Wilson stop off L train-- safety?
October 11, 2010 1:53 PM Subscribe
I've just moved to Bushwick, Off the Wilson Stop of L train ---> I feel okay, but learned that there has been two shootings nearby in the past week. I also found the crime map telling me there's a lot of shooting going on here. Along with robbery. I am 5'2", Asian female.
I am a grad student and have evening classes. The one that gets out the latest will put me at 9:30-9:45 pm range, if I ran home right after class. I am not even considering a social life yet.
I'm a little scared and want to know what people think about this area. I haven't signed the lease yet but I had told the landlord I was okay with the long term commitment (I regret that now), but I haven't signed yet.
I am a grad student and have evening classes. The one that gets out the latest will put me at 9:30-9:45 pm range, if I ran home right after class. I am not even considering a social life yet.
I'm a little scared and want to know what people think about this area. I haven't signed the lease yet but I had told the landlord I was okay with the long term commitment (I regret that now), but I haven't signed yet.
I assure you that you can find a better place to live than in a neighborhood bordering East New York and Brownsville. Check out Brooklyn under Park Slope. It's nice, inexpensive and ... it's not bordering on East New York. Don't sign the lease.
posted by griphus at 2:02 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:02 PM on October 11, 2010
(Just to be clear, by "neighborhood," I mean that particular area of Bushwick. Not all of Bushwick is terrible anymore, but Wilson is pretty deep in for a 5'2" female going around by herself at 10pm.)
posted by griphus at 2:04 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:04 PM on October 11, 2010
The closer the L is to Manhattan, the safer and nicer it is. Find a place off the first few stops - its great here!
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:06 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:06 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Or even Brooklyn on the "other" side of Prospect Park, the Prospect Heights side.
What was it that attracted you to that neighborhood, was the price the primary thing? If it was the price rather than the fact that you need to be on the L, you could find waaaaaaaaaay safer neighborhoods for the same price all over Queens.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:10 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
What was it that attracted you to that neighborhood, was the price the primary thing? If it was the price rather than the fact that you need to be on the L, you could find waaaaaaaaaay safer neighborhoods for the same price all over Queens.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:10 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it sounds like you may have been suckered into moving to a place that has nothing in common with what Bushwick is typically supposed to be (lofts, young white people). Bushwick is enormous and gentrification just has not gotten that far yet. I'd recommend Bed-Stuy, although that is also getting quite expensive these days.
posted by nasreddin at 2:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by nasreddin at 2:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
The area near the "Prospect Park" Q stop is rapidly gentrifying (for better or worse) and still very inexpensive. Might be worth looking into.
At the end of the day, crime statistics and the opinions of people on the internet aren't what matters. Go to your possibly-future subway stop after dark, walk to the possible new place, and see how you feel. If you don't feel safe, don't move there. Period.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 2:14 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
At the end of the day, crime statistics and the opinions of people on the internet aren't what matters. Go to your possibly-future subway stop after dark, walk to the possible new place, and see how you feel. If you don't feel safe, don't move there. Period.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 2:14 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Narrative Priorities has a good idea, but I'd just like to add: bring a large, imposing male friend. Someone with a "don't fuck with us" vibe. It can't hurt, but it can certainly help.
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
Ah -- missed that you're ALREADY living there.
Advice still stands, however -- if you don't feel safe, you should move.
And frankly, if your landlord is sketchy enough that you've moved in without signing a lease, that doesn't sound like a very good situation either.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
Advice still stands, however -- if you don't feel safe, you should move.
And frankly, if your landlord is sketchy enough that you've moved in without signing a lease, that doesn't sound like a very good situation either.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
You absolutely do not want to be living there in your situation. Forget about anything you may have said to a prospective landlord. Do not sign a lease for that place.
Also, I'm with nasreddin- did you get suckered into some "it's the neighborhood next to Williamsburg" pitch?
posted by mkultra at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
Also, I'm with nasreddin- did you get suckered into some "it's the neighborhood next to Williamsburg" pitch?
posted by mkultra at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: Ah thanks, guys.
I didn't get sucked into the East Williamsburg pitch- And yes, price was the main attraction but I am willing to pay more in exchange for safety. I pay 520/month right now. I was in a different apartment in Queens that had some sanitation issues.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:21 PM on October 11, 2010
I didn't get sucked into the East Williamsburg pitch- And yes, price was the main attraction but I am willing to pay more in exchange for safety. I pay 520/month right now. I was in a different apartment in Queens that had some sanitation issues.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:21 PM on October 11, 2010
Well, $520 a month will be hard to beat unless you roommate situation can include the living room as a bedroom. There's definitely prices like that down where I live (Bensonhurst) but that may be too far out of the way for you.
posted by griphus at 2:23 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:23 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: Griphus- how long does it take for you to get to, say, east village?
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:24 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:24 PM on October 11, 2010
Go to your possibly-future subway stop after dark, walk to the possible new place, and see how you feel. If you don't feel safe, don't move there. Period.
This isn't really the best criterion, since there are plenty of neighborhoods in New York that look really sketchy after dark but are really quite safe. (In fact, almost all of the cheaper neighborhoods will be in this category.) On the other hand, it is important to figure out the distance between the subway station and your house, how well-lit the street is, whether the building entrance has a camera or a bright light, and so on.
posted by nasreddin at 2:25 PM on October 11, 2010
This isn't really the best criterion, since there are plenty of neighborhoods in New York that look really sketchy after dark but are really quite safe. (In fact, almost all of the cheaper neighborhoods will be in this category.) On the other hand, it is important to figure out the distance between the subway station and your house, how well-lit the street is, whether the building entrance has a camera or a bright light, and so on.
posted by nasreddin at 2:25 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: My place is 2 blocks from the subway station, and the walk home is all residential. I wouldn't say they are well lit but not pitch black either.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:27 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:27 PM on October 11, 2010
I can get to W4th in about 45 mins, station-to-station. When I worked on St. Mark's and 3rd I gave myself an even hour to get there.
posted by griphus at 2:28 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:28 PM on October 11, 2010
"All residential" is not good. If you live in a neighborhood known for sketchiness, you need your walk home to include places you can use as shelter (bodegas, 24 hour laundromats.)
posted by griphus at 2:30 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:30 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: would you say get out ASAP (like, Nov 1)? I already paid for October.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:34 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:34 PM on October 11, 2010
Best answer: 2 blocks is good. On further reflection, I don't really see an a priori reason not to move there. Of course, East New York is a dangerous place, but shootings are not what you should be worried about; innocent bystanders are killed relatively rarely, and you'd certainly be in greater danger of of getting hit by a car. Your apartment may well be burglarized, so get renter's insurance. (Muggers, I've heard, tend to prefer to work wealthier neighborhoods.) Anyway, plenty of people live in similar neighborhoods in much more dangerous cities and do fine.
I haven't heard of places in Bensonhurst being 520/month (for a studio). When I was looking around there, it was considerably higher, but your mileage may vary.
posted by nasreddin at 2:34 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I haven't heard of places in Bensonhurst being 520/month (for a studio). When I was looking around there, it was considerably higher, but your mileage may vary.
posted by nasreddin at 2:34 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I lived by the Wilson L stop for 7 or 8 months and I didn't have any safety issues (as a single youngish white female). It isn't a great neighborhood, and there are definitely quality-of-life issues like noise, and an anecdote is not data, but I felt reasonably safe there.
posted by Jeanne at 2:36 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by Jeanne at 2:36 PM on October 11, 2010
Kind of depends exactly where you are, but there are cool things going on this far out - it's definitely still the "underground" portion of bushwick, though. It can get very noisy, too, especially in the summer.
How close are you to this building:
http://345eldert.org/ (right by the Halsey stop)
There are a lot of artsy type hipster kids in this building and lots of events they put on...
If you need to get to JFK or downtown brooklyn, the L to broadway junction or out to the airport is really convenient. Going north, you hit ridgewood pretty fast which is decent neighborhood-wise (diners, restaurants...)
Feel free to write to me if you want specifics.
posted by mdn at 2:38 PM on October 11, 2010
How close are you to this building:
http://345eldert.org/ (right by the Halsey stop)
There are a lot of artsy type hipster kids in this building and lots of events they put on...
If you need to get to JFK or downtown brooklyn, the L to broadway junction or out to the airport is really convenient. Going north, you hit ridgewood pretty fast which is decent neighborhood-wise (diners, restaurants...)
Feel free to write to me if you want specifics.
posted by mdn at 2:38 PM on October 11, 2010
Best answer: I'd get out ASAP, yeah, but nasreddin makes a logical counterpoint. Honestly, straight-up, random assault (sexual or not) is what worries me more than shootings, muggings, etc. Those are the neighborhoods where it is more likely to happen, and those are the neighborhoods that I have anecdata of it happening. That and I was raised up with the conception of if you are not from certain neighborhoods, you do not go into certain neighborhoods, these included East Buswhick, East New York, Brownsville, certain areas of Canarsie, etc. (...then again I was raised by neurotic, racist immigrants...)
I haven't heard of places in Bensonhurst being 520/month (for a studio).
Oh, definitely not for a studio. I was going under the assumption she'd be renting a room. You can score a 1-bedroom around here for about $1000, and split it between two people, however.
posted by griphus at 2:40 PM on October 11, 2010
I haven't heard of places in Bensonhurst being 520/month (for a studio).
Oh, definitely not for a studio. I was going under the assumption she'd be renting a room. You can score a 1-bedroom around here for about $1000, and split it between two people, however.
posted by griphus at 2:40 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: yeah, I am definitely renting a room not a studio.
I will probably have a talk with my landlord pretty soon then. He's a really really nice guy but I think the fact I spent all of today worrying about this means I'm not very comfortable at all. Thanks guys!
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:45 PM on October 11, 2010
I will probably have a talk with my landlord pretty soon then. He's a really really nice guy but I think the fact I spent all of today worrying about this means I'm not very comfortable at all. Thanks guys!
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:45 PM on October 11, 2010
Those are the neighborhoods where it is more likely to happen, and those are the neighborhoods that I have anecdata of it happening.
On the other hand, you'd be hard pressed to find a cheap neighborhood in Brooklyn where that doesn't happen. When I moved into my old place in Bed-Stuy, the former tenant informed me quite matter-of-factly that I should expect to get bashed over the head with a baseball bat at least once, and there were definitely lots of people who were assaulted in the neighborhood. I don't think a two-block walk every day at 10pm (which isn't that late) is that big of a deal. I'll admit that I have no idea what it's like for women, however.
posted by nasreddin at 2:46 PM on October 11, 2010
On the other hand, you'd be hard pressed to find a cheap neighborhood in Brooklyn where that doesn't happen. When I moved into my old place in Bed-Stuy, the former tenant informed me quite matter-of-factly that I should expect to get bashed over the head with a baseball bat at least once, and there were definitely lots of people who were assaulted in the neighborhood. I don't think a two-block walk every day at 10pm (which isn't that late) is that big of a deal. I'll admit that I have no idea what it's like for women, however.
posted by nasreddin at 2:46 PM on October 11, 2010
Best answer: Not that you should totally disregard crime stats and the like, but the bottom line is whether you feel safe.
If you don't feel safe, don't live there. Period.
If you felt safe until you heard there had been some shootings, that's something else to dissect. All New Yorkers have to, except for a lucky few who have the kind of material resources that allow them never to think about this sort of thing. Crime happens. Chances are, you are highly unlikely to be caught in the crossfire. But if you feel unsafe, you feel unsafe.
In Bushwick I would worry much more about being mugged or having your apartment ripped off than I would worry about being murdered or raped. For what it's worth.
I live in Crown Heights, by the way. And worry about muggings and getting my apartment broken into - not enough to move, but enough to stay aware of that sort of thing, take more precautions than I did in my old neighborhood, etc.
Semi off topic, but if you are a young creative type who's just recently moved to New York, don't move to Park Slope. Chances are you can't afford it, and if you stretched so that you could afford it, you'd be miserable. Neighborhoods are important - you want to be in a place where there are likeminded people of your age, income level, sharing your priorities, etc. There is something to be said for toughing out that early period in the shitty neighborhood. Especially if said neighborhood is full of young creative folks pursuing their dreams just like you. Don't aspire to the bougie lifestyle quite yet.
posted by Sara C. at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you don't feel safe, don't live there. Period.
If you felt safe until you heard there had been some shootings, that's something else to dissect. All New Yorkers have to, except for a lucky few who have the kind of material resources that allow them never to think about this sort of thing. Crime happens. Chances are, you are highly unlikely to be caught in the crossfire. But if you feel unsafe, you feel unsafe.
In Bushwick I would worry much more about being mugged or having your apartment ripped off than I would worry about being murdered or raped. For what it's worth.
I live in Crown Heights, by the way. And worry about muggings and getting my apartment broken into - not enough to move, but enough to stay aware of that sort of thing, take more precautions than I did in my old neighborhood, etc.
Semi off topic, but if you are a young creative type who's just recently moved to New York, don't move to Park Slope. Chances are you can't afford it, and if you stretched so that you could afford it, you'd be miserable. Neighborhoods are important - you want to be in a place where there are likeminded people of your age, income level, sharing your priorities, etc. There is something to be said for toughing out that early period in the shitty neighborhood. Especially if said neighborhood is full of young creative folks pursuing their dreams just like you. Don't aspire to the bougie lifestyle quite yet.
posted by Sara C. at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Funny you should mention Bed-Stuy, a friend of mine has his jaw broken in broad daylight. They didn't even take anything. Anyway, down here is alright. The Gravesend/Bensonhurst/Homecrest/and certain parts of Sheepshead (pretty much anywhere Russian and the burgeoning Chinese middle-class live) are almost completely safe and cheap. They're just really, really far from everything except Coney Island.
posted by griphus at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by griphus at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2010
A practical solution - can you find someone to walk home with? A buddy from class who lives nearby? Even asking one of your roommates to come and meet you at the train? What about asking someone who gets off at your same stop to walk with you?
(Note: if you are the only non-sketchy person getting off the train at your stop at that time, or walking in your particular direction, that is when you should be concerned.)
posted by Sara C. at 2:52 PM on October 11, 2010
(Note: if you are the only non-sketchy person getting off the train at your stop at that time, or walking in your particular direction, that is when you should be concerned.)
posted by Sara C. at 2:52 PM on October 11, 2010
what matters is how you feel, but something to keep in mind is that muggers are more likely to go to neighborhoods where people may have money (the two times I was mugged were on a dark street in SoHo late at night, and on an abandoned subway platform by columbus circle). There are definitely more likely to be shootings in bushwick, but they won't be aiming for you (and even if they're more common, it's not like they're actually common - it's news when it happens: http://bushwickbk.com/ ).
And yeah, 10pm is early - you still have the company of the 9 year olds at that time in bushwick :)
posted by mdn at 2:55 PM on October 11, 2010
And yeah, 10pm is early - you still have the company of the 9 year olds at that time in bushwick :)
posted by mdn at 2:55 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: Sara C.- Good point. I think most of the young artsy people get off the L train at Dekalb or Jefferson stop. And uh, I wouldn't say I'm the only non-sketch getting off the train, but they are often mothers with young babies. My two roommates gets home every night at midnight or 2am, and said they've been doing it for two years and had no problem. So when I'm walking home, they are not home yet. Good idea though.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:57 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by atetrachordofthree at 2:57 PM on October 11, 2010
Why not walk with the mothers with young children? Just get off with them, take the same exit, and walk in a cluster with them as far as you can before you have to turn off towards home. You can say hi and ask, "Is it OK if I walk with you guys? Sometimes this corner sketches me out a little" if you want. Or not. Maybe they'll think you're a weirdo. Maybe not. But who cares?
Is there foot traffic on your block at the time you usually come home?
By the way, if you live with two other women who come and go at much later hours and feel perfectly safe, chances are you aren't in any immediate danger and should just chalk it up to learning to live in the city.
posted by Sara C. at 3:00 PM on October 11, 2010
Is there foot traffic on your block at the time you usually come home?
By the way, if you live with two other women who come and go at much later hours and feel perfectly safe, chances are you aren't in any immediate danger and should just chalk it up to learning to live in the city.
posted by Sara C. at 3:00 PM on October 11, 2010
I think the thing to keep in mind, with these 'is-my-neighborhood-too-sketchy' questions, is that it's primarily an issue of what you, personally, feel comfortable with.
There's a lot of shootings nearby. Are you going to get shot? Exceedingly unlikely. Random stranger murders are very rare.
Are you going to get mugged? It's possible; but it's possible anywhere. As someone else mentioned above, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest muggings can happen with surprising frequency in wealthier areas too, where people are more likely to have their defenses down and their pricey electronics/cash on their persons.
I have heard of random assaults on the street in Bushwick and environs, i.e. white kids getting bashed in the head for no reason. This happened to someone I went to college with. But I would suspect this is a much lesser risk for women, though obviously women do have their own set of street-crime concerns to deal with.
The takeaway from this is that I think the risk of actual, physical harm befalling you is probably, knock-on-wood, pretty low. However, what is certain is that you are uncomfortable in your own neighborhood and preoccupied by these concerns. That can be emotionally exhausting over a long period of time. It's a very real cost that isn't captured in your rent.
What's it worth to you to feel safe coming home at night? Would you pay $2 every time you got off the train not to have to worry about it? $5? $10? Obviously this is a crude metric but I think it's a good mental exercise as you think about whether it's worth maybe paying more to live elsewhere.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:08 PM on October 11, 2010
There's a lot of shootings nearby. Are you going to get shot? Exceedingly unlikely. Random stranger murders are very rare.
Are you going to get mugged? It's possible; but it's possible anywhere. As someone else mentioned above, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest muggings can happen with surprising frequency in wealthier areas too, where people are more likely to have their defenses down and their pricey electronics/cash on their persons.
I have heard of random assaults on the street in Bushwick and environs, i.e. white kids getting bashed in the head for no reason. This happened to someone I went to college with. But I would suspect this is a much lesser risk for women, though obviously women do have their own set of street-crime concerns to deal with.
The takeaway from this is that I think the risk of actual, physical harm befalling you is probably, knock-on-wood, pretty low. However, what is certain is that you are uncomfortable in your own neighborhood and preoccupied by these concerns. That can be emotionally exhausting over a long period of time. It's a very real cost that isn't captured in your rent.
What's it worth to you to feel safe coming home at night? Would you pay $2 every time you got off the train not to have to worry about it? $5? $10? Obviously this is a crude metric but I think it's a good mental exercise as you think about whether it's worth maybe paying more to live elsewhere.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:08 PM on October 11, 2010
I lived two stops from there for 5 years. The Wilson stop looks kind of sketchy partly because there are more industrial buildings in that area, especially along Cooper, etc. but I don't think it's that bad, even though the station itself looks kinda grim.
I was off the Myrtle-Wyckoff stop, which is a little bit more residential, but I know the area pretty well. I think two blocks from the subway is great, honestly, and would have no problem with that. FWIW my partner is female and didn't have concern about walking the 6 blocks or so to our apt from the train at all hours of the day or night while we lived there. I'm talking about coming home at 3 AM from work, too.
Basically, the people who said that the issue here is how comfortable YOU feel in your neighborhood are correct. However, unlike the movies, most shootings aren't "crazy drug dealers" doing a drive-by with guns blazing all down the block. They're more likely to be between people who know each other. The risk of a stray bullet is really small. I've been here since 2002 and I know more people who have been hit by cars while riding their bike in NYC than have been witnesses to any shooting. (8 people hit by cars or doored, one guy saw a shooting, in case you're curious)
Odds are you are not going to get shot, but if knowing the odds could change people's emotions, the bodega would sell a lot less lottery tickets.
posted by dubold at 6:32 PM on October 11, 2010
I was off the Myrtle-Wyckoff stop, which is a little bit more residential, but I know the area pretty well. I think two blocks from the subway is great, honestly, and would have no problem with that. FWIW my partner is female and didn't have concern about walking the 6 blocks or so to our apt from the train at all hours of the day or night while we lived there. I'm talking about coming home at 3 AM from work, too.
Basically, the people who said that the issue here is how comfortable YOU feel in your neighborhood are correct. However, unlike the movies, most shootings aren't "crazy drug dealers" doing a drive-by with guns blazing all down the block. They're more likely to be between people who know each other. The risk of a stray bullet is really small. I've been here since 2002 and I know more people who have been hit by cars while riding their bike in NYC than have been witnesses to any shooting. (8 people hit by cars or doored, one guy saw a shooting, in case you're curious)
Odds are you are not going to get shot, but if knowing the odds could change people's emotions, the bodega would sell a lot less lottery tickets.
posted by dubold at 6:32 PM on October 11, 2010
I honestly don't know anything about the Wilson stop, but the two stops before, Halsey and Myrtle-Wyckoff present no danger. Is it really bad just one stop over?
posted by grumpster at 8:27 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by grumpster at 8:27 PM on October 11, 2010
I lived off the Morgan stop on the L for a year when I first moved to New York, paid $540 for a crumbly room, and got screwed out of my security deposit by our slumlord when we all wised up and moved out. If you do sign on with this place, or any place, be absolutely sure you keep up with your paperwork and that you have testaments from other tenants that previous roommates have been reimbursed for their deposits.
That said, I eventually hated despised my neighborhood. I never, ever worried about shootings (Morgan stop = nebulous Bushwick territory with Williamsburg cast-offs, full of nice Puerto Rican families and hipsters in warehouses) but the constant catcalling made me fucking homicidal. It really depends on your personal boundaries, your specific geographical location, and who hangs out in your neighborhood, but in my case, the two measly blocks from my house to the subway was densely populated by men who sat on stoops and shouted at me every day as I went to work. I barely noticed it at first, but by the end of the year I was about to stab someone's eyes out with an ice pick. As a half-joke, my friend got me mace spray for Christmas (mace is illegal in New York state) and I hid it from myself because I knew I'd use it on some big-mouthed dope who said the wrong thing to me on the wrong morning. Some women seriously do not care about street harassment, but I am apparently someone who is compelled to use chemical warfare on those assholes, and it was bad news for my mental health to live in an area where men guess my bra size at the top of their lungs from across the street. Thanks but no thanks, so I moved.
Ironically, I also got violently mugged (as in, got slammed against a concrete wall and needed to go to the ER, fun) off the Graham Avenue stop, which is well within "respectable" limits of Williamsburg proper. The cops said that more muggings happen in border areas where gentrification has already pushed out most of the working class families, and arguably the Wilson stop hasn't reached this climax.
Conclusion: agreed with others, don't move anywhere you don't feel safe. While I knew the vast majority of the men shouting at me weren't rapists and muggers, I felt degraded and demoralized every time I stepped out my door. It wasn't worth the cheap rent and access to the L train. I left Bushwick and never looked back.
posted by zoomorphic at 9:19 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
That said, I eventually hated despised my neighborhood. I never, ever worried about shootings (Morgan stop = nebulous Bushwick territory with Williamsburg cast-offs, full of nice Puerto Rican families and hipsters in warehouses) but the constant catcalling made me fucking homicidal. It really depends on your personal boundaries, your specific geographical location, and who hangs out in your neighborhood, but in my case, the two measly blocks from my house to the subway was densely populated by men who sat on stoops and shouted at me every day as I went to work. I barely noticed it at first, but by the end of the year I was about to stab someone's eyes out with an ice pick. As a half-joke, my friend got me mace spray for Christmas (mace is illegal in New York state) and I hid it from myself because I knew I'd use it on some big-mouthed dope who said the wrong thing to me on the wrong morning. Some women seriously do not care about street harassment, but I am apparently someone who is compelled to use chemical warfare on those assholes, and it was bad news for my mental health to live in an area where men guess my bra size at the top of their lungs from across the street. Thanks but no thanks, so I moved.
Ironically, I also got violently mugged (as in, got slammed against a concrete wall and needed to go to the ER, fun) off the Graham Avenue stop, which is well within "respectable" limits of Williamsburg proper. The cops said that more muggings happen in border areas where gentrification has already pushed out most of the working class families, and arguably the Wilson stop hasn't reached this climax.
Conclusion: agreed with others, don't move anywhere you don't feel safe. While I knew the vast majority of the men shouting at me weren't rapists and muggers, I felt degraded and demoralized every time I stepped out my door. It wasn't worth the cheap rent and access to the L train. I left Bushwick and never looked back.
posted by zoomorphic at 9:19 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I honestly don't know anything about the Wilson stop, but the two stops before, Halsey and Myrtle-Wyckoff present no danger. Is it really bad just one stop over?
I feel the same, and then today looked at the subway map and remembered that I occasionally hang out a few more L stops away in Ridgewood, which feels perfectly safe to me.
Granted, there are situations wherein there's one skeevy subway stop surrounded by perfectly good ones (when I lived in Long Island City I never used the 36th St. R/V/G stop for that very reason). And maybe said skeevy stop is the only one OP can feasibly use for whatever reason. But, yeah. A lot of this is "getting used to living in a city" stuff.
the constant catcalling made me fucking homicidal
I felt the same living in a marginal part of Long Island City a few years ago (not the cute part with PS1 and such - the shitty part behind Northern Blvd). I think it might be an industrial neighborhood thing. Too many day laborers with no real ties to the neighborhood, not enough families.
posted by Sara C. at 5:15 PM on October 12, 2010
I feel the same, and then today looked at the subway map and remembered that I occasionally hang out a few more L stops away in Ridgewood, which feels perfectly safe to me.
Granted, there are situations wherein there's one skeevy subway stop surrounded by perfectly good ones (when I lived in Long Island City I never used the 36th St. R/V/G stop for that very reason). And maybe said skeevy stop is the only one OP can feasibly use for whatever reason. But, yeah. A lot of this is "getting used to living in a city" stuff.
the constant catcalling made me fucking homicidal
I felt the same living in a marginal part of Long Island City a few years ago (not the cute part with PS1 and such - the shitty part behind Northern Blvd). I think it might be an industrial neighborhood thing. Too many day laborers with no real ties to the neighborhood, not enough families.
posted by Sara C. at 5:15 PM on October 12, 2010
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Alternatively, you can call 311 to find out your precinct.
posted by dfriedman at 1:58 PM on October 11, 2010