Really kind of scared! (Houston, El Paso: cul-de-sac, crimes, houses)

[el borracho]

michchix : what part of Denver did you live

[Synopsis]

El Paso has one of the lowest crime rates of any major city in the US.

The US average is 320 (crime index) and El Paso is at about 280. And the crime index takes into account rural areas, so El Paso has very little crime, and the crime trend is going downward for the great city of El Paso.

[mistabinks]

This is actually something I can talk about first hand. One of my best friends grew up in South Dakota and moved to El Paso while in the military. He had been all over the world but loved El Paso so much he decided to move here when he was discharged. I think that example bodes well for you.

If you survived Detroit, you will think El Paso is Candyland. Random crimes happen, so I can't say you will be perfectly fine, but I would not worry too much about crime.

[ZSP]

I've lived here for 40 years, raised 2 children (in public schools), and have grandchildren growing up here as well. I've lived in other semi large cities for various periods of time but will take El Paso any day. Truthfully, there are smaller cities/towns in every part of the country I'd be more afraid to live in.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by Michchix

Hello! As I have said before in another post, we will be moving to El Paso soon from the Rapid City, South Dakota area. All the talk of violence and property theft ect. has me very worried. I have lived in big cities in the past, like Denver, St.Louis and METRO Detroit, like about an hour north of the city. I am getting pretty scared about my safety and the safety of my family. Is it really as bad as it sounds? What about all the gang violence? Does having a security system seem to deter people you think? Plus would I be ok to go out with my child if it was dark out, to the decent areas of course?

I originally come from a small farm town of 11,000 in Eastern New Mexico but I now live in Albuquerque, everytime I visit El Paso I feel very safe. There is something about El Paso that feels very comforting but then again that is my experience.

I honestly see more gangsters in small towns than I see in El Paso.

[LEVOW]

El Paso rates higher in rapes, assault and child molestation cases

sorry hook when it comes to child molestation and abuse, your talking about las cruces!

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by LEVOW

El Paso rates higher in rapes, assault and child molestation cases

sorry hook when it comes to child molestation and abuse, your talking about las cruces!

That bad? Are you being serious? I used to go to Las Cruses to visit my aunt and cousins, or my parents took us there I should say. I used to hate it, there was never anything to do, I was bored out of my mind. Has the city grown, and become that bad?

I remember going to the main TV station there sometime back in the 70's. My father was in a band, and they were playing live for some local TV show. I had my five minutes of fame as the camera was focused in on the wall which had those color bars, and the station call letters. HA! That was the technology back then, no computer generated graphics.

Anyway, there was not much room at the studio, so they had me and my brothers seated underneath that thing, and I remember everyone telling us not to get up... I was fidgiting and someone forcefully motioned for me to stop by waving their hand, I thought they meant to move... so I stood up! HA! My big bald head profile showed up on the screens.... then everybody told me to get down, and I had a confused look and just kept looking side to side wondering what the heck all the fuss was about, then one of my brothers yanked me down and I got mad and yelled 'Heyyyy' as I went down.

It was only years later that I realized what I had done. That was my fun memory of Las Cruses!

'Sorry for getting off topic.

[DesertDog]

Michehix
I've said this before and I'll say it again, El Paso is a nice place. I live on the far east side of town have two of the most wanted trucks to rip off and my son wanders all over within a 10 block area to his friends homes and we don't worry. I did some work for the Texas Lottery and was all over this town from good areas to what some call the bad areas and never felt threatened. My kids love their schools and the people in El Paso are great. The only negative we've encountered in the 1 1/2 yrs we've been here is employment problems for my wife because she doesn't speak Spanish. This area isn't everyone's cup of tea but I think you will find many things to like about El Paso.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

DesertDog,

To keep on topic..., what kind of work did you do in El Paso for the Texas Lottery? I'm sincerely curious what type of work the agency does in the cities. What is it you had to do, hand out cash?

[DesertDog]

Subcontracted to fix the led displays in store windows that scroll the payouts. Mostly changing out receivers and resetting. Was contracted to a company that was contracted to Texas Lottery. Paid real well while it lasted. I'm on SSD and am always looking for side work to supplement income. My background is electro-mechanical as well as a bunch of other stuff. Just recently was in the mountains south of Sierra Blanca taking photos of land bought by an investor out of Florida for a nice bit of change. Sorry for rambling on I didn't intend to give out info you didn't ask for.