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06.11.08, 10:55 AM General Topics
16 replies
Larchmont vs. Pleasantville [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.11.08, 10:55 AM Flag
 

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i've heard pleasantville doesn't have school bus service. is that true? if so, take that into account... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 10:57 AM Flag
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I believe that's true, but, then again, neither does Larchmont. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:27 AM Flag
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We are a biracial (Asian, Jewish) couple living in Larchmont with three small kids: 5 yrs, 2 yrs, and 3 mo. We've now lived here for close to three years and are ready to get out. The town itself is charming, has nice facilities, good schools, is close to the city, etc., and we have met some nice people here and there, but for the most part we are not enamored of the people here. Prior to this, we lived in Oak Park, IL, which was very diverse, artsy, big student population, and friendly. No matter who you passed in the street, you'd always exchange hellos and sometimes stop to chat. My eldest son particularly benefited from this and was a very outgoing kid, in part because most kids would respond easily, regardless of race, class, whatever. I kind of thought that was the norm among kids - after all, what do they know? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:00 AM Flag
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np: very interesting. do you think you'll find the same situation in other NY suburbs (i.e., do you think it's the NY area that produces this vibe, or Larchmont in particular?) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:02 AM Flag
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I like to think it's just certain towns like Larchmont and not Westchester in general, but I have no real information to base that on, except that I know there are towns in Westchester that are more diverse. I used to live on the Upper West, and I absolutely loved it. No one in NYC cares who you are, how you're dressed, whatever. I felt incredibly at home there and would love living in the city again if I could only afford it and didn't have kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:11 AM Flag
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However, our experiences in Larchmont have been mostly terrible. Nothing is quite as soul crushing as watching your kid try to play with others and have them shut him out or give him dirty looks. I honestly can't understand it - if this were some isolated incident, then oh well, but it's now happened enough times that it seems the norm. And now my son has had the ever-pleasant first "Look at me, I'm Chinese" with eyes pulled way back taunting from another kid in his Kindergarten class. Likewise, I get funny looks from the older residents in town and even some thinly-veiled hostility from people in the hardware store. Is it because I'm Chinese? Because I'm not dressed in nice clothes? Because of my haircut? Who knows? All I know is I'd had enough. So my question to you all is - is Pleasantville like this? Our initial experiences there have been good, but I wanted to get some perspective from people who actually have lived there or are well-familiar with the town. Will it just be more of the same, or is it more of a town like Oak Park, IL? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:08 AM Flag
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Pleasantville seems like a really nice little town. My sister lives there. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:14 AM Flag
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I love Pleasantville and OP you will get so much more house and land for your money in Pleasantville. It is a slightly longer train ride to the city, but well worth it. I vote Pleasantville all the way -- also, I find it to be quite diverse. When I take db to library in the afternoons there are children of diff't races and everyone is friendly. I have had nothing but positive experiences since moving to Westchester. (My son is biracial, black and white). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:39 AM Flag
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This is great to hear, and I'm particularly encouraged by the fact that your child is also biracial and would likely face similar issues as ours. I'm keeping my fingers crossed to hear more stories like this one from people living in Pleasantville - so far, so good... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 02:59 PM Flag
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I didn't know that pleasntville was diverse, you wouldn't know that from the school stats, you know the ones that shows the racial breakdown of the students. Are you refering to Pleasantville School district? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 06:53 AM Flag
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Larchmont mom: Wow, I think that's awful. I really wish families like yours would move to Forest Hills instead of Westchester. My daughter's excellent public school is 50 percent Asian. Couldn't be more diverse here. We are mix of Jewish/WASP, btw. We had an international brunch party in her first grade class that was a blast. Is it that people can't get over the "Queens is icky" factor? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:20 AM Flag
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^^And we have bus service! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:35 AM Flag
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Forest Hills sounds great. Not that I need a location to have a huge Asian population per se, but it just needs to be tolerant of people who are Asian and not see Asian people as some weird oddity or as undesirables. Unfortunately, we're definitely stuck in Westchester, because my spouse's parents live in Croton-on-Hudson and we need to live somewhat near to them (they help us out often with picking kids up from school, etc.). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:35 AM Flag
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FH mom: in-law support is great. That'I just wince at the racist cruelty of these other kids. But even in FH there is intolerance. Right now some people turn up their noses at the Russians coming in and building big houses. Sigh. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:38 AM Flag
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I know that no matter where you go, there will always be some bad apples. Even in a diverse place like Oak Park, sometimes I was made to not feel welcome because of my race. But if it's exception rather than the norm, then no big deal - I can roll with it. But if it's like Boston, where waitresses and even salespeople working in the mall would pointedly turn their back on me and help others around me, then I say "no thanks" and look for happier places. These are not people I want my kids around. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.11.08, 11:46 AM Flag
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Wow, Larchmont Mom your story is pretty sad, we are also a interacial family with biracial kids(black/white)and we did wonder about Larchmont's lack of racial diversity when we house hunted there, but felt that since DC will be in Mamaroneck School District which is diverse they will be okay. In the end we chose Mamaroneck even though we could easily have afforded Larchmont and couldn't be more happier here. Everybody says hello here to us and the kids, playdates are no issue and we see lots of brown kids and biracial kids at our favorite playground the one on the Harbor Island so our kids blend in easily. mmm perhaps you should move to Mamaroneck too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 06:51 AM Flag
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