[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by Fially Out of the 863

All you find is people stealing, doing drugs and going to jail over it.

Probably a bit hyperbolic that that's ALL you find, but I'm sure that some people steal there, I'm sure some people do drugs, and unfortunately, drugs are illegal, so yeah, some people go to jail for drugs.

I moved to lakeland six years ago to find out what drugs were

You moved to Lakeland to find out what drugs were?

I'm imagining how that internal dialog must have gone: "You know what? I don't know anything about drugs. I don't even know what they are, really. It's something I should learn . . . I know! I'll move to Lakeland!!" lol . . . I know what you meant, but I read it the other way first.

I'm a mom of two kids and have worked at the same place for five years the people on drugs get the promotion and us hard worker that dont use get crapped on.

It's not as if one can't do a good job just because one does drugs . . . probably depends on the drug, just how much of it you're doing, what your job is, etc. BUT, employers should be able to promote, demote, hire or fire anyone they like for any reason they like.

. . . then there was a drug house in a neighbor hood on duff rd near lewis.

I don't think that should be illegal though. Although then we'd just have drug stores and drug businesses, etc.

[gypsychic]

Polk County last year won the "All American Community Award - a very prestigious award, only 10 given across the country.

Polk County earns 'All-American Community' honor - Bay News 9

The last thing I am going to say here is that I don't hang around in the ghetto, which most of the places Lakeland Yankee mentioned were in; - Yankee you DID mention downtown because you talked about Kentucky Ave. the main street through downtown. When I questioned you on it you mentioned the north end, well that's the ghetto, not even a real part of the actual downtown that one would visit - no one has any reason to go over there, don't understand why it's a big problem for you unless you hang out there for some reason.

I can point to ANY city in Florida no matter how large or small and there will be bad streets, crime and drugs. Even in beautiful upscale places like Sarasota. I don't see the point in making the main focus the ghetto areas when trying to help newcomers.

Once again, I hope the newbies will come here and see for themselves; maybe I just don't see as much negative in places I go as some others do.

[Lulu101]

The only thing I've ever heard about was those teen girls who got in a brawl and put it up on U-tube.

[quote=Lakeland Yankee;5614016]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

But the claims you make about the beautiful downtown here are very exaggerated.


I never once said anything bad about the downtown area , please provide a quote. In fact , I said it was very beautiful and safe (won't say anything about the downtown rapist now that you brought it up) . Really the negatives here far outweigh the few positives unless you are in an affluent neighborhood and never venture past downtown or Southside. A person could go on and on about Lakeland and really never run out of negative stories. My fingers would fall off if I typed even 10% of what goes on here. Just check The Ledger (local paper) or keep in tuned to CNN. A new major national story is bound to happen.

[Keeper]

Get back on topic of Lakeland please.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by ACS228

Sorry, I didn't mean to start a fight. I guess we will just have to see for ourselves.

Nobody is fighting. We are just having a friendly discussion. It's great for people to understand all the positives and negatives before moving somewhere. Still a person needs to spend some time here to see if they like it or not.

If you just visit the downtown or South Lakeland, you will not get a realistic look at the city. Please take a drive and explore all the roads leading away from the downtown to understand the community better. There is no magic force field that keeps the criminals in a certain area. They will come into your neighborhood looking for things to steal and houses to rob. Even in South Lakeland crime is rising at an alarming rate.

Also make sure you check the Florida data-base for sex offenders so you don't move next to one. You'll still never be very far from one no matter where you live here. Children here really can't go out and play like in other areas, as there's always a pervert lurking around somewhere. Polk County is best for retirees living in gated communities.

Let us know how you make out and what you think of the area. Hopefully you will love it and your experience will be positive. I wish mine was. Best of luck to you.

[rogercobb]

Lakeland is a depressing place to live. I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Big House - Lakeland is a small city in central Florida, almost equally distant between Tampa and Orlando. Population is just over 90,000 in the city limits, but the metro area is much larger. Even though it is a small city with it's own performing arts venue and other amenities of a bigger city, it has a quaint and charming small town feel; due to the small scale of the preserved downtown and the many historic districts surrounding it. The city if full of beautiful small lakes; most of which are public parks. Lakeland is a good options for those who want a clean, community-oriented place to live, with a lot of recreational opportunities (Lakeland has more than cities of larger size). It has plenty of arts venues; it does NOT have nightclubs or other fast-paced nightlife; it does have plenty of restaurants, both chain and mom-and-pop, and movie theaters.

Let me know if you have more specific questions, always glad to help!

Thanks Gypsychic for the follow-up. I made a quick trip back and forth one day from Orlando to Tampa to Punta Gorda to check out some houses, and made the return trip the same day. I don't remember, wasn't focused, but would I have had to drive through Lakeland on the way to PGI? I definitely remember driving through some old small southern towns - I liked the drive a lot! I think I went though one area that looked like a small city. I'll have to take a day trip up sometime, after I get settled in and can stay down for a while. I'm thinking I'd like to stay down for a couple months over the winter.

Have you looked at the Meet Up thread? Ladywithafan is trying to schedule something where some of the people on citi-data can actually meet. Just wondering?

[Lakeland Yankee]

I'm surprised nobody brought up Lakeland Electric, Welcome to Lakeland Electric . I guess people enjoy paying high bills to a corrupt city Lakeland Electric Should Reduce Rates Rather Than Paying Dividends to City | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL .

Also,the weather here is completely unbearable 8 months out of the year. Sure we all know Florida is hot ,but my God is it hot and humid here. There are no breezes at all except when a hurricane passes nearby. Coastal Central Florida is much much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than here. It gets downright cold here at times during winter. It is either super hot or super cold, there doesn't seem to be a pleasant middle. Northerners please bring your winter clothing,it will be needed. I'm from Pennsylvania so I know cold,believe me. It's still better than up north though , at least there's no snow .

I really don't understand people who want to relocate to a city and just visit the tourist attractions (downtown Lakeland,etc) . It's like thinking Mickey Mouse and Goofy represent Kissimmee and Orlando areas . Visiting and vacationing in an area is much much different than living there. Please save your time and money and rent the movie Deliverance Deliverance (1972) for a true understanding of Lakeland and Polk County. Sure it is different scenery and locations, but the overall theme is the same (poor, backwards, depressing, strange people, corruption, etc.). Don't let looks deceive you, Lakeland has a scary side to it that especially comes out at night.

Lake Wales and Auburndale are much better towns to live in if a person must live here for employment (what jobs?).

[therats4]

Hi- my husband and I and our son will also be moving to this area and will be looking for a nice home. Where are you moving from and do you have any children? I am kind of worried about the move- we have just wonderful schools where we are now.

[therats4]

HI-
I posted a message a short while ago, but didn't really include what all information we are looking for. It looks as though my husband, myself and our son will be moving to somewhere in the lakeland area by the end of this year- in about a month. Please can someone tell us what areas are the very best to raise a family. The best schools, housing developments,areas, etc. We would like a nice size home, 2 story with a pool and in a nice area with a good school district. Should we look into the Wesley Chapel area, or is there an even nicer area? Are there malls, etc? Do they have football and baseball for children? Thanks!!