Rockford IL good or bad (Chicago, Elgin: mortgage, estate, foreclosed)

[Doc of Rock]

[SIZE=2]I moved to Rockford 5 years ago. I grew up in Indiana, and have lived in small and big cities on the East Coast and in the South. After living in Nashville, TN for 3 years, a friend suggested moving to Rockford to work in criminal justice due to the crime problem. He said, “Rockford’s crime is so bad, you will never have a problem finding a job.” and he was right. Subsequently he moved to Baltimore because his job (Motorola) closed in Rockford. Because I am a educated black male and have lived in different parts of the country, I am well aware of what racism is when I see it. Rockford, by far, is the most racist place I have ever lived. The town is completely focused on keeping all minorities uneducated, unemployed and bored, 3 factors that contribute to the high crime rates. Younger white male (18-25), who usually commit crimes on the Eastside (white side) of town, are punished less severely and have to progress to crimes like home invasions and car thefts before they see any prison time, which also makes crime here worse. 60% of the unemployed people in town are felons with no education. All events (sports, concerts, and nightlife) are geared towards the white population in town. Because the Rockford Metro Centre is on the Westside (minority side) of Rockford, most whites are fearful to attend and most minorities don’t attend events, which is the reason the Metro Center had to sell a parking garage to assist in paying for renovations they couldn’t afford to make last year. A catalyst of the type of leadership that leads the city . Other Examples: The school board is planning to segregate the public schools , the police chief is under fire from the police union. Please avoid making the mistake I made 5 years ago and don't move to Rockford.
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[LpLp23]

havasu,
I've seen you're posts on these Rockford threads a lot. It seems like you make it your mission to steer people away from this place. You don't even live here. Why scare people away when people can come to a GOOD place and have a GOOD life. I don't know what Rockford ever did to you, but relax. It's no different than any other mid size city. Quit being so damn negative.

[Doug Bergren]

Whether Rockford is the second-largest city in Illinois now is moot. I mean, who really cares? When my wife and I were living there, it seemed that the developers controlled the city, and the local politicians just rolled over and played dead. The tax incentives the developers took (which lasts for years), leave the rest of the townspeople to pay for infrastructure improvements and expansion. Rockford couldn't control the growth then, and it's my opinion that they can't control what they have now. It's still the local townspeople who have to pay for many of the incentives promised to the developers, not to mention the added personnel. If I'm wrong, someone please tell me. When we were living there, we thought Rockford was Hell on Earth. (See my previous posts). Doug Bergren

[Havasu]

Originally Posted by LpLp23

havasu,
I've seen you're posts on these Rockford threads a lot. It seems like you make it your mission to steer people away from this place. You don't even live here. Why scare people away when people can come to a GOOD place and have a GOOD life. I don't know what Rockford ever did to you, but relax. It's no different than any other mid size city. Quit being so damn negative.

Do you only read what I post? I see others agree with me and some have added to what I say about Rockford. Someone else commented on how bad it is living there and for others to not make the same mistake that they made.
So its not just me, Rockford is really that bad!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its not negative its being truthful all you have to do is stick up for the place and tell us how good it is. I see others doing that. I challenge you to tel me what the West side of Rockford has going for it. And then tell me what the Downtown has going for it?
All you have to do is tell us how good it is and all of the bad things I say will look like lies. Come on over to the Arizona forum and bash Lake Havasu.
It shouldnt be to hard to do.

[djbridgeland]

Look at this local attorney gunned down outside his house. Probably a disgruntled former client. See crime can happen anywhere.
Rockford attorney gunned down outside home - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

[Doug Bergren]

Maybe it's time to bring out the fine points of Rockford....
It has many churches,
A park system to die for,
An incredible Symphony Orchestra,
Mostly, a high regard for the Arts,
Some good restaurants (some),
Great Pizza Places that deliver,
Semi-pro Baseball & Hockey teams
I'm sure there's more, but none come to mind right now. Someone who is enamored with Rockford can add to my list. Regarding those who may be critical of comments regarding Rockford's shortcomings, I still didn't care for the place. It just seemed that everyone had their hand out, wanting to get paid big bucks for mediocre services. I'm still glad that my wife and I left. I would still caution anyone who is considering moving to Rockford with kids to consider another town. The school system still leaves a lot to be desired.

[rockfordsuks]

No joke. Please do not come here, visit here, move here, think about here, or anything else that involves this city.

I was born and raised here my whole life. I must say it is the absolute worst place in the usa. The weather is terrible - bitterly cold, snow all but 4 months. The 4 months with no snow is so humid you feel like your choking on the air.

Crime is through the roof. I listen to my police scanner every day (common Rockford past time), and I gurantee you will hear "shots fired" or gas stations and banks getting robbed, assaults, shootings etc. I live in the northwest side of Rockford near the river. The bank across the street from my house was robbed so many times in 2 years that they closed the branch completely. The building still sits vacant.

Schools are terrible, but they are fun if you want be a wild ass teenager who is destructive, lacks respect for everything and enjoys running from cops.

As for cops - you cannot leave your house to go to a gas station 3 blocks away without seeing one.

The streets are un-driveable. The pot holes are seriously so deep and large that it is dangerous to drive down many streets for fear of damage to your vehicle. Sales taxes were just increased to supposedly fix the roads - which doesnt happen.

Sure you can live in Rockton or Roscoe and its not too terrible up there, but is like an uppity, small town with a bunch of wanna be rich people who make 50k a year. All those other towns people have listed like Ridot, German Valley, Winnebago, etc etc - ARE FULL OF HILLBILLIES. Unless you like rusty cars in your front yard and barefoot children who ate nothing but hot dogs for the last month, I wouldnt suggest moving there.

All I could say is do not ever think about moving here or anywhere near here. I need to stop here because I could write a novel about how bad it is here. Anyone who tells you different is an idiot.

Good luck in your move to anyone relocating and reading this. DO NOT MOVE HERE - I dont care what incentive there is! $1 million wouldnt be worth 1 year here.

[Havasu]

You need to do what I did. LEAVE THE AREA!!!

[Momof4monkeys]

I agree. Stay far away if possible. The museums are good, but that's about all. The parks can be ok...in some parts of town. The one here on the west side of town by my apartment was ok until the homeless took it over, people started murdering squirrels (literally and leaving their maimed bodies around), leaving used condoms everywhere, and displaying incredibly rude and disturbing grafitti everywhere.

I am now pretty upset that everyone told me people "overreact" about this side of town. If anything, they were nice and I should have listened, but this is the only apartment I could find under $1400 that would rent to people with pets. I have slumlords and drug dealers for neighbors. Not to mention going to the library means you have to walk on or fall over the bodies of the homeless that sleep all in between the racks of books in the library and you have to fight off meth using people with obvious mental illness to get out of your car most places.

This place is HORRIBLE and I wish I could get away today.

[FormerStocktonian]

I couldn't agree more with the posts here. I would add comments, but it would just be repetitive. I am looking to get out of this town. There is really nothing in Rockford. The city seems stagnet and run down in most places. Like I said before, there is really nothing in the downtown area and it makes one feel depressed. There are really no nice restaurants are places to shop in downtown. For anyone thinking of a move to Rockford, please reconsider very carefully