Are you looking to move to Orlando? One word: Don't! (St. Petersburg: unemployment, school)

[Wilshire81182]

Better yet, if you don't live here anymore, how about you start helping people in the area you moved to. A lot of us on this forum have first hand experience still and can see what parts of Orlando are nice and getting nicer and what areas to avoid or what areas are getting worse. As you do not live here anymore, your posts and opinions will get less and less relevant over time. A lot of people probably think you are already irrelevant. Statistics can be skewed in either direction since many cities do not report all of their crimes. You can also see certain parts of town have concentrated, rampant crime whereas other parts of town have very little crime. You mentioned Lake Eola and all these other parts of town. I go there at night often and downtown Orlando and feel pretty safe because there is a lot of police presence. A lot of my friends feel safe in their areas as well and I could go on to list where they live and any incidents they have had in the last 6-12 months but there are none to list. It is not that Orlando does not have a crime problem, it is that it is not as random as you suggest and should not prevent someone from moving here. There are areas to avoid like every other city and there are perfectly nice areas to suggest as well. I hope you keep replying and are more and more argumentative, then this post will be closed soon.

Orlando is now a pretty large and spread out city that is now starting to have to deal with some of the growing pains. I do not know what complaints you have about the roads though. I think the widening of the 408 and the new overpasses downtown were all done pretty quickly. There is a constant improvement being done on I-4 and the expressways. Go to Trans4mation Home - The Evolution of I-4 in Central Florida or the Orlando Expressway Authority website if you do not believe me.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

lol going to the Florida Mall...are you serious??

I know right. Just shows how exaggerated he is. North on OBT I can understand, but this area is just so highly trafficked. I go there day and night all the time. My family tells me the crime in WA and OR is getting much worse too, so I give it 5-10 years ... don't know where SinDonor is going to run to next.

[DailyJournalist]

I think all SinDonor is trying to say is that Orlando is no longer the low crime Mickey Mouse land it once was and that crime is continuing to rise and most neighborhoods are no longer immune from the crime. Just look at the crime numbers from the mid 90's to now. I myself am not moving from Orlando because of the crime, I have always lived in large metro areas and that is just the way of life. But I do think SinDonor brings up some valid points for someone relocating from low crime areas. I dont think there is any need to make fun of SinDonor.

[Wilshire81182]

You are right. If you move from a small area or somewhere with very little crime, it may come to a surprise the level of crime Orlando has. Especially if you watch the news. Also, your vacation here will probably not be indicative of your life here, because you will have to work and realize that Orlando is an actual city, not a fairy tale. I think the crime is exaggerated and it is highly presumptuous that someone will be a victim of crime simply because they move here. I also think that once you leave an area for an amount of time, you making comments or posting on an area you no longer live in loses its validity. I no longer post on the Seattle, Spokane or Portland forums though I am from those areas and have lived there and know quite a bit. I feel like certain areas that I liked there may not be the same as when I left and the city feels different and certain areas have changed since I moved away in 2005. Some changes for the good and some bad, but it is not my home anymore. I have gone back to visit and look around in 2006, 2007 and last year but I do not live there. Once you move to Philadelphia you will be irrelevant as well.

[wkelly61]

Wow!! I am so thankful to have read your thread. I am considering moving back to FL, but have a lot of concerns. I did live in Kissimmee four years ago, and hated it, all of it. I am a nurse, and love the idea of not having to deal with winter any more. However, I don't want to sacrifice my safety or my love for the outdoors. I hate the traffic in FL, I hate the red ants, and I personally can't take all the uneducated low life thugs that cram the streets. I just wonder where to go that has a warmer climate, beauty, and low crime. Maybe with a majority of the people who are not out to get you. Have any suggestions?

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by wkelly61

Wow!! I am so thankful to have read your thread. I am considering moving back to FL, but have a lot of concerns. I did live in Kissimmee four years ago, and hated it, all of it. I am a nurse, and love the idea of not having to deal with winter any more. However, I don't want to sacrifice my safety or my love for the outdoors. I hate the traffic in FL, I hate the red ants, and I personally can't take all the uneducated low life thugs that cram the streets. I just wonder where to go that has a warmer climate, beauty, and low crime. Maybe with a majority of the people who are not out to get you. Have any suggestions?

With that kind of attitude, I don't think you will find any city in the world.

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

I think all SinDonor is trying to say is that Orlando is no longer the low crime Mickey Mouse land it once was and that crime is continuing to rise and most neighborhoods are no longer immune from the crime. Just look at the crime numbers from the mid 90's to now. I myself am not moving from Orlando because of the crime, I have always lived in large metro areas and that is just the way of life. But I do think SinDonor brings up some valid points for someone relocating from low crime areas. I dont think there is any need to make fun of SinDonor.

She is saying more than that...a trip to the Florida Mall as being dangerous states otherwise. I don't think anyone is saying Orlando is crime free. It's like any other large city. Because it's such a big sprawl, crime rates differ depending on the area. To say all of Orlando is dangerous or most of it, is simply an exageration. Someone who is sitting on their computer looking up stats and writing as if it's first hand experience and covers the entire area. Cities such as NYC or San Francisco, stats can be more general because of the high population density and the small city limits.

[SinDonor]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

lol going to the Florida Mall...are you serious?? Have you ever left Orlando and actually traveled to a city that is dangerous. Most of Orlando crime is concentrated in the ghettos, which consist of mostly run down houses and trailers. Tangelo Park etc. Florida Mall is tourist central with British tourists and their 5 little kids. If you are seriously afraid of going to the Florida Mall, how would you survive in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago or NYC. That is a joke! lol. Please tell me how many stadiums are located in the good part of the city. New Orleans? lol NO, Monster Park (SF 49ers)? etc. Lake Eola is in the same area. Downtown Orlando along with almost every single city in the South lack thriving downtowns. Have you ever been to downtown Atlanta late at night? What about downtown Los Angeles? lol seriously. You would probally **** your pants if you are scared at Lake Eola.

Trust me I probally have triple the experience than you. I've lived all across the United States and overseas. Open your eyes and you will realize Orlando is like Disney World compared to major cities around the US. Almost all of the areas that are crime ridden, if you don't live there, there is no reason to go there. If you live in San Francisco, you don't go to Richmond. Try walking in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Don't talk to me about "never leaving my fortress" the fact you think going to see a Magic Game or going shopping at the Florida Mall is a dangerous outing...wow...all i can say...wow.

I wish all you would say is "Wow", then we wouldn't have to read the rest of your dribble.

I would be very impressed if you've lived in or visited more places than I have. As it stands, I've lived on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. I've been to over 30 countries. Lived in much more "dangerous" cities than Orlando.

I like how you twist the things that i say to make your own points seem vaild. I never said going to a Magic game and etc are dangerous outings. What I said was that leaving your powderpuff neighborhood of Dr.Phillips will allow you to mingle with the criminal element. Have you been to the Florida Mall at night or on the weekends? It's not all tourists, buddy. Have you gone one block away from the Magic parking lot. Yeah, the "City Beautiful" indeed.

I felt much safer in Orlando once I had my concealed weapons permit and could keep my pistol on me. At least then I could shoot back.

I did open my eyes to Orlando and saw that in the last 5 years things have gotten progressively worse. Stats don't lie. You can love it as much as you want. I have a hockey buddy who swears up and down that Detroit is the best city in the world. Doesn't mean I don't think he's crazy too.

Thanks for the reply and keeping this thread alive though!

[SinDonor]

Originally Posted by wkelly61

Wow!! I am so thankful to have read your thread. I am considering moving back to FL, but have a lot of concerns. I did live in Kissimmee four years ago, and hated it, all of it. I am a nurse, and love the idea of not having to deal with winter any more. However, I don't want to sacrifice my safety or my love for the outdoors. I hate the traffic in FL, I hate the red ants, and I personally can't take all the uneducated low life thugs that cram the streets. I just wonder where to go that has a warmer climate, beauty, and low crime. Maybe with a majority of the people who are not out to get you. Have any suggestions?

Depends on what you're looking for. I'm impartial to NYC (Manhattan) and the many burbs of Westchester County, some of the MD burbs of DC are nice, Denver and Boulder areas are awesome, Seattle and Portland are beautiful, etc etc. There's a hundred great cities in the USA, really depends on what you're looking for.

If you're talking worldwide, my *favorite* cities I've lived in are: Milan, Italy; Cannes, France; Marbella, Spain; Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong; and Bangkok, Thailand. They all have their pros and cons, but they're all awesome.

I'm loving the PacNW, even if the taxes are higher and it's cloudy every other day. Everything else here makes the negatives worth it. I went to Chelan for Xmas, and Vancouver BC for New Years, sure beats going to Jacksonville and Tampa!

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by SinDonor

I wish all you would say is "Wow", then we wouldn't have to read the rest of your dribble.

I would be very impressed if you've lived in or visited more place than I have. 7. As it stands, I've lived on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. I've been to over 30 countries. Lived in much more "dangerous" cities than Orlando.

I like how you twist the things that i say to make your own points seem vaild. I never said going to a Magic game and etc are dangerous outings. 1. What I said was that leaving your powderpuff neighborhood of Dr.Phillips will allow you to mingle with the criminal element. 2. Have you been to the Florida Mall at night or on the weekends? 3. It's not all tourists, buddy. 4. Have you gone one block away from the Magic parking lot. Yeah, the "City Beautiful" indeed.

5. I felt much safer in Orlando once I had my concealed weapons permit and could keep my pistol on me. At least then I could shoot back.

I did open my eyes to Orlando and saw that in the last 5 years things have gotten progressively worse. Stats don't lie. 6. You can love it as much as you want. I have a hockey buddy who swears up and down that Detroit is the best city in the world. Doesn't mean I don't think he's crazy too.

Thanks for the reply and keeping this thread alive though!

1. Is that not implying you think those areas are dangerous? Did I not just tell you I have left my beloved Dr. Phillips area?

2.Yes many times lol, especially on the weekend. What else is there to do in Orlando on a weekend besides go to the mall, movie theatre, restaurant, mini golf, or theme parks?

3.Maybe you just don't like minorities...I don't feel like I'm surrounded by dangerous criminals at the mall. My point is, there are millions of families that go to the Florida Mall...its amazing how kids aren't killed shopping there everyday!

4. Yep, many times, I've even walked to Club Paris from Lake Eola...wow I didn't know I had a 99% chance of being shot or mugged.

5. I know, the constant shootings you encountered must have been awful...at least you could shoot back, were you playing laser tag or what?

6. Have I ever said in any of my posts I love Orlando? I actually find it very boring, but I'm not going to sit back and let some paranoid woman/man rant about how dangerous it is and how they have gun fights against criminals. I prefer cities such as San Francisco or NYC where you can walk around from bars, shops, restaurants without having to drive.

7. If that were true, you would not feel COMPELLED to get a concealed weapons liscence to go to downtown Orlando or the Florida Mall.

Keep spreading your exagerations...