Sedona (gated, housing, vehicles)

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by opar

One thing no one seems to consider is how you plan on making a living in Sedona. Yea the red rocks are pretty but, pretty doen't pay the bills! The average worker in sedona makes less than $20,000 per year. If you can find a place for $800 a month thats pretty good. That being said after taxes the average worker here has less than $400 a month for all other monthly bills. So you can talk about the beauty, the restraunts, and the great hiking all you want. Just remember the average worker here will never own a home, a new car, or be able to retire. So lets call sedona what it truly is: a retirement village and a playground for the wealthy.

Opar, you hit it right on the nail. I'd love to live in Sedona, but the job market appears to be quite sparse other than maybe the tourism industry. It seems mostly to be a popular vacation spot and new age mecca.
But then again wouldn't it be a shame if it turned into one of the boomtowns we've seen in recent years across the Southwest? I think it'd detract from the stunning natural beauty of the area. I'm content with driving the 6-7 hours to visit.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

But then again wouldn't it be a shame if it turned into one of the boomtowns we've seen in recent years across the Southwest? I think it'd detract from the stunning natural beauty of the area. I'm content with driving the 6-7 hours to visit.

I think it's already a boomtown and grown about as much as it can already. No? You can only reach a small fraction of the red rocks as it is because of all the private gated communities which have sealed them off. Sucks.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by kdog

So basically you're talking about unskilled labor jobs. Do those kinds of jobs pay better in other parts of Arizona? Or you think they should pay more in Sedona because it's one of the most beautiful places in the world and everybody should be privileged there, career or no?

What's considered "unskilled labor"? I don't know what they pay in other parts of the state.

Everybody should be privileged there? I don't know why you think I might think that way. But, no I don't. I think people should be paid a living wage no matter where they live.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by kdog

Sure it does. And it includes doctors, lawyers, business owners, etc.
That's the norm for expensive communities everywhere. Take a town like Los Gatos or Atherton, in northern CA where I used to live. All labor, even the cops are from neighboring town and commute in. Those are the worst cops too, ones that can't afford in the community where they're writing the tickets. They're not going to cut locals slack because they're not one themselves. That's life in an expensive community.

EXACTLY right.

Ken

[kdog]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I think people should be paid a living wage no matter where they live.

No, people do not deserve a "living wage" just because they work. People have the personal responsibility to see to it that they educate themselves and choose a career path that will afford them a living wage.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by kdog

I think it's already a boomtown and grown about as much as it can already. No? You can only reach a small fraction of the red rocks as it is because of all the private gated communities which have sealed them off. Sucks.

Kdog, now I usually agree with you but on this one what you are saying is absolutely not true. Yes we have some gated communities here but I can't think of a single trail that you can't reach because of them. There are dozens of trails accessable within the city limits and many more outside of it's limits.

[rational1]

Originally Posted by kdog

You can only reach a small fraction of the red rocks as it is because of all the private gated communities which have sealed them off. Sucks.

There are hundreds of miles of trails in the red rocks area, all accessible from trailheads. I can't understand where this comment comes from. Maybe if you are unwilling to get out of the car?

[kdog]

Folks, I'm not talking about trails. I'm talking about driving on the back roads, seeing some incredible rock formations, and not being able to get anywhere's near them because there are huge gated communities in the way. Happens all the time to me when I'm in Sedona. And it's true, I'd rather not walk 100s of miles with 40 lbs of camera gear to get to them.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by kdog

Folks, I'm not talking about trails. I'm talking about driving on the back roads, seeing some incredible rock formations, and not being able to get anywhere's near them because there are huge gated communities in the way. Happens all the time to me when I'm in Sedona. And it's true, I'd rather not walk 100s of miles with 40 lbs of camera gear to get to them.

Hi Kdog, let me know which of these communities are getting in the way and the name of the formation you are trying to get to and I can probably help you with another route. For example anything you need to see from LeSprings you can get to from several ungated neighbors off Airport Road.

We have friends visit all the time who do not hike and there are many drives that are absolutely beautiful with great stops for photography.

[Ritchie_az]

Speaking of great stops for photography, I went to Red Rock Crossing two weeks ago and last week, took nearly 600 pictures, and still feel like I've barely scatched the surface of the potential photos I could take there.