Where does a NYC girl go?

Where do I go?

I have been living in NYC since the age of ten years old. I recall NYC in the 80’s and 90’s. I remember the graffiti (everywhere) and being sent home for wearing red one day when the gangs decided their new initiation ritual would be jumping white kids wearing red. I recall when the crime rate in the city was insane. And growing up I had the resident homeless man who lived two doors down. While I never knew his name, we still greeted each other as neighbors. He always waved to me as I tiptoed home after curfew as a teenager.

I was never scared of him. Nor did the gang rituals affect me. Maybe that is just childhood stupidity, but the fact is I never had fear growing up in New York City.

And I LOVE NY!

I do. I have been very clear that I would never leave unless to go abroad, but I can’t deny that I see a city and its people hurting. I am not loving my city.

And I write this above blasphemy for advice. Am I alone here? Are other fellow die hard New Yorkers feeling what I’m feeling?

Because rationally I know that NYC has changed only for the better since moving here.

Look at 42nd street it went from

TO THIS

Porn to Disney.

Look at the west side of New York! It went from crackpipes to highline gardens and island parks that inspire the imagination! And I also recognize that like all things, it is temporary, just another phase in city life, but this one feels more concerning.

I feel it in my gut. This feels different. For example today I saw on my walk today (which touched Soho, Noho, West village, all the way to West chelsea)

• 2 drug deals in broad daylight
  

• 6 people smoking crack (all in Washington Square Park, in the middle of the day openly). I haven’t seen that since the 90’s.

• Too many homeless to count. So many. And not just on major avenues begging, but begging on small residential streets.

• Streets never dirtier
  

And the homeless, unlike the one that I grew up with in the 90’s do not wave, but are angry, agitated, and clearly dealing with mental health /drug addictions. Screaming at their own shadows. Screaming down the streets at 8AM.

And now with everything in Israel…I just feel so on edge. Even walking today, I jumped and screamed when someone got close to me and it was a general NYC brush by. Totally harmless, just someone trying to squeeze by the crowds. But I was ready to be kidnapped.

This is new.

Am I the only one feeling this? What does a NYC die hard do?! 

Do we give up on this city? Where do we even go?! 

I can’t fathom being in the burbs. I can’t see it. I can’t even imagine it when I try to and I’m trying I know many of you are happy there.

And before you say Florida… as that seems to be the default answer to Jews from New York. Being Jewish in Florida in a state with DeSantis…no thank you. The antisemitism in Florida is way worse than in New York so pass on that. Just the little I’ve seen with abortion and education laws down there…how can I support that?! I’m not moving for taxes. I’m moving for safety and antisemitism is a big one when evaluating.

Any other ideas people?