Torn between Bakersfield or Fresno!!!!! (San Francisco, Sacramento: rent, lease, health)

[visalian]

I think they're both fairly similar- they're both Central Valley cities. Difference is Bakersfield is closer to So. Cal and Fresno is closer to No. Cal.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by joe_nathan

i hear flint, michigan is nice

Now thats FUNNY! I dont care what anybody says!!!!!

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I am choosing the Phoenix area over both. Fresno was up until last year anyway called the Car theft capital of the nation. Read a story where a man went out to find his car was stolen. He called his son to come and get him. The son went to get in his car and it had been stolen as well.

My wife loves Fresno. She has family there. I am more familiar with Bakersfield as I lived in Taft a long time ago and we used to go to Bakersfield to have fun. I think both have there good and bad points. Bakersfield does have some bad smog and low air quality. You can get a lot of house for the money though. Sure the same as far as home prices in Fresno.

[missmels]

the one who said that they've never seen gangs in Bakersifled - Of course you haven't, you live in the NW part of town! I live in NW Fresno and I never see gangs either, but they are here.

I have family in Bakersfield and they HATE it because there is nothing to do whereas if you are a nature lover, in Fresno an hour and a half drive will get you to Yosemite, not to mention many lakes near here. There's more and more to do here each year although to many residents it might not seem like it because they don't look hard enough. There's a lot of good restaurants and some cool local places that have good live music. If you are involved in the medical field Fresno is a good place because that industry is growing. The construction industry is huge too despite the real estate crisis. But when that ends, construction will go back to being one of the top industries here. There is crime here, like everywhere else, but FPD Chief Jerry Dyer is busting his a$$ on that! Our PD has cracked down on gangs big time! They are also trying to improve downtown to make it a more desireable place to go.

On the contrary, the drivers here suck and so does the road system. There are many roads here that are really congested and are in need of widening. The people aren't exactly the nicest folks I've ever met, but whatever. Oh yeah, the air quality SUCKS!

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by missmels

the one who said that they've never seen gangs in Bakersifled - Of course you haven't, you live in the NW part of town! I live in NW Fresno and I never see gangs either, but they are here.

I have family in Bakersfield and they HATE it because there is nothing to do

And thats what I said about gangs, I don't see them but there are gangs, thats the way it is in any city. As far as nothing to do, there are things to do, you just have to go out and do them. I didn't run Fresno down at all, I recomended it.

[the city]

Originally Posted by Lt. Dan

Fresno doesnt have gangs? It must have changed since i left California. Gangs, junkies,murders etc etc etc

where did i say fresno doesn't have gangs?

Fresno has gangs from L.A. area since it's closer to L.A. fresno has more central california gangs which aren't that bad as the L.A. gangs

fresno has one water park, and clovis has another water park. the nearest water park to get out of the heat in bakersfield is paso robles.

I agree, Fresno doesn't have a good downtown right now and a lack of a couple things. But Bakersfield isn't any better, IT'S WORSE!

[mono#9]

I have family in Fresno who are having a great life there--been there over twenty years, involved in all sorts of things--and never had a car stolen.

I drove up through the central valley and back today--usually a boring, ugly drive after you get over the grapevine. Today it was magnificent. The fruit and nut trees are in bloom--I've never seen such beautiful orchards, stretching for miles and miles. Too bad it only lasts for a week or two.

[Jarndyce]

They are both California's greatest embarrassments. I think Fresno takes the prize as "Worst Place in California." I would choose Bakersfield. I would give Bakersfield 6 months of my time and if I hated it, I would be on my way to San Jose...

Fresno's gang activity is more a case of idiot poseurs who commit poorly thought-out petty crimes in between trips to the tattoo parlor, the cheap liquor store, and the community park on Sunday....

[Lake Conroe resident]

Originally Posted by missmels

the one who said that they've never seen gangs in Bakersifled - Of course you haven't, you live in the NW part of town! I live in NW Fresno and I never see gangs either, but they are here.

I have family in Bakersfield and they HATE it because there is nothing to do whereas if you are a nature lover, in Fresno an hour and a half drive will get you to Yosemite, not to mention many lakes near here. There's more and more to do here each year although to many residents it might not seem like it because they don't look hard enough. There's a lot of good restaurants and some cool local places that have good live music. If you are involved in the medical field Fresno is a good place because that industry is growing. The construction industry is huge too despite the real estate crisis. But when that ends, construction will go back to being one of the top industries here. There is crime here, like everywhere else, but FPD Chief Jerry Dyer is busting his a$$ on that! Our PD has cracked down on gangs big time! They are also trying to improve downtown to make it a more desireable place to go.

On the contrary, the drivers here suck and so does the road system. There are many roads here that are really congested and are in need of widening. The people aren't exactly the nicest folks I've ever met, but whatever. Oh yeah, the air quality SUCKS!

I would have to say this is as close to accurate as I have seen on this post though I would also say that if you could live in either of these places you could probably make it anywhere. The air quality is probably worse than anywhere in the country though Riverslime is a close second and the temps vary from 108 in the summer down to freezing in the winter... Both areas have "pockets" of nice areas (North East Fresno/Clovis) has nice neighborhoods/schools and I know of places in West Bakersfield that do as well. Take note sometime when your coming into the Central Valley from Tejon pass on I-5; It looks like your driving down into a giant toilet bowl of brown about 320 of the 365 days a year...

[afraidofghettos]

Originally Posted by joe_nathan

i hear flint, michigan is nice

Flint, MI is not a good place to live. It is #3 on most dangerous cities in the nation as of 2007.

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2007 — Infoplease.com