The truth about Albuquerque (apartment, homes, neighborhoods)

[ABQSunseeker]

I'm always mystified when I read the barrage of negative complaints about Albuquerque. I wonder if this is the same city I'm living in and experiencing. I'm not going to be able to change anyone's mind about their perception of the place, but my perception is considerably different.

My experience of the place is that it's a very nice place to live. Sure enough not perfect, but very pleasant and interesting.

I haven't noticed any big impact of illegals here. In fact, go to Phoenix or New York (where I previously lived) and you will see and feel the difference immediately.

Although crime is a problem here, most of the city feels safe to me. Violent crime appears to be declining and Albuquerque is apparently safer than Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and most of the cities of Texas.

When I hear about the traffic and rude drivers, I just laugh. It's actually a pleasure to drive here. Mostly uncrowded with polite, laid back drivers. Albuquerque never shows up on lists of high road rage cities. A recent one had Phoenix, New York, and Miami on the list. But yes, we need to provide more and better roads for the growing population.

And I find people here among the friendliest in the country. Go to New York or Philadelphia if you want rude people. And I can say that having lived in New York where I think many New Yorkers make the greatest and most interesting friends, warm and genuine. But there is a level of public rudeness which is very bothersome. Not here at all.

Well, these are just some of my perceptions of the city for those reading these posts and seeing some of the negative comments about the city. I suspect it's much a matter of perception and that many of the complainers are from small towns unused to relatively big city ways.

[mortimer]

ABQSunseeker wonders:

> I'm always mystified ... barrage of negative complaints about Albuquerque.

Not me. 99% of them come from habitual whiners. You can see in the rambling nature of their posts.

I like it though. It scares away people who simply aren't ready for NM.

As much as I know more and more people will come here over the coming years, the slower it happens, as far as I'm concerned, the better.

[Agape51]

the independent movie theatre closed its doors a couple of years ago.

I visited ABQ last September and went to a great art house movie theater in the downtown area -- Saw "In the Valley of Elah" there -- but they also were showing first run films, such as Bourne.

I got the sense that that part of Old Town (old Route 66) was going through a nice Renaissance period -- lots of art galleries, live music, etc.

I visited ABQ for a week and found that compared to where I live in California, I didn't feel any less safe or notice any more homeless people -- in fact, just saw a nice, unpretentious town that seemed to not need to become trendy to feel good about itself.

[abqsunport]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

but the darn site won't let me rep you again until I spread points around.

Yeah, I got the same useless message when I tried giving you points the other day.

[casden]

Originally Posted by mortimer

ABQSunseeker wonders:

> I'm always mystified ... barrage of negative complaints about Albuquerque.

Not me. 99% of them come from habitual whiners. You can see in the rambling nature of their posts.

I like it though. It scares away people who simply aren't ready for NM.

As much as I know more and more people will come here over the coming years, the slower it happens, as far as I'm concerned, the better.

Hey mortimer - you are absolutely right. Everytime I read the negative complaints it seems like many of them are written in very similar styles and tones of writing, almost as though many of them may have been written by the same individuals with different names. But that's neither here nor there. They're just unhappy with where they're at, at this point - and they should try and change their situation.


Hey Andyj - great post - couldn't agree with you more.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

Perhaps people making minimum wage shouldn't have families if they can't afford them. I am sorry people, but as responsible adult, one should know that if they barely can support themselves, they can't support a child. I really feel for the people making minimum wage, but they have to be responsible. Also, there are plenty of jobs out here that pay MORE than minimum wage.

Agree absolutely abqsunport.

[Cendra]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

I don't agree about the valley as a whole. i do agree with the South Valley however, there is indeed some crime. Crime here is only really bad if you are involved with a gang, in the drug scene,etc. If you can keep keep your nose out of bad things, and know areas to avoid (Broadway South of Central, the Warzone, etc) you will be very happy. 95% of Albuquerque is very safe. Just caution away from the other 5%.

Although I do agree with this in general, I do have to say that crime in the South Valley is more than just "some crime". The South Valley is second only to the warzone for crime in ABQ.

I also have to comment that you've mentioned a great test to verify if anyone has really lived in ABQ, lol... the warzone. If you ever have reason to wander if someone's truly an ABQ resident, all you have to ask is for them to tell you what area that is. Sad, but a perfect test, don't you think? lol

Well, that and knowing what we semi-jokingly refer to as our 'official city symbol', which is the orange traffic cones.

As for rudeness... I don't see how Albuquerque is any different than any metro area, you have people of all personalities and dispositions, just like anywhere. I've always found that people in general tend to treat me as I treat them, so I try to act accordingly. The only time in the almost 30 years I've lived here that I've had any problems being nice is when someone found out I don't like chile or southwestern food, lol. But that's the kind of secret you learn to keep here, and we can all co-exist nicely. And the red or green debate will continue on, so on that topic you're on your own.

[ABQConvict]

I knew a nice lady who lived in the Trumbull/San Pedro area.

One of our co-conversants mentioned that she was brave to live in the warzone (for over 4 years, no less!) to which she replied, "What's the warzone?"

Do people IN the 'warzone' call it the 'warzone' or is that just what it looks like to those outside. I consider myself to live in the DMZ since I haven't seen a police patrol in my neighborhood in years; the exception being cops hanging out at the Frontier or rolling down Central.

ABQConvict

[penelopelp]

I noticed yesterday that the Albuquerque Wikipedia article had the following statement about The Warzone:

"The expensive residential developments of Four Hills, Willow Wood, and Ridgecrest are also located in this quadrant. In sharp contrast to these upscale developments, however, some of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods (The Warzone) in the city are also located in Southeast Albuquerque. During the past twenty years, the SE area, mainly around Gibson Blvd. and Central Ave., has become the highest crime area in the city."

Any opinions on this???

[trappedinNM]

Originally Posted by penelopelp

I noticed yesterday that the Albuquerque Wikipedia article had the following statement about The Warzone:

"The expensive residential developments of Four Hills, Willow Wood, and Ridgecrest are also located in this quadrant. In sharp contrast to these upscale developments, however, some of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods (The Warzone) in the city are also located in Southeast Albuquerque. During the past twenty years, the SE area, mainly around Gibson Blvd. and Central Ave., has become the highest crime area in the city."

Any opinions on this???

Sounds accurate. Just ask any one that has owned rental property over there.

The three developments listed are all in the SE area of Abq , which is a quadrant. The "warzone" is in the same quadrant as well. We had a property on Rhode Island SE. It was a constant battle, and was not worth the hassle. Of course, there are areas in the NE quadrant that have much more crime than others areas; that is just Abq.

I had an office near the Airport during the late 90's, and the Kirtland Addition near Gibson and University was right behind our complex. It was a high-crime area at the time. We had bullet holes in our building a few times, and were once warned not to work too late with the lights on because we might be targets. The building down the road on Buena Vista was shot at a few times as well. The security firm that patrolled the whole area used to tell us late-night workers some fun stories.