies).

+10000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bowie and commute to D.C. I have neighbors who do the same. Some take the MARC; others drive.

It's actually a shorter commute than it would be from Silver Spring or Bethesda.

A lot depends on where in D.C. you are commuting to, whether you can avoid the beltway and some of the major chokepoints.

But whatever. I wish this thread would get closed. I'm tired of reading what people who don't live in Bowie have to say about a commute they never make or a neighborhood they're completely unfamiliar with.

We considered moving to Bowie and I did a test run from my office to the 197 exit in afternoon rush. It was more than an hour.

You missed the point and highlighted only half of the relevant section.

If you work on the East side of town, like near Gallaudet, US Arboretum to Union station, Capitol Hill, south to the Navy Yards, then commuting in from Bowie where you have a straight shot in on US-50 is likely to be a better commute than trying to come down Connecticutt or 16th Street from Silver Spring or Bethesda and then cutting across East to work.

If you work anywhere west or north of the east/southeast part of town, then Silver Spring and Bethesda are probably closer, but there are a lot of people who work in the east and southeast parts of town.

I'll add that if you work off hours, that also matters. I grew up in Bowie. My old man worked nights downtown (not far from the White House) and his commute was fine because there was no traffic. Had he worked a 9-5 - yikes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bowie and commute to D.C. I have neighbors who do the same. Some take the MARC; others drive.

It's actually a shorter commute than it would be from Silver Spring or Bethesda.

A lot depends on where in D.C. you are commuting to, whether you can avoid the beltway and some of the major chokepoints.

But whatever. I wish this thread would get closed. I'm tired of reading what people who don't live in Bowie have to say about a commute they never make or a neighborhood they're completely unfamiliar with.

We considered moving to Bowie and I did a test run from my office to the 197 exit in afternoon rush. It was more than an hour.

You missed the point and highlighted only half of the relevant section.

If you work on the East side of town, like near Gallaudet, US Arboretum to Union station, Capitol Hill, south to the Navy Yards, then commuting in from Bowie where you have a straight shot in on US-50 is likely to be a better commute than trying to come down Connecticutt or 16th Street from Silver Spring or Bethesda and then cutting across East to work.

If you work anywhere west or north of the east/southeast part of town, then Silver Spring and Bethesda are probably closer, but there are a lot of people who work in the east and southeast parts of town.

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bowie and commute to D.C. I have neighbors who do the same. Some take the MARC; others drive.

It's actually a shorter commute than it would be from Silver Spring or Bethesda.

A lot depends on where in D.C. you are commuting to, whether you can avoid the beltway and some of the major chokepoints.

But whatever. I wish this thread would get closed. I'm tired of reading what people who don't live in Bowie have to say about a commute they never make or a neighborhood they're completely unfamiliar with.

We considered moving to Bowie and I did a test run from my office to the 197 exit in afternoon rush. It was more than an hour.