Just Moved Here, And Feeling Unsafe (Albuquerque, South Valley: houses, neighborhood, tenants)

[LLIABQ]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I've been in ABQ for about a week now, and I've never felt so unsafe.

I'll admit that some of the feeling comes for the disorientation of being in a new place, but some of the feeling is quite real: everywhere I go, I hear stories of people whose cars have been broken into or vandalized. The drug addicts that aggressively beg for money on the streets (particularly around the university) can be quite threatening. At one place in Nob Hill where my wife and I considered renting, the landlord addressed our concerns about the flimsy windows that could be easily pushed out of the frame by a thief by saying "we haven't had any robberies here... yet."

Most of my coworkers, and the few people I knew here prior to my move, all live in gated communities, or in places with bars on the windows. That feels like living in prison to me. I don't want to live with that kind of isolation.

My biggest mistake yet was taking a wrong turn off Central past San Mateo and ending up in what I understand is called "The War Zone". We passed several police cars clustered around a person (or a corpse) lying in the street. The glares we received from many people in that area made it quite clear that we didn't belong there and weren't welcome.

Both my wife and I work within a mile or two of the University, so we've chosen to live as close to our jobs as possible. This has left us with a very small area where we feel even relatively safe: basically, Central to Lomas, University to Carlisle.

I'd like to expand my comfort zone in the city, but I don't know what areas are safe and which are dangerous.

Can anybody here give me an idea of what parts of the city to absolutely avoid?

I consider myself very street-smart when it comes to big cities: I've lived in Manhattan and Chicago and never had a problem or felt the level of fear I live with daily in ABQ. It's hard for me to understand why I feel so different here, and have the sense that a city boy like me just doesn't fit in.

Any advice from local ABQ folks would be appreciated. I know many of you love it here, and I'm hopeful that you can help me find a way to feel safe and fall in love with the city live you have.

Todd

Todd:
Just left you a long message and my internet crapped out me Anyway, here it is again and sorry if it ends up being duplicated 'caues I hit submit twice:

I'm new here too so I can't offer a LOT of help but can empathize. I can't even IMAGINE how I would react to seeing something like a dead person/corpse. I spent some time working in Manhattan and have never felt safer anywhere else. Anyway, I do know of one apt complex to stay away from - Entrada Pointe in Rio Rancho. Crime ridden, gangs,car break ins, nightly visits from police due to domestic violence, drug dealings, and muggings. I now live at Riverwalk in the Corrales area. So far (knock on wood), it has been peaceful, quiet, and I have yet to see any police around here. Corrales area is in the 87114 zip which in another thread I saw someone referred to as a safe area. And I can understand your frustration in having to drive all over the dang city to try and find a safe place to live. I've had to do that every time I moved and it can be "maddening". Anyway, sorry I can't be of much help besides recommended one place and staying far away from the other. And you know, I still haven't figured out what's with all the crime here. I found out that's the reason my insurance rates went UP from living in Kansas City which is notorious for crime. I think it may have something to do with us being on the Mexico border and importing of drugs. Just my guess. I'm hardly an authority on the best places being as I've only lived here for a little over a year.

Best of luck to you and thanks for the warning about the "War Zone", I had no idea!

[Mistoftime]

Can't imagine living in a place where I didn't feel safe, hope everything works out for you. Where we live 95% of the robberies and break-ins have been shot by the homeowners, our crime rate is very low.

[abegofet]

Todd

I live in what was once known as the war zone (Girard / San Mateo) and feel very confortable there. Yes, like every other city in America, there is a criminal element to deal with. Statistically, Albuquerque ranks about par when compared to other metropolitan districts in the Country.

However when you get to know people, and they get to know you, we become part of the family. People will actually begin to look out for your interests.
Albuquerque is actually a moderate sized city with asperations of becomming a large city, but having a small town mentality.

Good luck and get out and get to know us better

[mmposting]

My advice is to move out of New Mexico. There's a reason why you feel unsafe: New Mexico and Albuquerque are unsafe. Moving to a "nice" neighborhood will help, but it's not like living in nice neighborhood in another part of the U.S. where you are totally insulated from problems. In Albq, crime is pervasive throughout the city.

I've posted this type of advice before. A few other people took issue with it. But, if Albuquerque is such a normal place, then I wouldn't think there were be so many threads on whether it is safe or not.

Do yourselves a favor. You'll be much happier for it. If you stay in Albuquerque ( or NM for that matter), you will be constantly trying to force yourselves to enjoy a situation that cannot be made enjoyable.

[mmposting]

Originally Posted by violent cello

In short - I don't think this would happen in Albuquerque. Technically it could, but that sort of menace and hit man element, I'm not so sure. Miami sounds like a much worse place to be.

You didn't grow up in the spanish part of Albuquerque.

[mmposting]

Originally Posted by yukon

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

you've got to be kidding

[mmposting]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I walk around in a chain-mail suit. It hurts to stand in the sun but gangs can't cut me with their knives.

ABQConvict

As someone who grew up with gang violence, I take this flippancy as an insult. You're being sarcastic and making fun of something that has hurt and some cases resulted in the death of friends.

[Suebrown67]

We just tranferred here to Kirtland AFB 6 weeks ago. We came from Andrews AFB, Md 15 minutes outside DC where we had been stuck for 19 years. I feel 1000 times more safe here in Abq than I ever did back at Andrews. I don't feel nervous about being out after dark, the people here are so much nicer in general, and I am still amazed how they will hold doors open for each other. Back in Md, it was typical for the door to slam shut in your face.

We absolutely love it here, and when I retire in a few years, there is no way we are moving back east. We love the weather, the overall attitude, the lack of traffic (even in rush hour), the lower cost of living, and all the awesome food places here.

We are totally enchanted with this place

[ggabq]

Originally Posted by mmposting

As someone who grew up with gang violence, I take this flippancy as an insult. You're being sarcastic and making fun of something that has hurt and some cases resulted in the death of friends.

Why are you taking that so seriosuly? it was just a joke about how people take crime in ABQ way too serious. I also grew up in the South Valley, and had one friend get seriously hurt from gang violence. I didn't find his post offensive at all.

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by mmposting

As someone who grew up with gang violence, I take this flippancy as an insult. You're being sarcastic and making fun of something that has hurt and some cases resulted in the death of friends.

It is obvious from your string of posts that you are dominated by a sense of fear thus I am not surprised that you are also easily insulted.

I live and work in SE Albuquerque which is considered to contain some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the entire state of New Mexico.

Thus I am insulted that you don't take my sarcasm seriously.


ABQConvict