Possibly looking into relocating to Medford and Grants Pass area

[freedom]

Originally Posted by chrisruns2far

Look at the rest of the State of Oregon!!!!

I have lived in all parts of the State of Oregon and have many friends across the Oregon. Southern Oregon is the last place in Oregon that I would ever move back to. Please take a look at other parts of the state, Oregon is vast and has much vareity. Two African Americans I know encountered some racism in Grants Pass including one person who told him that 'we don't like your kind here'. I had my job threatened because my some of my co-workers complained that I was not relegious enough and it made them feel uncomfortable. The only think that I was quilty of was keeping my religous views to myself and not participating in any work prayer sessions. Also, Southern Oregon is the anti-tax, anti-government, neo-conservative and neo-Christian capitol of Oregon, hence they have to close down and/or seriously cut back their libraries and law enforcement. I worked on behalf of one of the library levies, going door to door to talk to folks about the need to fund and support them and numerous folks mentioned to me during that process that they do not support public libraries becuase they are just for 'Mexicans, illiegals and poor people'. I'm middle class and I visit the library all the time. Southern Oregon has two seasons....WET and HOT as spring lasts about one month then it dries out and bakes at between 90-105 degrees all summer from the end of May thru September and winter has much ground fog and is just as wet as Portland and the Willamette Valley, maybe 2-3 inches per year less, but very similar winter weather. With the exception of Ontario and Southeast Oregon, I would take any other part of the state over Southern and Southwest Oregon.

Wow, thats a scolding diatribe you have going there.
You say you are middle class, but I noticed zero class in your comments.
I live in GP and what you describe does not exist here. I hope people interested in this area look at all of your posts in order to get a sense of the bias you have to Southern Oregon. In candor, you have to admit it is much more diverse than you are representing.

I love that you speak your mind, thats what forums are about, but I find it difficult to understand how Southern Oregon has bothered you so much.

freedom

[chrisruns2far]

Originally Posted by freedom

Wow, thats a scolding diatribe you have going there.
You say you are middle class, but I noticed zero class in your comments.
I live in GP and what you describe does not exist here. I hope people interested in this area look at all of your posts in order to get a sense of the bias you have to Southern Oregon. In candor, you have to admit it is much more diverse than you are representing.

I love that you speak your mind, thats what forums are about, but I find it difficult to understand how Southern Oregon has bothered you so much.

freedom

Thank you Freedom!

Your are so right, I think that I'm done with the I-5 corridor of Southern Oregon, other than friends of mine that still live there. I shall never post on this site again regarding areas south of the Mason Dixon Line.....er......I mean south of Eugene. BTW, my posts never attacked other people or fellow posters like some of yours have, I even noticed that a moderator had to close down a thread after a recent anti-homosexual ranting you posted in this site. I for one would just have let it go as I value freedom of speach and your mindset if indictative of the overwhelming theocratic views one finds through out Southern Oregon............oopps forgot I all done here. Good bye Southern Oregon. Thank you Freedom for setting me free of mentally re-visiting your part of the state. Maybe our posts will cross paths elsewhere?

[jendgroom]

well I for one have developed a sense of respect for freedom. His knowledge and quick response his extremely helpful. Freedom you are clearly someone who needs to be part of these forums.

[3-Princesses]

ConeyIsBabe

My husband and I love the Grants Pass area, and are seriously considering relocating to this area. We spent a week in September 07 checking out the area. Your post about the law enforcement situation in Grants Pass definitely got my attention. Have you had problems? Do you feel safe talking evening walks, and leaving your windows open at night? We know crime is everywhere. But we have been advised by native Oreganians to really check into this issue. How can I get a honest answer to my question? Grants Pass' Chamber of Commerce? If we can't feel safe talking evening walks with our dogs or leaving our window open at night, we will need to consider a different area. Thank you.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by 3-Princesses

ConeyIsBabe

My husband and I love the Grants Pass area, and are seriously considering relocating to this area. We spent a week in September 07 checking out the area. Your post about the law enforcement situation in Grants Pass definitely got my attention. Have you had problems? Do you feel safe talking evening walks, and leaving your windows open at night? We know crime is everywhere. But we have been advised by native Oreganians to really check into this issue. How can I get a honest answer to my question? Grants Pass' Chamber of Commerce? If we can't feel safe talking evening walks with our dogs or leaving our window open at night, we will need to consider a different area. Thank you.

Grants Pass does not have a law enforcement problem. It is fully funded, they have lots of money and a highly trained force. If you can't walk your dog here at night, then there is no where in America that is safe.

Living in town is much different than in the country. In the country no matter how many sherrifs there are they can only get to you so quick. Most of the crime in the county is neighbor upset with neighbor, or domestic disputes. There is very little theft. Every one has a doggie doorbell and a shotgun, which rarely if ever get used, and most of the time to scare of coyotes, or bear. The Sheriffs receive full funding before any other dept. and they are bothered that the last tax levy didn't pass, but they have loved ones here to. So they won't let it get out of control...

The Chamber would certainly have statistics, on local crime. Most of the blotters are DUI's, domestic, and drug offenses.

[GroundControl]

Originally Posted by florida transplant

This is my first time using this forum,but thought you might look into moving to Bend area. I moved here 2 years ago from florida, and have traveled throughout Oregon and see no other place I would want to live. I have become good friends with someone from Grants Pass (born and raised) and he and his wife are college educated with young kids and say nothing good about growing up in G.P.,except the outdoor life.They claim it is racist (White City?) and has zero diversity. I would look up the Redmond,Bend area for a place that is more diversified has a lot more to offer and the weather is unbelievale 300 days of sunshine. This area has the high desert and snow capped mountains all out your front door.

Looking for diversity? Move to my 'hood Palmdale CA where you can experience all the diversity that you can handle.

They opened a state prison in the next town over and the convicts famililies decided why should we drive up there from LA when we could just live there.

Murder, rapes, gang shootings are the norm here. Grafitti tarnishes the landscape as well as the illegal dumping of trash. The County issues housing vouchers to all of the diversified deadbeats but they all seem to be able to afford $60,000 tricked out SUV's.

Park your ride on the front lawn and change your car oil in the street. Wake up to roosters crowing at 4:00 am which are kept in tract homes. Is this a great country or what?

For all you whining Oregonians that detest CA folks moving there, why don't you tell your fellow Oregonians to stop advertising their real estate in the Sunday LA Times

[formercaveman]

I left GP when I went to college, and never came back... except to visit parents. Judging by comments such as those left by freedom's etc, nothign has changed... its a cute little town filled with right wing nasty homophobes... I would never, ever raise a kid there.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by formercaveman

I left GP when I went to college, and never came back... except to visit parents. Judging by comments such as those left by freedom's etc, nothign has changed... its a cute little town filled with right wing nasty homophobes... I would never, ever raise a kid there.

Freedom is from California and not a good representation of Grants Pass. I'm not either, because I'm the opposite extreme (aka I fit in better in Portland, Eugene, Seattle, etc), but it's a great place to raise your kids. I mean, I grew up here and I turned out to be a Green Party member, and I still love it here for the most part. You just have to not let other people raise your kids for you is all.

Seriously, a same sex couple showing public affection will get stared at, but that's about it. It's not too big of a deal (I know from experience). I think roughly, if I remember correctly, 37% of Josephine County voted against the same-sex marriage ban in Oregon in 2004. That isn't a lot, but it's still a sizable percentage. And it was 5 years ago too. The town has changed, and it keeps changing dramatically. Yeah, the right wing element is there, but so is the left wing. And a lot of folks are just somewhere in between.

If you want a liberal, environmentally-conscious, tolerant, and open-minded community in Grants Pass you can definitely find it. It's not huge, but it's far from invisible either. I work in a grocery store, and I see tons of "alternative" or "hippie" types, even "hipster" types come in every day. There are natural foods stores, a free trade gift shop, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, alternative spiritual bookstores, an all-organic restaurant, a quirky restaurant that would thrive in Portland is thriving here, Rocky Horror Picture Show sells out every year at the Rogue Theatre, the farmer's market is mostly organic farms...

As Grants Pass continues to grow and get discovered for its perfect setting and natural beauty, this "left" element I feel will continue to grow also. Grants Pass is a gorgeous place. And, as most places, it is what you make of it to a great extent. The reality is that it's also getting easier for us liberals in GP every day.

Did I mention our libraries are back open too? We're civilized once again in Josephine County...

All that said, let a dead thread remain so....

[thelocaldish]

You could take a look at some local news sources if you are still trying to dig up information!

[cplay4me]

I'm not sure if the original poster is even still reading this thread, but here's my two cents on growing up in Medford Oregon.

Quickly - I grew up in Medford/Jacksonville area most of my life and moved to Los Angeles for College when I was 18. I lived in Azusa, Covina, Glendora, and Pasadena over the course of 5 years in the area while I finished school. I have recently returned with my wife who is from Chicago.

Now to the good stuff - Southern Oregon is spotty. It's not extremely diversified and opportunities for culture/art/diversity are relatively limited. However, much of the backwoods attitudes that have existed in the area are starting to die away. The Medford/Jacksonville/Ashland area has continued to grow, diversify, and mature, offering a variety of political and social views.

Schools are a weaker spot, although some good ones do exist in the area (it's a problem for most of the state of Oregon), and home prices are significantly lower than they have been, offering home buyers some excellent options in lovely parts of the area.

The reason that people come here is the weather and the recreation. The outdoor activities are numerous year around, and the seasons are very balanced (you'll be hard pressed to find a more balanced Mediterranean climate).

As with any place we have people that hate, people that love, people that are intellectual and professional and people that aren't. We might be more skewed to one side or the other in some places, but I believe this area is growing into something unique and will continue to over the next decades. It really is a very enjoyable place to live and I understand why my parents moved here.

(oh and my wife loves it as well). You can get a feel for what the are is like by reading some of the local journalism/newspaper if you'd like - www.mailtribune.com - Medford Oregon newspaper, http://www.ashlanddialytidings.com - Ashland Oregon newspaper, Hope that helps