Puttin' the "Sh^tty" back in "City" - Welcome to B
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5/29/2007
Ever seen "The Wire"? Body-more, Murderland...that's the REAL Baltimore.
I've lived here for 16 years, grew up in PA and moved here out of college. The main reason I've been STUCK here so long is that the home I bought had me trapped....as my neighborhood went from quite to drug strip in a matter of about two years. When I first moved in, lots of older/retired folks who planned on staying plus many mult-generational homes earmarked the community. A few short years later, several houses on the street were sold and rented out to Section 8 (assisted housing) renters. That was the beginning of the end.
Look forward another two years, and it became an open-air heroine market on the corner near my house. I could not enter or leave my own home without worrying about harassment, robbery (two in ten years), carjacking (once, which was enough) along with vandalism, threats, and police who are so currupt and self-serving that calling them is a waste of effort.
Aside from my own horrid experiences here (and believe me, I'm no risk-taker), ask anyone and they'll tell you that this place is filled with:
- drug addiction that is off the charts,
- violent crime, most notably murder, that is tops in the nation,
- very little social programming for above two problems...if any,
- trash, litter, more trash. The RAT infestation is so bad here you can not walk outside at night. Forget cook-outs or pools in the yard. Only in the WAAAY overpriced suburbs.
- racial tension that increases ever year, "them and us" not "we" rules the day.
- poor education, even worse police corruption, crappy roads, little or no natural public park lands (other than the multi-million dollar "Gwynn Falls Trail" which was smartly built right through the middle of Leakin Park...dead body dumping ground for every thug in the city.
Bottom line, look elsewhere. Unless you WANT to be a criminal, then this place is the shiz-nit man!
Allie | Catonsville, MD