from fresno back to so-cal

[MWDhand]

did you try getting a life?? you can have a happy life anywhere if you surround yourself with good people,,do not expect the town to take it to you

MWDhand

[SirVaysa]

Well, I'll throw in my 2cents worth ! We had the misfortune to stay at the Quality Inn, Fresno, on Ashlan Ave. The internet was non-existent for the first 5 days because the franchise owner failed to renew the ISP contract and then left town for 2 weeks. The electrical outlet where I had to plug in my CPAP machine was dangling from the wall with no cover plate. They let anybody use their pool. We shared it one day with a couple of deranged guys who weren't registered guests. Rooms are old and dirty. Owner is non-communicative when approached (countless times) about making some kind of room rate adjustment. A forum participant on Tripadvisor.com said the this owner would not even give them their money back when they clearly cancelled before the deadline. Plus, the owner refused to set the rate for the room where he could earn 'Rewards' points, so the guy couldn't even get credit towards that program since the room rate was a nickel or so BELOW the dollar amount that puts you in the right category to earn some points and then accumulate them and stay free some nights at any of the Choice Hotel properties.
The hospital downtown.......the one that recently got awarded all the indigent care has a BULLET-PROOF cage in the Emergency Room that you have to pass (like airport TSA) just to get to the registration desk. Go there on a Friday night and see how many gunshot wounds, stabbings and abuse cases they take in. Not to mention the prostitutes and pimps that hang out around the parking lot. Don't tell me it's safe there. Granted, there might be some safer places there but the experience I had there was horrendous. Check into the ER at 10pm on a Friday night, with a wicked laceration on the back of my hand, from a pit bull's bite. I was sent through the FAST TRACK.............the FAST track........and didn't get out of there until SIX O'CLOCK THE NEXT MORNING. Having the prescription filled at Walmart was a slice of heaven too. Talk about incompetence...............So, needless to say, we're not thrilled with Fresno either. (The fire inspector is very nice though !! I asked him to go check out all the other rooms at the Quality Inn-ferior for dangerous electrical outlets.) He phoned me twice to follow up on his findings. I thought that was very decent and efficient of him.
Sorry if I'm judging by a few isolated incidents but I'm still not fond of the area and, misslove........I can say I truly empathize with you !

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by SirVaysa

Don't tell me it's safe there.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, as a local I've heard bad reports about the motel you were in.

But safety, well lets look at the city-data info for crime in Fresno vs. San Francisco.

For 2006 they list Fresno's crime index as 488.2, San Francisco's higher at 519.9. Homicide was 11.2 per 100,000 in Fresno and 11.5 in San Francisco. So Fresno is safer even though that is not the image.

[misslove]

That was really rude and uncalled for. I absolutely love the friends I have made here. But I would like to move back "home" for personal reasons. I don't need negative input. Thank you.

[Lake Conroe resident]

Originally Posted by CentralValleyGal

I've lived in the Central Valley/Fresno area all my life and consider it to be a good place to live, in most respects. Some of the "Pros" are: Fresno is close to the Sierra, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Forests, and about an hour drive from Yosemite. The crime rate isn't too bad for a city of its size (480,000+). Fresno traffic problems are almost nonexistance compared to So. Cal. I've driven, or should I say, "coasted/crawled" through the So. Cal area and cannot fathom how anyone can stand to drive anywhere in LA, unless you have nerves of steel and patience to spare......
Fresno's about 45 minutes away from 2 Casinos and a 3rd one is proposed to be developed right off of Highway 99.

The "Cons" are: The air quality; which is poor due to the geography of the San Joaquin Valley (and the numerous dairies and ag spraying don't help matters). In addition, the summers can be brutal; with 100+ temperatures which sometimes last for weeks with no break. Historically, Fresno gov. officials have been 'close minded' as far as highrise development; and developers have built "out" instead of "up". I think the mindset is changing, however, and the local gov. is now more receptive to allowing mixed use development and revitalization of its dying downtown area.

Very smart girl, couldn't have said it better...