Question for the Bakersfield haters (Los Angeles, San Diego: house, rent, vacation)

[jonrox]

Roaddog:

You are entitled to your opinion, as am I. You may not like what I have to say and that's okay, because you telling others it's a nice place to live is in my opinion, not the truth. You have reconfirmed the rudeness I was speaking of. I tell it like it is and you are so close minded, you have the audacity to tell me to move. I will move when I am ready and when I do, I won't look back.

As I have lived here for 26 years, and no, I don't live in the "Dale". I actually live in a high class neighborhood.

I know what rudeness I am speaking of. I am also well aware of the gang and drug problem here. And no, JDAVID, it doesn't just happen off the freeways. As I said, I LIVE HERE. I do not drive around with my eyes closed. I've learned all I care to about this city. I too lived in L.A. Granted it is worse then Bakersfield, but we're catching up rather quickly.

Look, I wish I felt differently. I only wished it was this great city to live in, then I wouldn't have to look else where to retire, but in my opinion, it isn't.

You don't have to like what I say, I'm okay with that. Just don't be rude about it.

[whitechocolate86]

I love the Bakersfield Sound of country music...that's all I can say

[Frenchman]

I love liberal contempt for Americans. Hate speech is wrong, wrong wrong wrong.

Bakersfield is a relatively small, isolated city in California.

Positive points: conservative values, American culture (Western music etc), low cost of living and more hospitable folks.

Negative points: semi-arid and dry, limited job opportunities in non-existent offices, no Hollywood, no Silicon Valley, no Gay Pride.

Drugs, gangs are hard to escape in America nowadays.

Bakersfield offers an alternative lifestyle. It's under siege and authorities do their best to preserve the town spirit.

Long Live Patriots, Republicans, Conservative America.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by jonrox

Roaddog:

You are entitled to your opinion, as am I. You may not like what I have to say and that's okay, because you telling others it's a nice place to live is in my opinion, not the truth. You have reconfirmed the rudeness I was speaking of. I tell it like it is and you are so close minded, you have the audacity to tell me to move. I will move when I am ready and when I do, I won't look back.

As I have lived here for 26 years, and no, I don't live in the "Dale". I actually live in a high class neighborhood.

I know what rudeness I am speaking of. I am also well aware of the gang and drug problem here. And no, JDAVID, it doesn't just happen off the freeways. As I said, I LIVE HERE. I do not drive around with my eyes closed. I've learned all I care to about this city. I too lived in L.A. Granted it is worse then Bakersfield, but we're catching up rather quickly.

Look, I wish I felt differently. I only wished it was this great city to live in, then I wouldn't have to look else where to retire, but in my opinion, it isn't.

You don't have to like what I say, I'm okay with that. Just don't be rude about it.

You can have your opinion I can have mine, if you hate Bakersfield so much you should move, I am not stuck here, I choose to live here, Bakersfield is not off the chart on drugs or gangs, it's not unlike any city this size, I find the people to be friendly. I've lived in a lot of places, many were worst than Bakersfield but none were as bad as you describe, you must be very negitive.
I'm not being rude I'm telling it like it is.

[jonrox]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

You can have your opinion I can have mine, if you hate Bakersfield so much you should move, I am not stuck here, I choose to live here, Bakersfield is not off the chart on drugs or gangs, it's not unlike any city this size, I find the people to be friendly. I've lived in a lot of places, many were worst than Bakersfield but none were as bad as you describe, you must be very negitive.
I'm not being rude I'm telling it like it is.

I believe I already said you were entitled to your opinion. I didn't use to dislike Bakersfield, until the last 5 years or so. When you have children, you can't just up root and leave whenever you feel like it. So as I said, when I am able, I will move. I have been to other places (states) where people are not so self-centered and only care about themselves. And I didn't say the whole town was like that. It just seems to be an awful lot of them. Although, I will say, when something tragic happens to a family, I have noticed that the people of Bakersfield will come together to support them. I don't believe I am negative, I perhaps just see it differently or perhaps I am a little more sensitive than some. I like nice people who are considerate. I don't run into that too much here.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by jonrox

I believe I already said you were entitled to your opinion. I didn't use to dislike Bakersfield, until the last 5 years or so. When you have children, you can't just up root and leave whenever you feel like it. So as I said, when I am able, I will move. I have been to other places (states) where people are not so self-centered and only care about themselves. And I didn't say the whole town was like that. It just seems to be an awful lot of them. Although, I will say, when something tragic happens to a family, I have noticed that the people of Bakersfield will come together to support them. I don't believe I am negative, I perhaps just see it differently or perhaps I am a little more sensitive than some. I like nice people who are considerate. I don't run into that too much here.

I don't know where you run into all these rude people, I don't, I have people smile and say Hi all the time, people open and hold doors for me, I just don't see it, just yeterday i was loading a heavy item I had bought and two guys ran over to help, people standing and blocking the lanes at store is just because they don't think not that they are rude, you will find that anywhere.
people in bakersfield give freely to help others after a death or anouther tragity, we raise top dollars for the Make a wish foundation, more money than much bigger cities. Watch the local news and you see food drives, clothing drives and everything in between and they show lines of people helping. like i said I've lived in a lot of places and Bakersfield is not bad but like everything in life if you only look for the negitive you will find it, I refuse to live like that.

[ZeeDante]

Ok, I just have to say to the original poster that your post is fairly accurate...if we were talking about Bakersfield 10 years ago. In the Bakersfield of 2008, your post is fairly inaccurate.

Let me just preface everything I am about to say by saying that I have lived here for 22 years now and I have hated it here for roughly 16 of those years. It is hard to breath due to the cloud of smog covering this city, summers are unbearably hot, there is nothing to do, the adults when I was growing up were overly religious and conservative (I lean liberal and I am an atheist), I can't escape the country music, the town oozes with conservatives who hate the attitudes of the "communist liberal elites", and I have to call this place home for now.

All that being said, the town is changing. The people who are like me, college-minded, educated people, are growing up and, unlike me, a lot of them are not leaving. They are, instead, choosing to call this place home as it grows and expands. Good people are becoming doctors, teachers, professors, lawyers, police officers, nurses, and all kinds of other professions. This town is growing and the younger, more progressive generation is becoming prevalent in the community. Liberalism may not run the town, but it will challenge the conservative attitude in the not-to-distant future. Granted this doesn't change what I said above with the air quality and the conservative attitudes and values, but most of the stuff you said about outward racism and bigotry is wrong.

Not everything though, it still worries me that the gang activity is becoming more prevalent, but I just chalk this up to the expanding town. A lot of people are coming here from LA, good people who just want to find cheaper living costs, but also gang members who also want cheaper living as well. Thus, crime has gone up a little. You will find that in every big city just about. Bakersfield has gotten bigger.

Still though, I watched both "Sicko" at the Bakersfield Pacific Movie Theater and "An Inconviniant Truth" at Edwards Cinemas. I have no idea where you got that they didn't come here. We get independant and controversial films here. Not all of them yet, but progress is being made. We even got Brokeback Mountain here!

I still plan to move to Oregon or Washington when I graduate, but I can't say that I am not impressed by how much my hometown is growing. I can't really call it a dumb, redneck, hick, town anymore. Maybe just a country city.

[ZeeDante]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

I don't know where you run into all these rude people, I don't, I have people smile and say Hi all the time, people open and hold doors for me, I just don't see it, just yeterday i was loading a heavy item I had bought and two guys ran over to help, people standing and blocking the lanes at store is just because they don't think not that they are rude, you will find that anywhere.
people in bakersfield give freely to help others after a death or anouther tragity, we raise top dollars for the Make a wish foundation, more money than much bigger cities. Watch the local news and you see food drives, clothing drives and everything in between and they show lines of people helping. like i said I've lived in a lot of places and Bakersfield is not bad but like everything in life if you only look for the negitive you will find it, I refuse to live like that.

I agree with this poster. About a month ago I ran out of gas about 12 feet from a gas station at a stop light (yes, embarrassing, I thought I could make it), anyway, a man the same age as me (about 22 years old) parked his car in the parking lot around the corner and helped me push my car over to the pump. Good people live here, this is all I will say.

[ZeeDante]

1) Are there any asian grocery markets?
A couple great ones, I love to go to them every once in a while
2) Korean/Japanese restaurants?
There are great chinese, japanese, thai, and korean restaurants. I highly encourage you to try "Panda Express", which is a chinese restaurant.
3) I see that rent is very cheap compared to other areas of California...which apt complexes are in the nicer area?
There are a lot. I would encourage you to take a trip out here if you can and browse the areas. Though I would also say stick to the southwest and stay away from the east side.
4) We're used to walking everywhere in Philly...do we need a car to get around?
It sucks, but this area is not friendly for those who like to commute and walk to get around. A car is needed to get around town.
5) It's about 2 hrs to LA...but with traffic does it take longer?
Nope, two hours is accurate.
6) How much is sales tax in California?
7.25%
7) Is there a large asian community?
Half my friends are asian. It's not the biggest but it is still pretty good.
8) Never experienced earthquakes...is it bad?
Not in Bako. I have lived here for 22 years and the biggest one we had didn't even break anything in our house. It's like a small vibration.
9) Are there large shopping centers? Or are they just spread out? I'm assuming the usuals, like target, costcos, best buy, etc.
There are large shopping centers. One Best Buy in Rosedale, two Costcos, two malls, everything you need.
10) Did some research...there's no In N Out burgers...where's the closest one?
There are two In N Outs in town. One on Panama Lane and the other on Ming Avenue.

Glad to help, hope you like it here.

[Roaddog]

All I can say is this, I'm not no kid, I've lived in many other places, I've been here for a long time, I've seen much worst than Bakersfield. If a person looks for the negitive they will find it, I'm not that way and in all the years I've lived here I have not known more than two or three people who lived here and hated this town, I've never had a problem finding something fun to do. If a person wants the big city life then they should move to the city of their choice. Most people who can hate a town so bad will not be happy where ever they go because they are only looking for the bad. Lifes what you make of it, it can be good or bad but only the person can control it.