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When's the last time you criticized anything related to upstate NY? It's fair for people to view you as a biased booster, even though you do include plenty of information in your posts. I definitely don't think it's fair to blame you for this forum's malaise, however. As for this OP, I haven't been to Ithaca since my brother graduated from Cornell 5 years ago, so I have no recent firsthand experience to offer either way. I kinda enjoyed the original rant, but the OP got less likeable with each passing post, especially as he kept repeating his erroneous assumption that you lived hundreds of miles from Ithaca
To be honest, I’ve posted posts about job loss/some economic issues, concentrated poverty in the cities, issues in schools, political topics, racism that has occurred and other topics that can be viewed as unfavorable. I just don’t harp on said things like other posters do. Why should I to be like every other poster, when there are other things going on that are just as “real”? If I just followed everyone’s else lead, a lot of posts would literally be political and about the NYC housing lottery. That’s it versus sharing information I come across that may also be of interest for people in here.
Anyway, to bring it back to Ithaca, I find the “evangelize” comment interesting given that Ithaca is one of those places that became “discovered” due to articles and other outlets. So, it is a place that would grow even if the little coverage the forum gives it didn’t exist.
Not saying you have to be like everyone else...as you say, a bunch of the regs on here complain about state-level politics, and I'm not particularly interested in reading any more such takes. The Right is overrepresented on this forum. But, upstate in general has significant issues, with lots of domestic out-migration spanning decades, and I think your posts collectively gloss over some of that reality. But I'd personally rather see your stuff as opposed to yet another anti-Hochul diatribe or yet another post piling on the asylum-seekers.
Not saying you have to be like everyone else...as you say, a bunch of the regs on here complain about state-level politics, and I'm not particularly interested in reading any more such takes. The Right is overrepresented on this forum. But, upstate in general has significant issues, with lots of domestic out-migration spanning decades, and I think your posts collectively gloss over some of that reality. But I'd personally rather see your stuff as opposed to yet another anti-Hochul diatribe or yet another post piling on the asylum-seekers.
I’ve touched on that too and how it is complicated, as some parts have seen consistent growth, no matter how small it has been, for decades as well. My thing is about how many of the population losses come from estimates, which have been known to be off in some cases in recent decades. Ironically, I just posted information about the Ithaca and Albany areas in another thread which illustrate that exact point. Rochester as a metro area has never had population loss in an official census. Some municipalities, counties or areas have had growth recently or at least held steady. So, I’ve addressed that as well, but with more nuance than media outlets may present due to realizing that many don’t address the estimate factor.
Frankly, neither argument here has me impressed. OP seems to be dredging up anything they can to dump on the Ithaca area, while the tiniest review of CKH's posts shows that they're a very biased local evangelist, which means that (no offense to CKH) you HAVE to take their comments with a grain of salt.
Both are just mud-slinging at this point, which sort of negates either of their arguments.
FWIW I live near Ithaca and it's fine for a small city. It's an exceptionally pretty area, but it's not a bustling metro. It's pleasant enough. I've had family members live in Ithaca for years, and nobody has ever been the victim of a serious crime. I've lived in cities with a very similar crime index to these areas, which have been labeled as safe areas, and HAVE been a victim of crime. Your personal experience will vary based on neighborhood and luck.
I just find it really rich that someone that lives nowhere near Ithaca goes on the defensive on every single post? Like why does he have so much skin in the game with no firsthand experience. I saw hundreds of miles because I honestly don't know. The guy is active in every single upstate New York thread, you'd think Upstate New York was practically heaven.
My goal here is to shed light boots on the ground as someone who lives in the 10x10 which based on all the other comments here, I am the only one.
I just find it really rich that someone that lives nowhere near Ithaca goes on the defensive on every single post? Like why does he have so much skin in the game with no firsthand experience. I saw hundreds of miles because I honestly don't know. The guy is active in every single upstate New York thread, you'd think Upstate New York was practically heaven.
My goal here is to shed light boots on the ground as someone who lives in the 10x10 which based on all the other comments here, I am the only one.
Dude, just stop. I think people already understand that this is a joke now, considering that I'm roughly an hour away. So, to keep saying something false doesn't change the reality.
I didn’t refer to Belle Sherman for affordability, but as a desirable area of the city. My mistake if that is what you got from that and there are other parts of the city worth looking into.
Also, affordable housing is another issue that has been discussed on here in regards to the city/area. So, hopefully, that demand will be addressed, which I believe is starting to be.
There is a reason why there are buses that serve outer parts of Tompkins County/adjacent counties have commuter buses into the city/Cornell campus, as housing is more affordable.
As for my area, you can get a lakefront mansion for that price.
My experience with Ithaca goes back 50 years. I don't remember my youth without it. I grew up nearby, so there were weekly visits for errands, plus plenty of friends in Ithaca. I went to college there, and lived there in the summers and for a time shortly after I got my Master's degree (I got two degrees there). For the next ten years I visited frequently when I returned home from my family/life/career a thousand miles away.
And then I stopped. Ithaca just became charmless for me. It was a combination of the types of people I would run into, the places I liked going out of business, and the general look and feel of the place. As an example, the Commons used to be a pretty nice place. I spent many a night there. It was a combination of students and adults enjoying the shops and restaurants there, even late into the night, when the bars and restaurants commanded most of the business. It was fun to go to Logos, and go upstairs and enjoy the vast trove of sheet music at Hickey's, and maybe hit the Ground Round for some good bar food.
About 10 years ago I stayed at a hotel downtown and went to the Commons around 10pm to smoke a cigar I had bought earlier. I sat there for two hours and it was just absolutely dead, except for the seemy-looking weirdos and pan handlers loitering near me. Just an example. I don't know what happened but it certainly seems to me that Ithaca's best days are behind it. i don't go there anymore.
My experience with Ithaca goes back 50 years. I don't remember my youth without it. I grew up nearby, so there were weekly visits for errands, plus plenty of friends in Ithaca. I went to college there, and lived there in the summers and for a time shortly after I got my Master's degree (I got two degrees there). For the next ten years I visited frequently when I returned home from my family/life/career a thousand miles away.
And then I stopped. Ithaca just became charmless for me. It was a combination of the types of people I would run into, the places I liked going out of business, and the general look and feel of the place. As an example, the Commons used to be a pretty nice place. I spent many a night there. It was a combination of students and adults enjoying the shops and restaurants there, even late into the night, when the bars and restaurants commanded most of the business. It was fun to go to Logos, and go upstairs and enjoy the vast trove of sheet music at Hickey's, and maybe hit the Ground Round for some good bar food.
About 10 years ago I stayed at a hotel downtown and went to the Commons around 10pm to smoke a cigar I had bought earlier. I sat there for two hours and it was just absolutely dead, except for the seemy-looking weirdos and pan handlers loitering near me. Just an example. I don't know what happened but it certainly seems to me that Ithaca's best days are behind it. i don't go there anymore.
If anything, the city/area has steadily grown and got on the radar of publications, etc. In turn, it has attracted a range of people.
The Bronx does vary, but I wouldn't be surprised that Ithaca's crime rate is lower.
Again, it is a city and has never been crime free.
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