Best area in Spokane to raise a family (Seattle, Vancouver: real estate, housing)

[mkeller]

One becomes an expert of crime, murder, and car jacking when they run with that crowd...unbelievably negative. Your thoughts could include any city in America not just Spokane, WA.

[kena]

Originally Posted by Shiggity

The only "beef" I have with it is after having lived there for 24 years, I ended up hating it and finally leaving. As far as you trying to defend Spokane's reputation, I submit you are looking at it with rose colored glasses. Spokanites generally agree there is a meth problem. I should know, I was just there. I never did it, but I knew plenty of friends-of-friends who ran their own labs.

Enough said.

[mkeller]

Maybe its because I do not 'know' or associate with drugger's that I am looking through rose colored glasses.

[Shiggity]

But I didn't "run with that crowd." I never did any drugs, I was an honor student, my parents set a curfew for me when I was a teenager. My whole point is in less than six degrees you easily get to a bunch of meth addicts. It's a very tricky fallacy you have in place here, because if I say I knew of meth addicts, it must be because I ran with the wrong crowd. But if I say I didn't know of any, there must not be any in Spokane.

I'm sorry that you're so adamant in ignoring the meth problem there, and other crime, which is so bad that I would happen upon it incidentally. I guess even people who live in Compton would ignore bad things about it if they were adamant enough to completely ignore the truth.

[mkeller]

I'll talk with the powers to be and make sure you do not step inside the city limits....have a nice day and lighten up.

[kena]

Originally Posted by Shiggity

It's a very tricky fallacy you have in place here, because if I say I knew of meth addicts, it must be because I ran with the wrong crowd. But if I say I didn't know of any, there must not be any in Spokane.

I'm sorry that you're so adamant in ignoring the meth problem there, and other crime, which is so bad that I would happen upon it incidentally. I guess even people who live in Compton would ignore bad things about it if they were adamant enough to completely ignore the truth.

Respectfully, I'm not sure there is a "tricky fallacy" present. I don't know any meth addicts or people who run their own labs in Spokane, yet I fully agree there is meth in Spokane. I don't know anyone who steals cars either but I know that happens as well. If you read my posts (and the majority of others coming from those who don't share your opinion) I've never claimed there isn't meth in Spokane. All I've said is that meth is a problem in almost every community in the US and that Spokane does not have an acute meth problem.

You said that you have no beef with Spokane other than hating it and moving. This seems to qualify as a significnt beef. I'm glad you moved somewhere that you like better. Spokane isn't a fit for everyone and it is not a perfect city. No place is. My purpose in responding to your posts is that people come here for information on different places, including Spokane, and they deserve to hear a wide range of opinion. I just try and point out that many of the opinions are cloaked as 'fact' despite having no objective factual basis.

Finally, I think there is enough here from both of us to let people make up their mind one way or another. This thread is about the best place in Spokane to raise a family. Your vote is clearly that there is essentially no such place in Spokane. I would argue Spokane is a great place to have a family. As such, I hope this thread can return to its original purpose.

[beaverfan]

I'm a loss/prevention manager for at a big box retailer (not W-mart) here in Spokane. In my job, I have been exposed to some of the criminal element here in town. By far, the biggest factor on why people shoplift and steal cars here in Spokane is driven by their addiction to drugs (ie. meth, heroin, crack). Yes, meth is definitely a concern in Spokane, but you know what...it's a concern in EVERY town in this country. The reason it's becoming an epidemic is because it's so addicting and it's cheap (and dangerous) to make. Fortunately, I don't speak from experience but from the conversations I have had with shoplifters and law enforcement officers.

I moved to Spokane two years ago from Vancouver, WA. My wife and I and our three young kids loved living in Vancouver. However, we have not regretted our move to Spokane for one second. We absolutely love it here! Granted, I have not lived here "all my life". However, our quality of life took a huge leap forward after we made the move. We bought a house two and half times bigger than our ranch house in Vancouver (for less money) in a wonderful neighborhood located in Spokane Valley. We love the warm summers, the beautful sunny spring and fall season, and the beautiful snow in the winter. We have the beautiful Lake CDA only 25 minutes away, not to mention all the other lakes in the area. In hindsight, I wish I would have bought a house in Liberty Lake due to how close knit and beautiful that community is./ However, it's a little more expensive. Although our school district is considered fairly good (Central Valley), we're going to homeschool our kids, so I can't really speak to the schools.

[st33lcas3]

beaverfan
We have the beautiful Lake CDA only 25 minutes away, not to mention all the other lakes in the area.

Actually you want to steer clear of Lake Coeur D Alene. It is highly polluted with heavy metals from the north Idaho mines. Last I heard, they recommended people shower after swimming in it. Don't eat any of the fish either. Same goes for the Spokane River from Lake CDA to Upriver Dam. As you said, there are many other lakes in the area. Go to them first.

As far as crime in Spokane, do your research before moving. There are nice areas, there are high crime areas. Ask locals, check crime stats, drive through neighborhoods.

I moved out of there 11 years ago and would never move back. There is really nothing for kids older than twelve. Heck, there really isn't a lot of well paying jobs around there either, it's turned into a service based economy. I know many people that grew up there (myself included) and left because it was a burnout town.

[fy10fyr]

Originally Posted by st33lcas3

Actually you want to steer clear of Lake Coeur D Alene. It is highly polluted with heavy metals from the north Idaho mines. Last I heard, they recommended people shower after swimming in it. Don't eat any of the fish either.

Showering after swimming in ANY natural body of water is a good idea, not just Lake Cd'A. As far as not eating fish out of it, that's BS. I don't myself, but plenty of people do. Again, like any body of water, know what you're eating, and how often you can/should eat it. The WDFW fishing guide each year goes into depth about what quantities of what fish you can eat from each body of water in the state, and Idaho does as well.

People swim in, and eat fish from Elliot Bay and Commencement Bay. I think they're both more polluted than any lake.

[st33lcas3]

Originally Posted by fy10fyr

As far as not eating fish out of it, that's BS. I don't myself, but plenty of people do. Again, like any body of water, know what you're eating, and how often you can/should eat it. The WDFW fishing guide each year goes into depth about what quantities of what fish you can eat from each body of water in the state, and Idaho does as well.

Link to the WDFW page regarding eating fish from the Spokane River. As I stated, no fish should be eaten from headwaters to Upriver Dam.

From the Idaho Dept. of Wildlife regarding the amount of fish from Lake Coeur D Alene that can be safely eaten. It's not as bad as I thought. Still, you are getting a dose of heavy metals with every bite.