Just Moved Here, And Feeling Unsafe (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: violent crime, hotel, house)

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by BlueRose

The Northeast heights seem to have lots of problems.

BlueRose, did you mean to say the NE Heights? Many seem to think the Heights is one of the safer areas of the city...

Todd, we lived in the far NE Heights for 2.5 yrs and never had a problem. We even left town for 3 mos. for some job trng, left our house vacant, and there were no break-ins. Now, I did know some people who were affected by crime, but our personal experience was o.k.

Also, there is a bit more crime in the vicinity of UNM than where we lived, but with a bit of caution and street smarts I am sure you would be o.k. We actually would have lived near UNM to take advantage of all the entertainment, if it had been closer to my workplace.

[abqsunport]

first, I think it is important to get somethings straight. Petty crimes such as car break ins, drug deals, etc. aren't violent. Yes, my golf clubs got stolen out of my trunk (that I left unlocked) and guess what, I never felt harmed. Most of Albuquerque's violent crimes are like someone said earlier, drug deals gone wrong. Solution: don't be involved with Gangs or Drug Deals and you won't feel unsafe.

Also, you are in an area that is relatively safe, but has high petty crimes. Yes, cars do get broken into (when you leave something in plain sight). This happened to me in Austin, Texas too. Guess what, iron bars on windows is actually a stylistic element common with older pueblo houses. Many people thought the iron rod looked great back in the 60's and 70's (what a horrible couple of decades)

Guess what, head to the far northeast heights, and I am sure this area will fit you. Some of my neighbors believe this is the only true safe part of town--I on the other hand have lived in Nob Hill, Downtown, the valley, and have settled in the Far Northeast Heights--but not because I felt unsafe elsewhere...because I got tired of the partying with people I realized were much younger than myself.

Catrinac, keep looking for the Shangri-la, but until that day happens, try to look more positvely on things.

[voivod]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Actually, I've driven all over town. I've been downtown, uptown, to Old Town, and driven the length of Central as well as some other streets.

To call me unadventurous is a bit of an insult. Actually, I'm just being cautious about a new place with a MUCH higher crime rate than Manhattan, where I felt perfectly safe.

My question on this forum was about the safe and not-so-safe areas, which you have chosen not to answer.

Thanks anyway.

Todd

safe? above tramway and west of morris/menual for about 6 blocks. abq has problems that a fast growing metropolos has. biggest danger: drunk drivers. on the back page of the front section of the paper they used to list the dui's, i saw dozen's of multi-time offenders.

[Kalifornian]

Don't even look at people if they stare at you.

OMG, if you can't even look at people for fear of being attacked then that is not an area I would want to live in! Now that's scary. Fact: ABQ has an above average crime rate, but so does Tucson, another sunbelt city. You either have to adjust yourself to that thinking, or move.

I drove through ABQ in 2007 and stopped to do my laundry. I thought the historic district was wonderful: I walked through it, stopped in the church, plaza, several shops, etc. I didnt encounter many people walking about but it was a hot day. Then I stopped to do my laundry at an automat. I then got in my car and headed toward the freeway. Heard on the local radio about some lunatic, naked, randomly taking pot shots (shooting) at passing motorists near the freeway...police hadn't located the guy yet.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Kalifornian

Don't even look at people if they stare at you.

OMG, if you can't even look at people for fear of being attacked then that is not an area I would want to live in! Now that's scary. Fact: ABQ has an above average crime rate, but so does Tucson, another sunbelt city. You either have to adjust yourself to that thinking, or move.

So you just had to take it out of context....

I said : "ABQ has gangs, so stay away from gangs, don't even look at people if they stare at you." Take if for whatever it's worth...



Rich

[casden]

catrinac: It's all a matter of perspective.

For example, I and many people with whom I work have gone to Salt Lake City for work. I work for a software company, and our customers there are BYU, Utah State, and the LDS Church. When I've gone there to do presentations, I never felt so "different". Almost every one of my colleagues who went there felt the same way.

I've been to many cities in North America, some in Australia, and Germany for work, but it was stifling to be in a place where sometimes (especially at LDS) there was no access to coffee, soda, etc. I respect peoples beliefs, so that wasn't the only issue.

I was used to being in more liberal and diverse cities, so I felt a little uncomfortable and very out-of-place in SLC. So that makes me prefer not to live in that kind of environment, just as you prefer not to live in ABQ.

Although I did encounter one diverse area near downtown that had an East Indian Restaurant, a tattoo parlor, and a couple of bars, but the few people that were outside were some really sketchy looking people that seemed to be loitering in that area.

[Danbo1957]

The only areas of the city that I would not consider safe for my mother to walk in at mid-night are the far SE (Zuni at Central area) and the far SW Valley. That's it.

[1/4lifecrisis]

My husband and I are both from out of state (he is from the midwest and I am from the west coast), but we have lived in Albuquerque for several years. We hate it and are planning on moving elsewhere.

However, reading this thread makes me feel a little defensive. I moved here in 2003, a single female who had no job, no home, and no family/friends/acquaintances in Albuquerque. I was totally alone and I loved it. I remember staying at a hotel on Central next to the Botanic Garden where I had to pay through a slot in a bullet-proof window! At the time, I couldn't believe what I had gotten myself into, but I survived it with nary a scratch.

I see shady looking people all of the time around the city and often feel outside of my comfort zone. I just went to the casino today and saw all sorts of "interesting" characters. But none of these people have ever hurt or threatened me during my 5+ years in Albuquerque. I am afraid sometimes, but that is a product of my own paranoia. I've been unwillingly cornered by a drunken student in the hall of my dorm room in a Seattle suburb and some old Japanese man kicked and muttered at my husband's feet in Kyoto, Japan. Sure, Albuquerque has a higher crime rate per capita than a lot of other places, but crime happens everywhere and being paranoid about it will cause you to oversimplify a city that DOES IN FACT have many beautiful attributes.

There are so many people here who have lived here all of their lives and who have moved here from other places, well-educated and not, rich and poor who love, love, LOVE Albuquerque and you will meet them in time and come to understand what they mean. Albuquerque is a very different place. Chicago and Manhattan are big cities, but I imagine you could live in one part of those cities and completely isolate yourself from what makes you feel so unsafe here. Albuquerque is not so much like that.

That said, you should visit the NE Heights and Los Ranchos. Corrales and Rio Rancho. Those are "nicer" areas that maybe you wouldn't consider moving to, but will convince you that Albuquerque (and surrounding areas) isn't a complete cesspool. As you become acquainted with the different parts of Albuquerque, you'll probably find that you really enjoy some and hate others, and that is like with any other city. I suggest that when you and your wife have some free time, you explore one of Albuquerque's Open Space areas (I like Elena Gallegos). It will really allow you to get some fresh air and view the city from, literally, a different perspective.

I don't discount the disgusting amount of crime in this city, but I'm sure that all too often you will see what you want to see (and it seems like you really hate this place!). And negative experiences seem to be easy conversation topics that people just spew out to sound interesting, funny or cool. If you're going to take them seriously, I hope that you at least let the experiences of the people who love this place carry some weight, too.

[Skyszlimit]

Originally Posted by 1/4lifecrisis

but we have lived in Albuquerque for several years. We hate it and are planning on moving elsewhere.

1/4lifecrisis- Your post intriques me to ask you - why do you 'hate' it?

PS.. if you want to pm me, that's fine too.

thanks.


Skysz...

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Just how much higher and where can I see the statistics.

Some of the statistics regarding crime rates in various cities to which I refer come from the FBI:

Table 4 - Montana through Ohio

For example, Albuquerque had 370 rapes in 2008. New York City had 890 rapes. ABQ has a population of 527, 464. New York City has a population of over 8.3 million. That means that, statistically, you have a much higher chance of being raped in ABQ than anywhere in New York City.

Plus, since the New York population numbers in include all five boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island, it doesn't indicate how safe Manhattan (where I lived) really is. Most of the violent crimes occur in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

New York has the lowest crime rate of the 25 largest cities in the country. And of the 261 cities with more than 100,000 residents, New York's crime rate ranked 246th.

(the above paragraph is from this New York Post article: FBI CRIME STATISTICS SHOW THAT NEW YORK HAS THE LOWEST CRIME RATE OF MAJOR U.S. CITIES - New York Post )

So my concerns are not purely a matter of ignorance. I've actually done some research.

I do thank all the people who have posted responses on this thread, with a special thanks to those of you who have sent me additional comments privately.

I certainly don't mean to rain on anyone's parade. I know many people love it in ABQ, and I've not posted here for the purpose of bashing your beloved city. I was simply hoping to share the knowledge and experiences of those who have been here longer than me, and who may have shared my fears as a newcomer.

Todd