IS Arizona really bad as everyone says???? (Phoenix: relocate, luxury)

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Were we comparing Phoenix to NYC? I stand by my points:

1. Bedroom communities in Phoenix area have VIOLENT crimes rates a fraction of the national average.


2. One's odds of being a victim of a violent crime are very low in Phoenix suburbs.

Compare Chandler, Gilbert or Scottsdale to NYC. All of them (with the exception of Mesa, perhaps) have low violent crime rates. Few people coming to "Phoenix" these days are actually coming to Phoenix. They will be living in sanitized suburban professional communities far from the gangs and the illegals and their smugglers. But do keep your garage door closed.

Yes, but the point is is that it's kind of hard to avoid Phoenix, unless you have no reason (like a job) to be in Phoenix.

Just last week, the place where I work, another building was broken into. So, my coworkers go down there and I succumbed to peer pressure. So, there I am, standing with these morons, and they are saying...we think they are inside. No kidding, 10 feet away and we're standing around so we can "identify them" when they come out. Of course, who knows where the cops are, as it takes them a while. So, all I said was, what if they have guns? Here we're standing there, one woman with a scissors. Oh My Gosh. Finally, (after 5 minutes of this idiocy) I came to my senses and left them standing there. There must be something in the water here to cause that kind of stupid.

Oh, oh, and it doesn't stop there. Hearing gunshots in the hood isn't even noteworthy. We just call Crimestoppers. Just a few weeks ago, there was an attempted assault right in front of where I work. A guy was riding on a bike and this older couple was walking across the street, the man with a plant on his head. So, the guy on the bike has a knife and attempts to stab the guy while trying to snatch the plant. And, if that's not enough, a woman was abducted right in front and taken up the mountain, where I think they gouged her eye out and sexually assaulted her. She managed to climb down the mountain. Right in front of where I work. Yes, this is a lovely city.

And on this note, I have to log off this forum, as I'm feeling anxious. I have to go to work tomorrow and I am not happy about it.

[Azrider]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Yeah, and anything would be a step up from chopped liver, as well.

So...what we should really say, more realistically, is that you live in a place that sucks, surrounded by interesting places, not too far away. That would be more fair.

Hmm, maybe in your opinion, but not mine. I like it here. I view it as a very interesting place, sourrounded by more very interesting places.

For some reason I just felt as if I was criticized for being from Ohio too, correct me if Im wrong.

From reading on in these threads it seems like you had a few bad experiences here. Just an observation. I had a couple back in Ohio and it made me loathe it as you do Phoenix.

Originally Posted by movin'on

Hmmm, well, if a person is going to come and live here best to live in Scottsdale, where the murder rate is only 1.8 per 100K versus 14.1 in Phoenix. National average is 5.5.

Hmm, It would seem too that Phoenix has more people but a better crime rating than Cleveland, Toledo, OH, Columbus, and Detroit. I used Oh and MI because I come from that area. Im sure there are plenty of cities too that Phoenix is worse than, but that gave me a good idea of what I came from. Pretty interesting data there with all these people here conviced that Phoenix crime is soo bad. Wow. Thanks for that link azloafer.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Azrider

Hmm, maybe in your opinion, but not mine. I like it here. I view it as a very interesting place, sourrounded by more very interesting places.

For some reason I just felt as if I was criticized for being from Ohio too, correct me if Im wrong.

From reading on in these threads it seems like you had a few bad experiences here. Just an observation. I had a couple back in Ohio and it made me loathe it as you do Phoenix.

No, you cannot help it you are from Ohio anymore than I can help it I'm from Minnesota. The one good thing about being from those places is that you get good values and grounded. The downside is that one is sheltered.

I've lived a LOT of places, to include Spain, so I don't consider myself a novice when it comes to moving and getting used to an area. In many ways, Spain was far more easy to deal with than this place.

I've lived here twice now. I have blamed myself both times for not liking it. That doesn't serve me well. I just need to be in a real city, and I so miss the water. This place doesn't have either, and I am very disappointed in the people I've met, to date.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Azrider

Hmm, It would seem too that Phoenix has more people but a better crime rating than Cleveland, Toledo, OH, Columbus, and Detroit. I used Oh and MI because I come from that area. Im sure there are plenty of cities too that Phoenix is worse than, but that gave me a good idea of what I came from. Pretty interesting data there with all these people here conviced that Phoenix crime is soo bad. Wow. Thanks for that link azloafer.

Well, this is like saying McDonalds is better than Burger King. Frankly, I'd prefer to skip both. I cannot imagine even having to live in those places you mention. I'm from Minneapolis, which consistently is ranked high in Best Places to Live, and I abhor it. Call me picky.

I believe in living in the BEST place for me. Usually, this translates into high cost of living, but there is a reason it's high cost of living. California, for all its problems, cannot be beat. Problem is, I am very risk averse. I could go there right now and buy something, but I like the idea of having a cushion (financially, at my age). I lived there 13 years of my life and it will always be home. Still, I have to be practical, as I am single.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

Or maybe a different understanding of "heat" (above 110F, maybe?). I'd say more like 5 months based on the years that I lived in Phoenix...early-May to early-October.

Hey, you live up north, right? I think I saw your name on the Oregon or WA forum. Do you like it better up there? That is where I am thinking of going.

[Steve97415]

Overall, the climate is more to my liking in Arizona (dealing with the gloom in winter here is pretty tough on me). The social and political aspects, I greatly prefer in Oregon. Oregon has reasonable land-use constraints that control urban sprawl. Arizona just lets developers gobble up the desert like some horrendous cancer creeping across the land. That's why I had to get out of there. Livability is completely shot. I come back every year at Thanksgiving and quickly remember why I left after being back in the Valley for just a few hours. But if I could run the clock back forty years, Arizona would be near the top of the places I would choose to live.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

Overall, the climate is more to my liking in Arizona (dealing with the gloom in winter here is pretty tough on me). The social and political aspects, I greatly prefer in Oregon. Oregon has reasonable land-use constraints that control urban sprawl. Arizona just lets developers gobble up the desert like some horrendous cancer creeping across the land. That's why I had to get out of there. Livability is completely shot. I come back every year at Thanksgiving and quickly remember why I left after being back in the Valley for just a few hours. But if I could run the clock back forty years, Arizona would be near the top of the places I would choose to live.

Well, I've realized just how important that political bent is, since I came here. It really does make a difference, to the extent that I find it hard to live here. Sure, I know there are liberals here (somewhere), but they are few and far between. When I decide to join a group that thinks as I do, then I get criticized by the natives here for being "too radical." In fact, I won't even tell people what I think here, for fear of being ostracized.

Coming from Minnesota (Blue) and California (definitely, Blue), I've had a hard time adjusting here. And, of course, it transcends many spheres.

So, while the state might be really beautiful, my reality is here in Phoenix. This is where I live. I need to leave.

[Azrider]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Well, this is like saying McDonalds is better than Burger King. Frankly, I'd prefer to skip both. I cannot imagine even having to live in those places you mention. I'm from Minneapolis, which consistently is ranked high in Best Places to Live, and I abhor it. Call me picky.

I believe in living in the BEST place for me. Usually, this translates into high cost of living, but there is a reason it's high cost of living. California, for all its problems, cannot be beat. Problem is, I am very risk averse. I could go there right now and buy something, but I like the idea of having a cushion (financially, at my age). I lived there 13 years of my life and it will always be home. Still, I have to be practical, as I am single.

Well, excuse me from being from such a hell hole. I still have family there, its not all that bad, but I would never live there again. At least I got a positive crime rate comparison out of it.

Good luck in moving out of here, im sorry you hate it so much.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Azrider

Well, excuse me from being from such a hell hole. I still have family there, its not all that bad, but I would never live there again. At least I got a positive crime rate comparison out of it.

Good luck in moving out of here, im sorry you hate it so much.

Well, I imagine it is a hell hole, if my travels across the country mean anything. Look, I didn't mean to offend, rather inject reality. If you take it another way, it's on you.

[brian_2]

"But if I could run the clock back forty years, Arizona would be near the top of the places I would choose to live."

Yeah, well that could be said for most places - not just AZ.

We all must live together in the crowded world we have, and if some people like AZ who am I to try to change their minds? I can state my views and let it go at that.

I bet many of the worst areas in the USA would look pretty darn good to people living in dangerous third world countries - no?