Feedback On Cedar Rapids (Iowa City, Kent: job, hospital, house)

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by GayleAZ

I'm in Phoenix.. we get a random shooting about 3 times a day, and those are only counting the bodies we FIND. Actually a place with 1 or less killings a year is a SHOCK to my system. My only fear about moving away from AZ is will I be able to assimilate back into non-violent society? Which is funny because it really is a concern for me. Will I be able to meet neighbors, drive at night, let people I just meet into my house, or be able to trust a handyman or worker without the thought of being ripped off or killed? I know it sounds odd if you don't or haven't lived in AZ, NM, or CA.. but being able to TRUST people and live our lives without worrying about being shot in the street is a mental BIG DEAL! Now I wonder if I need therapy? I feel like a con being released back into the REAL world and I'm not sure if it will accept ME!

GayleAZ, I promise you. You are going to find Iowa to be a breath of fresh air after what you're used to.

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by gayleinAZ

Pearl,

I don't live Iowa (yet) but I think every city has something to offer. I've been reading the CR Gazette and by the looks of it CR has a lot less crime than IC. But that's just what I've read on-line in their mutual news paper. I think I like the idea of CR only having one murder or less a year. It's sounds very safe..

CR has a lot less crime than IC? Not to be argumentative, but I don't agree with that.

Iowa City has almost no crime. It's a very safe city to raise a family, etc. There are no ghetto areas or even run-down areas at all. In contrast, CR has some areas that you need to stay away from (CR is bigger, so that's part of the reason). CR also has some very nice areas, and the cost of housing there is lower than Iowa City (because of the University).

Iowa City does have the typical college partying type misdemeanor crimes related to alcohol and students, but stay away from downtown and that won't bother you.

I agree with Pearl's comments about culture, etc. Well said! Iowa City is also known to be much more progressive and liberal than other areas in Iowa (and more progressive and liberal than where I'm moving -- Lexington, KY -- which has me a little worried right now...)

[gayleinAZ]

You need to go to azcentral.com and check it out on a daily basis for a week. If they don't average 3 murders a day we aren't trying. We are the THIRD worst state in the US for crime.. etc.. It is a very DANGERIOUS state.. and I don't really care what the stats are on city-data about the safety of this city..I live here, I DO NOT drive after dark, DO NOT go to most places in Phx alone, DO NOT drive agressively, and I damn sure read the paper every day to see the crime in my area. Last week a druggy tried to stab a cop at our local convenience store -- about 1/4 mile from my house. They shot him on the spot.. I have a city park one street behind me where they found the body of a 14 year old boy. I use to live in a middle class neighborhood, now its a barrio, and getting shot and killed is not limited to the BAD areas. If you DRIVE your a target. So read the local paper for Phx and get back to me in a week! Do a body count while your at it.. you'll probably need a calculator.

By the way - those 200+ murders where JUST for Phx.. now add up the ones for Glendale, Avondale, Peoria, Ahwatukee, Tempe, Scottdale, Mesa, Guadalupe and all the cities that make up the metro area here in the VALLEY OF THE GUN.. I'm sure it's closer to 500+ a year.

[gayleinAZ]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

GayleAZ, I promise you. You are going to find Iowa to be a breath of fresh air after what you're used to.

Exactly what I'm looking for. A sense of community, a state with values (moral and economical) and ethics and one that isn't too uptight about people who move there from other states. Trees and GREEN!

[gayleinAZ]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

CR has a lot less crime than IC? Not to be argumentative, but I don't agree with that.

Iowa City has almost no crime. It's a very safe city to raise a family, etc. There are no ghetto areas or even run-down areas at all. In contrast, CR has some areas that you need to stay away from (CR is bigger, so that's part of the reason). CR also has some very nice areas, and the cost of housing there is lower than Iowa City (because of the University).

Iowa City does have the typical college partying type misdemeanor crimes related to alcohol and students, but stay away from downtown and that won't bother you.

I agree with Pearl's comments about culture, etc. Well said! Iowa City is also known to be much more progressive and liberal than other areas in Iowa (and more progressive and liberal than where I'm moving -- Lexington, KY -- which has me a little worried right now...)

My dad use to live in Berea KY when I was a teen.. I've been to Lexington and I thought that was a college town too! I have friends that live in Ill close to the Kentucky border and they seem to be ok with the citizenry. Anyone who can put on a swanky parrty like the Kentucky Derby can't be all bad.

The funniest thing I remember at KY was that everyone thought I had an accent and when I told them I was from AZ they ask me a ton of questions about indians and cowboys.. I guess CA was where movie stars came from and AZ was still the wild wild west where everyone wore 6-shooters and drank whisky straight from the bottle. Well everyone here still carries a gun, but most are resigned to using shot glasses and not being able to smoke in bars.

Oh and if it's still there you have GOT to go to Churchill Weavers in Berea.. you won't be disappointed. They really are textile weavers - not a bar.

[ic-epi]

gayleinAZ,

Thanks for your thoughts on KY! I've heard Berea is a neat town, but I've only been to Lexington so far, and that's only been for a total of 2 days. I'm nervous because we are moving there in July and I know relatively nothing about it -- I'm an Iowa girl, born and bred!

I really do think you will like Iowa. I've read some of your posts and it sounds like you are coming from a very difficult place to feel safe. You will find it to be safe here, and very green. If you like open space you will love Iowa.

You might really like Iowa City. Definitely accepting of others (people are here from all over the country and world because of the University) and there is a strong sense of community. Lots of cultural events/activities for a town this size, also because of the University. Many great people who I am going to miss!

We lived all over the Iowa City area, and there was never an area where I felt unsafe.

[GayleAZ]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

gayleinAZ,

Thanks for your thoughts on KY! I've heard Berea is a neat town, but I've only been to Lexington so far, and that's only been for a total of 2 days. I'm nervous because we are moving there in July and I know relatively nothing about it -- I'm an Iowa girl, born and bred!

I really do think you will like Iowa. I've read some of your posts and it sounds like you are coming from a very difficult place to feel safe. You will find it to be safe here, and very green. If you like open space you will love Iowa.

You might really like Iowa City. Definitely accepting of others (people are here from all over the country and world because of the University) and there is a strong sense of community. Lots of cultural events/activities for a town this size, also because of the University. Many great people who I am going to miss!

We lived all over the Iowa City area, and there was never an area where I felt unsafe.

My best recollection of KY was HUMID!!! And bull frogs. It was really GREEN! I don't really know if any of those towns were all that fun, becuase I was 18 and all my friends we in AZ for the summer. I kinda didn't fit in and had no one to hang with. But I wouldn't mind visiting now to check it out. I think it would be fun. I could never move there because my dad died there when he was 55 and I'm 53 and I have NO desire to tempt fate, crazy as that may sound. And that place had HILLS! Good luck when you get there, I'm sure like me you will find the right place or hopefully it WILL FIND YOU!

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

CR has a lot less crime than IC? Not to be argumentative, but I don't agree with that.

Iowa City has almost no crime. It's a very safe city to raise a family, etc. There are no ghetto areas or even run-down areas at all. In contrast, CR has some areas that you need to stay away from (CR is bigger, so that's part of the reason). CR also has some very nice areas, and the cost of housing there is lower than Iowa City (because of the University).

Iowa City does have the typical college partying type misdemeanor crimes related to alcohol and students, but stay away from downtown and that won't bother you.

I agree with Pearl's comments about culture, etc. Well said! Iowa City is also known to be much more progressive and liberal than other areas in Iowa (and more progressive and liberal than where I'm moving -- Lexington, KY -- which has me a little worried right now...)

Having lived in both CR and IC, I agree with your assessment wholeheartedly!

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

gayleinAZ,

Thanks for your thoughts on KY! I've heard Berea is a neat town, but I've only been to Lexington so far, and that's only been for a total of 2 days. I'm nervous because we are moving there in July and I know relatively nothing about it -- I'm an Iowa girl, born and bred!

I really do think you will like Iowa. I've read some of your posts and it sounds like you are coming from a very difficult place to feel safe. You will find it to be safe here, and very green. If you like open space you will love Iowa.

You might really like Iowa City. Definitely accepting of others (people are here from all over the country and world because of the University) and there is a strong sense of community. Lots of cultural events/activities for a town this size, also because of the University. Many great people who I am going to miss!

We lived all over the Iowa City area, and there was never an area where I felt unsafe.

Again, I agree with your post about Iowa City. I was born and raised in the Northeast, but lived in 5 different towns in Iowa as an adult. Iowa City was the only one of the 5 where I felt that I could fit in. Due to the U of I's presence, it's a very welcoming place for people from all over the world.

[Brittany1337]

I am excited about my move to Iowa- the friendly people, lower crime than where I'm at (Terre haute, IN). My husband got a job offer in Cedar Rapids, and when the company flew us out to visit, I ran around town for a couple days by myself while he did his interviews....and I pretty much saw everything I wanted to see. At this point, I realized that although I had fun for two days, living in Cedar Rapids probably would not keep me happy. We visited Iowa City. The drive to work for you if you live in Iowa City will only be about 20 minutes. It sounds like from your post you would enjoy the atmosphere of living in a town with a large school, lots of new and interesting people with diverse points of view. The crime rate may be a little higher in Iowa City than in Cedar Rapids, but I don't think there is a huge difference, and...it's Iowa, and it's probably a lower crime rate than you're used to What has really appealed to me about Iowa City is the sense of community for a college town. It's a fairly large school, but people seem really friendly and welcoming in the city. Lots of things to do and see, I hope you like it! Also, there is a lot of open housing right now because the students are moving out for the summer.