Is Savannah Really that Bad? (Atlanta, Richmond Hill: housing, rent, travel)

[rjm1969]

Originally Posted by Criss1956

How safe would it be for a white man or white woman be walking down through a black neighborhood in Savannah or in the Bronx?
Nothing would happen to a black man/woman or gay couple here but just think what would happen to a white man or woman.

Don't tell me nothing, either. I know, because I grew up in Birmingham, AL and have been savagely beaten by gang of blacks simply because I am white.

WOW...I BET NO BLACK PERSON HAS EVER BEEN SAVAGELY BEATEN BY A WHITE PERSON IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA...RIGHT?? GET REAL! COULD YOU BE ANY MORE RACIST?!!!

[MPC2000]

I've heard that crime was in Miami, I spent a week there alone and went out to the bars and clubs. There were times when I had too much to drink, had a buzz all by myself, but nothing happened. You have to know how to walk away from a bad situation before it explodes. I'm going to Savannah and I will expect crime to exist. I'm from a city where alot of people would think it was dangerous by the number of crimes that happen over a weekend. it's only in isolated areas, meaning the poor areas, that this happens. Yes, they are minority populated, but it doesn't go any further than those areas. should you venture to those parts, then of course something will happen to you but what would you be doing over there? Everywhere I've visited on my vacation time, I've always went alone and never took a car, I figured it's better to walk. I've never been robbed or mugged because I guess I knew how to stay clear of the bad areas, and you'll know where they are for the most part. poor folks aren't all that bad, but you can't say that nothign will happen. I usually stick to the areas that are the most populated by people of different backgrounds. Hey, I'm a tourist so I'll party with the tourists at night and hang out with some locals in the day time. No sense in hanging out with people who know the area at night that might lure to a place to get robbed or assaulted, etc. I've never had problems walking home alone by myself with money in my pocket and my ID(in case I do get mugged, might as well have something to give them instead my wallet with my credit cards) I guess I over prepare or whatever, but if I'm by myself I don't look for trouble and it doesnt' follow me home. I'm not going out to impress anybody, I'm just there for the sights and go home to talk about what I saw.

On the employment aspect, there has to be something seriously wrong with you if you can't secure a decent job in any area. You could have a degree in Washington DC and n ont find a job. Hell, you could have a degree in L.A. and not find a job, it's all about you.
I don't talk about the job market becuase you'll get people who complain becuase they aren't as aggressive with their degrees as they should be. Sorry, but the cost of living won't disrupt my life becuase I know it's lower in the South, BUT if you're aggressive enough you'll be successful in the South as much as in the North. I've worked with people who thought the Northeast had jobs, only to find out that there's nothing that they can get becuase they don't have a degree. it's all an individual thing though, because if you can't create a decent resume and practice your interviewing skills with a variety of employers, you'll end up nowhere in the Northeast as well. If you ask me, there are jobs out here, but I'm not too happy with the economy. if you ask the next man, you'd think there were no jobs, but get to know them better and you'll find out they have no degree or if they did, sell themselves short when it comes to job-hunting.

All the negative posts from the locals are appreciated, but it's not Apocalypse Now over there.

on the race issue, you'd think that the blacks didn't know how to act over here. but look at the population and you'll find that my city has more minorities than whites.

Oh, and I'm in Hartford Connecticut. To me, this city is about as boring as the next sleepy town, and crime sometimes happens becuase people are often bored, LOL, but I can't say I've ever been mugged or robbed in this city with a crime rate of atleast one person murdered during the weekend.

[Emscad]

Originally Posted by jvinc

I have seriously been considering a move from NYC to Savannah - I want to go South generally, I love the South and initially Savannah appeared to be a good choice (I've visited before). I'm becoming uncertain because of some posters' opinions about the crime and job situations.

First, as far as crime - I'm from NYC, I've seen it all, and I don't scare easily, so my first instinct would be to shrug that off. Plus, I am a bit familiar with some of the outlying areas around Savannah that do not seem to suffer from the high crime rates inside the city - so it's not that big a deal to me (it can't possibly be worse than NYC under Koch and/or Dinkins - you can't imagine what that was like!)

The other concerns/opinions people have expressed as to Savannah re lifestyle (I'm definitely ready to slow down), religiousity (I'm a practicing Catholic), politics (I'm plenty conservative) would also not necessarily dissuade me from making this choice.

That being said, some of the things I've heard regarding the job situation have put the fear of God into me - I have 20+ years of experience (paralegal, office manager, legal secretary) and the idea of taking $8.00 or $10.00/hour seems incredibly unreasonable for that type of work. I would be moving to Savannah with a pretty decent nest egg but no job lined up - is there a viable job market out there? I know I cannot possibly make what I pull in in NYC, but is it possible to make a halfway decent living in Savannah, considering that the cost of living is significantly lower? I have already subscribed to the local paper and have started emailing some employment agencies locally to inquire directly about wages/availability, etc. -but have not had too much success. Are there any Savannah/surrounding area locals who can provide more information in this regard? I would appreciate any help!

I am planning another scouting trip to Savannah in late Spring (I love the area as a tourist anyway, so even if I end up deciding against it, the trip would not be a loss), so regardless I am still willing to come in and look for myself, I just want to hear what Savannah locals have to say.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I moved down to Savannah, GA with my husband 15 years ago. I was shocked at the income for paralegals. I worked for several attorneys. They want to work the h.... out of you and pay you peanuts. Example, the last attorney I interviewed with was looking to pay $25,000 a year.

The majority of attorneys now have temps or voice mail. I hired an attorney to handle some legal work and it took one month for him to return my call.

I would suggest you go and spend a month, no two weeks and send out resumes and interview. You will see. Don't move before you see the reality of working in Savannah, Ga.

[Emscad]

Originally Posted by jorhyne

The reason why Savannah is so bad is the Black people. Not all blacks but the bad ones ruin it for everyone.

The reason Savannah is so bad is the whites and blacks. There is no discrimination when it comes to drug addicts.

[scubashawn68]

I lived in Savannah until last March. There is a lot of crime there. And I come from a VERY large city originally.I didn't think there was a lot before I lived there. There was even a double homicide on my street the first week I lived there. And we lived in a very nice part of town. I would really do research before moving and try to spend a lot of time there before you decide on moving.

[Western_girl]

It bites! It is the worst place I have ever lived. I have seen my income decline every year I have lived in this area. I would NEVER advise anyone to live in Savannah.

[johndoeboy]

Move to augusta. Augusta is booming with growth and is georgia's second biggest city.

[Western_girl]

Originally Posted by johndoeboy

Move to augusta. Augusta is booming with growth and is georgia's second biggest city.

Maybe. But, I have to tell you that, as soon as I finish grad school, I will go where I am offered the best deal--and where that deal is backed up by a written contract that can be ENFORCED. I came here as a result of an offer by an employer and, when he failed to live up to the terms, a lawyer told me there was NO WAY to enforce contracts between employers and employees in this state due to the at-will and right-to-work employment laws.

That being the case, I am sure I won't end up working in the Southeast.

[new28moon]

10-28-07 was my last day in Savannah. My apt complex raised my rent again and I could not afford another increase.

I was sad to leave but decided it was best to move on after struggling for so many years in a limited job market.

I am temporarily staying with family in Statesboro while I make other plans.

[SOUTHERN_GIRL912]

Originally Posted by Criss1956

I moved down here from Chicago five months ago to write a film about RACISIM IN THE SOUTH!

You could have save yourself a trip and strayed in Chicago and made a film about RACISM IN THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO!

You want to experience pure racism?
Follow a WHITE man walking through a BLACK "community", aka "hood".

I once got lost in Savannah. I saw many, what once were, beautiful old homes. I also was given a dirty "What you want, White boy?" look from every black person that saw us.

My sister, who lives in RINCON said that no White person ever goes into that area of Savannah.

WELL YOUR SISTER MUST BE REFFERRING TO EAST OR WESTSIDE, ASSUMING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE "HOODS" IN SAVANNAH, CORRECT?!

AS A WHITE FEMALE WHO HAS LIVED IN BOTH WEST & EAST SAVANNAH, 98% BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ONCE.

NOT SAYING OF COURSE, IT DOESNT HAPPEN. BUT ITS MORE BASED ON THE FEAR YOU ARE SHOWING, OR THE UNFAMILIAR OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, NOT YOUR SKIN COLOR.

FROM MY OWN EYES, THERE IS MORE WHITE ON BLACK RACISM THAN BLACK ON WHITE RACISM IN SAVANNAH.