IS Arizona really bad as everyone says???? (Phoenix, Tucson: crime rate, houses)

[freeverrsee]

I have heard a lot of things about AZ but what about the people there?? Are they friendly?? Are they hospitable?? Please answer!!


Freeverrsee

[freeverrsee]

Should I move to Az ? Or should I stay in Va I am looking for 70's or 80's some people I talk to say that its a paradise. And Iam looking to see f thats true!!

Thanxs,
freeverrsee

[steve22]

Originally Posted by freeverrsee

I have heard a lot of things about AZ but what about the people there?? Are they friendly?? Are they hospitable?? Please answer!!


Freeverrsee

Arizona, like anywhere else, has good parts and bad parts. You have to understand that a lot of it depends on where you live in the state. I rant about Phoenix a lot, b/c I hate it here. I think it's a terrible city with no semblance of a downtown, lots of crime and overall not very nice, friendly, or particularly smart people.

Obviously when you live in a big city, there are negatives like crime, pollution and traffic that you try to balance with the positives to justify living there- like the vibe, culture, nightlife, dining, and just more numerous things to see and do from a recreational/entertainment standpoint that you have access to in a big city. Problem with Phoenix is, it doesn't offer many of those things the way most "nice" big cities do. Like I said, no downtown, no culture, no "scene", no vibe, no fun/unique enclaves or neighborhoods- just big-box sprawl in every direction and a few tall office buildings in the middle of it all. Basically it's got all the problems of a big city, but none of the good things. And, oh yeah, can't forget the unbearably hot weather half the year (woke up this morning at 5 am, it was already 95 freakin degrees before the sun was up. It hit 118 yesterday. HELL ON EARTH is putting it mildly).

On the other hand, the state of Arizona also includes places like Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona, which are all terrific smaller cities with much friendler vibes, much more vibrant and genuine feels to them. Lake Powell, Lake Havasu, the White Mountains, Pine, and of course, the Grand Canyon are all spectacular. Tucson does have a pretty significant crime problem, but I would say that the city definitely has a more organic feel to it and people seem much more down-to-earth there than Phoenix. So overall, yes, there are bad things and rotten people in AZ, but that's mostly confined to greater Phoenix. Stay away from this megalopolitan nightmare hellhole, and it's a pretty nice state, in my opinion.

[freeverrsee]

I live inj VA were the people here are very resentful to NewYorkers does that happen in AZ??

[gabygirl]

Freeverrsee -yes it's awful Yesterday it was 118 degrees, there's TWO serial killers loose, and there's no end in sight to the population growth, many of who are illegal aliens. I myself am outta here very soon.

[Lehi]

Originally Posted by freeverrsee

I live inj VA were the people here are very resentful to NewYorkers does that happen in AZ??

No, we're only resentful of Californians.

[Azrider]

Originally Posted by steve22

Arizona, like anywhere else, has good parts and bad parts. You have to understand that a lot of it depends on where you live in the state. I rant about Phoenix a lot, b/c I hate it here. I think it's a terrible city with no semblance of a downtown, lots of crime and overall not very nice, friendly, or particularly smart people.

Obviously when you live in a big city, there are negatives like crime, pollution and traffic that you try to balance with the positives to justify living there- like the vibe, culture, nightlife, dining, and just more numerous things to see and do from a recreational/entertainment standpoint that you have access to in a big city. Problem with Phoenix is, it doesn't offer many of those things the way most "nice" big cities do. Like I said, no downtown, no culture, no "scene", no vibe, no fun/unique enclaves or neighborhoods- just big-box sprawl in every direction and a few tall office buildings in the middle of it all. Basically it's got all the problems of a big city, but none of the good things. And, oh yeah, can't forget the unbearably hot weather half the year (woke up this morning at 5 am, it was already 95 freakin degrees before the sun was up. It hit 118 yesterday. HELL ON EARTH is putting it mildly).

On the other hand, the state of Arizona also includes places like Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona, which are all terrific smaller cities with much friendler vibes, much more vibrant and genuine feels to them. Lake Powell, Lake Havasu, the White Mountains, Pine, and of course, the Grand Canyon are all spectacular. Tucson does have a pretty significant crime problem, but I would say that the city definitely has a more organic feel to it and people seem much more down-to-earth there than Phoenix. So overall, yes, there are bad things and rotten people in AZ, but that's mostly confined to greater Phoenix. Stay away from this megalopolitan nightmare hellhole, and it's a pretty nice state, in my opinion.

Steve, I agree with you on some points. Phoenix has its good and bad parts. I myself am from Ohio, and the best thing I ever did was move to the Phoenix area. I have lived in Scottsdale now for going on 5 years.

I completely disagree with your statements about Phoenix. We do have crime here, but that is everywhere. I havent had a problem with it yet, and statistically, Phoenix has a lower crime rate per capita then most major cities. We do have an auto theft problem, but when I lived in ohio, they had a big rape problem, serial rapists included. This stuff happens everywhere.

I love the nightlife scene here. Mill Avenue in Tempe has to be one of the best spots. There are plenty people, clubs, and bars to have a good time in. Scottsdale has a very nice nightlife also. There are plenty of unique houses and neighborhoods, like that castle on the side of Camelback Mountain -- not to mention the awesome desert landscaping and the rest of the neighborhoods around there.

I never find myself bored in Phoenix. There is always something to do. Whether it is hanging out at the clubs, heading north to Flagstaff skiing, or the Grand Canyon, Sedona, golfing in Phoenix, everything is awesome. I feel there is plenty of culture here, even with the urban sprawl.

There are ******* people wherever you go too. Believe me, there was plenty back in Ohio. I have ran into some here, but I dont let people like that bother me. They are easily ignored.

The weather does not bother me. I would rather be walking around in 118 degree heat 4 months out of the year than having a 9 month winter like was in Ohio. The weather the rest of the year here is beautiful. You cant shovel sunshine.

Overall, life is what you make it, no matter where you live. If you are picky and pick every little bad thing you see out, of course, the bad will outway the good. It boils down to your attitude in general. You may hate Arizona now, and the way I see it, where ever you move you will hate that eventually too. No offense, just my opinion. I moved here because of a job opportunity, I dont necessarily care for Ohio much, but it wasnt all that bad of a place to live, and if the opportunity would not have come up, I would still be there. Since moving here, I know one thing for sure, I love living in Phoenix, and Arizona in general.

[SpeedyAZ]

Steve, I agree with you on some points. Phoenix has its good and bad parts. I myself am from Ohio, and the best thing I ever did was move to the Phoenix area. I have lived in Scottsdale now for going on 5 years.

I completely disagree with your statements about Phoenix. We do have crime here, but that is everywhere. I havent had a problem with it yet, and statistically, Phoenix has a lower crime rate per capita then most major cities. We do have an auto theft problem, but when I lived in ohio, they had a big rape problem, serial rapists included. This stuff happens everywhere.

I love the nightlife scene here. Mill Avenue in Tempe has to be one of the best spots. There are plenty people, clubs, and bars to have a good time in. Scottsdale has a very nice nightlife also. There are plenty of unique houses and neighborhoods, like that castle on the side of Camelback Mountain -- not to mention the awesome desert landscaping and the rest of the neighborhoods around there.

I never find myself bored in Phoenix. There is always something to do. Whether it is hanging out at the clubs, heading north to Flagstaff skiing, or the Grand Canyon, Sedona, golfing in Phoenix, everything is awesome. I feel there is plenty of culture here, even with the urban sprawl.

There are ******* people wherever you go too. Believe me, there was plenty back in Ohio. I have ran into some here, but I dont let people like that bother me. They are easily ignored.

The weather does not bother me. I would rather be walking around in 118 degree heat 4 months out of the year than having a 9 month winter like was in Ohio. The weather the rest of the year here is beautiful. You cant shovel sunshine.

Overall, life is what you make it, no matter where you live. If you are picky and pick every little bad thing you see out, of course, the bad will outway the good. It boils down to your attitude in general. You may hate Arizona now, and the way I see it, where ever you move you will hate that eventually too. No offense, just my opinion. I moved here because of a job opportunity, I dont necessarily care for Ohio much, but it wasnt all that bad of a place to live, and if the opportunity would not have come up, I would still be there. Since moving here, I know one thing for sure, I love living in Phoenix, and Arizona in general.

I agree with you 110%!

I also love it here, it's the place for me! I find most people are kind and genuine, great people to be around.

We don't have much serious crime, most is petty theft; possesions are re-placeable your life is not.

I don't know what kind of "vibe" you're looking for, I find plently of great places to relax, eat, and have a good time. I'm not into the NYC type vibe, I don't care to be rushed everywhere. I love to sit out on the patio, have a nice glass of wine and a cigar, and watch the sun go down; to me it's paradise.

Do I love it here? Absolutely
Would I ever move? There are very few places that I love as much as Phoenix. It's possible but not in the near-future.

[Goin to AZ]

if your walking down the road at night and see a silver car slowing down then you better take cover or you will get shot. I learned this from americas most wanted tonight. This guy drives up and down the streets at night and kills random people. When I was in phoenix I talked to alot of the locals and 90% of them said they wanna get out of the phoenix area asap. Thats why the home prices in the area are dropping soo fast because all the people wanting out are flooding the market. All I can tell you is to do what i did and visit arizona and find out if its right for you.

[Dwayne Pipe]

Originally Posted by Goin to AZ

Thats why the home prices in the area are dropping soo fast because all the people wanting out are flooding the market.

[moderator CUT] The drop in housing prices was predicted by many - including me - a year ago. It's called the housing bubble, and it's happening all over the country. It has to do with inventory rising at 200% due to over-building and speculation, causing supply to outstrip demand. It has NOTHING to do w/ the two whack-jobs on the run.

As far as the one or two psychos on the prowl, let me tell you this. I grew up around NYC (can't you tell by the charm?), and as a boy we had the "Son of Sam" killer on the loose all summer (1977). And people were scared. But all in all, he shot what - 5 people? In a metro area of 10+ million?

Live in a good area, don't go to stupid areas, and you'll be as safe in Phoenix as any other metro area in the U.S. (which is to say, moderately safe).