Just Moved Here, And Feeling Unsafe (Albuquerque, Belen: rent, health insurance, crime)

[yukon]

I've noticed that you can have a really good neighborhood, within blocks of a run down bad neighborhood. It was never like this where I am from in Cali, where neighborhoods were concentrated in easily defineably sections.

Then California is the exception, as I've seen this pattern in EVERY city I've lived in - Dallas, Houston, Baton Rouge, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Mobile, New Orleans, Phoenix, Pensacola, Destin. etc., and many more cities that I've visited over the years.

OP, given that ABQ has a rush HALF hour, you can afford to widen your neighborhood search. First, you need to drive all over the ABQ metro area and find the areas you FEEL comfortable in - trust your instincts and gut feelings as you drive thru. Then, check out the crime stats at the city website, to see what TYPE of crime the area has. There's a huge difference between a "high crime rate" made up of car break ins and bike thefts vs a "high crime rate" of murder, armed burglary and rape. Only then will you find the area right for you, within YOUR comfort zone.

Very valuable resource:

Crime Statistics - City of Albuquerque

If you haven't already, check out the NE area, also the SE areas off of Carlisle, and the Four Hills area.


I think the feeling of "crime" is amplified to newcomers because of all the unusually high use of burglar bars around town. Here, the use of the bars is often cultural, but for those of you who have lived here most of your life, you don't realize it gives many newcomers an immediate subconscious feeling of high crime as it's generally found in bad areas in other cities.

[truckzter]

I'll admit, too, that people scared the crap out of me before I moved here with all the "War Zone" / gang / drugs / prostitute talk.

I'm a 29/S/F here for graduate school, so the stories were a bit disarming. *However* I lived in the "War Zone," have taken the 66 bus, biked to campus through the War Zone, etc., etc., and I've never had any problems other than cat calls, "hey baby have any change?" etc. Get some pepper spray. Yes, I saw a dead body on Wyoming once, the SWAT team on Central and Princeton, a car broken into on Vassar, but I don't think you need to be overcome with fear. Like I said, get pepper spray. You are less likely to have problems if you hold your head up high and look sketchy-looking people in the eyes. Confidence goes a long way.

[ABQConvict]

If you feel unsafe, just never get out of your car. Most people are doing that anyway.

It amazes me the number of people who park their expensive SUVs in front of my house and eat their fast-food meal behind the steering wheel with their A/Cs cranked. No matter how hard I hit their cars with a golf club, they appear entirely unharmed! Then they drive off.

Some are even kind enough NOT to toss their empty food bags and cups in my front yard.


ABQConvict

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by truckzter

... cat calls, "hey baby have any change?" etc.

You talked about "cat calls" before. What you have quoted above is not a "cat call." That's just someone trying to earn a living.

"Cat calls" are rude.

[EnjoyEP]

I haven't had a chance yet to read through this whole thread and hope to do so later (and maybe could throw in my 2 cents better at that point), however, I remember when my wife and I first moved to ABQ, we were shopping at a shop in Old Town, and a nice-hearted Irish transplant to ABQ who was working in one of the shops was telling me amazing horror stories about driving on Montgomery Blvd. - he claimed guns having been pulled on him, and all sorts of murderous scary stories.

Little did we know that 6 short months later, we'd end up buying a house just 2 blocks directly off of Montgomery. At first, when we first bought the place (but before we moved in), we'd drive by the house at night, almost trembling in fear if we'd ended up buying a house in a war zone that would have us terrified to live day-to-day.

However, we ended up living in that house for what, 3 or 3.5 years?, and couldn't have in general felt more safe. Very quiet, safe neighborhood. Took kids on nighttime trick-or-treats for Halloween. I was always out walking / running latter in the evening for exercise, etc. Never felt crime.

Crime certainly can be an issue in some parts of ABQ - like it is in 100% of all cities in the US that are semi-large - however, sometimes I think the longtime locals oversell it. Sometimes people just like being fixated with the negative, the "local news" factor.

I am not saying crime can't touch you in a city like ABQ, but if you've lived in any other city of a similar or larger size, you won't feel any differently in ABQ.

[nmweatherman]

Albuquerque is no different from any other metro area in the country, and I've lived in this country East to West, North to South. Crime in the Twin Cities, MN, for example is much worse. I think due to our moderate size, crime looms and rings larger in ABQ than, say, LA or New York City. We do have two main problems IMHO: alcoholism (public) and, because of our mild year-round weather, a year-round homeless problem. I also do not like the fact that they put half-way houses for the chronically mentally ill in residential/commercial areas.

Gangs exist here, yes, but they are everywhere. If you go looking for trouble or drugs, you'll find it for sure. Meth and crack are (like everywhere else) the biggest problems.

I have walked alone almost everywhere and have never been approached, other by the numerous panhandlers and the occasional looneytune off his or her meds. I also ride the city buses everywhere, and as usual the biggest problem are the drunks and the unwashed homeless and the crack addicts. But hey...they are putting plainclothes and uniformed security guards on the likeliest buses (in the Twin Cities they have built plexiglass enclosures for drivers!).

It's a sad commentary on America that you have to learn Rule #1: don't make eye contact with strangers. Most in ABQ are normal, family-oriented friendly and helpful people. But when bus riding or out walking or shopping I do not make eye-contact. I didn't learn that rule here, however, I learned it elsewhere before moving to ABQ.

Also there seems to be an increase in heinous crimes - child murderers, serial murderers, home invaders etc. When they happen they shock the entire county and most of the state. But think of all the heinous crimes you hear about all over this country; we're not immune here. A sad observation on the state of crime and general morality in the USA. When the media quits frothing over these crimes things go back to normal and life goes on here.

When I moved here I felt instantly at home, and safer, far safer than most places I've lived.

[red46]

Albuquerque has been my home since 1954, with the exception of a couple stints away. Each time I leave and come back maybe 5 years later, the city has doubled again.

Since I know which are the war zones and have lived with them most of my life, it's not the gangs or criminals I shy away from, but the masses of new people and a huge population explosion.
For me, the crowds and some of these drivers are more of a threat than walking down Central after 10PM. I'll take Central, any time.

It's not as much where you are as it is, how observant you are. Downtown used to be the most dreaded area in all of NM but there has been so much emphasis on the rebirthing of down town and so much police action, it's almost as safe as Disney Land. Of course, I haven't been to Disney Land in quite some time, so I hope I'm not talking through my hat.

The most notorious areas would be: west of Gibson, across from the landing strips, between Carlisle and Girard. Those cheapo apts. over there are notoriously robbed. The state streets between Lomas and Zuni. The state streets start just east of the president streets, which are east of the Nob Hill area. A mile either way of Central, up the hill around old Coors.

With the exception of those areas, I'll walk in the dark anywhere else in the city.

If you need to stay near the U, the student housing in the surrounding areas are the cheapest in the city and the most quaint. The area between University and the freeway, north of Central has always been quiet. The closest thing I've ever heard of in that area, to criminal activity, has been behind closed doors and involves drugs but for the most part is a safe and quiet area. This being summer, you should have no problems finding housing in that area.

Also, across Central from the U, between University and Girard, and going east until about Coal, is mostly student minded and is about as safe as one can get. Also, on the south side of Central, a strip of neighborhood that runs between Central and Coal and between Carlisle and San Mateo, is a fairly nice area.

The truth is, even at my age (63), there's not one block within the territory of Albuquerque, that I'm afraid of. You just have to be wise about how you do things.

Every convenience store is a hot spot, regardless of where it is and can be robbed at any time. That doesn't stop me from going to one, even after dark. If some fool wants to try to rob a store where I'm at, he's in for the surprise of his life because I'm just plain not afraid of anybody. I half raised my little brother, who outgrew me, and I'm still full of all the old tricks. I can poke a guy in the ribs with the butt of my hairbrush and claim it's a gun, just like he can.

It's really all in your attitude. If you happen to see a group of hard assed looking kids, pushing some other guy around, I wouldn't go walking through the crowd. For sure, I'd call the police.

Speaking of police. Always mention a gun, if you want attention immediately. Otherwise, Albuquerque police may take an hour to get there. No kidding. I determined, a long time ago, that if I really need help I'll tell the 911 operator that if they don't want the perpetrator to get his head blown off, they better get there quick to defend him. You can tell them the truth after they get there.

Since the shootings in this town are gangs getting retribution, the best idea is to stay away from known gang areas, such as the ones I listed.

There's no use in walking around scared, all the time. This is just like every other city across the nation. They just haven't discovered all the truth, in most of these cities.

Some years ago, I happened to be driving in the north valley, just north of the Old Town area, and in a usually quiet neighborhood. My grown daughter sat in the passenger seat and my grandson in the back in his car seat. Two men came running down the street toward us. One was chasing the other. They were headed right for my car and to keep from running into them, I just stopped and told my daughter to lock her door. They weren't interested in us and I'm glad neither one of them had a gun. It was just a personal fight. Hands hit my car, as the first one kept his balance and too keep from smashing into the car. Then they raced past us. I thought my daughter was going to have a heart attack but for me, it didn't seem like so much.

I'm an old time truck driver and a few years ago, I happened to be in Phoenix and driving my truck bob tail. Since we sat a good 6' above the cars around us, when a fight broke out, while I sat at the light, it didn't bother me a bit. Knives were flying, so I worried about my truck. ha When the light turned green and traffic started moving, so did I-with those two right in front of me. Funny thing, they managed to move out of the way. I blew my air horn and put it in gear.

Don't walk around with your nose to the ground, don't get out of your car without having already noted what's around you, don't walk through your own open door at night, when you left it closed. It's just common sense.

Don't slam on your brakes to teach the tail gaitor. Not a cool idea. And don't stop at lights, at night, without ever looking off to your left and right.

Some years ago, there was a rash of car jackings. That's when I developed the habit of always leaving myself some extra room ahead of me, when I had to stop at a light. I always want to be able to jump forward or back.

You are as safe here as anywhere. It's not the city, it's the times.


You're going to find exceptions just about anywhere, including Chicago.

[red46]

Originally Posted by mortimer

You talked about "cat calls" before. What you have quoted above is not a "cat call." That's just someone trying to earn a living.

"Cat calls" are rude.

I answer them. Doesn't mean I have to slow down, though. I figure I was being kind enough to just acknowledge their question. haha

[rybert]

Originally Posted by mortimer

You talked about "cat calls" before. What you have quoted above is not a "cat call." That's just someone trying to earn a living.

"Cat calls" are rude.

"Hey baby" isn't rude?

[yukon]

Not when you're female over 45 ... it's a compliment

hey red46, I agree - I've had nicer conversations with what I suspect were gang members than some of the newcomers over in the NW part of town