Is Savannah Really that Bad? (Atlanta, Valdosta: rent, amusement parks, crime)

[rodnmabel]

Many people who work in Savannah desire to live in outlying counties and
communities away from the city, traffic and crime. Effingham county is
where the outlying growth began in communities like Rincon and Springfield.
In west Chatham County of which Savannah is the county seat communities
Pooler and Bloomingdale are growing like crazy along I-16. There has also
been tremendous growth in South Bryan County at Richmond Hill off of I-95.
Just recently in north Bryan County the county seat of Pembroke about
30 miles from Savannah is beginning to grow along with the rural little
community of Ellabell around 204 and U.S. 280 which is only 16 miles from I-95
on the edge of Savannah. Farms are being sold around Ellabell to developers
which may eventually become another bedroom community for Savannah.
State Rd. 204 from Ellabell eventually becomes the Abercorn Extension in
Savannah which is only a twenty to twenty five minute drive to the Savannah
city limits. If you want to enjoy the benefits of Savannah and not have to
deal with the traffic and the crime you might want to consider living in one
of these outlying communities.

[mycomfortcorner]

I moved here to Savannah about 4 weeks ago from Chicago. I must say that it is very beautiful, but the wages they pay, for even those of us with much experience, are really low. I did tons of research about the job market before moving here. Picked up the phone, did some cold calling to the major manufacturers and distributors in the area, and pitched my skills. Lucky for me, I made fast friends with my new employer, who offered me a job even before meeting with me face to face. I thought I was prepared to understand that the low wages paid here evens out with the cost of living, but I'll be honest, the 14.00 per hour I'm making now can never compare to the 40K I was making in Chicago. Yet, I'm being told all the time that 14.00 per hour here in Savannah is considered above average pay.

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[Crooklyn Lover]

Originally Posted by mycomfortcorner

I moved here to Savannah about 4 weeks ago from Chicago. I must say that it is very beautiful, but the wages they pay, for even those of us with much experience, are really low. I did tons of research about the job market before moving here. Picked up the phone, did some cold calling to the major manufacturers and distributors in the area, and pitched my skills. Lucky for me, I made fast friends with my new employer, who offered me a job even before meeting with me face to face. I thought I was prepared to understand that the low wages paid here evens out with the cost of living, but I'll be honest, the 14.00 per hour I'm making now can never compare to the 40K I was making in Chicago. Yet, I'm being told all the time that 14.00 per hour here in Savannah is considered above average pay.

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Hah, hah. The only bad thing about your post is that it's true.

[Crooklyn Lover]

Originally Posted by INeedAChange

Yes, there seem to be a lot of extremely negative posts on City Data, no matter where it is--Just look at the Florida forums.

Unless of course it's North Carolina, because everyone knows that's the promised land

Yeah, if your an "undocumented worker" a.k.a. an illegal alien.

[pirate_lafitte]

I will admit that Savannah isn't the safest city in the USA(for its size at least.). 131,000 people and 23 murders(17.7 murders per 100,000 people) in 2005 is not very nice. With that said, I felt much safer in Savannah than I do in Atlanta(Kennesaw even) now.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by njkate

Wow....at first I couldn't remember if I was on the Savannah or New Orleans forum!!

Very sad that some of the most beautiful southern cities have been reduced to this..

I appauld you both for your honesty.

There is something to note:

After Katrina, some of New Orleans worst criminals fled the city and went elsewhere. Many went to Houston and here to Atlanta, where they raised our crime rates noticeably, but they were already high to begin with. Other criminals settled in places like Orlando and Savannah, and since they're much smaller cities, the jumps in certain crimes were also much more noticeable - and have stayed there. Mid-sized cities that were already "iffy" in the crime department became instantly "bad".

New Orleans may NOW be one of the safer places to be. Savannah may well become the "New New Orleans".

[meli91999]

I am student at the savannah college of art and design (downtown), i live downtown, and work at a restaurant downtown. The city is beautiful on the outside, but the crime is slightly ridiculous. I only say that because of the size of the city. The city government is horrible. The police department has 606 positions and 82 of them are not filled. (In savannah morning news the other day) Since my boyfriend and I moved here in 2004 my car was broken into once, my boyfriends twice, my locked bike was stolen, I had my wallet and cellphone stolen out of my purse and my house was broken into with my laptop stolen. The only time a suspect was caught was with the laptop. Every dealing with the police have been pleasant but getting a detective to contact you and give information have proven to be pointless. With these things happening I do feel uneasy here, but having a dog helps. Like with many other cities drugs are everywhere. As far as race goes, I do think the city is pretty racist. Working in a restaurants I see that the jobs like dishwashers and bussers are filled by black men while servers and bartenders are white. I know I sound very negative about the city,but in the end I do like it here. I wouldn't live here forever but there are beautiful houses and parks and interesting people. I feel that the biggest negative of the city is the attitude. No one seems to be very happy. It's like some people have given up in trying to make this city better, which is sad. I think that the city has the potential to be one of the greatest places to live but most residents don't seem to want to put out the effort. Moving here could be great you just have to not let things get you down.

[Cattknap]

I recently read that murders have gone up 29% since the new police chief vowed to reduce murders in Savannah.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by meli91999

I am student at the savannah college of art and design (downtown), i live downtown, and work at a restaurant downtown. The city is beautiful on the outside, but the crime is slightly ridiculous. I only say that because of the size of the city. The city government is horrible. The police department has 606 positions and 82 of them are not filled. (In savannah morning news the other day) Since my boyfriend and I moved here in 2004 my car was broken into once, my boyfriends twice, my locked bike was stolen, I had my wallet and cellphone stolen out of my purse and my house was broken into with my laptop stolen. The only time a suspect was caught was with the laptop. Every dealing with the police have been pleasant but getting a detective to contact you and give information have proven to be pointless. With these things happening I do feel uneasy here, but having a dog helps. Like with many other cities drugs are everywhere. As far as race goes, I do think the city is pretty racist. Working in a restaurants I see that the jobs like dishwashers and bussers are filled by black men while servers and bartenders are white. I know I sound very negative about the city,but in the end I do like it here. I wouldn't live here forever but there are beautiful houses and parks and interesting people. I feel that the biggest negative of the city is the attitude. No one seems to be very happy. It's like some people have given up in trying to make this city better, which is sad. I think that the city has the potential to be one of the greatest places to live but most residents don't seem to want to put out the effort. Moving here could be great you just have to not let things get you down.

I am sorry to here of your experience. I guess everyone's experience is different. I lived in Savannah as a child(3rd and 4th grade) and I felt safer there than I do in Kennesaw now(especially after being robbed in Kennesaw). I am not suprised about you getting robbed though. More dissapointed.

[Padgett2]

Yes, it's terrible. You shouldn't come.

If I were you, I would certainly stay in NYC where everyone is totally safe.