Anyone considering a move to Memphis should read. (Knoxville, Chattanooga: crime, house)

[Deck]

I'm posting this because I wish someone would have warned me about this city before I moved here. Of course, Im just a stranger on the internet, so take it for what it's worth.

First of all some background. I grew up in a fairly rural area, and lived in Kansas City, MO, post-college. I moved here five years ago. I have a job that earns me a pretty comfortable salary.

If you're considering moving to Memphis, there are a few things you should be prepared for.

1) Panhandlers/homeless/mental patients/transients - they are everywhere. It is practically impossible to fill up a tank of glass or go anywhere inside the parkways without being approached for money. Most are crackheads, or drug users who Ive seen take money from naive citizens and walk over to the liquore store and buy a beer. Don't give to these people, you are only enabling them. Most choose the lifestyle. If you want to help, give money to a shelter/non-profit group. There are plenty of them.

2.) The city politics are a circus. The corruption, arrogance and down-right offensive behaviour displayed by our city "leaders" is shocking. The first week I was here, the mayor told one of the city council members that if they had a problem with him, they could take it out to the parking lot! I am not even kidding. Several city leaders including two city council members were busted by the FBI for taking bribes. One of those indicted had already served time for public corruption, and the people of this city voted him right back in - only for him to get busted a second time. Of course then they try to play the race card and get the cities large unemployed, uneducated, public assistance residents to rally behind them. The mayor scorned the white citizens for Memphis for not supporting him during his last campaign. And accused the white citizens of being racist. Of course in actuality its his constant abrasive personality, his habit of putting unqualified cronies into positions over more qualified candidates, and then giving them raises, while not writing any room in the budget for raises for Police and Fire personnel. He has made statements like, "if you don't like it here you can get out!" During this last mayor's race, he refused to debate the other candidates (because he had nothing positive to run on) and instead stirred up talk of a conspiracy with the white businessmen trying to smear his name. When in actuality its the handful of the richest white men in the city - the land developers - who love him because he gives them anything they want. So he's got the 1% of the super rich, and 100% of the ghetto/criminal element. His official campaign slogan? And no, this is not a Saturday Night Live skit... "Shake the Haters Off."

3) The city is the hub of what the FBI ranked as the most violent metro area in the United States last year. (homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies). And the burglary and auto theft numbers are staggering.

4.) The city does not enforce any quality of life issues. Drug users and dealers congregate in the parks in broad daylight with no fear of repurcussion. The parks, roads and neighborhoods are littered with trash. Crosswalks? forget about it. If you're in downtown or midtown, expect to dodge people who just slowly strut across the road, refusing to even trot, or using the turning lane for a sidewalk.

5.) A huge number of people don't register their vehicles here, because getting a bogus temporary tag is much easier than getting the vehicle inspected every year.

6.) Only 30% of voters even bothered showing up for the last city election. Apathy is widespread.

7.) Crime and violence in the schools are an epidemic. Anyone will advise you not to send your kid to Memphis City Schools.

8.) Customer service - forget about it. The concept of "fast" food doesn't exist. Rudeness is commonplace compared to most other cities you visit.

9.) Be prepared to hear the phrase "Is race a factor" in about every other story in the local news and paper. Race is often used to excuse primitive, criminal behavior here. For example, some council members denied giving a huge grant to a private black college here. Not because it was black, but because the city is dirt poor, and public money should not be used to fund a private college. Yet those who voted against it? racist!!

Another example. A well qualified white was nominated to a big position at the school system. Yet some of our local race baiting politicians decried that no white man should be over Memphis City Schools since it's majority black! Can you imagine if the situation was reversed? It's ridiculous.

10.) There's more churches in Memphis than just about anything. One has a statue of liberty replica in front, with the Lady of Liberty holding up a cross instead of a torch.

11.) Filthy bathrooms practically everywhere you go. The lowest common denominator in this city lowers the bar everywhere it seems.

12.) The police department's morale is in the pits. Thanks in part to the culture of apathy, the shady politics, and the crooked administration.

If you're a fan of roots and blues music, visit Clarksdale. It's the real deal with much friendlier folks. Most people in Memphis listen to gangster rap or pop country.

The main problem is the constant pitting of race against race. And whether it's PC to say or not, the ghetto mentality of us vs. them, seems to prevail over the majority of this city. Of course, it's encouraged by the mayor. I'm planning to move before the end of the year, even if I have to take a $10k pay cut. I don't like how my outlook/attitude has changed from living in this cesspool. It truly is a parallel universe.

On one positive note, the city does have a good medical community. (Which incidentally keeps our homicide rate from being probably 15-20 times what it would be.)

[simcity]

Hey, I was born in Kansas City, MO. Small world!

Not to mention, Memphis has Pandas.

[Deck]

lol, Am I being too harsh? How long have you lived here and what are your thoughts? I just don't get this place. The stuff that goes on here just wouldn't fly in most cities.

[The_Anonymous_American]

Originally Posted by Deck

lol, Am I being too harsh? How long have you lived here and what are your thoughts? I just don't get this place. The stuff that goes on here just wouldn't fly in most cities.

Memphis might be bad, but Detroit sets the bar for badness, including the most recent scandal involving the mayor, his mistress, millions in taxpayer hush money, the mayor's stripper who was sent to the hosipital after a fight with the mayor's wife, and then executed in a rumored contract hit by the mayor's "friends."

[simcity]

I see the word cesspool used quite often to describe Memphis. Yar, it's a dirty ghetto city on the whole, not as bad as Detroit, not yet at least. Headed that way perhaps.

I've been here a little longer than you, moved here the summer of 2000, and have been here ever since. I'm going to tuff it out continue making an honest living until I can build some serious equity, knock up a classy chick, and then it's off to somewhere safer to raise the kiddies. Until then, I'm a single bachelor just trying to make his mark, dodge the stray bullets, and keep his nose clean.

I think you may be taking Memphis too personal though. We can't change the city, much less an individual citizen. Our nation's prison's are more packed than ever, over 1% of the adult population lives in prison now, and 1 in 9 black males are incarcerated. 75% of the US prison population is black, and 50% of criminals return to prison after being released (apparently the other half don't get caught?). Staggering figures, but hey, I've never personally seen or been a victim of crime, but I know it's occurring all around me.

Why do you have such a strong disdain for this city? It seems personal for you.

[Bowyer]

Deck--tell us how you really feel I definitely agree with you on a lot of those points, but all large cities have similar problems.

[lifeisgoodmrsg]

I wholeheartly agree with you Deck. I have been here since 99.When I moved to Cordova it was upscale, a decent place to raise your family. Well, my house just got robbed last week. I feel very violated and I hope to transfer within a year to either Knoxville where they say is very safe all the way around (City Data/ Knoxville) Chattanooga, or somewhere on the beach. Just trying to get out of my house what I paid could present a problem. Like I said Cordova used to be nice and upscale. Looks like it's headed for the same thinkg that happened to Whitehaven, Raleigh, Frazier, etc.etc.

[kcnative]

Hey, I was born in Kansas City, MO.

Hey, so was I. Go Chiefs.

[kcnative]

The main problem is the constant pitting of race against race.

Exactly. That and crime is why I moved the hell outta that place. Give Nashville a try...MUCH better.

[tomterr]

Originally Posted by The_Anonymous_American

Memphis might be bad, but Detroit sets the bar for badness, including the most recent scandal involving the mayor, his mistress, millions in taxpayer hush money, the mayor's stripper who was sent to the hosipital after a fight with the mayor's wife, and then executed in a rumored contract hit by the mayor's "friends."

The ritual---- Memphis is bad, but there are others worse. Also there is variation of "it's OK, everybody else does it."
I'm waiting for the "It's your fault for moving out and not staying to fix the neighborhood" excuse.
Memphis has a "Ghetto" mentality, with many generations raised without values or morals. I have no answer, but ignorance and poverty is big busisness in Memphis, and quite profitable to the ones writing the grants and running the programs that keep the people dependent, while trying to "Help" them.