Ques for Abq. and NM Natives (Albuquerque, Rio Rancho: appointed, violent crime, home)

[gaby]

Hi! Just wondering if there are any natives that actually think that Abq is a nice place to live? Would be great to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks!

[EyesWideOpen]

Hello Gaby...I recently found this forum and I am so glad because I am currently researching a way out of Alb, NM....
Listen, I don't know how many times you've been to Alb or how long you've stayed or anything, but I am an Alb native and all I can say to you is :Run, Run, RUN! away from here. It will be a huge mistake, I promise you that.
I am sorry to sound so down on Alb but I was born and raised here....graduated college here, practiced my profession here....in all, I've been here over 35yrs. It is so saddening to me to see what Alb has become. When I was a little girl, things were pretty decent....crime and all that, yes, but nothing like it has become. I have seen the once beautiful city of Alb transformed inta a ghetto right before my eyes. But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the Alb ghetto. Almost the entire city is a ghetto now. Sure the last remaining "decent" area of town, the far NE Heights, are OK, but truly not exempt from crime, and it is only a matter of time before the ghetto-like atmosphere invades that area...it's already begun. If you are really serious about that area, be prepared to shell out about $350,000-500,000 for your beautiful foothills home... Perhaps people who've only been here a short time, a few yrs, maybe, don't/can't see it. Perhaps some moved there thinking this would be their Utopia, only to be disappointed, but now having no other choice.... Moving out of state is quite costly....
I read on another thread someone recommended the areas of Bernalillo, Los Lunas or Edgewood. OK, well, Bernalillo town is a joke, it is an old Hispanically based small town full of gangs and drugs...right outside of Espanola, another tiny nowhere rundown town....however it's claim to fame is being the "heroin capitol of the world"....
As for Los Lunas and Belen...this is south from Alb, about 30 min out for Los Lunas 45-60min for Belen. Los Lunas is notorious for their gangs, and it is closely linked to the notorious "west side/SW valley" of Alb.....bad, bad, bad! (As in drive-by's, murders, violence everywhere....).
Belen is OK, I would never live there, it is country-ish, but just an offshoot or pre-cursor to Los Lunas. The river is more alive out there and it's a lot of farming community....tons of mosquitos....., farms, etc.
As for Edgewood/Moriarity area....well that's what we call the "east mountains". I actually bought some property in Tijeras, and lived there in the mountains for a few years. It was awful moving back into Alb. Tijeras and Cedar Crest are beautiful....if anywhere, this is what I would do (it is still an option for me, as well). Be aware, these communities are in the actaul mountains, elevations are over 7000ft. Every few years we get really hit all winter long and are snowed in a lot! I like it though, beautiful mountains, fresh air, so many stars at night....wildlife everywhere. Definitely became a little bit of a country girl, LOL. Now Edgewood, etc is further out, east from the mountains. Flat, desert-like mesa, and watch out when the wind blows....yikes! It looks very desolate and depressing out there, but housing is much, much cheaper there...it's OK if you like a lot of dirt terrain, and putting a lot of hard work into your property....
East mountain area is not exempt from crime either, but we did seem a little bit more detached ou there, for sure than the ghetto of Alb. Like I said, I hugely regret moving back into Alb, sinking my money into buying another home here....
Rio Rancho was a suggestion also....it is OK, part of the NW side of Alb, a city in it's own right. It is growing immensely. Very different terrain, but striking...out in the desert, the mesas, remember that wind..... For a long time the joke in Alb was that Rio Rancho was "little New York"...it seems like a ton of people re-located from back east and found Rio Rancho. And they're not shy to tell you that....they say they love it 'cause of it's wide open spaces..... If you move there, I hope you work there cause it used to take me at least an hour to get to work in Alb, from RR. And that was....gosh 10yrs ago. They are part of the crime wave also...I mean Alb and rio Rancho just blend into each other.
Please be really, really informed about this move, sometimes it is not as easy to move out of state and then move again in a year or so...
I can tell you just about anything you want to know about Alb....schools, hospitals, restaraunts. I have lived in mostly every area of Albuq from Rio Rancho to Tijeras, from the westside to the NE Heights. I have been the victim of violent crime, as has been my family and friends....no one is immune here, it is like playing Russian roulette..... If you want personal examples I'll give them to you.
Good luck.

[Informer]

I think you took the question out of context, gaby wanted to hear from people that actually liked living here.

It takes very little effort to bad mouth an area.

What have you done to make this a better place to live?

Cheers...

[Crackerjack]

Well, my dad's Granny lived in Bernalillo most of her life and she never had anything bad happen to her but Bernalillo has grown a whole lot since. I am a N.M. native. I have lived in the Moriarty area and Rio Rancho too and I think they were good to places to live in. Yes ABQ does have crime and to say it doesn't is like living in a fantasy world but so does every big city. If crime bugs you, don't move to Albuquerque but personally I think it is a choice you alone should make and yes you should really think it out but if you decide to move to the area, I wish you the best. I know friends who still live there are love it and I knew some who left to live in smaller towns. So it depends on how you look at it; ABQ can be a great place or a slum. I see both. I will just list 20 things I like about ABQ since that is what you asked.
1. The Tram and the Sandia mountains.
2. The mild weather compared the the rest of the US.
3. Lots of stores to shop.
4. It is a better place to live then Phoenix.
5. Lots of great FM stations.
6. There are plenty of freeways to spread the traffic out and it never seemed bad to me except during rush hour or construction. I lived in Washington DC, now that's traffic!
7. I have met some really nice people from ABQ and the area.
8. Blakes Lotaburger - I love those Lota combos!
9. Lots of movies to go to, great restaurants.
10. The Rio Grande zoo park area.
11. Job opportunities.
12. They just announced a big film studio is moving to Rio Rancho and will have stage lots just like Hollywood so it may be the next Hollywood.
13. ABQ is cheap to live compared to LA or San Fran.
14. The State Fairgrounds.
15. The Isotopes Baseball team!
16. Some great golf courses.
17. A nice clean airport. I have been to a lot of other cities airports and a lot of them were real stinkers!
18. Some good museums and Library.
19. University of N.M.
20. The hot air balloons.

[EyesWideOpen]

Originally Posted by Informer

I think you took the question out of context, gaby wanted to hear from people that actually liked living here.

It takes very little effort to bad mouth an area.

What have you done to make this a better place to live?

Cheers...

Hi there! Actually, I saw her question directed at Alb natives so....

Also, Please understand, I am not "bad mouthing" Alb. This is my home, after all. Giving actual facts is very, very different from "bad mouthing". Also, if you notice, I state there are positives about the area......
I totally agree w/the previous poster on a lot of points.....
The vistas, the views, the SW scenery, our mountains, the balloons, all beautiful. Northern NM is my favorite, absolutely beautiful and full of culture. Unfortunately, the good just does not make up for the bad in Alb.
Oh, and as for your question...what have I done to make it a better place....oh my goodness, if you only knew. Let's start basic....how about by being a hardworking, employed citizen who has paid taxes into the community for over 30 yrs? How about working closely with the school systems and hospital systems promoting safety, the DARE program, etc? How about being a foster paent to abandoned babies of (NM) drug addicts? Shall I go on? Cause I can.... No doubt each and every one of us can extoll our virtues on this forum, but what is the point of that? It does not change the facts....the facts do not lie.

[gaby]

I just want to say that I appreciate EVERYONE'S opionion. GOOD and BAD! It is wonderful that anyone would take time out of their day to help me. I actually really appreciate the NEGATIVE comments. Because, I appreciate people who tell the truth--whether they think I want to hear it or not. I am not saying that the positive comments are not the truth. They are just not the truth for those with the negative opinions. Also, I would not ever want someone to refrain from telling me something because they think it would scare me. I need to hear it all! Thank you all and I would appreciate more!

[Disenchanted]

Gaby,
Remember sunscreen. The altitude is high, and the humidity is low, and that spells severe sunburn if you are not careful. You can burn in NM all year long.
Your sinuses may get dry from the lack of humity. The current drought is only making that worse. Use a lip balm with SPF. It will keep your lips from cracking.
Some people find that the drier air causes nosebleed. Check with a pharmacy for a good moisturising nasal spray. There is one called "Ocean" that my British spouse found useful. Drink plenty of water. Stay out of direct sun as much as possible in the summer months.
With the altitude - give yourself some time to adjust. I mean, go slow for the first couple of weeks. Play tourist, and don't work hard. The change of altitude bothers some people before they get used to it. If you feel tired during your move, just rest. And remember that it is a normal reaction to the altitude. If you feel it is not normal, see a doctor.

good luck. Stay in the shade. be happy!

[Kerry Noyes]

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

6. There are plenty of freeways to spread the traffic out and it never seemed bad to me except during rush hour or construction. I lived in Washington DC, now that's traffic!

I count only two freeways, I-40 and I-25. Last time I was there I got caught in the evening commute North on I-25, except Duke City isn't that big and the freeway speeded up as soon as I was out of the urban area.

I wouldn't call the traffic bad though, not since I currently live in Los Angeles.

[Chaparral]

Originally Posted by gaby

Hi! Just wondering if there are any natives that actually think that Abq is a nice place to live? Would be great to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks!

To reply to Gaby's original question: Yes, I think ABQ is a great place to live! Is it perfect? No. But it has plenty going for it.

There will always be a "bad part of town" to avoid in any city of similar or larger population. And despite the comments that seem to color ABQ as a violent, near 'Mad Max' type of town populated by rude, racist, or stand-offish citizens, there are few places I would feel uncomfortable taking my family (including two kids under 6). I have many friends and co-workers (of all races / beliefs / orientations) that would never live anywhere else. Much of this I attribute to the size of the city (not too or too small), family-friendy areas to live/activities available (within ABQ and around the city), mild climate, and the overall friendliness of the people that live here.

While some on these forums seem to have had less than pleasant experiences, I am of the opinion that these are not typical. I have lived in ABQ for over 30 years (in addition to time spent in other areas of the country) and find this town quite "liveable".

P.S. For anyone contemplating moving to NM, be prepared to deal with a new addiction: green chile (yes, it is spelled with an "e"). The most common complaint of those folks that lived here and moved away is "We can't find good green chile!". Green chile cheeseburgers, mmmmmm. A little slice of heaven.

[Lowcountry Girl]

Chaparral, already addicted to jalapenos...are New Mexican Chiles possibly better???