Why I am Leaving Memphis (Germantown, Collierville: apartments, employment, safe neighborhoods)

[Pearlbob]

I live in the actual city and love it

You ask 100 people, you'll get 100 opinions. People hate it, sort of hate it, love it, like it, are so-so, have a few good things to say, don't mind the problems, don't care about the problems, don't notice the problems, can't wait to get out.....

I'm not thrilled with the problems that Memphis has, but I do enjoy what I have turned my life into here. Cost of living is relatively low and Memphis has a lot to offer if you get out there and try. It depends on what you need and are looking for in a city.

[hickoryhill]

The surrounding areas are in some way better. The whole deal with living in the city of Memphis (for me) can be the school system or taxes. I don't have kids yet, so I am lucky. But like I said, the city is what you make of it. Remember this, there is opportunity everywhere. Memphis is one of America's best kept secrets. Bartlett is fine. There are certain parts within in the city limits that are fine too. Certain areas in East Memphis, Midtown, Downtown, etc... Like may have said. It is all about what is important to you. Yeah, crime is an issue and it can happen anywhere, but there are many things you can do to make your chances of experiencing crime pretty low.




Welcome to the Frontpage

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by JeniKer

Hey, can I ask a question? Okay, it appears that a LOT of people who live in Memphis really are not thrilled with it. But are we talking the actual city of Memphis, or the surrounding areas? Like the Bartlett area? I'm guessing it's the actual city itself, but just wanted to know if everyone has the same feelings about the surrounding areas too, the "get out now" frame of mind.

When I comment on Memphis I am commenting on the region as a whole. Including Mississippi and Arkansas. One of the things that people need to realise, Oakland, Southhaven and Germantown would not be here if there wasn't Memphis. Memphis would be here without them. What the city is, so is the region.

Most people want to think that their suburb is better than the city. Truth is you still have the influence of Memphis within a 60 mile radius of the city. You still have the southern accent, the ultra conservative/bible belt/hicktown mentality, poor performing schools compared with the rest of the nation, and high crime.

People want to blame things like corrupt politicians and crime on their dissatisfaction with their lives here when there is more of a personal issue facing those people that they would be saying the same thing if they lived in tim buk too.

One of the things that you have to consider before relocating to a city is if you can adjust to the culture. If you can't adjust to the culture of the region then you can have the best schools, mayor and weather, it will not matter because you will not be living in the city that's conducive to your lifestyle.

Memphis isn't for everyone. It isn't for me, however I can see where its what you make of it. It seems to be very southern although it wants to be a big city it a large small town that has out grown itself and it seems to be very much stuck in the 60's. Rednecks think things should go their way thugs want things to go their way. Those of us that don't fit into either category are left sitting on the outside looking in and saying what is going on, shaking our heads thinking how backwards can Memphians be.

[TheGhetto]

If you want your edum'akation and IQ level to drop watch the Memphis news. as this does not represent the city as a whole its where its going. I have lived here for almost 34 years and i have experienced the decline. So im thinking about relocating not just out of the city but probably out of state heck maybe out of the country.

[Tunky]

Originally Posted by TheGhetto

If you want your edum'akation and IQ level to drop watch the Memphis news. as this does not represent the city as a whole its where its going. I have lived here for almost 34 years and i have experienced the decline. So im thinking about relocating not just out of the city but probably out of state heck maybe out of the country.

Pretty powerful post.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by TheGhetto

If you want your edum'akation and IQ level to drop watch the Memphis news. as this does not represent the city as a whole its where its going. I have lived here for almost 34 years and i have experienced the decline. So im thinking about relocating not just out of the city but probably out of state heck maybe out of the country.

There is a dumbing down of Memphians and the news media is to blame. People are very ignorant when it comes down to whats going on in their city state and country.

[takemehometooldham]

Golly---THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE I DO!!!!

We moved here via a job tranfer several years ago. It was the 7th time we had moved since 1987. We were in Louisville, KY and absolutely loved the area but the job switch meant more money and such and hence we found ourselves in the Memphis area. At the time I actually looked forward to moving---despite liking Louisville a move was always somewhat adventuresome and brought new things, new places and so forth. In all our other moves we liked the new area and assumed this would hold true in this case.

WRONG!!!! Within 6-12 months I grew to dislike this area. Now, after several years my dislike of Memphis borders on pathological. We live in Colierville so at least on weekends I can escape into sanctuary but unfortuntely 5 work days place me in direct contact with things Memphis.

1. I have NEVER seen the entitlement mentality permeating this area. People seem to feel they are owed this or that. Attempt to censure an employee (with cause) and you better be prepared for an EEOC complaint. It is never due to the employee not cutting it--it is always racial. My prior employment was more northern in location. We had African-American employees there and no one thought twice about anything. To paraphrase "we all just got along." Down here there is a different perspective on the parts of minorities----they will file some action against an employer in 2 seconds. Our HR Department seems to not have issues when whites are disciplined but the minute a black files something it is "treat them with kid gloves." This has happened over and over again. It is always "you're doing this because I am black." On more times than I can recall when we had an internal promotion if the black did not get the job BOOM! EEOC complaint! Funny, we have promoted more than a few blacks and have YET TO RECEIVE a single filing by a white who was passed over.

2. White or black the work ethic is different. While we have some truly outstanding and dedicated employees they are harder to find than I experienced in prior locations. While I no longer am in a position where I have to do direct interviewing in prior years I did. It would take myriad interviews just to find someone who had a slight chance at making it. The education level as well as the written and verbal communication ability of applicants was horrible. My position now calls for me to travel a great deal and I have run into more than a few people in other locations who used to be im Memphis. I hear the exact same thing from each of them----"it has always been that way." Recently I had a meeting with a competitor concerning some items. This individual used to run that organization's office in Memphis and he just started laughing when I talked about the struggles we have in Memphis and indicated it was that way and worse when they tried to operate in this city. Our company tracks employee turnover. Year in and year out Memphis has one of the worst employee retention records in the entire enterprise. People just quit for no reason, no call, no show. I gave up trying to figure it out years ago and now just accept it is a part of doing business in this fair city.

3. We cannot recruit managers. When we have an open position (and they pay quite well) we INVARIABLY will bring some one in, show them around and so forth. Often times we thought we had "the winner" only to have them say, after they checked Memphis out---"no thanks!" Our current facility manager obviously accepted the position roughly 14 months ago. He has now announced he wants out and has asked for an exit strategy to be in place before the end of the year. It took almost 5 months to get him in the first place. His reason for leaving---he and his wife hate the city. He has also commented on "the entitlement mentality" of the area. Once again, this is NOT HOW IT IS in other places.

4. CRIME!!! Anything in our branch better be nailed down or it will be stolen. We had charming Memphians cutting through the fence at our east plant stealing equipment. The big one came when they took down an entire section of fencing and rolled off over $40,000 worth of stuff. We then had to spend a ton of money getting the fence electrified. We have had anything and everything ripped off. Yes, we go to the police but they have so many irons in the fire they did not help much. I do not blame them---I know some people associated with the police department and morale is terrible within the MPD. The cops basically suggest "check out some pawn shops" since presumably this is where our "vistors" will try to unload our stuff.

Regarding crime in past locations I might know someone who knew someone who knew someone who heard of someone being robbed. The point is you could go for YEARS and never hear of anyone being a direct victom of crime. Here everyone you know has either been robbed or close to it. My daughter goes to U of M and lives in midtown. Her car has been busted into twice and recently as she did laundry someone STOLE HER CLOTHES from the dryer. I am just glad it has been crime like that which has occured rather than something more serious. But then again, isn't it insane to be "thankful it was only that." Shouldn't you have a right to not worry about being mugged at all? We were in Louisville 2 weeks ago for Thunder (Derby Festival). You could walk down the street at midnight and feel safe. You do not have this feeling of "unease" walking anywhere. I remember the first time we went to Beale Streeet after we got here. I asked a cop where we ought to park and he was helpful in pointing out a location. He also commented "but don't go any further than because if you do we'll never see you again." We had friends from another city who were here and they freaked out when that happened.

5. CORRUPT CITY GOVERNMENT--When I first got here I could not understand how some of these clowns got elected. I assumed massive changes would occur when an election rolled around. Well, we know how that goes. I now can only conclude possession of power is more important than responsible execution of it. It is a joke! Our mayor is a joke. The Ford family and their issues. MLGW. CIty School corruption. You name it. Once again I have a point of reference having lived in so many other places....it is NOT LIKE THIS elsewhere.

5. The Race Card. I am sick of being made to feel like I am to blamce for something because I have worked hard, had some success and so forth. I pay my taxes, I have never been on welfare, I try to obey the rules and so on. I am tired of reading it is "rich, white people in the east end and Germantown--Collierville" who are to blame for everything. I am sick of politicians getting busted with their hands in the cash box and then blame it on race. I am sick of hearing black preachers suggest a congressman is no good because he is the wrong color. I am sick of the Mayor fanning this stuff up.

6. Urban Blight. Yes, downtown is being touched up but what city in America isn't doing exactly that? So much of the rest of the city is FILTHY with garbage, trash, glass, foot high yards and so forth. I have talked to so many older folks who constantly comment on how beautiful Memphis USED TO BE 40 years ago. Boy, it sure is not any longer.

We've been here 8 long years. We had to stay to an extent due to kids in school. 2 are out and the last one has not started high school yet. We've had an exit strategy and the time has come. We're looking at houses in Louisville over Memorial Day so the end is in sight.

I had no dislike against Memphis when I came here. I arrived new to the area just like I did Alexandria, VA, Laurel, Maryland, Davenport, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, Lexington, KY and Louisville, KY. I gave Memphis just as much chance as I did every other area. During those other stops about the only thing I can recall complaining about was the high cost of living in the Washington, DC area and the traffic in Chicago. Here finding something to be upset about is like waiting for a taxi at the Atlanta airport---one comes along every 15 seconds.

In conclusion Sherman burned the wrong southern city.

Have a good day and thanks for allowing me to vent!

[Tunky]

I just read your post to my husband and I wish I was as articulate as you are. I'm glad you've got your plan in place to move.

This weekend the President of my husband's company spoke to me about my situation (I have accepted a job in another city so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that my husband will likely be leaving his job). It's always been a Memphis based company and the founding family is born/bred here. When I explained to her some of my struggles...and the struggles of other "wives of transplants" that I know (e.g. professional women that can not get a job here...can't even get a call back!), she asked if I would speak to a group that she belongs to. The group apparently is concerned about things like the inability to attract professionals to Memphis. I would love to just print out your post and hand it to her.

Like you, I have lived in many different places in the U.S. and in Germany. I never had a difficult time anywhere except here. I knew in 6 months that I would not be staying. Again, congratulations on your new opporunity...there are better days ahead!

[mjtinmemphis]

Its interesting when hearing people from different parts of the country complain about the same things.

One thing about the racial entitlement statement. Being an African American that is from another city, I can see where there would be a lot of discrimination complaints in Memphis.

I have never experienced as much job discrimination as I have in Memphis. This is a predominately African American town but we are far worse off here educationally and economically than any other place I've lived due to the "jim crow" mentality of a lot of the whites in power. (with money)

I am not the one that moves to a new city and look for racism and things to complain about. But Memphis beats anything that I've seen. I noticed that you've live in the DC area so you are accustomed to living in places where equal opportunity is at its best. Memphis is not the case.

So from the African American experience the entitlement issue can be looked at from a different angle.

And yes Sherman burned the wrong city.

[UofMGrad92]

It's interesting the different perspective....one poster comments on how blacks in Memphis complain and file complaints any time there is an adverse job action or they are passed over for a promotion and sees this as a sense of entitlement and the source of the problem. Another poster comments on how often blacks in Memphis face adverse job situations because of discrimination and sees this as the source of the problem. Can they both be right?

There is no doubt about the fact that Memphis (and more generally, the Southeast) has some of the rudest and most worthless folks you can find working in the service industries. This also includes workers in warehouses and other service/labor type jobs. I'll be glad when nothing but Mexican and South/Central American workers take these jobs completely from the folks in Memphis who are too lazy and ignorant to perform in these positions. At least if the reason they struggle with my order is they don't speak English, I can understand that. If you would just rather be anywhere else except at work, then be my guest and go somewhere else. The unseen burden of welfare reform is crappy service at Wendy's.

I'm glad ya'll have found some opportunities in other locations. There is no job worth being as miserable as you are in Memphis. I tell people who are moving here to be sure...because Memphis has it's issues and you'll find about them pretty quick. If you aren't prepared to hear about bad things on the news and to deal with a large, poor, urban population that seems content to wallow in it's failure and desire nothing more than to destroy any who do succeed (white or black..especially black, it seems), you are not going to adapt well.

If you are prepared, move to a good part of town, take precautions, you can make a decent life for yourself. It won't make Memphis a great place to live, but at least you won't be miserable after you find out about all the warts.