Spokane, what's it like? (Seattle, Pacific: felony, homes, employment)

[kena]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

That's one of my favorite compliments that Spokanites always pay their fair city: "It's a good place for sleeping." That says a lot about a town.

And worse than many others.

Oh, yes. The lovely Fourth of July in Spokane. Here are the words of Spokane's "progressives" describing the event:

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/articl...70831125953425

Spokane Police vs. Youth « Spokane Police Abuses: Past to Present

And here are videos showing how Spokane observes the holiday...


YouTube - Spokane 4th july protest 1


YouTube - Aftermath of Riverfront Park protest (raw footage)

You're entitled to your opinions. Others can compare the facts I've posted with your opinions and decide for themselves.

The incident you're pointing to was held by a handful or two of youths holding a protest of sorts out of thousands and thousands of people. I'm not going to get into a debate about that event because it is off topic for this thread but given the tens and probably hundreds of thousands of people who have celebrated the 4th of July at Riverfront Park in the past in a safe, peaceful and enjoyable manner it is a stretch to use one incident to insinuate it isn't a great community event enjoyed by many.

[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by kena

You're entitled to your opinions. Others can compare the facts I've posted with your opinions and decide for themselves.

The incident you're pointing to was held by a handful or two of youths holding a protest of sorts out of thousands and thousands of people. I'm not going to get into a debate about that event because it is off topic for this thread but given the tens and probably hundreds of thousands of people who have celebrated the 4th of July at Riverfront Park in the past in a safe, peaceful and enjoyable manner it is a stretch to use one incident to insinuate it isn't a great community event enjoyed by many.

The protestors disrupted the Fourth of July for everyone. They will do so again this year, and in years to come.

That is part of What Spokane is Like.

[scirocco22]

(We're all allowed to post our opinions here ...good, bad, or whatever. What we're not allowed to do is to attack another member for posting their opinion, whatever it might be. We can debate the premise or argue facts but should not be making disparaging remarks about any other member for posting what they might believe is true whether is or isn't.

Thanks.)

[milza23]

TravelBum, I agree with you. If I had a choice I wouldn't move to Spokane. The Malls are nothing to talk about,lots of drugs(yes Drugs are everywhere)Homeless and Dirty.

[jm31828]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

The nicest thing about Spokane is looking forward to leaving it at vacation time, and going to some place where there is sunshine and a winter that lasts less than five months (we had three inches of snow last Friday). I've seen it snow here in July. Summer nights often require fleece. I guess the upside is that if you keel over and die, you'll be preserved all winter until someone -- probably one of the city's numerous sex offenders -- finds you.

The worst thing about Spokane is returning from somewhere else: you look down from the plane and there's that brown prairie, stretching for miles, and all those ticky-tacky housing tracts (Spokane has no urban planning to speak of), and sprawl sprawl spawl in every direction.

If you like franchise restaurants and plastic shopping malls, and absurd McMansions with three-and four-car garages to hold bulbous gas-guzzling Detroit products, you'll love Spokane. Just keep in mind the REAL city motto:

"Spokane -- You'll Get Used To It!"

With the comment about the McMansions, the sprawl, and the chain restaurants, this is not a unique or negative trait of Spokane, you just described every medium sized city in the country. I think the only places different would be small towns that don't have much of anything going for them, or the big cities such as Seattle that have all of that plus some serious character and touristy aspects to them. But even those places are like this out in the suburbs, too. I guess it just depends on what you are comparing it to. All of the cities around here in the Midwest are similar with lots and lots of sprawl in all directions, that sprawl is full of McMansions with 3 and 4 car garages in beautiful manicured neighborhoods. I happen to think those areas are nice, even though they are generic and could be indicitive of any other suburban-type place in America. But that's where it ends here, at least there in Spokane you have mountains in the distance and are a very short drive from the gorgeous areas of northern Idaho. But, of course I can see if you're in Spokane and comparing it to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, etc- I can see where it does seem to have a lot of drawbacks.

[mountainhigh]

I have lived in a number of states such as Florida, California, Oregon and now Washington both Western and Eastern Washington and Western Washington is too depressing day after day to see another day of rain or overcast skys. We moved north of Spokane but have to shop in Spokane and in fact we are currently looking to buy in Spokane due to this past winter and its snowfall up here.

I suggest those who do not like Spokane to go take a look in California and see what you think. Dry in the summer, thick fog in the Winter (mid California) and we always left work saying "lets go sit in the parking lot" meaning the freeway and housing so high you have to live a couple hours away from work just to afford to live and work there. I honestly think you cannot appreciate Spokane unless you have lived in other places. If those who do not like it, I do not understand why continue living here and being miserable? Just move. Spokane is no different with the good, better, and best sections just like every other city. If you think you can find a city with no drugs, no bad sections, perfect weather you are living in a fantasy world.

As far as the haze for Spokane, at least it isn't smog like California or another overcast day like Western Washington. The haze is from the farmers and the crop fields around. Most of the time it is blue skies.

Best thing to do for those who do not like it here and are just complaining is to leave and stop wasting your life being unhappy.

[Yeledaf]

Nice heavy snowfall this morning. Couple of fender-benders on the streets; sounds of sirens as the ambulances skidded along, dodging the potholes that make driving a nightmare in much of the city.

Springtime in Spokane -- it's a lot like winter everywhere else.

Another motto (suggested by the previous post): "Spokane: It Could Be Worse!"

[MMullin]

Everyone has a different perspective I guess.

I've never noticed the potholes (although I'm sure they are around) and the sun is out and the fresh snow is beautiful. The streets were all clear and fine for travel when I was in town at 11:00am this morning.

[mountainhigh]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

Nice heavy snowfall this morning. Couple of fender-benders on the streets; sounds of sirens as the ambulances skidded along, dodging the potholes that make driving a nightmare in much of the city.

Springtime in Spokane -- it's a lot like winter everywhere else.

Another motto (suggested by the previous post): "Spokane: It Could Be Worse!"

Well now you know this is not the normal beginning of Spring. You already heard on the news last night that another inch and a half for Spokane would set a new record so yes this past winter is definitely not the norm but try living 45 minutes north of Spokane. We have beautiful peace but we were also left with 4 feet of snow on the ground all winter while Spokane normally melts quickly but when I went down to shop I would see at the most less than a foot at the high points.

By the way, Portland and Seattle all got snow yesterday so it is a very strange beginning of Spring for the Pacific Northwest.

Ambulances and potholes? Depends on where you live in Spokane as to potholes and hearing of the sirens.

[509]

Originally Posted by ameri-kiwi

Can someone give me some general info. on Spokane and your honest opinion? I may take a job there that involves alot of air travel but I know nothing of the area. I'm originally from Washington (D.C.) and have lived in Michigan for 8 years and am trying to see if Spokane is a place I'd like to live. I could also live in Portland, OR; it doesn't matter where I live for work as long as it's in the Pacific Northwest and near a major airport. My potential new employer specifically mentioned Portland and Spokane.

So far in my research (only just started) Portland seems expensive, arrogant, and very tough to find a job if my new one doesn't work out. I'm not calling Portland expensive and arrogant, that's just what some who live there say.

Is Spokane a decent place to live? I would hate to live in New York City, but I don't want to live in the sticks, either. I hear Spokane + the city next door in Idaho totals about 600,000 people, so that sounds like a happy medium. How's the Washington state economy? Anyone have any gripes about Spokane? Cost of living and qulaity of schools, and quality of life, OK or no?

Thanks in advance!

We lived around Spokane for almost ten years and traveled to Portland on business on frequent occasions.

They are both great cities. Very livable with lots of things to do. Here is how I would make my decision.

Weather---If you like sunshine. Spokane. If you like four seasons with snow in the winter. Spokane. If you don't mind rain everyday for almost the entire year...or snow makes you ill. Portland.

Urban. If you like cities, and so called hip and cool environment. Portland.
If your into family and kid stuff. Spokane. Portland is a nice city. It really is wonderful city. If your into urban stuff Portland is a good as it gets. Much better than Seattle. Spokane has always wanted to be a nice town, but not a city.

Taxes. Only God knows what the state of Oregon spends it's tax money on...schools are horrible and taxes for the average person are double what they are in Washington. Also Washington taxes are voluntary in the sense they are tied to purchases (sales tax, but no income tax. If you have a expensive lifestyle you will pay a lot in taxes in Washington. If you have a frugal lifestyle your tax bill will be very low. Oregon you will pay taxes if you breathe. If you are a corporation you will probably do better in Oregon than Washington due to B&O tax.

Outdoors. Both cities probably rate in the top five environments in the country. I would give the edge to Spokane simply because it is very close to the Canadian Rockies, Montana, Idaho, and the desert of eastern Oregon and Washington. Portland has the advantage of the ocean being fairly close, but the Oregon and Washington Cascades lag far behind the Rocky Mountains in outdoor attractions. If your into hunting. Spokane. If your into fishing Spokane, but Portland has its advantages.

Jobs. I suspect it is easier to find other jobs in Portland than Spokane unless it is in health care.

Schools, public services. Spokane. We are still trying to figure out what Oregon does with their tax money. Schools are really awful in Oregon. There are exceptions, but they are the exceptions.

Both cities were real livable in the 1980's. Portland is becoming a 'big" city..with commutes becoming unbearable. Even Spokane now has traffic reports. But they are much, much better than Seattle or other large cities.

Living costs....Spokane. For awhile Spokane home prices were so low in Spokane that realtors were recommending that folks buy a house and a second home on lake (there are lots of lakes within an hour of Spokane) if they need to reinvest their house profits from other areas like Seattle or California.

Hope this helps. I don't think you can go wrong with either city.