Avoid Greenville at all costs (Tupelo, Cleveland: theater, YMCA, live)

[gcdiane]

SMartin4, I was going to stay away from this conversation because it is very typical and laced with generalizations. But, contrary to your belief, it is not common for black women to carry money in their under garments. Please dont take the actions of a few and apply to an entire group of people. Thats what is wrong with Greenville, the Delta and most of Mississippi. Neither group, black or white are willing to recognize that all of us want the same things. Safe neighborhoods, good schools, good quality of life etc. The issue is not black v. white. The issue is the haves v have nots. Mississippi's problem became about class many moons ago and no one took notice.

It's not about what do we do with the thuggish blacks or what do we do with the racist whites...the elephant in the room is what do we do about poverty?

[lal1964]

Ironically, I stumbled on this forum and thread because I was online searching for places to move - AWAY from Greenville! I'm a 43-year old woman who was born and raised here and I have to tell you, I can't get away fast enough. The bad thing is, I actually left for almost two years but came back! Not by choice, but because I couldn't sell my house due to the lack of quality public schools, high crime rate and lack of industry. I'm desperate to get out of here again but have the same problem as before, being stuck with a house I can't sell. I live a couple of streets away from Main Street and you cannot believe the gunshots, sirens, and general commotion that goes on in my neighborhood after the sun goes down, especially on weekends. It's truly terrifying and I'm afraid to open the back door at night to let my dogs go out. When our house was up for sale and empty during the time that we were living elsewhere, it was vandalized 12 times (and that's the times we actually know about)! We had completely remodeled our house before moving away and every single thing in the house was stolen, from appliances to light fixtures to medicine cabinets to the gas logs in the fireplace! I've lost count of the number of times our cars have been broken into or vandalized, or the number of lawn mowers and other equipment that have been stolen from our storage building. Another huge problem is that there's absolutely nothing safe for teenagers to do for fun in Greenville, much less any opportunities for college graduates (unless they're doctors or lawyers). To say that Greenville is in decline is an understatement and I could not in good conscience recommend that anyone, especially families with young children, move here.

[GladILeft]

I hate to hear what happened to you RCM032505. My wife had the same experience as you when we lived there. She was followed from Burger King one night (no wonder they closed), and when she pulled up under the carport and got out of the car had a big gun pointing in her face (I was sleeping on the couch less than 20 feet away). They took only her purse (thank goodness). She almost kicked the door in after they left. They were never caught (imagine that).

I still make frequent trips to Greenville (because of my work) and am amazed at the number of businesses that have closed. We lived right off south main street and I can remember many nights when sirens would sound all night. When I do return for work, I get into my room BEFORE the sun goes down and I stay there until it comes back up. I also leave town at the first oportunity!

[sad delta]

I wish there was one positive comment on this forum about Greenville....just one....I'm amazed when my daughter says she has met people who have visited here, not lived here, and they LOVE Greenville!!! Of course, they are only here a couple of days, and they stay on Walnut Street, then leave!! I'm having a hard time with this...the problem is we have to stay here, at least, for now...and all the comments are true...I'm trying to remember something good about Greenville; nothing comes to mind...

[jlrich]

Originally Posted by sad delta

I wish there was one positive comment on this forum about Greenville....just one....I'm amazed when my daughter says she has met people who have visited here, not lived here, and they LOVE Greenville!!! Of course, they are only here a couple of days, and they stay on Walnut Street, then leave!! I'm having a hard time with this...the problem is we have to stay here, at least, for now...and all the comments are true...I'm trying to remember something good about Greenville; nothing comes to mind...

To me, the biggest problem visually (first impressions for visitors & possible new residents) is, that from all four entrances into town (82 & 1) everything is run down. There should be some kind of citywide effort to clean up the buildings, abandoned & occupied, to give a nicer presentation of the town. Of course that would just "mask" the actual problems and issues of the town.

And the Walnut Street area was fixed up some to give it a Beale St. look to attract the casino crowds. The problem with that is the casinos only attract the locals and its really not a tourist draw.

Originally Posted by lal1964

I live a couple of streets away from Main Street and you cannot believe the gunshots, sirens, and general commotion that goes on in my neighborhood after the sun goes down, especially on weekends. It's truly terrifying and I'm afraid to open the back door at night to let my dogs go out.

And no one seems to be trying to find ways to lower the crime. All they can do is point fingers and blame others. But that goes on everywhere not just in Greenville. When I was there a little over 20 years ago the crime rate was bad but I don't think like it is now.

[RCM032505]

as for money in under garments, I run a business thats accepts money all day long, alot of my women customers carry money in there bra's, alot of males in there shoes, both are very sticky and wet in the summer time. I will not accept it. The ELEPHANT what is this? Poverty, get a job. There are plenty of jobs out there. The problem in Greenville is job quality and passing a drug test. lal1964 I agree 100% this is the worst town, It will never get any better until the people get off there lazy rumps and go vote. People talk but dont go vote. In Greenville out of 21000 registered voters, only 7000 people voted in the mayer election. The only way to change Greenville's problem, is to vote in new officials who will address these problems. "GLADILEFT" I know that was a bad experence for your wife, it was for me too, It's a shame that you can't go anywhere here and feel safe. I'v been here 25 years in business and now have to close when it gets dark. Yea ride through town and all you see is boarded up buildings and houses. People here wonder why, well wake up, and see who's running the city, and county. The only positive thing I can remember about Greenville is growing up in the 70's and 80's it was all different. The city was run different, the work force was different. No Indertries will come here because of the labor here, either cant pass a drug test or dont want to work cause it will mess up there goverment asst. programs.

[jlrich]

Isn't money in the undergarments more of a generational thing? I know a lot of older people seem to do that more than younger folks.

[RCM032505]

Yea but this younger generation have got it in there shoes & even in there socks, or even in there shorts below the sagging pants, Theres got to be a cut off line of where the money comes from. After they leave, I'v still got to handle this money to make change for other people. So then some of this money goes into your hands, then you eat something afterwords without washing your hands, Think about it.

[jlrich]

Oh I've been there, done that. I've had them (older women) take sweaty money out of their bra. I took it to the office at let it dry out. But I did wash my hands afterwards. I haven't had to deal with the socks and shoes deal although I have seen it happen.

[sad delta]

You guys are so right.....voting may not do the job any longer! Moderator cut: no generalizations I'm coming to the realization there is no help for Greenville; we have been spiraling down for quite some time now, and there is no stopping it! I don't know what the answer is....I'm up for suggestions. It's hard to talk about the dirty conditions of our city without someone claiming you are a racist...and folks continue to say it's not a racist issue...in my opinion, as long as the general attitude here is non caring, Moderator cut: nope the city will continue to spiral downward. I don't know, I just keep paying my taxes...