Come on downtown; the water's fine

 

Byron McCauley

 

True story.

 

One of the students in a class I teach at the University of Cincinnati recently startled me when he said his mom, who lives in one of Cincinnati's outer-ring suburbs, won't step foot into Cincinnati for fear of being mugged, shot or killed. I wish she and others like her could have been with me the other morning at the mid-19th century classic row house of Cincinnati interior designer Patrick M. Korb, along with a group of about 30 others. Korb's home/office on West Ninth Street is a stone's throw from Music Hall, City Hall, the main public library and Over-the-Rhine.

 

For more information, please click the link.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/EDIT01/612270309/1090

a police officer buying a bus ticket for a Toledoan stranded in Cincinnati

 

You hear that C-Dawg?!?!?!?

 

Great article....hopefully the trend of beating down on the inner-city is about ready to take a 180 and go the other direction...we sure as heck could use a break from it!

Wherever I live, or wherever I visit, I like to be concious of my surroundings. If I'm in a different city, I like to explore different neighborhoods to get a feel for the whole area. Even when I was 15 I could probably accurately label atleast 35 different neighborhoods in Cincinnati. But its scary to find out that people who have lived in Cincinnati (especially the suburbs) their whole life are extremely sheltered and know where nothing is because they don't leave their own neighborhood. And then of course, they've heard of places like OTR but would never drive through it because of what they hear. I think it has to do with the fact that if someone gets robbed or assaulted, they're likely to tell 10 people. If they had a nice experience in a neighborhood..they're likely to tell 1 person. Everyone loves a good horror story.

But its scary to find out that people who have lived in Cincinnati (especially the suburbs) their whole life are extremely sheltered and know where nothing is because they don't leave their own neighborhood.

 

David, you make some excellent points in your post.  This quote in particular really stands out to me because I grew up on the west side of town.  I do know people who venture out, but I've met many who will not.  I know this is true of other neighborhoods as well, and it's unfortunate.  People really miss out on a lot by refusing to go in other neighborhoods.

Well, I'm from even further out than the burbs, but I still come down every other weekend with my friends from the inner-burbs and we hang out at skyline or stop by fountain square after we help out at the ARC.

 

It was just an unfortunate situation that I was born where I was... miles away from the city, because, I've never been intimidated by the city, or really afraid to go downtown, or to talk to people walking down the sidewalks, too many misconceptions by others :-(... An open mind is the key to discovery (copyright ME December 27, 2006)

 

In the past year or two, I've been trying to soak up as much of cincinnati as I can whenever I am down there. When driving, I look at EVERYTHING... I want to know the place like someone who lives there knows it. I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself for my future... because I KNOW I want to live in Cincinnati... and I've been all over the US... I really think that Cincinnati is one of a kind, I dont know what could change my mind about that... it'd have to be something pretty huge

This quote in particular really stands out to me because I grew up on the west side of town.  I do know people who venture out, but I've met many who will not.  I know this is true of other neighborhoods as well, and it's unfortunate.  People really miss out on a lot by refusing to go in other neighborhoods.

 

I too grew up on the westside of Cincy....and I haven't left my house once except for terrorism drills :shoot:

This quote in particular really stands out to me because I grew up on the west side of town.  I do know people who venture out, but I've met many who will not.  I know this is true of other neighborhoods as well, and it's unfortunate.  People really miss out on a lot by refusing to go in other neighborhoods.

 

I too grew up on the westside of Cincy....and I haven't left my house once except for terrorism drills :shoot:

 

I didn't mean this as a slam to westsiders, so I hope it didn't come across as one.  :) 

^The exact same thing can be said about eastsiders too.  A lot of my friends from Hyde Park seem to think the world stops at Lunken to the East, Kenwood to the north, the river to the south (except for the airport), and downtown to the west.  It's kind of pathetic...

I didn't mean this as a slam to westsiders, so I hope it didn't come across as one.  :) 

 

I did not take it as a slam at all...I just took your reasonable observation to the next obnoxious step.  I'll poke fun at my westside heritage as much as anyone...I don't consider myself to be the 'typical westsider' so to speak.  I just find the whole characterization to be VERY funny and for the most part true....lol  :laugh:

And then of course, they've heard of places like OTR but would never drive through it because of what they hear.

 

Those people are obviously extraordinarily intelligent.

 

I think it has to do with the fact that if someone gets robbed or assaulted, they're likely to tell 10 people. If they had a nice experience in a neighborhood..they're likely to tell 1 person. Everyone loves a good horror story.

 

I usually get stuck at the light at McMicken and Vine about 7:40/7:45 AM. The crack whores, having rolled out of the crack houses, are usually stumbling across the intersection with their pimps close behind screaming at them.

 

I gun the engine turning right onto Findlay so I can make the light at Race. I illegally turn left on red if I'm not lucky.

 

I usually always make the light at Elder, but sometimes not. For those standing on the corner wanting to bum a cigarette, my response is to run the red light.

 

I sometimes get stuck at the light at Green Street. Most often, the dope boys have a customer, half the time in a car with Kentucky plates, so they're too busy to mess with me.

 

I always get stuck at the light at 14th Street. It's a short light, probably because of the school.

 

And I always get stuck at 15th then again at Liberty, where I get to watch the "homeless" screw up Washington Park. Or they're drinking their brown bag breakfasts across the intersection in the doorway of an abandoned business.

 

Once I make it to Central Parkway, it's clear sailing after that all the way to 4th Street.

 

I was thinking about buying a Soviet-built BTR-60 and charging tourists to drive them through OTR to view the wonderful German architecture, while it lasts. They can sit in safety in the back and see the tops of the buildings throught the troop hatch, but somehow I don't think the city would let me register the vehicle.

 

 

What!? A positive article in the Enquirer? Surely they will publish another article that is anti-city to give both sides equal time.

Wtf Mudslide...grow a pair. My sister is a preppy little 12 year old girl and even she isn't as scared of being in the car when i'm driving down Vine as you sound.  If it's so scary then just stop taking Vine and go another way downtown.

Mudslide, man.  Get a grip.  First of all, the article at the top of this thread says nothing about OTR, let alone the admittedly decrepit parts that you describe.  Second, did any of the people you saw actually harm you or threaten to harm you?  You sound so paranoid.  I've caught the bus at Vine and Liberty probably 150 times, no problems.  Trekked on foot over to Washington Park/Music Hall/Vine St. Kroger many times, sometimes after dark, no problems.  Driven the streets you describe many times, no problems.  Are there problems to be found in these areas?  Sure. But nine times out of ten, the problems will not find you, you have to find them.  So the folks who are minding their own business don't get hassled, except maybe asked for a spare quarter.

But nine times out of ten' date=' the problems will not find you, you have to find them.  So the folks who are minding their own business don't get hassled, except maybe asked for a spare quarter.[/quote']

 

How true...I can't even count how many times I am downtown/OTR/West End/Uptown, and I have NEVER once been hassled by anyone!!!  Sure a weak looking bum might ask me for some spare change, but a quick sorry usually does the trick.  My suggesstions to those that think Cincy is BAD and a terrible disgusting place....visit another city (say St Louis, Pitt, Cleveland, Detroit, DC, NYC, Philly, Dayton, Louisville....) and you will see the same things, and often time worse!!!!

 

Often times it seems that the rationale of people is...People standing = crime/dangerous area.  Just because their homes don't sit 50 ft. off the road and are able conduct their lives at a safe distance away from you...doesn't make those people any different.  Everyone has problems/issues, however the poor and disadvantaged are more obvious.

Mudslide, I walk through some of the area you drive through evey day at about the same time.

I never have problems.

The hookers frequently smile & say hello. I know they are working but it's still kinda nice. The transvestites are the nicest.

Other than one time, the dealers have accepted a simple answer of no.

If you are just passing through, take the parkway. It has to be quicker.

I gun the engine turning right onto Findlay so I can make the light at Race. I illegally turn left on red if I'm not lucky.

Please watch your speed, it is people like you that make living down here dangerous for me and my children.

double post