Reactions from New York newcomers
As this blog shows, transplants from New York state are a huge force here in the Charlotte region.
Lots of you responded to my recent writings on the subject, and some responses will appear in my column in Monday’s Your Week section. Here’s a sampling of some others:
"New Yorkers have been flowing into the Charlotte area for many, many years. I lived in Charlotte for fifteen years, starting at the end of 1971. That was when it had a special Southern charm that it surely lacks today. The nouveau-riche ‘McMansions’ are but one example of the garishness that has overtaken so much of the once elegant, yet modest city." --Drew Untener, Charleston, S.C.
"I am also new to the Charlotte area from upstate New York. I moved here in the spring of 2006. I grew up just outside of Rochester, New York and went to college in Rochester, which I graduated from in 2004. I was in the golf business in New York and, needless to say, with the climate in New York it was only profitable for about six months a year.
There are multiple reasons I chose Charlotte: I had friends from college already living here; It still has multiple seasons; It is only a day’s drive back to upstate New York; It has pro sports teams; When I visiting here I found people to be very friendly; There is always something to do; The weather." --John Switzer
"I hail from Niagara Falls! I first moved here in 1998 then spent three years in Europe (2000 - 2003) and came straight back to Charlotte. I chose Charlotte from a list of various cities way back when and have never regretted it. We just simply love it here! The people, the climate, the family orientation of the city and certainly the vision they have for uptown make this place almost perfect." --Debbie Hemmingsen
"My wife and I moved to Matthews from Hyde Park, New York (Dutchess County, 80 miles north of New York City) this past August. We were first introduced to Charlotte in July 2005 when we visited relatives in Concord and drove around the region for an afternoon. That was all it took. Things here were new and fresh looking, development was vigorous, and neighborhoods, although thick with housing, appeared for the most part to be planned with an eye for aesthetics and long-term appeal.
People are people, and while some here use a Southern accent, there are no other distinguishing differences that I've noticed. Except of course that they seem to be less hurried. Less haggard. Less uptight and worried than folks in New York. People here are more likely to lift a hand in passing and give you a ‘How ya'all doing.’" --Jeff Barber
"I’m a former resident from upstate New York. Down here you know if there's bad weather because church closes; up in New York it’s when the shopping malls close. I moved to Charlotte when the economy was booming in the early 2000's. The biggest thing for me was the lack of winter and snow storms. I love being away from the bad weather. As for pizza and wings, there are many imitators here in charlotte, but none have come close. to being New York style. The traffic is much heavier in Charlotte and the wait times are longer than in New York. Of course, I know why – everyone has followed us to Charlotte." --Jennifer
"I moved to Rock Hill about 2 ½ years ago from a small town about 30 minutes north of Syracuse. My husband, son (16) and I relocated here due to the fact that I was laid off from an insurance company I worked for almost 16 years. The economy was terrible and the weather was always gloomy. We absolutely love it in this area. I’ll now always be a Carolina girl and no longer consider myself a Yankee. I say, the last one out should turn the lights off." --Christine Hall
Lots of you responded to my recent writings on the subject, and some responses will appear in my column in Monday’s Your Week section. Here’s a sampling of some others:
"New Yorkers have been flowing into the Charlotte area for many, many years. I lived in Charlotte for fifteen years, starting at the end of 1971. That was when it had a special Southern charm that it surely lacks today. The nouveau-riche ‘McMansions’ are but one example of the garishness that has overtaken so much of the once elegant, yet modest city." --Drew Untener, Charleston, S.C.
"I am also new to the Charlotte area from upstate New York. I moved here in the spring of 2006. I grew up just outside of Rochester, New York and went to college in Rochester, which I graduated from in 2004. I was in the golf business in New York and, needless to say, with the climate in New York it was only profitable for about six months a year.
There are multiple reasons I chose Charlotte: I had friends from college already living here; It still has multiple seasons; It is only a day’s drive back to upstate New York; It has pro sports teams; When I visiting here I found people to be very friendly; There is always something to do; The weather." --John Switzer
"I hail from Niagara Falls! I first moved here in 1998 then spent three years in Europe (2000 - 2003) and came straight back to Charlotte. I chose Charlotte from a list of various cities way back when and have never regretted it. We just simply love it here! The people, the climate, the family orientation of the city and certainly the vision they have for uptown make this place almost perfect." --Debbie Hemmingsen
"My wife and I moved to Matthews from Hyde Park, New York (Dutchess County, 80 miles north of New York City) this past August. We were first introduced to Charlotte in July 2005 when we visited relatives in Concord and drove around the region for an afternoon. That was all it took. Things here were new and fresh looking, development was vigorous, and neighborhoods, although thick with housing, appeared for the most part to be planned with an eye for aesthetics and long-term appeal.
People are people, and while some here use a Southern accent, there are no other distinguishing differences that I've noticed. Except of course that they seem to be less hurried. Less haggard. Less uptight and worried than folks in New York. People here are more likely to lift a hand in passing and give you a ‘How ya'all doing.’" --Jeff Barber
"I’m a former resident from upstate New York. Down here you know if there's bad weather because church closes; up in New York it’s when the shopping malls close. I moved to Charlotte when the economy was booming in the early 2000's. The biggest thing for me was the lack of winter and snow storms. I love being away from the bad weather. As for pizza and wings, there are many imitators here in charlotte, but none have come close. to being New York style. The traffic is much heavier in Charlotte and the wait times are longer than in New York. Of course, I know why – everyone has followed us to Charlotte." --Jennifer
"I moved to Rock Hill about 2 ½ years ago from a small town about 30 minutes north of Syracuse. My husband, son (16) and I relocated here due to the fact that I was laid off from an insurance company I worked for almost 16 years. The economy was terrible and the weather was always gloomy. We absolutely love it in this area. I’ll now always be a Carolina girl and no longer consider myself a Yankee. I say, the last one out should turn the lights off." --Christine Hall
posted by Leigh at
3:42 PM
9 Comments:
I would like to see a Yankee invite a Southerner out to lunch, dinner or to their place and ask what the Southerner would like to see out of this city when it grows up someday! Maybe the city should have a forum where Southerners sit on one side and Yankees sit on the other and discuss all their problems with a NEWS STATION present and aired with call ins and discuss and solve problems that are on the rise. I go to Washington D.C. often and {dont )see this kind of diversity there; People are here from all over the nation and in D.C. most are from Virginia and others Multinational. Of course, the city shrinks and swells from weekend to weekday. I think Charlotte needs to really work on this "Counter Culture Negativisms" . Jimmy "the earthworm "reporting
I do think that Charlotte has a huge road and general transportation problem that causes everybody to be postal ; I myself have sat in long strides of track that wasnt even rush hour; I think there should be a new City Manager from a city bigger than Charlotte , say Atlanta, D.C. or even a larger North city so he or she can lead us out of urban disaster. I do believe Charlotte and Ashville and Raliegh need to have a City/County payroll tax so we can get things finished here; The widening of South I-485 and the finished outerbelt. Charlotte is a neat place and has tremendous potential as a POWERHOUSE of the U.S. We need problem solving idealogy in Charlotte. I think the Key is a City leader from a larger city who will guide us with his lamp of knowledge.
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I do believe that Southerners are a little jealous and envious of the YANKEE Money coming down here from House equity and many retirments from the North are larger than people are getting paid to work; Remember this was a State that on the " Slavery time line" its not that far out yet; Many Blue bloods dont want a middle class because it disrupts their economic plans; Many rich business owners dont want people making a comfortable living because People stop jumping on the "HOT COALS" so to speak ,they provide. If People get rich to fast they stop working and they need workers. Thats why the New South needs Governmental Unions in their CITY, STATE and County Government.
Most New York Police get to retire after 20 years of service with a nice pension, meanwhile , Southern Law enforcement have to work 30 long years in a dangerous , non supportive environment; The truth is many die shortly after they retire, what a shameful and immoral thing to do. I do believe that the AFSME union is needed here to make an equality and a better spending city; Many House prices are way over the average pay scale in Charlotte and surrounding area; This is a huge problem for many because this city cant attract high paying jobs and those jobs who are high paid are the few. Shame on all of us to let this get carried away like it has.
Look if Y'all want ta stay here get your ROSEY colerd glasses on; You can pick up you pair of rosey glasses in your New Comers packet at the Charlotte Observer. The Packet has a road map , real essential around Charlotte, but jest member " Charlotte is like a wagon wheel wit spokes" all roads lead into downtown regardless. The New comers packet comes with a aspirins, Babaque shacks in Shelby,N.C. and Lexinton, NC a box a TOOTH Picks , that looks cool when your drivin . Get a twang book , thats all the Southern slang terms; git yourself a plastic Jesus for your dash that helps with the Bible thumpers. y'all will see on Sunday not much traffic before 11:oo cuase everyone is at church; And Northerners jest because a women calls you SUGAR, HONEY , SWEETy , she dont want to marry y'all thats jest the way thing are down here . So dont get your hopes real high that y'all goin to the RALIEGh together AHAHA .
WELl Earthlings we are coming back through Charlotte again on our way back from D.C. I hope you see our space ship again that was fun how it made the news. Hope to see y'all soon over Charlotte.
Everyone is moving down here, but the roads are so horribly congested that I'm afraid there will soon be a rush back out. (At least to a different Southern City). And fixing our roads by 2015 is not good enough! Do any other Yankees just not get what the issue is? Lets move quicker people.
Southerners are still wonderful people. We are tired of being verbally abused for our way of life and not begging to be told how high to jump when one of our new neighbors snaps their fingers. The loss of southern charm in our cities is caused by reacting to rude treatment. A Southerner would never move to New York City and tell the residents that they don't do things correctly (meaning, "You don't do what I want you to do.") so stop telling us that. You're new neighbors. Try learning how to be friends. ~ A Fed Up Southerner
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