Phoenix Getting a Bad Reputation? (Tucson, Scottsdale: transplants, new home, school)

[shaunb71]

I am fairly new to this board, as I am relocating and using this as a tool to find out as much as I can about my soon to be new home, the East Valley.

After reading alot of these posts people in particular are saying Phoenix has "gang problems", "pollution", "cars are being stolen everywhere" and I could go on for a while.

I was reading this and getting downright freaked out, then I started thinking about this in context. I live in San Diego, the part I live in is a nice family oriented community, and there are areas I would not drive though after dark If you paid me. Stolen Cars? with malls and water parks, stadiums 10 minutes from the border what do you think?

So I have visited Phoenix many, many times, looking for houses and visiting friends, frankly I think its nice, and I don't see it as the "cesspool" alot of people seem to want to convince everyone that it is.

If you don't like it fine, don't live or go there, the fact is if you take ANY major metropolitan city, it has crime, bad areas, car thieves and the like. You won't find me in Southeast San Diego at the mall or hanging out at a Trolley Station in San Ysidro at 11 PM, and with every city there are the areas you just stay away from.

So thats my 2 cents.

[Lovegun]

Any place can seem 'nice' when you visit. Living is usually a different story. Move into a cookie cutter suburbia home to raise your family, I'm sure you'll like it. Just like you said, all those problems you see in posts are in other big cities as well. We all know the biggest downfall to Phoenix are god awful summers. Enjoy

[AlleyTD]

Shaun ... you are right.
Phoenix can be very nice in many areas and not so nice in others. Its a typical big city in that way.

We recently left Phoenix, but it had nothing to do with gangs, drugs or crime. I lived there for 9 years in North Phoenix and never ran into any gang members or had a car stolen, nor did anyone break into our home and we never experienced any vandalism. In 9 years the worst thing that happened is some kids egged our car (two eggs) one night.

My kids went to a lovely school in Scottsdale and all the parents were involved and nice. So... enjoy.

The main reason we left was we were simply tired of the HEAT and we were a tad weary of the density of the city.

[Greatday]

Ok, let's get this out of the way - Summers in the Valley of the Sun are HOT, DANG HOT. On the other hand, the other 3 seasons are beautiful!

Simply for perspective, I'm a valley native and have been for almost 60 years. My point is, I have seen a few changes - some good, some not so good in my life. I have traveled extensively throughout the United States and have thought of living elsewhere for one reason or another - I mean, taken some very serious looks! But, I keep coming back to the Valley

The heritage and culture of the valley. The proximity to recreation of ALL TYPES. The weather (3 out of 4 seasons). No hurricanes, Tornadeos (sp?), No earthquakes (to speak of).

A city, any city, is what YOU make of it - in part. The Valley is so diverse, in so many ways - that the OP should take the opportunity to really explore all that the Valley (and not just the City of Phx) has to offer - go downtown, go to the lakes and mountains. Go to Tucson - Go to Flagstaff - Go to Showlow and Lakeside. Go to Globe and Miami

Enjoy!

[sheena]

Originally Posted by shaunb71

I am fairly new to this board, as I am relocating and using this as a tool to find out as much as I can about my soon to be new home, the East Valley.

After reading alot of these posts people in particular are saying Phoenix has "gang problems", "pollution", "cars are being stolen everywhere" and I could go on for a while.

I was reading this and getting downright freaked out, then I started thinking about this in context. I live in San Diego, the part I live in is a nice family oriented community, and there are areas I would not drive though after dark If you paid me. Stolen Cars? with malls and water parks, stadiums 10 minutes from the border what do you think?

So I have visited Phoenix many, many times, looking for houses and visiting friends, frankly I think its nice, and I don't see it as the "cesspool" alot of people seem to want to convince everyone that it is.

If you don't like it fine, don't live or go there, the fact is if you take ANY major metropolitan city, it has crime, bad areas, car thieves and the like. You won't find me in Southeast San Diego at the mall or hanging out at a Trolley Station in San Ysidro at 11 PM, and with every city there are the areas you just stay away from.

So thats my 2 cents.

It's been referred to San Diego without the beach, so you should like it.

[Bill-]

Phoenix seems to be getting a bad reputation on this particular website. However, in the real world the vast majority of my friends, family and co-workers seem to like it here just fine.

[irwin]

Nationally, I think most people don't know much about Phoenix. Apart from some Midwest places (where it seems like everyone moves to Arizona), most people think of two things about Phoenix: heat and sand.

Before I moved to Phoenix I thought it was the new oasis in the west partly because it seemed like so many people were moving out there. Once I got there and spent some time I finally started to see what Phoenix really is. So glad I got out of that place.

Anyway, game's about to start.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by Bill-

Phoenix seems to be getting a bad reputation on this particular website. However, in the real world the vast majority of my friends, family and co-workers seem to like it here just fine.

I actually liked it all those years but didn't meet many transplants throughout the years that did like it. It always baffled me when people said they wanted to move back to where they came from. I never wanted to go back home.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Ok, let's get this out of the way - Summers in the Valley of the Sun are HOT, DANG HOT. On the other hand, the other 3 seasons are beautiful!

Simply for perspective, I'm a valley native and have been for almost 60 years. My point is, I have seen a few changes - some good, some not so good in my life. I have traveled extensively throughout the United States and have thought of living elsewhere for one reason or another - I mean, taken some very serious looks! But, I keep coming back to the Valley

The heritage and culture of the valley. The proximity to recreation of ALL TYPES. The weather (3 out of 4 seasons). No hurricanes, Tornadeos (sp?), No earthquakes (to speak of).

4 seasons in Phoenix?!

LOL

There is no real spring or fall...and 'winter' is more like spring anywhere else (nicest time of the year no doubt)...oh yeah...summer lasts for at least two normal seasons elsewhere...a solid 6+ months of relentless hot temps with 3+ months of those being absolutely hellish.

[topjimmy]

People who bash Phoenix are either haters, or little girls who can't handle the heat.

Hey, if you don't like Phoenix, there are at least several places that are NOT Phoenix.

Like Anchorage.

Des Moines. Taconite. Bangor. Portland. Charlotte. New York. Reykjavík. Prague. Shanghai. Nazareth. Zürich. Kathmandu. Havana. Amsterdam.


Pick one and goooooooooooooo.