Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike from back east
Any more negatives about COL SPGS? If not, I'll shut 'er down and git 'r done.
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Sure, I have some...
First, let me say that the following post may not be as refreshingly articulate and pleasant to digest as would otherwise be the case. Regrettably, I spent an hour constructing a beautiful list of CS negatives only to have my computer freeze up...
Background: I'm a former Michigander who moved to Oregon for three years and arrived in beautiful Colorado Springs about seven months ago. The best advice I can give freely to potential relocators is: Heed the long standing advice: Don't judge a book by it's cover. Garden of the Gods is big and beautiful... but Colorado Springs is bigger... and she ain't so pretty when you leave GoG.
I come from a little community in Michigan called "Downriver." It's a conglomeration of small cities bound together by factories. Interestingly enough, it is located... "down river" from Detroit. We're mostly rednecks... we ain't creative... unless there's duct tape involved.
Regrettably, the extraordinary sense of entitlement that has flourished in the union segment of my hometown has crippled the economy and, therefore, I ran-- Well, that and I was love-struck and chasing a woman across the country looking for adventure... but that's another story...
The following p*ss*ing and moaning come from the perspective of a fairly Southern upbringing-- in regard to values and friendliness-- coupled with the work ethic and respect for order forged in the efficiency of an assembly line.
Without further adieu, I give you... whining.
1) Racism. I'm white, my woman is black. This always causes trouble. Black men, wherever we've been, for the most part, take some sort of offense to my relationship. They were much worse in Detroit than CS. However, the closer you get to Denver, the mistreatment increases exponentially.
Black women have been balanced everywhere. A couple have said some rude things, but for the most part, they seem to be more curious about how it's working.
White women have been the worst in the Springs. However, the ones with a problem are generally overweight and middle-aged. Here was the first time I actually had someone stand with ten feet of me snarl and shake their head.
White men. This one's interesting. No white man has bothered me... I almost get high fives half the time. (She's also pretty hot.) However, in my 30+yrs., I have never heard blatant racist comments until I came to CS.
When I say "blatant racist comment," I specify "blatant" because I don't want you to think for a second that I'm referring to the awareness of differences between white and black cultures that those of us close to where the races mix are aware of... The kind of awareness that liberals would justify calling you a racist for. I mean venemous, "I never met you and I don't care anything about you because I know you're bad because you're black" comments.
The story: Besides a number of comments on the job that struck me as unusually harsh (up until they found out I was in an interracial relationship), the boss, while in the office made a comment that struck me.
The news had just broke the Kilpatrick story. (Detroit mayor cheats on wife and lies under oath about it.) I became angry as it played on the TV and told my boss a brief story about the mayor. (I have a friend close to him.) I then told a story about Detroit's decline over the past thirty-some years and the effect of the mayors.
My boss spit with acrimony,"They're all the same." It wasn't the words, but the way. I never heard anything like it in my life.
That's what strikes me most about CS. Of the few people I've interacted with here ("few" is almost literal), they're more racist than I've ever seen. I don't doubt there are plenty of people who aren't, however, it just seems strange to me.
2) I'll continue in another post to prevent losing too much at a time again...
2) Regarding crime here, you don't see it right off, but the more people you talk to, the more you come to understand that something bad is happening here. It's isolated right now, but just the other day, kids shot two or three people just walking down the street. This week, there's something going around that some gang is going to be doing some sort of initiation which involves shooting people on the freeway.
I've heard more people mention cars being broken into than I ever did in Detroit. I've even heard a rumor that thiefs were using cordless saws to cut out catalytic convertors on vehicles with high clearances.
A co-worker tells stories about gunshots in his apartment complex.
I don't know how severe crime is here, I just recommend you don't come expecting Maybury.
3)... on to the next post...
3) I haven't found the people to be particularly nice in general. I think "distant" fairly describes the general population. "Inconsiderate" would work for the majority. I wouldn't use the word "nice" to describe too many.
Going from the Midwest (outside the cities) to the West Coast is like going from an area where people are genuine and friendly to an area where people are so politically correct that they're afraid to hurt your feelings. This political correctness develops into manipulation because in order to preserve everyone's feelings, they have to lie... alot.
When considered against the backdrop of the other locales, I suppose it would be accurate to describe this area, in my opinion, as angry... almost hostile.
Thus far, it may sound like I really dislike this area... and that would be right. However, given the choice between the West coast and the West, from the perspective of a Midwesterner, I'd head for the Springs... better yet, I'd hold off on packing my bags.
4)...
4) I'm a former business owner. There was no demand for my trade in Oregon because of the weather. I figured I'd come here, where there's a wonderful winter, and hang a shingle.
Here, they have three different sales taxes. If you're on point A, it's 7%. If you walk across the street it's something else. I don't want to deal with paperwork headaches. I operate a wrench, not a calculator... and I have no intention of doing the monotonous legwork involved in finding a decent accountant to handle that stuff in an area where they'd layer sales taxes.
Licensing? Not that I sell cars, but this made me say "huh?" To be a car salesman here requires a license and they have to pay $75.
Duct cleaners-- you know? They put a broom in your home heating vents and clean them?-- Duct cleaners require licensing... for vacuuming?
Before you come, whether you plan to open a business or work for someone else, I suggest you really look into this stuff because I'm only giving a few examples of a dozen or so reasons I decided that Colorado Springs isn't the place to open a business. To those who figure you'll take a job here, consider what I'm saying because you'll still be effected. In my trade, there's minimal competition, but lots of demand. This means that if you're the one needing a service or product, you're going to be paying a high price for sub-par quality.
I'm a simple guy. I'm an expert in my field. Politicians want to make things complicated? I'd just assume cross the state line and hang my shingle there.
5)...
5) Imagine if you will: You bought a new car last year. It's beautiful. You negotiated a great deal. It's all shiny. You paid your sales tax. Guess what? Colorado wants to invite you to pay more tax on that car.
I know, I know. You already paid tax. That's your problem. You want to abide by the law? You better fork out another $1,000+++ depending on the value of your car in order to get plates.
I'm not messing with you. This is the one that makes me angrier than any topic I'll cover. If you're moving here, call these crooks before you do and find out how bad they're going to rape you before you commit to the move.
6)...
6) Speaking of cars, let's talk about parking.
Something that's been changing rapidly around here is the quality of a park job. When I first came to the area to see if I wanted to move here, after years of Oregon parking (considering the white lines is optional there), I witnessed something that I hadn't seen since I left Michigan: Someone pulled into a spot crooked... then, to my surprise, backing out and reparking in order to center the vehicle between the lines.
I was amazed. At that moment, I knew this place was a virtual oasis in the midst of left coast idiocy for me.
Regrettably, over the past three months or so-- seriously, you can see the change occurring-- the courteous parking is slipping away. I have a fresh new ding to prove it.
I know, you're thinking,"But One, why in the world would anyone be so inconsiderate as to not center their car between the white lines and risk mutual dings that cost around a $100 to fix?" Well, I don't know. I wonder that everytime I walk out to my car and check for fresh dings.
This is another category that CS beats the West Coast on. On the West Coast, because they, as a culture, seem to not grasp the idea that outcome is the result of a process, they'll generally set a goal without regard to consequences in the process.
In other words, to improve marketability of a commercial property, they will increase the number of parking spots. To do this, they simply narrow each spot. This narrowing causes patrons to become relatively indifferent to the lines that preserve the well-being of our property (cars), I suspect, because no matter how well you park, there's not enough space.
Staples at GoG and Centennial has done this. I don't drive a large vehicle, yet I have to be very cautious, when perfectly parked, not to ding the next well parked car. (This is also the reason I've only shopped at Staples twice.) (For you CSers out there, swing by and park your car. Look at how you're parked, and then head over to Albertson's and see what happens.)
Back to topic, if you don't want to worry about your new car having new dings when you come out of a business, you should avoid this area... and the West Coast.
7)...
7) Parking? Well then, I guess what happens when the car is moving is next...
Probably the one spot where the West Coast beats out CS... driving through the parking lot.
Back home, we drove slow through the lot. I'm not responsible for your kid, but I accept that maybe you'll break a heel, slip on a banana peel or be chased by a cartoon tiger and, therefore, cause your child to run or fall in front of my car. Perhaps, a bee stung you in the eye just after you put your foot on the accelerator as you're backing out of your space and, as a result, will need a little leeway to avoid an accident. For these reasons, I drive cautiously through parking lots.
Here in Colorado Springs, we actually give out cash prizes to the person who can drive the fastest through a parking lot. It comes with a trophy called "The Moron Award." At last count, 99.9% of drivers are competing for it... which is actually pretty high compared to the last count of 99.5%.
Yeah, no one really expected that increase. We here at the Idiot Tracking Center expected a reduction after a few close calls. However, not only did that not pan out, but we've actually witnessed mothers letting their young children walk over ten feet away from them on the thoroughfares of the parking lots.
When I stopped to conduct an information gathering interview with one mother, my initial question-- consistent with rules of non-biased gathering-- was "Why don't you pay me to babysit? You're not watching him." The response was profanity.
All kidding aside, these people drive like the biggest morons you've ever seen in a parking lot. They treat them like they're streets regardless of how full the lot is; regardless of how many pedestrians and children are walking.
Now you ask,"But One, what about the open road?"
I'm getting to that... but I think it deserves it's own post...
8)...
8) That is a good question. What about the open road?
That is the toughest. In a word? Idiots. However, there is a significant contingent of the population that drives exceptionally well. So, as I describe the driving, remember the chosen few who watch the horizon for upcoming changes in driving conditions and take their foots off the accelerator when they see a red light in the distance.
First day of serious snow here, might of been New Year's Eve, maybe Christmas Eve, somewhere around there. My balcony overlooks a fair sized road. In less than three hours, no less than four-- literally FOUR-- cars spun out on that road right in front of my balcony. One car hit a meter, another hit a sign, the two others spun out and went on to hit something down the street.
(Intersting detail: I was raised to respect my elders. However, elders paid a price for that. They had to be respectable. The woman who hit the sign was in her fifties, maybe sixties. She wiped out the sign and hit some electrical box thing. Her car was stuck so I called the police. I went on the balcony as she and her husband tried to break the car free and told them I called the police. They bolted as fast as they could.
That's not respectable in my book... but I got the plate.)
Oregon-- all the West Coast-- is worse than here for driving... atleast all the areas I've seen. So, again, don't be too hard on them.
Speeding up to stop is common.
Waiting to the last minute to stop is common.
Swerving between lanes (cell phone) is common.
Tailgating--even when in the right lane-- is common.
Passing within a car length is common. (I'm waiting for a rock to crack my windshield.)
Stopping too close to each other is the norm. (Much less than a car lenght at red lights.)
Running red lights. (Interesting fact: Earlier, I mentioned the dishonest tendencies of the West Coasters that results from a culture of political correctness. Now, let's look at how that manifests elsewhere and the process by which it occurs. As I stated earlier, West Coasters are very concerned with feelings of others. However, when one's feelings are always sheltered, one is able to push boundaries because no one is willing to enforce them for fear feelings will be hurt.
The result is many people with no respect for boundaries-- rules. What is a red light but a boundary? A statement "You will not cross here at this time." What happens if you don't respect boundaries?) Running red lights is so amazingly prevalent on the West Coast that it's considered a norm. If you ask a person about it, they'll run off a number of reasons to justify it. It's so prevalent, lights are timed to accomodate these people... Which, of course, burdens those who abide by the law.
CS is developing this trait. Perhaps it's always been there, perhaps I've just been noticing it. However, if you want to steer clear of bad traffic, I recommend you stay away.
Smooth traffic flow depends on controls. When this indifference to the controls builds, smooth traffic cannot be had. Visit the West Coast. You'll see. Take a run up Academy here in CS and then head over to Detroit and take a run up Telegraph (almost identical to Academy). You will then understand the problem with "the light just changed..."
I could go on, but if you're not convinced yet, then you'll probably fit right in.
By the way, they sand the roads. Salt, you wash your car and it's fine. Sand? You ever hear of sandblasting? Not to mention, it's pretty ineffective... but I guess it's cheap... but considering the cost of registering your cars, you'd think they'd pick you up at home.
9) Public transit...
9) Public transit
Michigan has awful public transit. If I'd of come here without stopping in Portland, I'd of never known how bad CS's public transit system is.
Don't come without a car. Point A and point B are usually far apart here. The public transit isn't practical unless you have a perfect situation: You live fifty yards from a stop and your work is fifty yards from a stop and there are no transfers. Transfers kill you here. You could be waiting up to 45 minutes for the next bus.
10) Police
I've encountered the police twice since I've been here. One word: Professional.
I do wish they were out writing more traffic tickets. If it's the perspective of the city gov to not write too many tickets in order to keep people happy, I think they should raise the speed limits so that those of us who obey the law are not penalized by driving slow when it's unecessary.
So, police, good. City government, hmm.
11) An overview of my perception of CS...
11) My overview... changed my mind. Weather first.
Weather sucks. 20 degrees in the night, 70 degrees in the day, followed by 30 degree day, back and forth, back and forth.
Snow falls... never sticks for more than a day or two. At most, I've seen maybe two inches of snow on the ground... and that's the day everyone was spinning out in front of my place.
If you want snow, I guess you can go to a different altitude... which is easy enough... drive a mile in any direction.
It's a desert. What do you expect? The "dry heat" really is different. The sweat evaporates before making you uncomfortable.
12) A local library has a plaque over the computer bank that says something to the effect "These computers donated by the gays and lesbians of CO."
I don't partake in public displays of affection. I don't tell anyone who they should or shouldn't be with. To be honest with you, I don't care what you do behind closed doors. However, I think there's something sinister in politicising (sp?) sexuality in exchange for a few computers. More than anything, this makes me question the quality of city management.
Yeah, when you add up the tax system here, the raping for a license plate, peculiar licensing requirements, I mean, it just adds up to "something's wrong here."
13) Conclusion.
Earlier in the thread, someone called this a dingy town. I agree... but have more to add.
I would describe CS like this: It is a dumpy town filled with unpleasant and indifferent people that just happens to have a beautiful hotel, amazing neighborhood (Broadmoor), an absolutely incredible landscape (GoG) and dry, thin air that makes you feel cleaner (except that your nose--not sinus-- is consistently clogged with solids.)
As the face of CS changes, it appears that many "improvements" are being carried out. I believe a fair analogy would be "they took this dingy Lego base and blew some dirt off of it. Then, they took Lego's shaped like Staples, Home Depot and Whole Foods and placed them at strategic locations amongst the filth."
That really is fitting because when you drive up Academy or I-25 (where they're developing) it really does look plastic. If you drive around the Broadmoor area, there's so much character and it really is beautiful. If you wander by Garden of the Gods, you'll be awestruck. However, these little gems are the exceptions to this city of filth and plastic... This is a city that's sub-par... It's a living entity with no soul, no purpose... as if the hills are some sort of substitute for character...
This is a military town. Other cities are built on something they create and the culture and businesses develop around that. On one end of town, you can see that a culture surrounds the Broadmoor... However, it's as if, on the other end of town-- the side you'll be living if you move here-- they're trying to build a culture around the business of supplying housing to transient military families.
There's no pride here. You drive up the thoroughfares (sp?) and there are weeds over a foot high in the parking lots... As if they know "You're in the military, you have to deal with me because you don't have time to find anything better before you leave..."
This place is just plain typical... Welcome to Colorado Springs.
If I had it to do over again, I'd stay away from Colorado. I've been around the state a little and have found it entirely not to my liking. Most of my complaints listed get worse the closer you get to Denver... and let's face it, who wants to move to Boulder where the public school is inviting people to counsel your children to use drugs and experiment with homosexual sex?... However, no one has ever mistreated me on account of religious beliefs.
I'm 100% certain there are good people here. There are good people everywhere. However, this good person doesn't plan on being here long enough to find them.
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)... in your imperfection, you're perfect. 
...Confusion!...
Will Stay - COS has issues, better than most
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