Those crazy legals in Salem... (Portland, Hillsboro: landscaping, apartment complex, income)

[Krystle]

So I read and hear all the time about how Salem is so dangerous and run down because of the "illegals" who live on Lancaster Drive. I live right off of Lancaster Drive, and tonight was pretty scary. A couple was arguing and the girl came to our door shouting for help and trying to open our door. They continued arguing (this isn't the first time they've had a loud argument) and before we knew it he was beating her and the cops were there and the guy was arrested. There were two little kids in the apartment (one about 5, the other about 1 or 2). It was horrible, and I'm glad we weren't returning from buying groceries or anything just in time to get caught in the middle of that.

The thing is, they weren't illegal. They were an all-American couple. I've lived in NY and NM and been around every ethnic group (legal and illegal) and seen lots of crazy stuff...but it never came to my door. So for all the people who say it's the illegal folks causing all the trouble, I have to disagree. There are people who can't be trusted, and they're not easy to identify by skin color or language. I think the issue is when you live in any city and you choose relatively affordable housing (especially apartment complexes). At this point in my life, I'm craving small town life, and this little "incident" just sealed my resolution.

Silverton (or Sherwood, or any other cozy charming town in OR) here I come...

[Leisesturm]

I hear you and I agree for the most part. However even Salem was once a "cozy and charming" part of Oregon. There isn't any guarantee that in time Silverton or Sherwood will not come up on the radar of a couple or family of dysfunctionals who will not provide their own unique brand of drama and public entertainment for the time they are around. I am not sure the answer should involve moving away if said move will cause you increased overhead. Stand your ground I'm pulling for you.

H

[Krystle]

Yup--that's just the way it is. Places change. But hopefully I can enjoy a small town atmosphere, buy a house, cash it in and move out (and retire) when it becomes the next Salem. At least that's the hope. =)

[bobmulk]

Silverton and Sherwood are quite affluent, although Silverton has a pocket or two of grunge. Because they're so affluent, they're probably quite insulated from the lower classes that tend to behave like Neanderthals.

[Krystle]

Affluent areas have their own trouble makers. I grew up around very affluent people in NY and rich, angry teenagers who have easy access to drugs are quite a force to be reckoned with. People who act like animals can be found in the "upper classes" as well. But with a smaller town, there's fewer people, so that means a smaller population of trouble makers, as well as less anonymity.

[mamh]

Krystle,
I about fell off my chair laughing at the Lancaster thing,I live down the street from you on Portland Rd..Life happens everywhere to all kinds of people and its like you said not just illegals ect, its good people having bad days.
Look at what happened in Keizer with the Dad and School bus driver...
I like Salem a lot and think its a good place to live , we too have lived all over and this is the best yet.
Have a happy day everyone

[Krystle]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes Salem! I've heard people trash this city left and right, and I think it's all about what you're comparing it to, and what your expectations are. For a capitol city, this is gorgeous. Has anybody visited Albany, NY? Yuck! Santa Fe, NM? Nice, but driving in it makes you feel like you're trapped in an adobe maze. Take a wrong turn and you crash into a creosote bush.

I'm interested in places like Silverton and Sherwood mainly because I've never lived in a small town like that, and I'd like to try it at least once, and I can now because I work from home. But if that doesn't work out, I'd be perfectly content to come right back to Salem, with all of its "slums" and "crazy illegals".

Moral of the story: There are crazies in every color, neighborhood, and income level. Don't blame it all on the group that happens to stand out the most.

[SeeBee]

Originally Posted by Krystle

Has anybody visited Albany, NY? Yuck! Santa Fe, NM? Nice, but driving in it makes you feel like you're trapped in an adobe maze. Take a wrong turn and you crash into a creosote bush.

This whole thing gave me quite a chuckle...watch out for them creosote bushes, they can come out of nowhere!

Sorry if I missed this, but have you been to Sherwood? If you work from home, you'd be OK, but that place is busting at the seems. Busy and crowded. Even the 'back roads' into Newberg and Hillsboro are packed with everyone taking not-so-well hidden short-cuts.

You like strip malls, and a highway that runs straight through town and has one of the highest crash rates in the county? It's all there for you in the Sherwood area.

BTW, for those who think affluence equals insulation from the realities of the world, you are sorely mistaken. Let's not forget a better class of people, too! I don't get it..Sherwood ain't that hoity-toity of a town anyway. It's just newer. It will change, and fast, given the amount of through traffic through its core, and the call load for the surrounding emergency services agencies. To me, Sherwood has a very 'transient' quality to it.

Careful, the "grungy" side of Hillsboro is fast encroaching from the west. The world is coming to the farmlands!

Parts of Salem are cool. You have the option of returning to Salem, so it's worth a shot, I guess. I'm just thinking you'll be back in Salem within a year -

[mamh]

If Silverfalls sees this she may correct me but I'm Oregon Garden volunteer so am around lots of silverton people , they love it but seems like there are some water issues up there!!! Love driving out there every week just becasue of the farm land, now Cooley's Iris's are in bloom too..Its just pretty..
We moved here from the northern cal sorta by accident and saw the crime there ect..So this is pretty tame..Sleepy truck drivers on 5 scare me more...
We shall continue this thread by looking at the good side of salem...
Have a happy weekend

[Krystle]

Originally Posted by SeeBee

This whole thing gave me quite a chuckle...watch out for them creosote bushes, they can come out of nowhere!

Sorry if I missed this, but have you been to Sherwood? If you work from home, you'd be OK, but that place is busting at the seems. Busy and crowded. Even the 'back roads' into Newberg and Hillsboro are packed with everyone taking not-so-well hidden short-cuts.

You like strip malls, and a highway that runs straight through town and has one of the highest crash rates in the county? It's all there for you in the Sherwood area.

BTW, for those who think affluence equals insulation from the realities of the world, you are sorely mistaken. Let's not forget a better class of people, too! I don't get it..Sherwood ain't that hoity-toity of a town anyway. It's just newer. It will change, and fast, given the amount of through traffic through its core, and the call load for the surrounding emergency services agencies. To me, Sherwood has a very 'transient' quality to it.

Careful, the "grungy" side of Hillsboro is fast encroaching from the west. The world is coming to the farmlands!

Parts of Salem are cool. You have the option of returning to Salem, so it's worth a shot, I guess. I'm just thinking you'll be back in Salem within a year -

Thanks for the heads up about Sherwood! You guessed correctly--I haven't been there yet. But what you say makes sense, given the pressure that's probably coming from nearby Portland, and the PR Sherwood got by being named one of the top 100 places to live. Sherwood has gotten pretty good reviews from its residents on this board, though.

Salem is a lovely "fall back" city for me. I'm glad I found it. The cost of living is only slightly above what it was in Las Cruces, NM but the quality of life--the amenities, the parks, the surrounding resources--are way up there. The rest of the people can keep getting horrified by the hooligans of Lancaster Dr. and the "havoc" that they wreak. I'll always remember the garbage, graffiti, absence of landscaping, and crowdedness of cities I've experienced and know that Salem really is a jewel.