Why one of the worst? (Phoenix, Yuma: apartment complex, work, homes)

[Darsa]

Hi there!

Hubby and I have been doing some pretty extensive research into possibly moving from Maine to Arizona (yikes!! ) and recently I read this article:

The 10 safest states for kids - Parenting & Family - MSNBC.com

and was a bit dismayed!

I'll be bringing my daughter with me, and I tend towards the "insanely protective" of her. Why is it that Arizona is number 46 out of 50 on children's safety, does anyone have any insight into that?

Thanks in advance for any input!

[esselcue]

It's very hard to answer this without sounding prejudiced or racist, but AZ is virtually two different worlds between north & south in some ways. It also affects our education standards. In So. AZ, Phoenix and south to the border areas, there are a lot of children who do not fare well due to family dynamics, neglect, poverty and abuse. It is on the news all the time...kids getting injured, abused, even shot in drive-bys or accidental gun-related incidents and probably 90% of the time they are kids from minority homes in bad areas. Teenagers in gangs, etc. It reflects in the stats and it is tragic.

It also shows up in our educational system stats where we rank very low in test scores and education. AZ deals with so many uneducated families, many of whom do not speak english at all...and many kids from these families have few educational skills or drop out of school early. This does not have to do with "safety" per se, but it runs hand in hand with lifestyle.

I will probably be criticized for this and I apologize if I have offended anyone, but 20+ years in law enforcement has shown me time and again that these stistics are true moreso in the southern areas of AZ that in the north, and that it is disproportionately linked to the minority (who are the majority in much of AZ) groups.

[Gretchen B]

I would probably agree that there's some areas of the state with higher crime statistics than other parts of the state. I think population density is one factor. Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the US, so that by itself makes the potential for crime higher.

I think some of the rural areas and mid-size cities are very safe. I spent 2 decades in rural Nebraska, and I feel every bit as safe here in the Prescott area as I did there. But there are a lot of retirees up here (including retired law enforcement people) and everybody seems to really watch out for everybody else. That's not to say that nothing bad ever happens. I do think, though, that with increased population comes an increase in drugs and criminal activity.

I wouldn't necessarily apply the statistics to the entire state.

[sfw1979]

Darsa,

Keep in mind that the city of Phoenix has more people in it than the entire state of Maine.

[jenkaye]

I have two kids and worry about the crime but my kids are pretty safe out here in Cave Creek. We have kids playing in the streets and riding bikes to school with no problems. But you always have to be cautious no matter where you live and there are areas in Phx like any city you want to stay away from.
But as a mom in a minivan I don't stray into those areas. I would agree with the poster that we have a lot more people in this state so take that into account.

[gabygirl]

I have to echo what the others have said here, esp. esselcue, and I agree: it's difficult not to respond without sounding prejudiced or racist but the truth is the truth. My personal opinion as to what contributes to many kids' deaths around here: moms' boyfriends.

[MARKG65]

I agree with jenkaye - we've lived in Cave Creek for a few months now and feel very safe in the area. The drawback will always be the commute if your not self employed working from home, as it takes 45 minutes or more to get just about anywhere south of Bell Rd. from Cave Creek.
As far as the school system, I can't offer an opinion as our kids have 4 legs!

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Darsa

Hi there!

Hubby and I have been doing some pretty extensive research into possibly moving from Maine to Arizona (yikes!! ) and recently I read this article:

The 10 safest states for kids - Parenting & Family - MSNBC.com

and was a bit dismayed!

I'll be bringing my daughter with me, and I tend towards the "insanely protective" of her. Why is it that Arizona is number 46 out of 50 on children's safety, does anyone have any insight into that?

Thanks in advance for any input!

I can understand how seeing statistics that rank Arizona low in something would create a negative impression. However, you can't rely on one report to decide whether to move here or not. The best thing to do is take some time to visit the state and get a feel for what it has to offer before you make a judgment.

Second of all, you have to protect your OWN children ... no matter where you decide to live! The last thing anybody should expect is for the government to be a babysitter for people's offspring. Those who can't take care of their own really have no business having children. Sorry to sound harsh, but that's a fact of life.

[kalim2008]

Originally Posted by Darsa

Hi there!

Hubby and I have been doing some pretty extensive research into possibly moving from Maine to Arizona (yikes!! ) and recently I read this article:

The 10 safest states for kids - Parenting & Family - MSNBC.com

and was a bit dismayed!

I'll be bringing my daughter with me, and I tend towards the "insanely protective" of her. Why is it that Arizona is number 46 out of 50 on children's safety, does anyone have any insight into that?

Thanks in advance for any input!

because everyone can carry a gun in AZ...my cousin lives there and he says people can buy a fully automatic machine gun...i mean, one that's mounted on a jeep....i'm not exactly sure why anyone would need one, but then again i'm from jersey and we just hire the local mobster when we need to off someone....

[bluebelt1234]

Here in Yuma there are tons of parents who leave very young children unsupervised for long periods. One day I was in Wal-mart and I saw a baby sitting alone in a cart while her mom was in the next aisle looking at something. You also frequently see very young children running through stores without parents watching them. Then last week, I saw a 6 year old in my apartment complex playing alone in the parking lot and not watching out for cars. No one was paying attention to him.