Scranton.........Man attempts carjacking woman (Mayfield: crimes, houses, neighborhood)

[ScranBarre]

I don't know if I'll ever truly "fit in" if I decide to plant my roots in the Electric City. I don't particularly like most of the mayor's policies (as a fiscal conservative my eye just twitches when I realize he thinks the word "borrow" means "free money") and yet I'm still "the enemy" because I don't think the city is collapsing in on itself.

I know Dan and most of the others don't give me any credence because I'm both young and live in the suburbs, but I can remember the Scranton of the early-to-mid-1990s and I can see the Scranton of 2009, and (at least in my eyes) the city DOES look better. By 2010 the entire stretch of Lackawanna Avenue from the river to the Radisson will be revitalized (perhaps save for the Steamtown Mall and Marquee Cinemas if they both can't get their acts together). A new medical college will soon be opening, despite the naysayers saying "ain't never gonna happen." The University of Scranton's reputation is growing, and with that comes more success for the city as a whole. New lofts/condos/apartments coming to the city will generate more foot traffic that will encourage new business growth downtown. "Smoke and mirrors" may be the favorite catch-phrase for many of the Doomers, but I can tell you that more in my age bracket see Scranton as an "up-and-coming" city than a hell hole.

[weluvpa]

Your the only one I know....The rest are leaving in force for jobs with good pay outside the area.

The mall is in a downward spiral and is going to crash in the next 3-5 years.

MOST of the downtown is empty and the construction of new buildings will just add to that list of empty spaces.

Until there is actually some long term financial planning and modification of the business taxes in the downtown it will continue to be increasingly harder for small businesses to survive on the almost non-existant traffic in the downtown.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Your the only one I know....The rest are leaving in force for jobs with good pay outside the area.

The mall is in a downward spiral and is going to crash in the next 3-5 years.

MOST of the downtown is empty and the construction of new buildings will just add to that list of empty spaces.

Until there is actually some long term financial planning and modification of the business taxes in the downtown it will continue to be increasingly harder for small businesses to survive on the almost non-existant traffic in the downtown.

Not everyone "wants" to flee the area though. Take myself as a fine example of this. I have a very important job interview on Tuesday for a rewarding position with the Federal government down in NoVA. Given the national recession I'd be foolish to not consider this. If I receive an offer, I'm taking it and will be reluctantly packing my bags for Metro DC in the coming months feeling bittersweet---sad that this area couldn't afford more opportunities for the thousands of college graduates we produce (and say "get out" to) annually as well as disappointed in myself that I couldn't make things work around here. We'll see what happens as of Tuesday (the fact that I'm sick right now might make me perform sub-par during my interview), but if I DO receive and accept an offer, I won't be leaving the area because of Mayor Doherty; contrary to popular opinion he's not single-handedly destroying NEPA.

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Mayor Doherty; contrary to popular opinion he's not single-handedly destroying NEPA.

Nope, just Scranton.

[nepanite]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Your the only one I know....The rest are leaving in force for jobs with good pay outside the area.

The mall is in a downward spiral and is going to crash in the next 3-5 years.

MOST of the downtown is empty and the construction of new buildings will just add to that list of empty spaces.

Until there is actually some long term financial planning and modification of the business taxes in the downtown it will continue to be increasingly harder for small businesses to survive on the almost non-existant traffic in the downtown.

Exactly, personally I believe they expected to create an artificial bubble of sorts to pump up property values. It may succeed but I believe your comment regarding the business taxes is the big monkey sitting in the corner that everyone casually ignores.

[nepanite]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Not everyone "wants" to flee the area though. Take myself as a fine example of this. I have a very important job interview on Tuesday for a rewarding position with the Federal government down in NoVA. Given the national recession I'd be foolish to not consider this. If I receive an offer, I'm taking it and will be reluctantly packing my bags for Metro DC in the coming months feeling bittersweet---sad that this area couldn't afford more opportunities for the thousands of college graduates we produce (and say "get out" to) annually as well as disappointed in myself that I couldn't make things work around here. We'll see what happens as of Tuesday (the fact that I'm sick right now might make me perform sub-par during my interview), but if I DO receive and accept an offer, I won't be leaving the area because of Mayor Doherty; contrary to popular opinion he's not single-handedly destroying NEPA.

Wait a second, it could be argued that if one truly "believes" in an area (as in the whole 'I believe' slogan campaign) then one would not even consider opportunities outside of the area.........

Actually, I'm glad to see that you are pursuing other opportunities. Particularly in NoVA, I believe you will find the grass really is greener in terms of job opportunities. Housing wise? Meh, be sure to write down your townhouse or apt # or good luck finding it amongst a few hundred of the clones. Perfect timing too, I suspect that we will see an exponential growth in centralized govt over the next few years and in my lifetime I have never seen the govt shrink....ever. Good luck,

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by GreenRidgeGuy

I remember Scranton when it wasn't safe. You couldn't pay me to walk Mulberry St in the early 90's. I frequently walk it now without ever feeling unsafe. Like I said, I am not claiming that crime doesn't exist, but to say Scranton is an unsafe city or has a crime problem is ridiculous.

Maybe Mulberry St is safer than it was in the early 90s, but Scranton overall is not any safer than it was in the early 90s, all they did was chase the crime and dirtbags from one section of the city to another. South Side used to be a nice part of town, but when they chased the vermin from the Hill, they scattered down to Cedar Ave, Pittston Ave, Prospect Ave, etc. And now I'm starting to see signs of these people shifting over to West Side now that the city is focusing on South Side. They're not solving any problems, they're just moving the problem to a different part of town.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by GreenRidgeGuy

I am curious as to what you are using as your benchmark for a safe city. Where else have you lived?

I remember Scranton when it wasn't safe. You couldn't pay me to walk Mulberry St in the early 90's. I frequently walk it now without ever feeling unsafe. Like I said, I am not claiming that crime doesn't exist, but to say Scranton is an unsafe city or has a crime problem is ridiculous.

It's a shame NYRangers, whatever ax you have to grind with the current administration has totally effected your view of the city. Take of your "Doherty goggles" and the view might surprise you.

I remember Scranton in the early 90's and I agree it wasn't safe. It's still unsafe and getting worse. I really don't have an ax to grind with anyone. I just don't like the administration pumping up the city and saying how vibrant it is and how safe it is, when in reality it's not. I've lived here for almost 7 years now and I know it first-hand. The downtown is a ghost town with many empty buildings and this rennaisance on Lackawanna is just a ploy to get people to not focus on all of the bad in the city. Basically, as Dan has put it many times it's "lipstick on a pig". It may look great, but it's not solving any of the many problems Scranton has. I'm not going into all of them now, the list is far too long.

[weluvpa]

The worst thing that would happen on Mulberry st in the early 90's was tripping over the screwed up sidewalk trying to walk home from O'Toole's.


The Hill around Mulberry st. didn't start to go down until the mid to late 90's and then they pushed the problem into Southside.

[GreenRidgeGuy]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Not everyone "wants" to flee the area though. Take myself as a fine example of this. I have a very important job interview on Tuesday for a rewarding position with the Federal government down in NoVA. Given the national recession I'd be foolish to not consider this. If I receive an offer, I'm taking it and will be reluctantly packing my bags for Metro DC in the coming months feeling bittersweet---sad that this area couldn't afford more opportunities for the thousands of college graduates we produce (and say "get out" to) annually as well as disappointed in myself that I couldn't make things work around here. We'll see what happens as of Tuesday (the fact that I'm sick right now might make me perform sub-par during my interview), but if I DO receive and accept an offer, I won't be leaving the area because of Mayor Doherty; contrary to popular opinion he's not single-handedly destroying NEPA.

Paul, I moved to NOVA right out of college because of a job opportunity. After 5 years, I decided that the traffic (1hr and a half commute each way for a job that was 15 miles away) and the cost of living (hosing prices will blow your mind) was having too great an effect on my quality of life. I can't tell you how nice it was to move back to NEPA where my commute is about 10 minutes and I was able to afford a great single family home. And don't get me started on the difference in crime/ safety (I was there for 9/11 and the DC sniper). I am lucky enough to have found a great job w/ a great organization. They do exist, I promise. I'd hate to see the area loose someone with your outlook and attitude. Just remember, the grass is always greener....