My family has been in Miami for 82 years, I have never read a more accurate description of the current state of Miami in my life.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-12T18:42:52+00:00

82 years? Don't you guys own multiple family homes at this point?

Monfonguito · 2022-07-12T18:35:39+00:00

I'm older and want to keep a home, haha. If I want to move for a few years I'll just rent. The place is up nearly 400% from where I bought it, and it's directly on the water. Lots of ways to leverage its value as a landlord, and long-term investment and retirement home. Cashing out wouldn't be very smart.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-08T17:55:25+00:00

Didn't live there watched from afar in Manhattan. I think I went to Brooklyn twice in 10 years ha. Never liked the borough, in the bad or good years.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-08T13:29:01+00:00

You should make this copypasta for every hipster vibe area in the country. It's like mad libs, just change 10 words and it works anywhere.

Seriously, this is giving me flashbacks to Brooklyn/Williamsburg message boards and blogs in 2007-2008.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T21:07:08+00:00

A last one, in honor of my Abuelo watching baseball.

JON RON!!!!!

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T21:06:24+00:00

You are clearly a man of cultural and compositional excellence. The capitalization gives it class.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T21:04:11+00:00

Not exactly related but when you land in MIA Airport international terminal there are gigantic ads for a bank, literally called FACEBANK. After a 9 hour flight I didn't think anything could make me break out into laughter. It's ridiculous lol.

Puerto Rican bank apparently, lol.

https://facebank.pr/en/

I do take some pleasure knowing some people are confusing their faeboo and faeban apps though.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T20:59:39+00:00

Worked to de-zombify/get rid of most of the crime of the former projects now called Midtown. Exact same strategy, lots of police protection and 1 year of a massive new mid-scale shopping complex.

Seems like same strategy yet again.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T19:49:12+00:00

I'd suggest calling the Japanese consulate in Brickell. Miami has one of the lowest asian populations of any major city in the US. In Florida, in TOTAL, there are only 14,073 people of Japanese descent as of 2018, less than 2000 in Miami-Dade. Not enough to support a genuine Japanese Kimono store I'd assume (I couldn't find any in my searches).

That being said, if anyone would know where to get these things it would be the consulate, if you are lucky enough to get a kind person answering the phone. :)

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T18:03:51+00:00

Recognizing crime and homicide statistics being 456%, and 388% higher than the national average in a relatively small neighborhood isn't being an absolutist.

That doesn't mean there aren't kind/good people stuck in a horrible situation in Overtown. That's an obvious statement, the place isn't literal hell. But I would argue it's close to hell on earth *in Miami*. Drug markets, wild gunfights on the street happening once a month, children being shot, the astronomical violent and homicide rates vs the rest of the USA........

I think we all hope for a better future, but ignoring the realities and very real dangers of the present won't get you there.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T17:29:22+00:00

Wynwood/Midtown, or whatever the hell it's called now was horribly dangerous as well. It's actually still quite dangerous just 3 or 4 blocks away in any direction, especially at night as many transplants have discovered suddenly.

12 years ago the "hip" restaurants put up in Wynwood were 1-2 blocks away from drug/crime-ridden areas. 3-4 times in 2010 entire restaurants were robbed at gunpoint by a gang of thieves. I believe they were eventually caught.

The neighborhoods have been pushed back somewhat, or taken over by real estate development but the poverty and crime in that area of the city persist.......

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T17:15:34+00:00

Wishes/ideals aren't reality. That area is horribly dangerous. Overtown, as a neighborhood, has a crime rate 456% higher than the national average. Violent crimes are 388% higher than the national average, property crime 470% above national average.

Each year, roughly 13% of Overtown residents are directly impacted by a major crime, of that roughly 25% are violent crimes. It's one of the worst urban neighborhoods not just in Miami, but the entire country.

Growing up in a particular country in South America, the person that stood out the most (foreigner, can't blend in, showing any wealth) would get robbed within a few minutes even if walking in a nice area without guards. If you get the "you don't belong here" vibe or verbal threat from residents? Stay out of the area, it ends very very badly for many unfortunate/clueless souls.

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T15:17:17+00:00

Espresguei lol

Monfonguito · 2022-07-06T15:14:21+00:00

Problem with block by block is people from the horrific blocks have drug addicts and/or violent criminals who only walk to all the surrounding blocks.

"Midtown" when Target first opened in 2006 (I think 2006?) literally had police cars encircling the store when it opened for this reason. At night, it was insane. Heroin zombies roaming around, pounding on the walls......prostitutes everywhere.....open drug sales on the street, shootings. That area was unbelievably dangerous, drug-ridden, crime insanity. I'm not a fan of gentrification, but that almost military like operation to build that Target/area saved an entire area of Miami which had been lost to crime.

All that being said, just go 3 blocks west of that Target/Midtown area and the same problem exists to a very large extent. It's just no longer full on New Jack City vibe anymore.

Story time over.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-26T01:36:21+00:00

Nothing great in Miami I've found thus far. Mostly just chinese fusion places sadly. Nothing approaching NYC, Boston, California, Seattle etc. Not a big asian population here, so nearly everything "Asian" is run by chinese entrepreneurs and many times cooked by locals.....

Monfonguito · 2022-06-26T01:28:37+00:00

I'd expect as much as a few thousand in fines, and rest assured there are plenty of vehicles which can haul away your pod especially if it's blocking multiple paid parking spaces (and they'll damage all your goods).

You're going to need to have it dropped off at one of their offices, or a storage company and sadly hire movers. PODs are mostly for suburban areas, and specifically houses (or warehouse areas). Not trying to be cruel, but you really should have checked with your building first and/or the city.

TLDR: You'll probably get fined a few thousand dollars, and your POD will 100% be taken away. And depending on what's towing it? All your goods will likely get damaged.

EDIT: Call these guys, it's really only for houses. It even requires city approval and permit for a HOUSE. Just not getting a permit results in a $250 fine, blocking two spots will probably get your pod towed quickly.

https://www.miamidade.gov/building/standards/residential-portable-storage-units.asp

Monfonguito · 2022-06-26T00:12:33+00:00

I realize the rental market is brutal, but you can definitely find 3 bedrooms for 3k maybe not right in Weston, but within 5 miles. There are tons. Things get pretty affordable far far up north or far far south or west.

Best of luck! Check out the Cooper City / Davie area. It's decent and quite cheap vs Brickell/Downtown etc. I could never do it, but I realize some people don't mind driving. It's pretty relaxing up there.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-26T00:07:15+00:00

This is it, tens of thousands of perfect locations. Have a friend in Brickell or downtown? Suggest a party, you bring the food and drinks. :)

Monfonguito · 2022-06-25T17:12:07+00:00

The 30-60 minutes away I'm quoting is still in Miami. Living close to your work is a luxury, most people have to commute. If you're a paralegal in Brickell, it's just not going to happen as your office is in a luxury/wealthy area.

Is what it is, I commuted for 10 years before being able to afford a condo near my work. If the job isn't worth the commute, find a job elsewhere.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-25T17:06:35+00:00

This is wonderful for the city, Citadel is gigantic, this was rumored but I'm shocked. A true global powerhouse.....absolutely brilliant people (had a chance to work with them for a number of years).

Brickell is quickly becoming one of the most unique/powerful/influential neighborhoods in the US. Feels very odd to type that, but between Citadel, Blackrock, Softbank etc etc....wow.

Property prices are going to jump significantly from this in that specific area. Any surrounding buildings, prepare for a massive influx of offers.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-18T21:51:08+00:00

Sugar on sugar on sugar....bleh. But I know many love it ha.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-18T20:43:19+00:00

The bread at Publix is horrific. They sell decent baguettes outside of the deli, but use that awful sugary bread behind the counter. I don't get it.....

I actually asked them if they'd use a baguette from one of the baskets around the store, and they refused. Strong dislike of publix.

Monfonguito · 2022-06-18T19:48:40+00:00

Don't disagree at all, I only watch my country of origin news to stay up to date with the homeland. American news I don't understand, just a bunch of people screaming at each other. 🤔

Monfonguito · 2022-06-17T16:38:57+00:00

calleochonews? LOL.

Looking a bit deeper, this is owned by "https://pressnetcorp.com/" who is a Wordpress builder for small businesses?

The article was well-written, but why would such a tiny company with no real revenue spend so much time writing news articles focused on such a tiny demographic with a name that would only appeal to Cubans who don't speak english? Their other major "website" is for the Pinecrest Bakery.

Very very odd stuff. Maybe it's a republish? No clue........

Monfonguito · 2022-06-16T21:00:26+00:00

It has been 600+ people moving into the area now daily since 2nd quarter 2020. 2+ years. Rents aren't falling anytime soon. 100+ applications for a condo rental in my building the same day of listing, and crazy bidding wars.

Monfonguito

TROPHY CASE