Is it a myth that Phx metro is cheaper? (Phoenix: job, medical)

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Tailofdogma

And what the hell grocery stores were you going to that smelled like pee? Even when I lived in the Bronx that just didn't happen.

Quite of few of them actually:
The Ralphs in Culver City on Jefferson
The Ralphs in downtown Culver City
The Vons on Sepulveda & National
The Vons on Santa Monica Blvd west of the 405 (this one is absolutely putrid)
Fortunately, the Ralphs close to USC isn't so bad.

Just in general this city is dirty. Really clean areas are the exception, and I take note of them when I find them. Yesterday I went inside an In-n-out burger in West LA somewhere by Venice/ Overland at around 4:00 and it was the dirtiest, most putrid in-n-out, one of the worst fast food restaurants actually I've ever seen. I've seen parking lots in this city that are so filthy you can't even step two feet without getting sticky gunk on your shoes. The first thing I see when I exit I-10 to Vermont Ave is the offramp hill strewn with garbage. The graffiti all around this city, not just here, but even in west LA is out of control. Phoenix isn't sparking clean either, but compared to LA it kind of seems like it. The only place in Phoenix where I've seen mega graffiti is in the "fence canyon" surrounded the railroad tracks in Tempe. Some people like grime though I guess.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by ITChick

I am guessing that you own your own business?

I hope that's not typical for you.

I work at a shop in Tempe----------and, ever since the beginning of 2008, things have been slow.

Typically; I net $500 or better a week.............not lately.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

That's your opinion more than fact. The fact is that median income in Phoenix is not low compared to other cities. This has been brought up countless times on countless threads, if you Google this information, there are many city-data threads that pop up. We have discussed, ad-nauseam, the income, median incomes, per-capita incomes of Phoenix to other cities. And while Phoenix metro is not in the top, it is not at the bottom, but rather above the middle of the pack. Coupled with Phoenix's LOW cost of living (you can claim it is not but the reality is that Phoenix is cheap for the 5th largest city and 13th largest metro area) the standard of living is high. Because of the large drop in housing prices, a correction in my opinion, the cost of living has dropped even more while wages have not fallen and will not fall at the rate of real estate, making Phoenix even more affordable. Rent has dropped, gas is dropping ($3.49/gallon in Arizona compared to $4.05/gallon in California), lower taxes, etc., make Phoenix very livable, even when not making the best money.

And fcorrales80 is correct.

Now; if we are going to discuss low wage jobs here in Arizona------------there is always Tucson.

Hell: I made more money in both Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City doing auto brake and alignment work vs. Tucson.

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Hello, give me a call sometime, LOL!

So sorry, I didn't mean to leads you on. I am a EEOE

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by Tailofdogma

I don't want to appear the eternal contrarian here, but even on quality of life I'm finding the Bay Area VS Phoenix more or less a toss up.

Yes parking can be a pain, especially when you go into SF, but you can always take Caltrain, BART, or hell, catch a bus and get there and avoid that headache. I have no clue what people in LA do, nor do I really care.

Since I moved here in early August, I am more or less trapped inside. I assume in January it will be awesome. On the other hand, In San Bruno the temp was almost always right around 65. In winter it was 60. The only thing that sucked was the 3 weeks a year when the temps would hit the high 90's. Cold for here, terrible when your apartment, and virtually no other apartments, have AC.

I also lived 5 minutes from the beach and could watch the boats in San Francisco bay from my apartment. Within 20 minutes or so, I could be wandering a redwood forest, within an hour or so, I could be on a boat watching whales down in Monterrey (where I want to move after this Phoenix excursion is over) Here, at least my neighbors fight all the time, street theater can be fun. Here, well, at least there's Flagstaff.

Here, at least those with exotic sexual tastes seem to keep it more on the DL.Thank god for that. Also, California is full of Californians, which is kind of annoying.

So, toss up for me.

And what the hell grocery stores were you going to that smelled like pee? Even when I lived in the Bronx that just didn't happen.

LOL at Grocery and Pee in a same sentence! That's HOTT!

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

The baby's father was killed in LA. From what she has told me, he worked and gave here money but was killed when she was 17 and he was 18, unfortunately. Rose is currently NOT a permanent resident (she is Armenian and Guatemalan), and is applying for citizenship, and on either a student or work visa. She is hoping to be a permanent resident soon. I'm not sure how the process works, but I know she has been waiting for a while. She lived here with her parents who have left to Gautemala, but she did not want to go with them. Her baby is American and receives assistance for food. However, Rose, refuses to accept anything else. She has health insurance for her daughter, which I believe is rather expensive for her (150/month). Her grandmother is also applying for permanent resident status/citizenship; until then, neither her nor Rose qualify for assistance.

I know if she were American and an Arizona resident, things would be much easier, as in, she would qualify for Federal Student Financial Aid, ASU has a program for single mothers who can work on campus and drop their child off at ASU's Early Childhood Education Center, and on and on. But circumstances and laws make it just a little harder for her. But honestly, being Hispanic myself (like her grandmother), it is not unusual for extended families to care for the child. There is no confusion as to who the mother is or what she does. I think that it is foreign to White American's who maybe aren't used to such familial make-ups; where cousins can be as close to each other as siblings. I know there are exceptions, but honestly, most of my white friends don't know their extended families very well.

Maybe she'd be better off in Illinois. IL has a very good programs for single mothers. I believe some of the colleges even pay for their tuition. I know for sure they do if she decides to become a teacher. Also, IL has free healthcare for any child. AZ does not??? What a sucky state!

State of Illinois All Kids - Welcome

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by dc1225

So sorry, I didn't mean to leads you on. I am a EEOE

LOL, I knew you were joking.

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

LOL, I knew you were joking.

and I knew you werent...wink wink

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by dc1225

Maybe she'd be better off in Illinois. IL has a very good programs for single mothers. I believe some of the colleges even pay for their tuition. I know for sure they do if she decides to become a teacher. Also, IL has free healthcare for any child. AZ does not??? What a sucky state!

State of Illinois All Kids - Welcome

Next year, she will be receiving some aid. Private money for school, but she cannot receive public funding because she is not a citizen of the U.S. nor a resident of Arizona. Her child does qualify for free healthcare, as any child with the need for healthcare in Arizona is given, but Rose refuses to use this system. I believe it is called, AHCCCS??? Pronounced, access. She "doesn't feel right" taking too many "houndouts." Plus, she enjoys the fact that her daughter is on a PPO and she has much more flexibility.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by dc1225

and I knew you werent...wink wink

Well, that would depend on what you look like, I don't date or hook up solely on bank account size and height.