Agree, agree and agree.  The not nice thing really gets me going.

There’s a Roberto’s not only in Hialeah but also in 3 other locations in Miami. One even in South Miami. Roberto’s is awesome!

yeah I agree, people here are rude and uncivilized, it is a cultural thing, that is the way they were brought up, trashy people lack of civility.

"You got it. Rude, unfriendly people, total lack of customer service and an inexplicable lack of mexican food!  You forgot insane, belligerent drivers, mosquitos, 25 new murders on the news every night and the dirty politicians.  Miami gets my vote for worst city in the U.S.  I moved up to Broward!

Absolutely, bloody disgusting!!! I moved to Miami in 1989, thinking that I could leave the doldrums of the North behind. I did enter a new world, however, it was not long before I began to dislike, no really dislike, the lack of culture, lack of consideration,No speak English to me, “ME MACHO I KILL YOU IF YOU LOOK AT ME AGAIN” attitude, no descent parks to take walks through either alone or with a special someone. The scenery is, yes, FLAT, I expected this, either insufficient or lack of strategically paced foliage, therefore the intense heat and sweat we all must contend with during the summer months. There is zero Christmas spirit, no four seasons to really talk about, the Arts? The people are very unruly, uncivilized, poorly educated in general. I have been in many instances where I have extended my salutations to someone in the Publix line or any other place in Miami, and just like others in this area have stated,"courtesy is a no, no, in Miami” I have been cut off, oh not only in traffic, but in the lines at the theatre,(AMC, etc..) at the gas stations, at the Home Depot, at Piccadilly,..........Ther seems to be an excess of immigrants in Miami, whom were raised in far away places, where many of the social norms, ethics, mores, etc… are non-existent. I will not rag on immigrants in general now! I am referring to the one that arrive in Miami and become part of the high influx, overcrowded land also known as “Banana Republic”. Do I hate Miami? YES, after all these years, I have grown to detest it. I did move away to Fort Myers and it was spectacular!!! Had to return to Miami becasue of wife, what can I tell you. Nowadays, I am getting ready to move away from this ball of irrepairable confusion and for good. Things in Miami are never going to change for the better, the status quo will only increase to a more intolerable level to where those whom are savvy and can afford to pick up and get out of Miami, shall be spared from. Like this is not enough, think of this, Miami, overcrowded,Rude, unserviceable, EXPENSIVE to live, expensive condos and homes everywhere, roads are becoming virtually unpassable due to all the punishment they receive from influx of traffic and construction vehicle passing over, for which Miami streets were never designed for. Add to this whatever, things nag you about this place and, we have a paradise lost or a place we all belived was a paradise but never was, and now we are stuck. Oh, did I mention Miami is becoming dirty? Yeah, observe the streets everywhere, plastic bags, bottles, cans newspapers… you name it it is become a dirty place. I will not stay here any longer!!!!

Miami used to be a great city. There used to be alot of rock bands rolling through, alot of live music and other events. Now everything in Miami is dominated by cubans, latin music, ghetto rap music, spanish billboards, spanish adverts on buses, spanish everywhere!!!! not to mention brutally bad customer service virtually everywhere. They have even tried to make spanish the first language in Miami!!! Most of Miami are Cubans and other hispanics central/south americans. Even the ones that speak english choose to speak spanish or spenglish. The cubans have a blatant disrespect for the USA. This is especially disturbing considering that if it wasnt for the US, they would all be stuck living in a communist dump of a country.
The Cubans and other hispanics in Miami are extremely rude, obnoxious, loud, arrogant,fake, petty minded, greedy, unethical, ignorant and inconsiderate. Cubans pretty much run the city, and they show alot of favortism towards other cubans, so if you are a white american, good luck finding a good job.
The crime in Miami is horrific, and I`m not just talking about car theft and burgulary, I`m talking murder and rape crimes that are off the charts.
there are no safe havens for americans anymore as they have taken over the entire city. Miami has completely lost its american identity, and is now identified with latins and ghetto music. There are no signs of any improvements. I am not a racist, I`m a realist, this is the reality of Miami, ask any Miami native. Miami is living proof that melting pots are not necessarily a good idea.
Miami is the most depressing, frustrating and stressfull city in the country. I just recently moved to Boston, where everyone speaks english!!! Sure its much colder, but after living in Miami for 35 years, its a small price to pay.
And, those of you who judge me,
It`s real easy to site back and call me a racist living in your nice white suburbian american neighborhoods, but until you have lived in the trenches, you dont know what the hell you are talking about.

Hey its simple:
if you want to have low pay, in a city where the cost of living goes up but salaries are stagnant, move to miami.  Check out the protests of teachers and police officers.

If you want to invest in a new car and have it damaged by all the darn bumps & pot holes in the road, move to miami.

If you want to see racism, not between the majority(whites) and blacks like in other states, come see it between the minorities in a developing city called Miami.  Even rednecks in redneck cities/states waiving their confedereate flags and stickers on their cars would treat “others” with more respect.People who have come from almost the same background in terms of coming from impoverished and crime polluted countries/dictatorships treat others who went through the same battle as “less than human.” They(WE) all have fought and ran from the same problems towards a country that is “free” only to ostracize ea. other.  This is called the CRAB in THE BUCKET SYNDROME...THE DIVIDE & CONQUER TACTIC WORKS. 

If you believe that every city or state has a ghetto, Miami as a whole is a ghetto. 

Almost every condo and town home community is backed by low-income programs.  This is because some miamians need the help of the government(sect. 8, etc) because the pay in miami is pathetic.  An efficiency or studio runs about $650-800, a one bedroom $800-$1100 and even those are backed by low income programs.

The majority of the daycares are backed by voucher programs and other programs.  The parents pay a small fee while the government pays a large portion of the daycare bill.  For example, a parent would pay $4 a week while the government would pay the remaining $95.  I am not belittling those who need it, by all means if you need help, get it.  My point is Miami was considered one of the poorest cities in the country back in 2003. Why?  Because Miami only has to offer pathetic paying jobs, and every interview you go on, there is always a negotiation.  One is forced to take what they might passover, and then try to apply for programs for help.

If you want to get a bird’s eye view of corruption welcome to Miami.  Recently a leader(and others) at a housing authority was found using funds to construct low income housing to repair his own home and purchase other homes etc.

If you enjoy eating rodent droppings and having a couple of roaches mixed into your dish...come and enjoy the delightful cuisine of Miami.  Restaurants are closed down and exposed.

And I forgot to mention if you want to lose your identity just throw your trash in the gargabe...most likely someone would find the torn pieces of your social security number & put it back together to become you. Miami is the University of Fraud and Hard Knocks.

Also, if your want to catch the “bird flu” just go to a health clinic in Little Haiti that has chickens(yeah really, chickens, you know the bird) wandering around.

Also, if you want a career being an administative assistant you have the perfect start in miami-Miami firms would rather call you the administrative assistant for ten years
rather than the manager because they want to pay you 30k and under.  Your degree in Business Administration and/or management is useless in the MIA.  And most importatnly the “professional” people in “professional” positions can not
even tell you who handles what at their company, they would transfer you to another person who does not have a clue.

If you are looking for a handout come on over to Miami.  I recently read an article in the Miami Times about a businessman who just opened a gym in Miami.  They asked him “hat is his greatest obstacle?” he said the fact that the parent can’t afford to pay $25 a month for their child to be enrolled on a monthly basis. Wait, hello? Um isn’t 31 divided by 25 only a $1.24 a day.  A $1.24 a day to keep my child away from crime, guns, promiscuity and surround him with discipline, leadership skills, and health cnsciousness is worth thousands but they want the owner to forego the twenty five bucks-$1.24 a day.  While this mother says she can’t afford to pay the $1.24 per day or the $25 a month, she would immediately go to the hair salon down the block and pay $85 to get her hair done. Imagine if the owner says no free ride, that child would go commit crimes on the working class citizens in Miami.  As a working citizen in Miami you are pimped and preyed upon because you are doing the hard work while others sit and wait for the coins to drop in their hands.

If you want to become paranoid, go to a “doctor” here in Miami.  You can’t tell the real from the fake.  So many people in their people have false degrees, made by a home printer.
Also you may run into a doctor office in someone’s garage.  While you work paycheck to paycheck to gain a down payment on a home, others are gewtting their homes built from the ground up for free.  Only in Miami

KUDOS, to all especially Lane Myer and ROYAL!!! For having the galls to admit what they have had to contend with in this sorry facsimile of a city. I can already hear the Miami sympathizers say in their half-baked ghetto englispanilanguagsomething or another,"Yo dog, wazzup dog, if ya don lyke Majami, go to another place”. I know I am exaggerating here, however, I am furious with the situation in Miami and yes, I am planning my exit from this repulsive, want-to-be, so-called metropolitan whatever. Miami, has nothing more for me and it is sad, but, many more good citizens will follow suit.

You guys are right - I just moved here from Philadelphia, And I have to say that I am shocked that I feel like I am not in U.S. soil here in Miami. Spanish is the number one language here. Fine. They pretty much built this city anyway , I mean the Cubans. Yeah, and the music, personally I like salsa, but it is too much in Miami. But hey everyone, the beauty of living in Miami is - you actually get to know what it is like to live in South America without having to leave the country. But eventually Latin American will rule this country. Look at the birth rate of Latin-American. It is just a matter of time (could be in 30 years) that this country will be a Hispanic country. If you can’t stand it, maybe you can move to Canada or Australia.

Freddie, thanks for the comment. I enjoyed your paper on the Semantic Internet. About your comment above, “the beauty of living in Miami is - you actually get to know what it is like to live in South America without having to leave the country.” I also look at it like a positive - living in Miami is the cheapest way to experience different cultures. Please register for Forum account, there is a link to join at the top of this page:

http://forums.miamibeach411.com

The invitation goes to everyone here. Thank you all for your comments. Your thoughtful remarks have given other people a better understanding of our city, and what to expect.

Althought this discussion has become very lively, I don’t think anything that’s been said has crossed the line.

MiamiGirl, sorry to see your site go.

Moody, thanks for the Roberto’s tips!

Don’t stop commenting. This is the one place on the Web where it’s okay to discuss what’s bad about Miami. Go on, let ‘em rip!

After everything is off your chest, join the Community Forum.

Communication and collective knowledge can make a difference in our quality of life.

Note: If you are posting a comment here, hit the “Submit” button once. Give it time. Something IS happening. Really. Trust me. The reason it may lag: with so many long comments above, it slows ths System down.

Mamma ain’t no speed reader. When adding comments to THIS post, she takes her sweet time to make sure everything is aok.

I just transfered to the University of Miami from Northeastern University in Boston. That was a huge mistake. I knew Miami was a little bit ghetto but I never realized it was this bad.

Miami should never be classified as a city. In my opinion, it lacks several important components any normal city consists of. In addition to not having a thriving center of anything, the quality of everything is poor such as the arts to education, from joblessness to high crime rates.

The biggest problem here are the people.  Clearly, image is this number one motivating factor behind anyones actions. The only thing that is exceptional is Miami’s drug import and nightlife. If you’re looking for anything other then those things, don’t come here.

However, I’m confused how such a stellar University survived in this depressing, poor place. Thank God I’m class of 2007 because I’ll be leaving as soon as I collect my diploma.
~Nick

Attention! the 12:45 Boat for freshly wetback Cuban immigrants has just arrived.

Oh wait! that’s not what i was going to write… anyway it’s still the honest truth. I agree with your 10-things why this infernal city sucks. But not only that, it blows! You have to speak Spanish to communicate with the poorly trained animals that you encounter, oops! i meant poorly “educated citizens”, you find more people, languages, and culture down here than in the United Nations building. The rename of some of the streets with Cuban personalities names like no other people live here is what ticks me off and is totally a slap in the face to this country that has been gracious enough to open it’s border to them and the other communities that live here.

I had a Roberto’s carne burrito just last Friday night/Saturday morning...mmm mmm good!!! 

i hate all the stickers i see on people’s SUVs that say “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!” My god, has miami morphed into Alabama?  There are graffiti stickers plastered all over stoplights and telephones also saying don’t vote for lawyers.  It is so freaking conservative here w/ way too many republicans.  Seems like they let the cubans come in and stay cuz they know they will soon vote republican while they turn away the haitians who vote democrat.  I hate that there are no large gourmet grocery stores.  In seattle or denver or la, there are some really great places to grocery shop.  i live in the grove and pretty much am stuck w/ driving either 15 min to south beach to shop at wild oats or driving to pinecrest.  i hate that there is no gay pride and no gay community center.  i also hate that there is no arts cinema in miami.  you have to drive to ft. lauderdale.  but what gets me the most is that it seems this whole freaking city still supports our idiot president.  they drive cars like they just came from the used car lot w/ flags attached to the outside window and have giant dubya stickers. overall though, i like miami.  i certainly like that people are more direct and less fake, unlike everyone who is polite out west but underneath may not be so nice.

Don’t Get me wrong, I’m not a racist. But The things about the cubans are right. They have no common sense, they are too lazy to learn english, and they are taking over s.fla. Also, there aren’t too much on the radio down there. Mostly salsa, rap, and talk stations on AM. only 2 country stations down around homestead. WCTH 100.3-HSTD, WKIS 99.9-Miami. And, a bunch of rotten landfills, like mount trashmore off the tpk in homestead. Wouldn’t mind living down in Redland, though. All there is are a bunch of blue collar rednecks like myself. nearly as many down in s.florida as there are here in N.Alabama.

Travis, I must research this place Redland; it sounds reminiscent of the movie “Porky’s” or “Gator McClusky”. I’ve been looking for a weekend getaway like that.

Nick, Well said. Good luck on where you diploma may take you.

Erika, congrats on your burrito conquest. Save one for your bro.

wowie, I hate the lack of gourmet grocery stores in Miami too! That would drive me crazy to have to drive to South Beach.

You loose me when you say “people act more direct and less fake” here. I find the formality and machismo of some Latin people muy fake.

For the most part, in Miami there is not a lot of trust for people outside of your social circle. This can be a hard obstacle to overcome when meeting new people.

I’m from San Diego. I’d say people have more humanity and compassion out there. I’ve also lived in Chicago, and generally speaking, people are nicer there too.

Here’s a tip for the touchy feely people from the West Coast, and those wholesome folks from the Mid West: you need to have a thicker skin here. Some cultures view being nice as a sign of weakness. But don’t let that stop you! Who wants to walk around hating all day?

Speaking of Miami haters, did anyone hear what the Colorado congressman said about Miami being a ‘Third World Country’?

People are still fuming about what he said, but it made me laugh because to be honest, there are some areas here that look very ‘Third World’, especially to someone from Colorado.

I’m thinking about having a contest in the Forum where members submit their most ‘Third World’ picture of Miami.

Is anyone interested in playing? Our last contest made the front page of the Miami Herald Business section.

If not, please continue hating on Miami here with words…

Sometimes you have to leave Miami to realize what it is and what it isn’t.  I recently began traveling to Northern California in the last four years.  I used to think Miami was a great place to live until I realized what I was missing.  I found people in California were a lot like me.  Not in some socio-economic way but in a more humanistic tone.  Complete strangers talk to each other in California, you have a sense of pride and community.  People say thank you and smile.  People help each other out.  People apologize for bad service.  Cultures in California are proud of their diversity and don’t take on a “like me or screw you” attitude. 

I’ve used to tell people “if you want people to smile at you, you have to smile first.  Just watch their face light up.  Sometimes you have to make the first step in being friendly.” Although the concept was warm and fuzzy the actuall practice doesn’t work.  You can smile at someone here and they don’t smile back.  You’ll be lucky if they even look at you.  The population here has not even the slighest concept of what customer service is about.  You can wait in line at a drive through for 30 minutes with out an apology or get horrible service at an expensive eatery.  It’s across the board,

Miami’s infrastructure isn’t capable of sustaining the growth it’s experiencing.  Thousands of condos going up every day, most of them not even being purchased by locals.  Don’t look at your local City or County Officials for help on this because they’ve received massive kick backs to get those building code violating structures approved.  Corruption in government is the norm here, not the exception. 

And when you do have corruption or City Officials that are exposed, they continue to get re-elected by people who are satisfied simply by the fact they share their same ethnic background.  Recently a local commissioner was up for recall because of her horrible track record.  When it went up to the voters she had seniors bused in to vote for her and ordered lunch for the preceints.  Of course she’s still in office. 

And yes, Miami is becomming a dirty place.  My neighborhood is littered by bottles, rotting food, trash, diapers, broken glass on a constant basis and the home are selling for $500-$700K.  Why would anyone be satisfied to live like this?  The answer is simple.  The don’t know any better.  Many people come from third world countries with out services that we’ve come to take for granted.  Instead of city officials providing enforcement they let it slide.  Heaven forbid they would fine a fellow countrymen.  The result is a dirty filthy city that gets even more dirty by the day.

Before you could say that Miami’s cost of living wasn’t as high as California but it’s fastly approaching.  So why continue to live here?  Property taxes are through the roof and insurance companies are raping us.  There’s no real culture down here.  Yeah you have a large latin community but within that group they is much divide.  The Cubans hate anyone note from Cuba as does everyone else.  Are you from Argentinia?  You must be stuck up then.  Peru?  Forget about it. 

So there you have it.  I’ve lived here for 30 years, since I was six years old.  I used to love this place but it’s become a mess.  I miss northern CA more and more every day.  I miss the tress, the public transportation, the sense of environment and responsibility for your fellow neighbor.  Someone give me a job in CA!!

I just found this site and I feel so identified by all the comments I see here.I lived in miami for 10 years and I have recently moved to California. Been here for 6 months already and I love it. People are so friendly and have so much respect for each other. Missing CA, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Plenty of jobs here and opportunities, and as you know California is the eighth-largest economy in the world. The state, with about 37 million residents, ranks behind the United States, Japan, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.

This site is right on! I lived there for 4 years and I hated it. South Beach, the Grove and all those places get really old really quick. It is true that if you’re not of Cuban descent you can’t land a good job. It’s like a mafia down there. I also hate they’re cuban accent. They think they speak english so well when in fact they all sound like Tony Montana and Manny from Scarface. Oh and those are the ones who actually “speak” english. Miami is cool to visit, go clubbing and then head back home. Don’t ever live there, unless you like rude people, extreme heat and humidity, low wages and 24 hour traffic jams.

I am reading this site at 4am in the morning, because I am searching for answers.  I think I have found them.  I am from New York, and I moved here about 3 years ago.  Last night I spoke with my partner, and finally realized how much I hate this state I live in. We bought a house which is beautiful, and is in Broward county.  North of Miami.

This might sound strange, but I miss the warmth of New Yorkers. Because in comparison to these people in South Florida, New Yorkers are wonderful, warm and sensitive people.

Everything mentioned on this site is true, all of it.  I am of Ni Racial African American background, and I feel like an outsider in my own country.  There is nothing cultural here, where I am which is considered the suburbs, I have fallen into a malaise.  My personality has adapted to become a superficial, aggressive driver and disconnected to what is important to me. I need to leave this town, otherwise I am going to go crazy.  This place might be right for some people.  But if you are educated, creative and compassionate, stay away.  If you are seeking to be connected with people, via community.  South Florida isn’t for you.

It’s beautiful on the outside, but the longer you stay, the illusion fades away.  I am convinced that builders’ are looking to capitalize on the influx of Cubans to Miami, once Castro dies.

Roberto’s is bomb!  But let me introduce you to Tex Mex Cafe.  The place in Coral Gables on US1 off Ponce De Leon is tiny but TRUST me it is the best.  There is another location in Kendall on 117 ave and another that just opened in Miami Beach on Alton.  I have been a fan of this place since they started a few years back and they have just gotten better over the years.

i just discovered you guys,
and can i just honestly say..
I Love you guys!! Thank you SO much..
this site is so helpful.
as soon as i get down there,
i’m taking you all out for a drink
(i hope to be there by the end of the summer)

BIG hug to you all

I completey agree with every single negative comment made on this post. I attend the University of Miami and just moved off campus to Miami Beach this year. This was the WORST mistake I have ever made in my life, but it is bittersweet because I have now realized what a miserable city Miami really is and am currently divising my exit strategy to a happier life next year (transferring back up north to a real American city...bring on the cold!!!!). I would not have realized this if I had remained sheltered on the UM campus...I really don’t think many kids there really understand what Miami is all about. I could not imagine getting stuck with a job here after college. The traffic makes going anywhere further than 3 miles from where you live impossible and there is no way to predict when you will spend 2 hours sitting in your car.  It’s too damn hott and humid. Employess EVERYWHERE are lazy and inconsiderate. The airport is a dive. All in all, life in Miami is the most inconvenient and pain in the ass way to live that I could possibly imagine. Every day, I just want to crawl in a hole and go to sleep when I get home. I was lured to Miami by all of the romantic images that we all see on TV, but what they don’t tell you is that most of Miami (probably 80%) is a dirty, crime-ridden, poverty stricken, 3rd world country that is spilling over into the entire city. I am also amazed how UM has become such a great school during this time...I guess it’s no suprise that many graduates get the hell out of Miami after they graduate. Writing this really helped me vent off some steam, even if no one reads it. I just needed to get this all out somewhere. All I can say is NEVER EVER EVER EVER even THINK about moving here EVER!  I alsmot feel like it is my civic duty to start a non-profit group committed to warning people about what an armpit Miami is.I was in Boston last weekend and it was FREEZING, but I was loving every minute of it simply because the bitter cold was the antithesis of Miami. I literally could have run around naked outside it made me so happy! When I get the hell out of here to a real city, I will truly appreciate every waking minute of it.

There are 2 versions of Miami: there’s the Miami you see on TV, which is mostly Miami Beach, then there’s the rest of Miami – a bland, urban landscape littered with apartment buildings that look like cheap motels, gas stations, tacky strip malls, Publix supermarkets (Publix are the only real chain here), endless fast food restaurants, warehouses and cheap looking business parks. The version of Miami you don’t see on the TV is version 2 (an urban wasteland), where poverty, crime and inequality are rife and where the streets are literally choked with traffic. If you’re poor, you’ll live in a shack or an efficiency, or if you’re lucky, you’ll live in one of those apartment buildings that look like cheap motels with tiny windows and no view. If you’re middle class, you’ll probably find yourself living in the suburban hell depths of Kendall on SW 1,536,474 Street and 3,346,134 Ave, where you’ll pay $500k for your box-like house, which looks just like the million other box-like houses in your neighborhood and you’ll spend 4 hours a day commuting to work. Actually, if you have any sense, you’ll live in Broward, even if it means suffering the daily commute on the I-95 parking lot.

Miami is a city with some of the worst traffic in North America. The roads here are inadequate, sub standard and generally f**ked up.  Drivers here are amongst the rudest in the country. Drivers here are reckless, inconsiderate and downright rude.  There have been a number of hit and runs here too lately, which is disturbing.  Oh and public transportation is a joke for a metro of over 5 million people.

People here are downright rude, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Customer service in general here is far worse than ANYWHERE in the United States and there’s a general lack of quality and efficiency here that is so common in the rest of this great country. Many people in this city are simply out to rip you off, whether it’s mechanics, doctors, vets or dentists. In Miami, you could be dying in the street and no one will stop to help you out.

The poor here are forced to live in slums, or even shanty towns because housing here is so insanely expensive. It’s very easy to end up in a bad neighborhood too, hence the fact that many tourists and visitors get killed/robbed. Miami is a city where the words “affordable” and “housing” simply do not see eye to eye.

Unless you’re into clubbing, reggaeton and drinking yourself into an oblivion, there’s really nothing much to do here. There is no “culture” here at all. This city is bland, boring, flat and uninteresting. There is little in the way of history here. Miami claims to be a great center of Latin culture, yet it doesn’t even come close to cities like Mexico City or Buenos Aires..  Many of the Cubans here are degenerate thugs who will discriminate against anyone who isn’t Cuban.

The new condo buildings here are nothing short of a disgrace. They are poorly designed, bland and they all look the same as the next condo. It’s sad that this city’s skyline will be shaped by bland condo buildings for decades to come – condo buildings that may not even sell as the condo boom will surely go bust at some point. It seems that this city builds and builds and builds without giving thought to investing in transport infrastructure or helping its real citizens that are the bread and butter of its economy.

Homeless people are everywhere here and it’s sad. You have such a huge gap between rich and poor because this is a city that is all about “me, me, me” and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the poor.

There is no scenery around here either. You have to drive all the way up to Georgia or South Carolina to find scenery, because there’s f**k all in Florida. There’s the Everglades, but humans have done such a great job of ruining that. The terrain here is flat, boring and it’s all the same even if you drive way past Orlando.

The climate is what brings a lot of people here, but the climate sucks. For 6 months of the year, it rains more than it rains in Seattle. You have the risk of being hit by a hurricane too and this place has flooded more times than I care to remember. If so much as a tropical storm hits, it renders thousands of people without power for sometimes as long as 5 weeks. If a hurricane hits, forget it – the weak-ass power grid just crumbles.

Most people in Miami are a carbon copy of the next person and it’s sickening.  They’re shallow, rude, superficial and obnoxious. 

Miami isn’t like anywhere else in the United States – it is a country of its own, in many respects. You can’t live the “American Dream” here because this simply isn’t America - it’s become “La Republica Miami-Dade con reggaeton”.

In summary, palm trees don’t make a paradise.  Do not con yourself into thinking otherwise, like I did.

The weather here is awesome--8 months of 70-85 degree sunshine, the other 4 months are 89 and VERY humid, but where isn’t hot in the summer?. The scenery is second to none. The water is Caribbean blue, palms everywhere, much prettier than Southern California’s brown hills, brown skies, dark waters. The people and jobs in Miami, that’s a whole ‘nuther story. Miami has Caribbean beauty and climate, but also has Caribbean jobs and wages.

If you don’t know Casino rueda, you don’t know Miami. I just moved from Miami to Alpharetta, GA, and you know what, I miss Miami. The Travel in Miami isn’t that bad, trust me. And drivers in New Jersey and Georgia may be crazier than your typical Spanish speaking Miami driver.

I agree with almost everyone on here. I was born and raised here (and am getting out of here soon, thank God)and I think that socially one of the worst problems here is the hostility towards others based on race/national origin/ ethnicity.  White Americans stick together but show anxiety about the growing hispanic population; Cubans brought with them their own racial prejudices as white Cubans who came here in the 50s for political reasons are antagonistic towards darker Cubans who came later for economic reasons.  Then there are the prejudices that surface against black Americans, central Americans, and South Ameircans, especially the Argentinians who all other hispanics percieve as being too “hoity toity”.  Then there is the general anxiety about Haitian immigrants.  All this antagonism is too much. 
What makes it all the more ridiculous is that there is no program to introduce new immigrants to American culture.  Case in point is the number of public elementary schools that attempt to teach students in both Spanish and English.  As someone that works in higher education, these students have some of the worse language skills I have seen (and I know my skills are not perfect, but ...).  Generally, the students I have from South America who learned English there have better Spanish and English language skills.  But, the myth of a multi-cultural society says this is the way it has to be. 
Mind you, it is only hispanic culture.  In Miami there are no bi-lingual schools for Creole and English.  This points to the general hostility towards those who don’t speak Spanish.  When I worked in retail I had several friends who spoke Spanish, but only in the home.  At work they would speak only in English.  On one occasion as a friend of mine was ringing two women up, the one turned to the other and called my friend a “stupid American” because she thought the girl didn’t understand Spanish, not that she refused to speak it (my friend looks “American”, i.e. blond hair).  At the end of the transaction my friend handed the women their bags, and in Spanish told them to have a nice day.  The women were horrified!  This has happened on several occaisions.  I have been told I need to speak Spanish since I live in Miami.  When the Spanish card is pressed, I respond in French or Polish--the looks I get are priceless.  They are at once shocked that a “stupid American” speaks another language, but they are also hostile because it is not their language.  In a similar vein, I have also been told that Americans are dirtier than hispanics because we have carpet instead of tile in many of our rooms, we don’t clean the house every day, and we walk around barefoot.  My response to the person that told me this was, “Obviously, you have abuela (grandma) or mom at home with no job.”

I guess in conclusion of this long discourse, I would just impress my belief that much of this “rudeness,” and “dirtiness” that we all complain about stems from the government’s failure to do what other countries force immigrants to do---assimilate.  This does not mean making people denounce their culture.  As the grandson of immigrants I can attest that it is possible to assimilate to American society while maintaining cultural connections. But this means also leaving somethings behind.  Firing guns in the air in celebration has to end; having your music blaring in a community of town houses at 2 am has to stop; yelling out of the window of your house to friends in the drive way at night has to end.  We need to stress that rules apply to everyone; that the American flag should be given its proper place in regards to other flags (people here are notorious for flying only the Cuban flag, or if they have the American flag as well, it is in the wrong position).  Unfortunatly, too many people have bought their way into local government here.  Miami has become a third world city--a banana republic. 
If you have to live in Miami--and you have the means--live east of US1: Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Aventura.  These areas are more expensive but they are cleaner and there is a greater chance of dealing with people who are nice and decent.
P.S.  The police are USELESS here.

The only thing I hate about Miami are the Dirty Cubans especially Cuban men. When they speak Spanish they sound like a bunch of pigs. Cubans are so sloppy, and they are so proud of Miami but this city is nasty, of course Miami looks like Cuba. They are loud and rude.

I love Miami, and although I totally agree with the comments the author originally posted, I feel that the readers leaving comments are just using stereotypes. As a Cuban woman, I am hurt that these stereotypes exist, but hey, I guess it’s good that the people who think that way want to leave, right? Yeah, drivers SUCK and so does traffic, but the people I encounter our very nice. Family from out of town always comment on how overly friendly people are because when we meet someone we always hug and kiss them. People are also very nice, and regardless of what people think, the majority of the Cuban community is very proud to be in America.

About the customer service and food prices-- could not be anymore true. No matter where you go, everything is amazingly overpriced. In some places, you can pay almost $20 a person for shit food.

Never been to miami but had a friend back in the air force who said that he hated miami. He wife was from miami, she is nicaraguan. The deal is that he visited maimi a couple of times and never liked it. He said it was a shit hole, nobody spoke enlgish and he never really like the cubans either. He never told me excatly why but he expressed his disgust with the cubans and the city as a whole. Dont feel bad, he also thought New orleans was dump too.  And no is not white, he was black dude from Mississippi.

I’m glad that alot of you guys have been able to vent on this website and that is what makes this country so great, the freedom of speech.  What I don’t finish understanding is that if you hate it so bad in this “third world country city”, why dont you get the hell out of here and do yourself a favor.  I agree with some comments about people been rude and I can tell you that not everyone here has time to socialize due to the lack of time we have in this huge city.  I completely understand and agree that everyone should speak english.  The two most spoken languages in the world are english and spanish(by 2048 spanish will be most spoken language in the world so deal with it) so you might as well get with program.  Every city has bad road and rude people.  I can tell you from experience because I have traveled the country and who ever denieds it is not being realistic. If you are complaining about traffic being so bad why dont try Santa Ana(Cali), San francisco(Cali),Washington DC, Atlanta and I can go on and on and on and on about traffic being bad trust so stop complaining about the traffic in Miami.  What do you expect about customer service when you have city with more than 350,000 people plus tourist. I think you are not considering that the people who are giving the “worst customer service” are tired by the middle of the day? Someone said something about Miami being the worst city in the country when it comes to crimes?  Why dont you move to baltimore, detroit, st. louis, washington, newark, kansas city, philadelphia, cincinnati, cleveland, oakland, atlanta and I can go on and on and on and on and on so stop bitching about this city or get the hell out of here.  You are right that there is no culture here because you have so many of them and dont take the time to get to know anyone because you close mind doesn’t let you get pass the fact the everyone is so bad in this city. You have so much culture here starting with Cubans, Nicaraguans, Hondurans, Brasilian, Venezuelans, Colombians, Argentines, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Whites, Blacks, and on and on and you get point.  I dont know why people speak from frustration and dont think before they comment.  I’m sorry that some of you can’t deal with poor people living where they can due to the fact that it is a real expensive city to live in but you don’t see this people complaining on how they live so why should you judge where they live. I also wanted to mention to the dumbo who says that it rains 6 month out of the year here in florida and that it rains more here than seattle, I dont know which miami he is talking about, it must be miami,ohio. I also wanted to mention how some of you are complaining about the streets of miami being dirty.  Have you been to New York, New Orleans, L.A, and I can go on.  There was girl here that mention that would never never never never ever live in Miami again, we don’t need babies like you complaining about living in Miami.  You can move to Boston where you were freezing your a** off like you mention and where he crime rate is number 26 in the country(go ahead).  There was also another person here mentioning that their isn’t enough supermarkets.  You should mention to your family to get you a GPS for christmas because you forgot WinDixie, Wild Oats, Costco, Sam’s club, Wall Mart, Targets and on and on.  So like I mention people dont think before they comment. Perrey, I don’t know where you are from but for sure your descendants were wetback too because if you are not a Native America they came from another country.  So Perrey, think before you speak you “uneducated animal”.  There are so many things I would like to say but I am not going to keep explaining anything about Miami.  The bottom line is that if you dont like Miami, you should move away to a place where you are much happier because its a shame that you are not happy where you live.  That is the great thing about this country that everyone has the right to its opinion and that there is lots of opportunity else where for people like you who don’t like Miami.  Some of you are right to say that Miami is not for everyone.  The diversity is huge but when we all need each other during hard times like Hurricanes or 911, we all become one.

This last comment bothers me.  The commenator says that Spanish will be the number one spoken language in the world soon.  I thought mandarin was the most spoken and will be for some time.  If we are req’d according to this man’s moral compass to learn the most spoken language in the world, he better ditch the spanish and enroll in all those chinese cultural/language courses one finds in miami NOT...what a moron.  Because there are no such courses here.  There’s just clubs and drugs and lame designer brands. 
He badmouths many other cities, which frankly, doesn’t seem to leave too many options in the good’ol US of A for people who are just realizing that they are over this whole place.  Maybe he is saying we should all just leave.  With that, I may agree with him because besides the traffic and crime that is omnipresent in Miami and the US, we have a sucky president that is terrorizing the world in our names.  Maybe life would be better or at least cheaper somewhere like ecuador on a giant tract of land.
As for grocery stores, he mentions target, walmart… why not move to texarcana if those are the only fancy grocery stores big city folks have the option of shopping at?  These large sovietesque distribution centers satisfy the masses in the heartland/god’s country, so people in miami should just suck it up and be happy to fill their bodies up w/ preservatives, melamine, and high fructose corn syrup.  Just pray to jesus if you got a weight problem.
As for the Native americans, didn’t they come over here on a land bridge?  He seems to imply that they have always been here.  Didn’t we all come from somewhere over near tanzania?  These kinds of statements just drive these false ethno-superiority assertions people believe.  Who cares who was here first?  Do we want to just live in a world of I was here first, the property is mine?  Seems selfish, narrowminded and ethnocentric.  We should all have a right to equally enjoy where we are.  Miami has a problem w/ boxing people in and separating the rich from the poor.  All the common areas seem to revolve around commercialism.
As for telling people to leave it they don’t love it, this reminds me of a common sticker here that says america: love it or leave it - implying that if you don’t support the war, you can get the hell out.  Well maybe it’s time to not just get the hell out of miami, but to leave the usa completely.

The only reason why Talia seems to be hurt by the negative stereotypes is because she knows some of them are true; so stop being in denial.  America was and is making progress on the racism issues until people like the Cubans brought their own racist and colorism issues here.  In fact Cubans of fair skin (white) are against darker hued Cubans and have brought that shit here just when black and white Americans were getting along just fine for the most part and making progress.
I don’t think Cubans are proud to be in America but have contributed to and re-ignited to the problems like causing DIVISION by speaking SPANISH when people at work are trying to meet one common goal.  In fact there are Hispanic cops doing what white American cops do to black people with racial profiling, arresting for the fun of it, and falsifying records, etc. If lynching was legal I believe Cubans would be the first in line to lynch White Americans, Black Americans, Hatians, Asians, and other non-cubans, to tell you the truth, but it will never work.
I found out how racist Cubans were when a CHINESE AMERICAN told me she was treated unfairly by Cuban Americans.
I found out how racist Cubans are when a Nicaraguan friend of mine told me they called her “Nica-Negro.” I see the racism and it not from White Americans like back in the day, Cubans and Cuban Americans are the new age KKK-point blank. A politician called a MDPS superintendent a “nigger-or negro.”
I went to MDC and I attended a diverse populations class, and 90% of the class was Cuban. Cubans said things from “we left the Nicaraguans in the slums, Blacks are dumb...” They were so surprised when an African American female who had a 4.9 GPA, who was the Valedictorian of her highschool came to speak our classroom. Where I currently work, Cubans call the White Americans gringos and other Hispanics who have the respect and consideration to speak English around the American peers Gringos too.  So stop being in denial, Talia. You get hugs and kisses because you start off a converstaiton in Spanish.

And I dont understand with all the bad roads and the influx of immigrants why these roads are so bad, I mean American applicants are usually turned away from these jobs.

But I do understand now, that the poor customer service, poor quality, poor sanitation, corruption, & racism STEMS from immigrants bringing poor customer service, poor quality, poor sanitation
corruption & racism from their land to the USA. Sometimes even when you leave the ghetto is finds itself in you-even if you come to another country.

I’m Mad i ran into this article, Im glad this person doesn’t live in Florida, can’t take the heat then get out!

You guys must he ignorant so move out for the new generation please! Move north and keep your snow and sticky hotness! I’m in Connecticut( for school) and there’s no culture or diversity its wack, so it looks like you guys can’t handle that get out already, if Miami was that bad people like you wouldn’t be flocking there when its winter time, or your kids for spring break! And WHO GOES TO Florida for Mexican Food!!!! Idiot, go to California, and I’m sure there’s homeless people like ares in every state, and crap service in your state too, or maybe you couldn’t afford high class food which means low class service, too bad for you. You guys are terribly ignorant that’s sad :-(

I couldn’t have said it better: South Florida is a pit. I’m from a small city in upstate New York. Four years ago, I thought it would be fun to give Florida a try.

But some background would be fair. Record-setting blizzards literally shut my hometown down a few years back. The streets were littered with cars abandoned in snow piles, and many people were stranded miles from their neighborhoods.

What happened? Hotels downtown let guests stay for free. I was stuck on a main city thoroughfare for several hours waiting for the snow to let up and for traffic to move; people who lived on that street came to the windows of our cars and passed out leftover Halloween candy to us stranded motorists. A school bus came by and started to spin it’s wheels in a snowbank; we jumped out of our cars and trucks and pushed the bus out and back on its way to getting the kids home. Everyone cheered. We laughed. We lived. We did it together.

After Hurricane Wilma, I never felt so alone in my life. I had the overwhelming feeling that I was very much on my own here. That whatever I had, I should hold on to it, and not let anyone else know about it. I had some gas stockpiled in my garage, and I offered some to a few people I met at a post-hurricane get-together at a friends’ house. Not only were they surprised that I’d offer them the gas (why wouldn’t I?), they ended up trying to use all of it up ("uh, we don’t know the next time we’ll get to a gas station”—as if any of us knew).

I’ve never been more disappointed in humanity; I’ve never cried so much at the downright hostility that many people here carry as if it were a badge of honor. These proclamations that one needs to ‘toughen up!’ to live here are absolutely correct. I’m afraid that if I stay here one more minute I may become one of them—rude, inconsiderate, self-serving.

Sadly, I’m stuck here for a while as the condo I bought two years ago (and even got a halfway decent deal on) isn’t even worth what I paid for it. Prices have plummeted in the aftermath of the whammy hurricane seasons we have had. And to the folks that say “if you hate it, leave,” I promise you that the truly good people will not stick around to watch this place truly go to hell. All the finely-sculpted lawns, tits, and asses aren’t fooling anyone: South Florida has all the substance of cotton candy, with the same sickly feeling in your stomach when you know you’ve had too much.

m Cuban. I came 10 years ago. I learned English. Im not a racist.  I hold two Harvard Degrees.  Im proud to live in America.

Like me, most my friends that came in the 90s are not racists, hold professional degrees, learned English, respect their fellow citizens and make over 100k a year.

I love how people complain about everything. Cubans this, Cubans that, Cubans are racist. Cubans dont like other Latins.

Truth of the matter is.  Is true some people are rude (there are bad apples everywhere, Paris Hilton for example), for some it will take a while to get the American way, studies have shown that it takes three generations to completely assimilate into the American culture. Thats not a Cuban problem.

When the Italians first came, everyone would hate them. Italians this, Italians are mafiosi, Italians favor Italians.  Italians are racist. Did NYC and NJ sank into the ocean.  I dont think so. And guess what Giuliani may be the next president.

The issue with Miami is that the influx of immigrants (not only Cubans) is high in a short period of time, so it takes time for them, like it took for me, to assimilate into the culture.  By the way, Since the late 90s Cubans are minority in Miami-Dade when compared to other Hispanic groups. So this is not a Cuban problem.

Hate against other groups is part of human nature, particularly to the majority groups.  If you go to Wisconsin Polish-Americans hate German-Americans, if you go to Louisiana blacks hate whites, if you go to Cali, Korean and Chinese hate Japanese.  Chileans hate Argentinians. Argentineans hate Uruguayans. Uruguayans hate Paraguayans. French hate Americans.  So it is just human nature.

About the cities...for those wanting to go to Philly I invite you to go to the area around Temple University it looks like Baghdad. In Boston swing around Roxbury. In NYC go to Harlem, the Bronx and some areas of Queens.  In Jersey go to Newark, this place stinks.

My advice is: Stop hating other people and concentrate on working hard and living a decent and prosperous livey.  Dont take things personal. I dont take personal what some said here about Cubans, I go on with my life. You guys should do the same.  If you cant communicate in Spanish, then dont talk to Spanish speaking people, they’re just trying to assimilate and have a decent living in this wonderful country. If you cant tolerate Miami, then move there is plenty of land in this country.

I hate to make this reference, but I must in lieu of all the misrepresented facts about Cubans.  Last census data and facts in general shows that Cubans are very successful.

1) 4 Cubans in the House of Representatives.

2) 2 Cubans in the Senate.

3) US Secretary of Commerce is Cuban.

4) Numerous faculty appointments and
chairs at high ranking universities.

5) Cuban born immigrants have the highest home ownership than any other Hispanic group in the country.

6) Cubans born in Cuba, have the highest educational attainment compared to other Hispanics and only fall short of White-Americans

7) 39% of native-born Cuban Americans have a college degree or higher education, as compared to only 30% of non-Hispanic whites, and 12% for all other Hispanic groups

8) Cubans born in Cuba only slightly fall short in income compared to White-Americans. Cuban-Americans, on the other hand, have higher incomes than White-Americans.

9) Cubans have the lowest natality rate
compared to any other Hispanic group.

10) Former CEO of Coca Cola. Cuban.

11) Former CEO of Kellog. Cuban.

12) First US Hispanic owned business to reach 1 billion in sales. MASTEC. Cuban founded and owned.

13) Cuban in the Forbes richest people in America.

14) Asset Management Advisors CEO Cuban (Hispanic Women CEO of the year)

I could go on and on. Not to bad for a group that has been in this country in significant numbers for 48 years.

My 2 cents

Some people are not saying racist things about Cubans or other groups but rather observations.  Manny needs to realize that simply not speaking to Spanish speaking people is not what we’re discussing.  We’re talking about going to the store, gas station, department store, etc. and not being able to get help or service because people can’t speak the English language.  And then being treated rude on top of that.  It’s frustrating when you can’t get basic services.

Some of my best friends are Cuban and I truly admire what the people as a whole has become in the US.  Manny is correct in saying that so many Cubans have become important members of American Society.  However he’s incorrect with his “If you don’t like it then leave” attitude. 

There’s many issues that have been stated here which are entirely correct.  If everyone that hated those issues left then you would never get them solved would you?

Miami just came out as the nations #1 place for road rage and rude drivers.  Does that not say something about the city?  Does it not say something when you can lose your wallet in a store and 20 minutes later there’s already $500+ worth of merchandise illegally charged against it?  Does it say something when you’ve lost your wallet twice in California and both times it was returned to you?

I think officials elected in Miami really need to start paying attention to what’s going on.  They need to make light of cultures and celebrate and integrate them.  Not keep them apart.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we all spoke a common language?  Isn’t lack of communication and fear the number one reason people don’t get a long?  How can we integrate as a society if you can’t even understand each other when we speak?  Signs now are written in three languages!  That’s not integration, that’s keeping everyone in their own little boxed up world.

When you go to place like San Francisco you visit places like China Town and Little Italy.  They are ready for tourists and love your business and welcome you.  How about going to little Havana or Haiti as a tourist?  GOOD LUCK.

So open your eyes and ears even if you think what people are saying is racist.  They are upset for a reason.  Don’t just shut them down and ignore the problem.  It will only get worse.

hanks for the post.

I agree with you in most things.  True, recently arrived immigrants do need to learn the language, incorporate the American culture, and be more polite.  A strong educational system would guarantee that the newly born immigrants fulfill that requirement.  I would be for declaring English the national language.  I would be for strict requirements of learning about American culture before granting residency or citizenship.  I have nothing against that.

I put myself in your position and do see that non Spanish speaking Americans must feel horrible about the subdivided micro-culture that Cubans and other groups have in Miami.  Trust me the system works and the newer generations are not like foreign born immigrants.  The former gradually incorporate the American culture and by two or three generations are fully Americans, the latter bring their customs (good or bad) and some accustom, and others unfortunately don’t. I also feel horrible when they act this way, it gives the wrong impression. Sometimes they don’t get it. Sometimes yes they are STUPID. But most times this is not the case.

Let me give you an example.  Both my parents were professionals in Cuba, they came to this country at age 49 (in 1997).  Both sort of handle the language to a certain extent but by no means are comfortable establishing a conversation in English.  My father does better than my mother.  Don’t you think age limits your ability to learn another language? Now, they are not impolite, or rude or uneducated. They do not live on welfare, in fact their combined income is about 160k after only 10 years in this country.  But they were raised in a different country and sometimes don’t realize that things here are different.  They don’t do it because they’re stupid.  Sometimes just don’t realize it.  Then I come in and have to explain how things run here and correct them over and over again. Is a never ending battle.

I came at age 19, if I show you a picture of how I looked when I came ( I looked like one of those that you talk about), if I show you a picture now is different.  Like an old friend that I have that refers to Kafka’s metamorphosis about Cubans when they come. First looking like rafters, then better and more American.  Some go further than others. Some get stuck with their impolite manners. Some of my old friends from Cuba also came even younger than me and to this they still do not speak English.  Why?  They don’t need it. They stayed in Miami, opened their own business and their customers are bilingual.  They still make good money and do not depend on the government for help.  Here is when the government should intervene and force at least the younger folks to learn the language and the American way.  Maybe if more Americans would stay in Miami, more could teach them about America.

In my post, I never mentioned that comments about Cubans were racist. For me, racism is a relative term.  I don’t believe it exists. Some people may like you some others may not. So what?  I’m exactly the same way.  I like some people and others I don’t.  I was in fact responding to a complaints in a previous post that Cubans do not accept other groups.  To find an explanation to this point, you also have to go the the foreign born immigrant culture.  In other countries, people are nationalists. Older uneducated Cubans have a hard time accepting others but guess what.  Other groups also hate Cubans, I hear it over and over again, other groups feel that Cubans control everything in Miami and constantly batch at us.  What they don’t realize, is that it is a matter of the time living in America.  Cubans that have been successful in this country have lived here for forty some years, you can not expect to have a Venezuelan Senator when they have been here for the last 5 years or so.  True the elite came first, but the (DARKER ONES) like some people call us, recently arrived Cubans, are also successful.  Right from the top of my head I could name you about 30 that came in the 90s and have gone to college, hold professional degrees (medicine, orthodontists, dentists, pharmacists, business people, PhDs), so it is a matter of HARD WORK and time before others can do it too. (Cont)

(Cont)

People talk about California and other states where the Hispanic population is different and more polite. Not true, the ones that stay in Miami are basically the elite. Most that live in California and here in Boston (where I am now) are the poorest of the poorest and the most uneducated. They land the low paying jobs and pass unnoticed in society. They are not majority in these other cities, they are minorities.  They basically don’t count. In Miami is different, you have the elite and the no so elite but because of the number, they are not minority, they are majority.

With regards to the survey....it has a 10% margin of error. NYC and Boston (supposedly the Mecca of Education in this country) fairs an embarrassing third.  If we take into account the 10% error we are all in the same boat.  This is then, not a Cuban problem it is an American problem.  Lets face it America is an individualist society.  Nothing wrong with that!

When I mentioned that those that complain about the city they could go somewhere else, is true.  I was particularly referring about the intolerant ones, the ones that are only willing to complain instead of leading by proposing solutions, and the author in particular who complained about the heat, the flat terrain, no waves to surf (Never seen big ones in the Western Caribbean, you have to go to the Pacific Ocean for that), lack of Mexican food, the homeless (like if there weren’t any in NYC, or in Sacramento) or the lack of customer service (guess what Dell was indicted today for poor customer service practices) and on and on.

So.....good discussion.....lets happily live together and propose solutions. Crying and complaining solves nothing.

I am truly sick of this city and its so-called “culture”.  To “LOS” who said “The diversity is huge but when we all need each other during hard times like Hurricanes or 911, we all become one.” – I say that you’re wrong.  Please, tell me HOW people “become one” after a hurricane in Miami?  I will correct you – after a hurricane, it’s dog eat dog 1,000,000 times more than usual.  You see people f**king each other over for gas, fighting in lines, driving recklessly even though there are no traffic signals because they don’t have electricity, or fighting for food.  People in Miami are assholes, just admit it.  Road rage is worse here than ANYWHERE in the US and god knows how many statistics prove it.  People aren’t just bad drivers or rude drivers here – they’re DANGEROUS.  Look at how many hit and runs there are in this city and tell me I’m wrong.  Miami IS third world and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.  I am not racist and I have nothing against Cubans, nor do I blame them for the selfish, money grabbing city that Miami has become.  However, as far as I am aware, English is the main language of the United States and hell, we shouldn’t be treated like crap just because we don’t know Spanish.

p.s. most of the drivers here belong behind bars for their recklessness and disregard for human life.  Yeah, it’s funny to say that Miami has the rudest drivers, but if you lost a friend of relative because one of these pickup truck driving reggaetons ran them over and drove off, I doubt that you’d see the funny side.

I agree with you, i thought that people would be a little bit friendlier but i guess they are sick and tired with tourists.

Interesting thing happened to me while in line at Publix yesterday. I thought it would be appropriate to share it here. While waiting in line an older man, probably in his eighties approached me and begin speaking in Spanish. Now since my father was Latin this happens all the time. I kindly told him I didn’t speak Spanish and he responded in Spanish saying something like “Oh good, no Spanish.” Well after I had turned around he continued speaking to other people in line and I soon realized an argument was going on between him and the lady in back of him and then the lady in front of me. All in Spanish. I could understand portions of the argument in which both ladies were defending me telling him that this was the United States and I didn’t have to speak Spanish unless I wanted to. He then started to say he had been here for 40 years from Cuba and the lady in front of me scolded him and said loudly “I’ve been here since 1959!” She told him if he went to France he’d have to speak French.  This all happened in Spanish and like I said I don’t speak enough to carry on a conversation but I understood the basics of what was going on. The people at the service counter were listening to conversation and looked embarrassed. I pretended that I didn’t even know they were talking about me. The whole point of me posting this was that I felt really good that I was being defended by persons that weren’t even born in the US but understood my issue.

So it’s become evident to me that many of us think alike but for some reason people don’t communicate it. Or maybe we have the wrong group of people representing their ethnicity. It seems like a major part of the problem again points to politicians with their own agenda in mind.

Anyhow, a special thanks to the two ladies at Publix who defended my lack of skills in the Spanish language… in Spanish.

I think Miami needs another hurricane Andrew to level it to the ground. That way real estate prices will fall and people will realize what a shithole they live in and move north. I heard a dump in little havana now costs like $350K WTF?? I lived there for about 5 years and I don’t miss it one bit.

Omigod, yes! I can’t stand Florida anymore. I am Cuban, born here in Miami, and I have never left this stinkin’ place, save going to Disney. I went to Winter Park during high school once and I never wanted to leave!!! They were great!!! I can’t wait to leave Miami...but I can’t ‘cause pay is so low and car insurance is so expensive that I’m still living with mommy ‘cause every place here is expensive! And I can’t just stop paying!! So frustrating!!

Wow, its such a relief to know that I’m not the only person to feel the same way. I totally agree with all 10 things. Its funny you mentioned you’re from California I’ve lived in Miami all my life, but my husband and I are moving to California (San Diego to be exact)by the end of this year for all the reasons you mentioned. California is wonderful and the people are sooooo much more nicer.

All of you are full of shit, I’m Cuban american and studing Politics and Jazz at F.I.U and Miami Dade.Out of all the Latin Races in the world the Cubans have acomplish more than anyone.Last time I checked the Cubans created their own flag during war during the war againt the spanish, created their own religions (Palo monte and santeria), music (salsa which is actually called Musica Cubana).Score the highest on the MCAT examine.The reason why theirs hospitals and stores is because of the Cubans because Florida wasn’t nothing until the Cubans came over here and just for the record their have always been Cubans over here ever since the 1800’s.Cubans gave Puerto Ricans their flag and our music and they practice Cuban religions like every other latin race.If it wasn’t for a famous Cuban Politician Lincoln Diaz South and Central americans wouldn’t be here.And last time I checked When Cubans come over here they work two jobs and gthey either go to school or open up a business.More than 50% of the Doctors, Politicians, Business Own, and Teachers are Cuban, Cuban American or Cuban Decendant threw out Florida.Cubans cigar are the most best selling and rated cigars threw out the entire world!Out of all the latin races in the world, when it comes to Education, Buiness, Cigars, Entertainment and History the Cubans are number one, a proven fact.Cuba has one of the greatest Medical school threw out the world. Why is it that people are always bashing the Cubans, ill tell you why because their envious,jealous and their race will never acomplish what the Cubans have acomplished over the years nor have their history.Cuban people are known to be intelligent, hardworking, Courages and Kind.Cubans are not bad people because if you read threw out hstory they have helped many people including Haitians, Mexcians and sout americans.The only thing is that Cuban people are very racist when it comes to people entering in their family, you have to understand that White Cubans which is the majority of the cuban population race, decends from the Spanards.I don’t care what anyone saids, Spanards are racist.Thats besides the point, you people cant just attack the little things, thats the way Cubans are.Anglo-Saxons are ignorant and the majority of american woman are whores because they have no respect and Blacks have complexs bout their skin color and all they do is throw away opportunities down the drain and go to prison and live in ghettos.Little Havana, Kendal, Sweet Water, Brickle, Pinecrest and Hialeah are CUBAN area’s and their clean and good to live in.Its pretty funny because blacks get everything first but they throw away opportunities in their own country but then again when Cubans come here they have to bust their ass and do they a pretty dam good job at it.Everything that Cubans have they have worked hard for it.So what if thier, Italians, Jews and Anglo Saxons are racist, especially the Chinese.Everyone in this world is a racist and a Bigot, so stop attacking my race and start paying attention to the real problems in this world.Black people arent the only ones who suffer.I’m proud to be Cuban American, no other latin race wil ever acomplish and have the history that the Cubans have, never in their life! Cubans are number one!!

No one speaks English
I am rudely treated like an outsider in my own freaking country!
Drivers are rude
People at stores are rude
Neighbors are rude
The police are rude…to put mildly
One good thing though I want to do my best to make sure Montana does not become like Miami.
ENGLISH AS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE!

all of you are full of shit - except the cubans… cuz cubans are the bomb… anyone else cam just get the fuck out of miami cuz this is the new cuba… only we belong here… we are good republican jesus fearing bush supporters… we assist the cia government with dirty tactics in countries nearby to stamp out the communism so we deserve mroe than others.  when my cuban people come to miami, they excpect free public assistance and publix groceries because we are much more patriotic than those lamo liberal washedp up wasps who care about things and vote democrat… as long as you vote republican and keep the money for your people… thats what matters… everything is corrupt… we are just the best at it… we are the good guys who rule miami and you just have to suck it up or get the hell out… we will have another republican prez after bush because we are the ones who fix the elections and preach freedom… so just stop ur bitching, miami is the capitalist cuba and if you don’t like it, we’ll set you up to be investigated for ur lack of patriotism and screw your reputation.  so don’t mess w/ the cubans… we are above the law.  antiwar americans are pussys.  we are tough people who are taking america in a new direction where it won’t be seen as week.  we are proud that we are setting an example in miami of how things in this country will operate in the future… so get into the know… know the right people,the cubans, or you will be screwed.

Negative people always find something bad to say about the places they dont like. Some talk about NY some others about Miami, what can I say?  I move to Miami Beach in 1978, loved it then, love it now. I guess because I am friendly and kind, others are the same way with me. Good luck to al the haters that moved to Miami because no one like them where the lived and no one likes them here either. Do not blame the city.

Alex and “contrache”...the only reason you’re so defensive about Miami is because you’re both Cuban and you people overrun this city.  I don’t have a problem with ALL Cubans and I will not stereotype them.  I won’t lump the good in with the trash.  However, most of the ones I’ve encountered here do fit the stereotypes, which is unfortunate and it reflects badly on the decent Cubans who earn an honest living and treat others with respect.

Alex...you pretty much stereotyped all black Americans and all white Americans in your post, but you’re offended because most people here complain about Cubans.  Boo-hoo...if you can’t handle the truth, then don’t read what we have to say because you won’t like it.  Is it pure coincidence that almost everyone here has observed the same things?  The rudeness, the attitudes, the refusal to speak English in customer service?  Nope. 

I know you’re proud to be Cuban and you’re entitled to that.  You’re entitled to your opinions too, and so are we.  Saying that we’re “full of shit” doesn’t mean anything.  It only shows your immaturity.  Miami is in Florida in the United States of America.  It is not limited to blacks or whites or Hispanics or Asians.  We live in a diverse society.  This is not Cuba and people need to remember that, and respect it. And no, Cuba is not a white country...there is a significant black population over there. I’m not Cuban but I’ve been there and I know many Cubans who are white, black, and mixed race. American women are whores?  Don’t go there, honey. 

Decent people come to this country to escape oppression and to improve their lives...NOT to be loud and obnoxious to anyone who isn’t part of their culture.  The older generation of Cubans, for the most part, seem to be hard-working people with family values.  “Contrache”, you’re pathetic.  The new Cuba, LMAO!  And how is it that only Cubans belong here?  Newsflash...to be here is not a right, it is a privilege.  Many people have tried to escape poverty and oppression to come to America and were unable to. Your small mind sickens me.  I was born in this country and I’m proud to be an American with all the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities that accompany that. Particularly when I reflect on the people who weren’t as fortunate and would love the opportunity to be here.

Now with that said, you’re the only person here who brought up the whole political issue which is unnecessary because you didn’t need to go there.  Once more...a display of your small-mindedness.  And you don’t rule shit.  Say it with me: “Miami is not Cuba”.  I don’t hate Cubans nor do I owe them anything.  And you’re not above the law because you’re Cuban so don’t lie to yourself.  You might be able to pull certain stunts, but you’re still a person like the rest of us. We all know about the corruption here so your little comment about being the best at it is nothing to be proud of.  And if corrupt assholes are the future of this country, we’re all in trouble.  Word of advice?  Don’t forget yourself and where you’re coming from. Don’t come here with this dictatorship stuff and these cocky attitudes and believe you can push other people around.  Learn a bit of English, be more humble, treat others with respect, be honest, work hard and maybe people won’t have a problem with you.  In turn we’ll learn a bit of Spanish beyond the basics and treat you guys with respect.

And now the subject at hand, things I hate about Miami…

1) The heat and humidity (HORRIBLE)!  It is soooo hot here.

2) The drivers sometimes but if you’re very careful on the road it isn’t that bad. 

3) The dirt, noise, and pollution

4) The constant construction wherever you look

5) The unbearable heat (see #1), and the heavy downpours with lightning

6) The closed minds of most people here, whether they’re native Miamians or not...most of the people I’ve met down here seem very ignorant of other cultures and concepts

7) Once more, the horrible weather.  LOL!!!!

8) The fact that few people speak good or any English anymore...I’m constantly mistaken for Hispanic because of my dark hair and most people are shocked to learn that I’m not

9) The school system could do with some improvements in educational standards

10) The disturbing prevalence of sexual harrassment

Now onto the things I (sort of) like about Miami…

1) We have decent restaurants.  I’m not referring to the filthy unsanitary dives that need to be shut down by the health department, either. 

2) The night life can be very enjoyable if you know the right spots to hang out

3) The shopping malls (like Aventura) can be terrific if that’s what you like to do

4) If you want to escape temporarily, fill up your car and take a drive to the local bookstore

5) It has helped me become a bit more patient and tolerant...that isn’t bad, is it?  *smile*

6) There always seems to be some activity to involve yourself in, whether it’s movies or ice skating or simply having coffee with friends

I only came up with six things I like.  Whoops!  LOL!

Cubans this and cubans that… sure they have accomplshed great things because they get preferetnial treatment from the U.S govt. Any cuban rafter that lands in U.S soil with dry feet gets to stay and gets a green card. From that point on is smooth sailing and since cubans prefer cubans, it is easy to find a job and a support network of other cubans.

Hey guys! I’m new to the area and felt compelled to leave a brief statement. Prior to my relocation, I came across miamibeach411.com and read every single comment on this page and have done so each day to keep up on the latest opinions. Initially I was a bit concerned after reading each one, but still felt the need to see Miami in my own eyes. I had traveled here several times prior to my move, and had enjoyed my stay each visit. Yes, I had come across the unpleasant hospitality, the extreme heat, gridlock traffic and overwhelming population of Hispanics. Fortunately enough, it hasn’t been unbearable and unlivable as some of the comments seem to imply above. I moved from Philadelphia where I’ve lived for 24 years of my life and I’ve traveled to many states within the US and various countries worldwide. I’ve only been in the area for about two months now, but I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I truly believe you have to have a certain mindset and understanding to live here. It seems to me Miami is what you make of it...whether it be good or bad, try to make it work for your lifestyle. Please remember before any race, gender, religion or sexual orientation we are HUMAN first. We may not always conduct ourselves according to one’s belief but we are all still HUMAN BEINGS! The world consists of such great diversity...open your minds and explore : )

Guess what I found out, My Mother just started working threw this Catholic agencies as a social worker thats connected to the Vatican strongly, that one of the purposes in the organization is to help the “Cubans”.I found out threw my Mother that President Bush past a law last year that if someone is married to a Cuban or have Cuban family from anywhere around the world and once they come on to American Soil they atumatically become American Citizens and get their Permanent Visa’s.You know what that means right, i bet every other immigrant around the world is gona try to get with a Cuban and marry them to bring their other familes over here.Cubans are on top of the world once again Cubans are number 1

10 things I hate about Miami- that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  The only good things I can think of are: 1. good Cuban food (and coffee) and 2. Nice water for boating/snorkeling.  Both are lovely reasons to visit, but nowhere near worth putting up with all of the horrible things that are so clearly set forth above in this post.  I love to visit Miami, but after a few days in the sticky heat and traffic, I thank God when I step off the plane back in sweet home San Diego.

Im Cuban-American. Cubans arent better or worst than anyone else.  Most are hard working people.  Others arent.  Exactly the same than any other ethnic group.

I lived in Miami for about six years, Im up north now.  I miss Miami every day.  As soon as the time comes, I will be moving back to Miami with all its virtues and defects.

This is exactly why we are in a free country.  If you hate Miami so much there are two solutions: Do something to fix it, or move out.  No one is forcing you to be there.

But please, complaining and crying is going to solve nothing.  In general thos e that complain and cry about everything tend to be the losing crowd.

My 2 cents

The hate feelings of the inferior people. It will always happens to the ones that have the power. Same feelings about United states around the world. One thing is Miami problems and another thing is letting out your anticubans feelings. If Mexicans were in power everybody will be talking about Mexicans impossing the stupid Tex Mex. Please, get over it.