Worried about the UWS - the situation is pretty bad, I know and see people that are leaving. I’m worried about the deterioration of the neighborhood and the city in general . I’m considering leaving but don’t know where to go
why are there people on this board who are SO offended by other people's consideration of life outside of NYC? It's WEIRD people go talk to a therapist!
Native NY'er from 1970's to mid-2000's. Now in Westchester. I have seen the NYC arc from bad to absolutely fabulous. Went into the city this past weekend for the first time since Covid "started." Shocking. Welcomed by 2 billboards that were wearing their ads from the 1960's. City looked like the only people left are those who can't get out. Drove down the Westside back up the Eastside. I remember NYC in the 70's/early 80's. To me, looked like it is heading in this direction. Maybe not for the uber wealthy who can insulate and move in and out easily to prettier pastures on a dime . . . but for most NY'ers.
? Where exactly were you? I've been back on the UWS since the fall (went away for Spring and Summer). This is nothing like the 70s/80s and plenty of people are here with means. Of course it's different as so much is closed but many people are here who have many other options and enjoying it. We still have the park, the takeout/delivery and many more people than the burbs so it still feels like the city to me.
@Anonymous come ON. NYC is an amazing city. It will be an amazing city again. But it SUCKS right now. the defensiveness is so weird - it's a pandemic! of course it sucks - it's a city based on social life, entertainment, arts and culture. So when covid is over it will rise again, but pretending it's 'TOTALLY FINE AND THE SAME' now is not accurate or helpful.
I would leave for a lower COLA. My gross income savings rate is call it low 20s%. Go to Florida and tax burden alone would take my savings rate to mid-30s and lower COLA maybe takes it to 40%. That's a near doubling of my savings. It makes huge financial sense.
But my job is here and it is hard for me to lateral, so a move is not on the table. And we are drawn by the idea of the NYC private schools providing the one of the best educations in the U.S.
Eh, I'm in the UWS regularly (live in an adjacent neighborhood), and it feels fine to me.
When I think about the many things that make NYC a great place, many of them involve precisely the type of activity which is either illegal or unsafe right now. Obviously NYC is not what it was last year. It would be absurd if everything was "business as usual" during COVID. But, despite this, there is still a wonderful spirit and vibrancy here.
@Anonymous When I was away for the summer, hearing all the news reports I was distraught. But once I came back, they all seemed overblown. Things have been great for me since my return, and I have absolutely no qualms about staying. I am actively looking to purchase a larger apartment.
Back to your comment, yes, things are different. It's COVID. But I've been to Central Park, and the Zoo, and the Met. I've been to the open restaurants. The crowds might be gone, but, like I said, that NYC vibrancy is there.
Right now I am worried we will be heading to another lockdown situation. However as someone who owns 2 places (one in NYC and one north of the City) I choose NYC as my primary residence. I don't think any other place has as much to offer.
I'm worried about another lockdown as well. Watching what is going on in the UK right now is scary. LA is rationing oxygen in their hospitals! This is getting scary again.
Are we really having this conversation again? Someone has an ax to grind re the UWS. Anyone who actually lives here and doesn't get their news from the NY Post knows it's a completely safe and livable place to be.
I live in the UWS, it doesn’t feel as safe anymore. There are homeless everywhere, there have been robberies in different streets. I have a neighbor that was beaten when walking along his girlfriend for no reason. The UWS is definety not as safe as it was pre-Covid and I say this with big sorrow
@Anonymous The increase in crime is also a direct result of COVID (ie less people in the streets at night, people with more free time during the day, etc). In that way, it is temporary and not some new trend. It's also overstated by the news reports you are reading.
I’ve seen people poop on the sidewalk and my husband had someone spit on him for no apparent reason. Not the same, but didn’t expect it to be in a pandemic — though the current situation is borderline neglect from the politicos.
I'm an UWS native, I have plenty of means to go elsewhere and choose not to. Of course it is not the same as pre-pandemic, but it's also perfectly livable. The parks are great, the The Metropolitan is amazing as always, the supermarkets are open and well-stocked, restaurants all deliver. Is it perfect? No, of course not. But anyone who was here in the 1970s knows that this is nothing like the 1970s. Get a grip. If you want to leave, go ahead (especially if you live in my building and would be vacating a nice apartment...), but please stop trying to convince the rest of us that the sky is falling. It's not. Look around the world, where are you going to run to, exactly? Some hidden enclave where there is no Covid? Pro tip: it doesn't exist.
It will get better once DeBozo is out of office and Biden restores the funding NY lost under Trump (SALT). Once Covid gets under control, Broadway will open, restaurants will be back, and commuters dotting the streets again. Give it time. 2022 is almost here.
We left the UWS, my kids are pre-teen and teen and I just wasn't comfortable with them going around alone in NYC right now. Also, TT is not all that my kids are a top Westchester public and not getting the same perfect grade they did at TT. But I do miss NYC and hope to move back after the last kid graduates HS
There are many good reasons to leave NYC but the pandemic is not one. The pandemic related issues are likely less than a year away from being a distant memory. The federal gov is going to step in with help for the city and state budgets. Things will be better in a relatively short amount of time. Now if you want to leave for other quality of life issues that were present pre pandemic then by all means. But don't be short sighted. You'll be paying top dollar for that place in the suburbs just in time for it to go down as soon as people start returning.
My concern is that the city won’t bounce back so quickly especially if we get another mayor similar to the current one. I see homeless everywhere and the city doesn’t feel as safe as it used to.
@Anonymous NYC always bounces back. Betting against NY is a bad idea. (And I grew up here in the 70s/80s which looking back feel pretty terrible but I had a great childhood in NYC).
Leave. You'll be doing us all a favor.
why are there people on this board who are SO offended by other people's consideration of life outside of NYC? It's WEIRD people go talk to a therapist!
@Anonymous Not offended at all. But there's no need for an endless discussion. Just go.
Such nastiness. I wonder who you people are and bet you get into fights irl too.
Native NY'er from 1970's to mid-2000's. Now in Westchester. I have seen the NYC arc from bad to absolutely fabulous. Went into the city this past weekend for the first time since Covid "started." Shocking. Welcomed by 2 billboards that were wearing their ads from the 1960's. City looked like the only people left are those who can't get out. Drove down the Westside back up the Eastside. I remember NYC in the 70's/early 80's. To me, looked like it is heading in this direction. Maybe not for the uber wealthy who can insulate and move in and out easily to prettier pastures on a dime . . . but for most NY'ers.
? Where exactly were you? I've been back on the UWS since the fall (went away for Spring and Summer). This is nothing like the 70s/80s and plenty of people are here with means. Of course it's different as so much is closed but many people are here who have many other options and enjoying it. We still have the park, the takeout/delivery and many more people than the burbs so it still feels like the city to me.
@Anonymous Agreed. I'm not sure where OP is getting this from?
@Anonymous come ON. NYC is an amazing city. It will be an amazing city again. But it SUCKS right now. the defensiveness is so weird - it's a pandemic! of course it sucks - it's a city based on social life, entertainment, arts and culture. So when covid is over it will rise again, but pretending it's 'TOTALLY FINE AND THE SAME' now is not accurate or helpful.
I would leave for a lower COLA. My gross income savings rate is call it low 20s%. Go to Florida and tax burden alone would take my savings rate to mid-30s and lower COLA maybe takes it to 40%. That's a near doubling of my savings. It makes huge financial sense. But my job is here and it is hard for me to lateral, so a move is not on the table. And we are drawn by the idea of the NYC private schools providing the one of the best educations in the U.S.
Eh, I'm in the UWS regularly (live in an adjacent neighborhood), and it feels fine to me. When I think about the many things that make NYC a great place, many of them involve precisely the type of activity which is either illegal or unsafe right now. Obviously NYC is not what it was last year. It would be absurd if everything was "business as usual" during COVID. But, despite this, there is still a wonderful spirit and vibrancy here.
I wish I could be as optimist as you are. I used to love the UWS but now unfortunately feels like a completely different place to me...
@Anonymous When I was away for the summer, hearing all the news reports I was distraught. But once I came back, they all seemed overblown. Things have been great for me since my return, and I have absolutely no qualms about staying. I am actively looking to purchase a larger apartment. Back to your comment, yes, things are different. It's COVID. But I've been to Central Park, and the Zoo, and the Met. I've been to the open restaurants. The crowds might be gone, but, like I said, that NYC vibrancy is there.
Right now I am worried we will be heading to another lockdown situation. However as someone who owns 2 places (one in NYC and one north of the City) I choose NYC as my primary residence. I don't think any other place has as much to offer.
I'm worried about lockdown too. First time I'm truly worried.
I'm worried about another lockdown as well. Watching what is going on in the UK right now is scary. LA is rationing oxygen in their hospitals! This is getting scary again.
I'm not scared of a lockdown. Seems like it's better than doing nothing while the numbers keep rising. Plus, I've got a huge stock of TP.
Are we really having this conversation again? Someone has an ax to grind re the UWS. Anyone who actually lives here and doesn't get their news from the NY Post knows it's a completely safe and livable place to be.
I live in the UWS, it doesn’t feel as safe anymore. There are homeless everywhere, there have been robberies in different streets. I have a neighbor that was beaten when walking along his girlfriend for no reason. The UWS is definety not as safe as it was pre-Covid and I say this with big sorrow
@Anonymous The increase in crime is also a direct result of COVID (ie less people in the streets at night, people with more free time during the day, etc). In that way, it is temporary and not some new trend. It's also overstated by the news reports you are reading.
@Anonymous Nowhere in the world is the same.
I’ve seen people poop on the sidewalk and my husband had someone spit on him for no apparent reason. Not the same, but didn’t expect it to be in a pandemic — though the current situation is borderline neglect from the politicos.
I'm an UWS native, I have plenty of means to go elsewhere and choose not to. Of course it is not the same as pre-pandemic, but it's also perfectly livable. The parks are great, the The Metropolitan is amazing as always, the supermarkets are open and well-stocked, restaurants all deliver. Is it perfect? No, of course not. But anyone who was here in the 1970s knows that this is nothing like the 1970s. Get a grip. If you want to leave, go ahead (especially if you live in my building and would be vacating a nice apartment...), but please stop trying to convince the rest of us that the sky is falling. It's not. Look around the world, where are you going to run to, exactly? Some hidden enclave where there is no Covid? Pro tip: it doesn't exist.
"(especially if you live in my building and would be vacating a nice apartment...)" YES! LOL
I mean, you saw someone spit or shit on the UWS and...domestic terrorists are menacing the nation, trying to overthrow the government.
It will get better once DeBozo is out of office and Biden restores the funding NY lost under Trump (SALT). Once Covid gets under control, Broadway will open, restaurants will be back, and commuters dotting the streets again. Give it time. 2022 is almost here.
I hope you are right. Its sad and infuriating to see the neighborhood and the city in the current state
We left the UWS, my kids are pre-teen and teen and I just wasn't comfortable with them going around alone in NYC right now. Also, TT is not all that my kids are a top Westchester public and not getting the same perfect grade they did at TT. But I do miss NYC and hope to move back after the last kid graduates HS
There are many good reasons to leave NYC but the pandemic is not one. The pandemic related issues are likely less than a year away from being a distant memory. The federal gov is going to step in with help for the city and state budgets. Things will be better in a relatively short amount of time. Now if you want to leave for other quality of life issues that were present pre pandemic then by all means. But don't be short sighted. You'll be paying top dollar for that place in the suburbs just in time for it to go down as soon as people start returning.
My concern is that the city won’t bounce back so quickly especially if we get another mayor similar to the current one. I see homeless everywhere and the city doesn’t feel as safe as it used to.
@Anonymous NYC always bounces back. Betting against NY is a bad idea. (And I grew up here in the 70s/80s which looking back feel pretty terrible but I had a great childhood in NYC).