Submitted by Joanne Conte, Apr 15, 2007 10:36

We are a middle class family living in the Bronx. We have no services offered to us. If we want our children to participate in activities we have to pay. If we send our children to the local pubic school there are all kinds of problems. The children in the public school across the street from my house are hitting the teachers. I do not want my children to go to school in that environment. The cost of private schools are very expensive I have to pay $7000 for my two children. With my taxes added, I am thinking of moving. I will pay the same amount I am paying now with tuition and tax paments plus I will get many benefits. I won't have the city putting section 8 people next door to me and deal with the abuses we have to deal with. The welfare class get everything for free even clothes. They get all activities for their children free and get to stay home each day. I have neighbors like this so I know it is true. They drink and do drugs all day while their children are at day camp that I pay for with my taxes. With these kind of situations the middle class is digusted. The suburbs are appealing. I would be paying the same. My children would go to a good public school where I wouldn't have to worry about their safety and I would get offered many community benefits that are not offered to me here in the Bronx for free. That is why the middle class is leaving. The city needs to make it appealing for us to stay. If you don't have children the city is fine, when you do it is too much to deal with. Especially when you see people on public assistance getting everything with your tax dollars.

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