Moving to Arizona.... (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff: wages, employment, house)

[carecare7]

If you are moving to Arizona, please know that Dust is everywhere and there's not a housekeeper in all the state that can keep it out!

Allergies are a problem for many people here.

Valley fever is here in Arizona.

Arizona is a pro-business, predominantly Republican state. The laws favor landlords and employers. Unemployment pay is low and Arizona employers can fire for any reason or even no reason. Unemployment finds in favor of employers when they appeal the unemployment claims, forcing workers to pay back benefits. The criteria for proof is very gray so the appeals courts typically side with the employers. Wages are very low here with no real union power to speak of.


All Arizonans, including the ones in non-hot desert areas, get electric rate hikes to pay for the huge high electric use of the people that live in the desert. That means a family in Flagstaff that never uses AC gets socked with higher electric prices during the peak summer months to offset the high AC usage of the hotter desert areas.

Water is an issue here, drought has caused shortages and inter-city fights about water.

Ariziona is a Retirement state. Seniors have the power here, what THEY want is what WE get.

Education and per-child spending is almost dead last as are test scores. Kids in Arizona don't count...they aren't voters or Seniors so they just don't count.

Illegal immigration is an issue here. There are a lot of them and the issues surrounding them are heating up.

Yes, Arizona has termites. Many people think desert areas don't get termites, but we have them here.

Homelessness is alive and well in Arizona.

Cowboy hicks and rednecks live here as do snooty rich folks and the rest of the ordinary working folks.

Phoenix and Tucson have both had roof rat problems.

Hanta virus, which has no cure, is here in Arizona and West Nile virus has also been found here. There have been Africanized bees found here as well.

Arizona has cockroaches, wolf spiders, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions, centipedes and black widows. Not to mention cactus. Ouch!

Drive by shootings and road rage is here....after all we ARE in the Wild West!

Gangs are here, you can see their grafitti in lots of places.

Swimming pools are here and they seem to multiply like roaches. Hence the high child drowning rates we seem to have here.

Monsoon comes every year between July and September and brings ( if we are lucky) rain every afternoon to cool things down and keep down some of the dust. Just remember not to cross any roadway that looks flooded. We DO have a "stupid motorist" law here so that if you get stuck in a flash flood road and need to be rescued, YOU will not only end up paying for that rescue but there may be a fine as well.

Just thought people would like to know what they are getting into before moving here. <grin>

[AksarbeN]

Originally Posted by carecare7

Just thought people would like to know what they are getting into before moving here. <grin>

I can’t argue with your post and thoughts as you have accurately described Arizona but from a view that (although correct) lacks in some of the positive sides of Arizona as a location for people to live. Just wondering a couple of things that would help me and I’m sure others as to how long you have lived here, why do you stay here, and do you find anything that you really like about the state that is worth being here for?

[MotleyCrew]

How about some of the positives that you find here as well?
There is dust everywhere and mold in some states. I prefer the dust.
If you do not like the political climate here, try CA. If you can afford it.
Desperate people are coming to America, not just AZ.
I love the monsoons. We are just careful driving in them.
I have grown to love the tarantulas (from a distance) and other bugs here. They really are very intersting.
Traffic is getting bad in all the bigger cities.
I guess we can start shooting all the Senior citizens if they are that big a problem. I will go first.
It is hot, no question about that.
We all should try to reduce our energy consumption, everywhere.
I am not going to respond to all the negatives, but sufice it to say that this state and Florida really have the most wonderful winters I have ever experienced. I can't wait till fall.

[RelocateToAZHomes]

Wow, a lot of doom and gloom. It's amazing that over 3.7 million people live in Maricopa county with how bad you have made it out to be.

[Bummer]

This is one amazing thread . . .

There must be millions of extremely miserable souls hanging around.

Personally, I have yet to find the absolute perfect spot to live but, so far, I'm sticking here with number two!

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[AksarbeN]

Thank goodness not everyone wants to be in Az or Phoenix metro. It’s a great place for those who WANT to be here and it’s much nicer for those who want to visit and return to what they themselves like best.

It’s funny however that this area and Az are one of the top three in the nation all the time for people moving to as opposed to moving from. I don’t find fault with those who dislike the place and want to move somewhere else, it’s normal that not everyone likes this part of the SW. I’d love to live in Hawaii, but there are some issues with that.

Anyway,,,,,love Arizona or leave it, it’s whatever you like and thank goodness American has so many places for people to find and call home.

What is scary are those who stay and don't leave because they don't like it here!

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by AksarbeN

Thank goodness not everyone wants to be in Az or Phoenix metro. It’s a great place for those who WANT to be here and it’s much nicer for those who want to visit and return to what they themselves like best.

It’s funny however that this area and Az are one of the top three in the nation all the time for people moving to as opposed to moving from. I don’t find fault with those who dislike the place and want to move somewhere else, it’s normal that not everyone likes this part of the SW. I’d love to live in Hawaii, but there are some issues with that.

Anyway,,,,,love Arizona or leave it, it’s whatever you like and thank goodness American has so many places for people to find and call home.

What is scary are those who stay and don't leave because they don't like it here!

Here, here! I don't understand it either.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by AksarbeN

What is scary are those who stay and don't leave because they don't like it here!

Good point, AksarbeN

It is my firm belief that many people enjoy complaining and tend to seek out the negatives and overlook the positives.

As for moving . . . where would they go? I'm certain they would be equally as miserable wherever they settle.

So sad, isn't it?

! ! ! !

[adelmo]

Originally Posted by carecare7

If you are moving to Arizona, please know that Dust is everywhere and there's not a housekeeper in all the state that can keep it out!

Allergies are a problem for many people here.

Valley fever is here in Arizona.

Arizona is a pro-business, predominantly Republican state. The laws favor landlords and employers. Unemployment pay is low and Arizona employers can fire for any reason or even no reason. Unemployment finds in favor of employers when they appeal the unemployment claims, forcing workers to pay back benefits. The criteria for proof is very gray so the appeals courts typically side with the employers. Wages are very low here with no real union power to speak of.


All Arizonans, including the ones in non-hot desert areas, get electric rate hikes to pay for the huge high electric use of the people that live in the desert. That means a family in Flagstaff that never uses AC gets socked with higher electric prices during the peak summer months to offset the high AC usage of the hotter desert areas.

Water is an issue here, drought has caused shortages and inter-city fights about water.

Ariziona is a Retirement state. Seniors have the power here, what THEY want is what WE get.

Education and per-child spending is almost dead last as are test scores. Kids in Arizona don't count...they aren't voters or Seniors so they just don't count.

Illegal immigration is an issue here. There are a lot of them and the issues surrounding them are heating up.

Yes, Arizona has termites. Many people think desert areas don't get termites, but we have them here.

Homelessness is alive and well in Arizona.

Cowboy hicks and rednecks live here as do snooty rich folks and the rest of the ordinary working folks.

Phoenix and Tucson have both had roof rat problems.

Hanta virus, which has no cure, is here in Arizona and West Nile virus has also been found here. There have been Africanized bees found here as well.

Arizona has cockroaches, wolf spiders, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions, centipedes and black widows. Not to mention cactus. Ouch!

Drive by shootings and road rage is here....after all we ARE in the Wild West!

Gangs are here, you can see their grafitti in lots of places.

Swimming pools are here and they seem to multiply like roaches. Hence the high child drowning rates we seem to have here.

Monsoon comes every year between July and September and brings ( if we are lucky) rain every afternoon to cool things down and keep down some of the dust. Just remember not to cross any roadway that looks flooded. We DO have a "stupid motorist" law here so that if you get stuck in a flash flood road and need to be rescued, YOU will not only end up paying for that rescue but there may be a fine as well.

Just thought people would like to know what they are getting into before moving here. <grin>

It's so hard to respond to such crap because i want to meet you face to face so we can go around the entire state and look at all the problems you point out. What possesses people to be so narrow minded and so one sided. I live in Cottonwood and it's just great up here. If anyone would like to meet me and show me all your problems i'll be more than happy to go around so you can prove to me what you are bellyaching about. If you feel this is not nessessary to do, that sitting in front of your computer is a safe way to tell people this exaggeration crap then go ahead.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by adelmo

It's so hard to respond to such crap because i want to meet you face to face so we can go around the entire state and look at all the problems you point out. What possesses people to be so narrow minded and so one sided. I live in Cottonwood and it's just great up here. If anyone would like to meet me and show me all your problems i'll be more than happy to go around so you can prove to me what you are bellyaching about. If you feel this is not nessessary to do, that sitting in front of your computer is a safe way to tell people this exaggeration crap then go ahead.

Thank you, Adelmo . . . BEAUTIFULLY STATED.

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