5 phrases to describe Phoenix (and dont say dry heat) (real estate, crime rate)

[reckoner]

the voice of reason hath spoken.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Good for you! I hope you like it out there and don't let the door smack your back side. As for google, LOL! I actually use a database and info-share software program similar to Lexus-Nexus in the legal profession to find the newest and most accurate information for cities...not google. I love how you post opinion pieces and try to pass them off as fact. They are simply opinions where as statistics and fact are concrete. Nice try though. Hopefully you'll like it back east so that we no longer have to hear your rantings and negativity. At first it was kind of interesting, now its just plain annoying.

Your links are outdated by the way. Your first is from 2003, when Phoenix metro was the 17 "most dangerous" metro area, whereas in 2007, that same study put it at 21. What can you extrapolate from that info? Also from that piece in 2003, still true to THIS day:

"I can't help but mention, however, that the Phoenix area is well known for having one of the highest auto theft rates in the country. If auto thefts are given the same weight as murders and other violent crimes, auto thefts must be skewing these numbers to some degree. I wish the group doing this study would separate the violent from the nonviolent crimes, and do two studies! "

This is true; for years beginning in 2001 Arizona and Phoenix led the nation in autothefts. In 2006, Phoenix and Arizona were ranked no. 3 for auto thefts in the nation...in 2007 Phoenix and AZ ranked no. 8? What can you extrapolate from this in addition to the other bit of information?

Your Phoenix crime report map for 2007 show that over 90% of the city had "very low" crime according to the Phoenix PD. There where two very small spots around Indian School and the i-17, and 16th st and Van Buren that were red indicating "very high" crime areas. So was your point in posting this map to show that Most of Phoenix is safe?

You seem to have missed the point again. I gave skewed "facts" on purpose to prove a point. Did you read the end where I said "here is my point"? Re read the post, and stop skimming, you will find out what I was really saying. Stats are just as skewed as opinion and a lot of people on here post to share their opinion and don't mean to offend. I made a point to put some good, and some bad on there to show that it still comes down to opinion. And your websites show you use more than your database for you're artillery. And again, if you read my post, it covers whatever you use. It's about "stats". This is my opinion and it's shared by the police dept.

This post ASKED for peoples opinion on Phoenix, it didn't ask for just a good one, one you approve of, or one with facts you would accept. It only asked that you leave out "dry heat" and as far as I can see everyone did. Phoenix isn't that bad, or that good to me. It's luke warm, there can be a lot of opinions about it. And your stats could prove better than first, not as good as 30th. It could be used either way is my point. It still comes down to how you feel about it. Some love it here, some hate it here and some, like me like certain things and dislike others. It's sort of in the middle. And that's ok, I'm not into perfection.

Just because I looked at homes back east doesn't mean I'm leaving Phoenix either. But thanks for the look out on the door, I appreciate it.

"I love posts like these because it allows the truth to be pointed out". The truth? You mean it allows your "opinion" of the person giving the post. And it's clear you "love to give that".

And yes, I gave a mixed bag of stats and opinion on purpose to show Phoenix can be viewed in a variety of light depending on what you are into reading and where you hear it. That was the point. Also I threw in a few extra about America as a whole. This is the beauty of a "free country".

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by reckoner

the voice of reason hath spoken.

Oh, ouch!

[aj661]

The OP asked for 5 PHRASES to describe Phoenix. Get back on topic or start a new thread.

[twiggy]

Your right, sorry mj--19, back on topic. It was a good one by the way!

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by PinkVelvet

That depends on what you consider the truth because some people live in denial regarding certain things.That's all very good and well, but it's not what I said. If you read my post again you will see that I said that the Phoenix metropolitan area (as a whole) is one of the most dangerous in the US. In fact, of all city metro areas of over 3 million people, only 3 or 4 cities are worse. You can view that from your own link.

Arizona is also the 3rd most dangerous state in the US, and a dreadful 7th worst for murder. Where do you think all of the murder occurs? Phoenix mainly of course. Again, one of the phrases I would use to describe Phoenix, is undoubtedly, high crime!

Arizona

Another border state tops the list of Most Dangerous States; there's more to fear here than black widow spiders and scorpions.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 12
Burglary: 12
Murder: 7
Motor Vehicle Theft: 2
Rape: 20
Robbery: 16

Phoenix is polluted. On your very own link, Phoenix came in at number 15 in ozone pollution. As for the constant brown cloud that hovers over the city, it is made up from particles of carbon and nitrogen dioxide gas from cars, dust, power plants and lawn mowers. I said that polluted and dusty is one of the phrases that I would use to describe Phoenix, and I have seen nothing that makes me feel that is untrue.

Particle pollution...

How serious is the impact?

Here’s one example: EPA scientists estimated that over 4,700 premature deaths occur each year in just nine cities (Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Boston, Phoenix, Seattle, and San Jose) even if those cities all met the current PM 2.5 standard.

American Heart Lung Association: Phoenix Receives an F Grade for Pollution






Phoenix is anti-urban, and in the time I spent there, I did not feel any urban culture in the central area either. I saw some run-down shacks with dirt in their yard, and bars on their windows. I failed to see any interesting street side inner city shopping, restaurants, drinking establishments or entertainment venues.There is nothing attractive about strip malls, new beige construction, apartment complexes, and the lack of colour. It may be fine to visit that type of thing, but I wouldn't want to live there.Phoenix is absolutely pretentious. Pretending that it is something that it is not. I doubt very much that the metropolitan population is made-up from mainly mid-westerners.Phoenix is not just car reliant because of a lack of public transportation. It is because there isn't any centralised area. People work throughout the suburbs and not in town, and for entertainment, people most travel from one place to another, and then to another. Public transport won't work very well because of this, and in the summer months, very few people will wait in the heat to take public transport from one part of the metropolitan area, to another, and then to another.Phoenix has the 15th worst traffic in the US, so I'll replace that on my list of ten with...


Actually, I have never spent any significant amount of time in any city that has not made that list, with the the exception of the time that I spent in Phoenix.

You just included a link that discussed 2000 and 2001 crystal meth statistics! It is now 2008, and Phoenix has a lot more people than it did 7 and 8 years ago, and a much higher crystal meth problem than it had then as well.

Phoenix house prices are not expected to bottom out until 2010, at levels far lower than expected 18 months ago, so expect the prices to fall further in that time. A full recovery when supply and demand are balanced is years away.


I stand-by my opinion that housing boom and subsequent crash will cripple the city for years. A current slowdown in new job creation, and a slight increase in the unemployment level just adds to the problem, yet new construction continues. People that bought properties at a loss are stuck with them for quite a while yet.If you read my post again, then you'll see that my point was regarding the associated problems caused by the heat. I can handle those temperatures, but it's certainly nothing that I would choose to do. Each summer there are 100 days of 100 degrees or more, and only a minority of Americans would choose to live in that sort of climate.How much would you like to bet on that, or aren't you prepared to stand-by your opinion? I bet that the vast minority of the world's population would not like to be in Phoenix for 8 months of the year, even if the weather is more tolerable. There is a lot more to a city than it's climate, some of which I have pointed out in this post, and many people actually enjoy seasons.

Well of course, because other metro areas are broken down into MD's or metro districts and not metro areas, LOL. So the ENTIRE Phoenix metro area had to be included in that list to make it on there whereas other areas were broken down because of their vastness and multiple areas of high crime. LOL!

Nowhere in your link does it say Phoenix or Arizona is 7th worst for murder, please let us know where this is given, because it's not in the link provided. Also, have you checked to find out how many people were murdered in Phoenix? I bet you haven't. Other cities like Dallas, Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Diego, Minneapolis, etc. are not on this list because they have seen an increase.
Murders in major US cities go down. And up. | Boston condos for sale - Boston real estate.

Where is the link to this? And if it is information from a link, its old because Arizona is no. 8 NOW for Auto-thefts. It has long been known that the highest crime to happen in this area is auto theft. I'd rather have my car stolen then be killed, but that's just me, I guess you have a different opinion.

What city is pollution free? Given that Phoenix is the 5th largest city, 13th largest metro area and is the 15th worst for "ozone" pollution, LOL, that speaks for itself. Also, yes there are dusty days in Phoenix, but they are few, and how old is that picture? Last year Phoenix had a total of 2!, yes 2 high pollution advisory days. This is what Phoenix looks like on most days and is new as the new Sheraton Downtown is visible.


Given that the population has grown, I'm sure there are more crystal meth users, but show me where you found it to the the "capital" of crystal meth use. You have yet to provide links to ANY information when calling Phoenix the worst for something. I've also heard that NYC, where you live, has the highest heroine and crack use...but this is just what I've heard, probably like what you've just heard about meth.

Run down shacks in downtown? Really? I know there are neighborhoods that are "abandoned" because Sky Harbor International Airport will dulldozed those structures because they are directly under the flight path for the airport. But these "shacks" aren't downtown, LOL!

[quote]Failure to make the most livable city in the world list; which is behind a number of urban centers located in third world, and socially challenged countries.

Right, your first exaggeration won't work, so replace it with another. Let's see this list. Given that you tried to make Phoenix one of the worst for traffic, and when it was pointed out you were wrong, quickly came up with something unrelated, I doubt you have intentions to inform but only to berate no matter how wrong your "information" may be.

Really, are you going to keep the bottom out of the housing market here personally until 2010? LOL How can you predict market forces that strong? There is no way to do so. Market trends usually are "predictable" a few months out. 2010, LOL! One thing that is predicatable, is that Phoenix and Arizona will continue to grow rapidly each year, meaning people will need a place to live. The market is full of houses now, but they are still selling even at deflated rates from 2005. Here's a little exerpt from the Phoenix Business Journal about the end of the first quarter:
"Number of home sales up in April

Phoenix Business Journal - by Adam Kress

"For the first time in nearly three years, home sales around the Valley have shown year-over-year improvement.

According to Arizona State University's Realty Studies department, April saw 5,585 home sales, in contrast to 4,855 a year earlier and 4,335 in March 2008. Overall, this is the first year-over-year improvement since July 2005.

The 2008 year-to-date total is 16,975 sales, down from 19,045 for the same period in 2007.

A drop in median home prices is helping to lead the turnaround, but no one is sure how much further they will drop or if the sales numbers will continue to grow.

The median home price in Maricopa County declined from $220,000 in March to $210,000 in April, in contrast to last year's $265,000 median in April. That's the lowest median price since February 2005 at $200,000.

In April 2007, 41 percent of resale homes sold for more than $300,000, compared with only 24 percent in April 2008. Influenced by foreclosed properties, homes selling for less than $200,000 have increased from last year's 16 percent to 44 percent of the local resale housing market."

So, even though you have dire predictions for Phoenix, the reality remains that it will be a place that continues to grow, crime continues to fall, and homes prices are once again affordable, meaning they will sell and we will be back in the same old boat of limited supply and rising prices. And actually, given that Phoenix is one of the most visited cities in the U.S. year round...I wouldn't have a problem standing by my opinion that many people would love to live in Phoenix even if it is just 8 months out of the year. Who cares if there are an average of 100 days with 100 degree days? Its a desert and has been that way for centuries. But that hasn't stopped the region from always being one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. Given that colder, 4 season climate cities have lost population, probably is an indicator that people are finding it a better place to live.

[borborygmi]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Given that colder, 4 season climate cities have lost population, probably is an indicator that people are finding it a better place to live.

I actually think that has a lot more to do with the economy than anything else. The masive loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector has driven people out of the midwest and northeast, to the growing cities and economies of the South and Southwest. The construction, clerical, marketing and service industries, among others, particularly in Phoenix, offered surrogate employment opportunities for those previously in the manufacturing industry, and effectively became the alternative main career options for the unskilled labor force in this country.

Keep in mind that everything is cyclical; with higher prices for energy and natural resources, along with job cutbacks in construction and marketing industries due to economic conditions, as well as rising living costs and costs of doing business in this part of the country, the midwest may well again become attractive to employers in the future. I wouldn't count on current demographic trends as being permanent, by any means- they rarely are.

[artvandelay]

Fcorrales, it's getting rough for you in here.

I want to see the statistic on number of grad students working toward a municipal career and drinking the Kool-Aid.

If I say I saw 2 people get shot today, you will tell me Phoenix is safer than Chicago.

If I say I can't find a good affordable seafood place, you'll tell me I'm wrong and post a "factual" seafood restaurant study.

If I tell you I don't feel my kids are safe at the public schools, you'll tell me a higher % of AZ public school grads apply at Ivy League colleges than 15 other states.

Many people have their opinions, and they are all valid. If I don't feel safe, than this place IS unsafe to me. If I am disappointed with the school, then it IS disappointing. The time is near when you will just have to go back to the tried-and-true Phoenix defense: Why change this place; who are you to say it needs improvement? Leave if you don't like it.

[aj661]

Originally Posted by twiggy

Your right, sorry mj--19, back on topic. It was a good one by the way!

Thanks for reading my post Twiggy.

Originally Posted by aj661

The OP asked for 5 PHRASES to describe Phoenix. Get back on topic or start a new thread.

Everyone else, final warning.

[jd433]

1) Phoenix is a dangerous City with a worse Crime Rate than Los Angeles. Yes more dangerous than L.A.!!!

2) Hotter than you could ever imagine!!!

3) Very polluted air. You can see the brown cloud that never leaves.

4) Always Sunny

5) Dry and Dusty.

As of 2008 Phoenix now has a higher crime rate than Los Angeles or even New York