For those of you who look to relocate to Tucson, AZ in 2008... (Phoenix: apartments, rental)

[InLovingMemoryTimRoyce]

I am writing this post in hopes to reach those of you thinking about moving to Tucson, AZ. I am not trying to discourage that decision, but I do hope that you will heed what I have to say and consider it – especially if you are moving here with children

was born and raised on the northwest side of Phoenix, AZ. I lived on a main street, and around the corner from a police station. The sound of the sirens became as commonplace as it is in any other big city. My house was broken into, gunshots were rarer than you would expect, but there was still a fair share of crime. When you grow up around it, it seems to just become a part of your life. I accepted it at a young age and moved on. I knew that crime happened everywhere…and Phoenix was a relatively safe place to live compared to other places in the U.S.

Back in the fall of 2004, I moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. With a full academic scholarship and some extra money for spending, I lived on campus and decided not to work. I felt like I was in my own secluded bubble. This was the first time I was away from home – really on my own. I felt safe, and only heard of the occasional attempted rapes on campus, but I didn’t go out at night alone. I didn’t read much other than the UofA newspaper, and I didn’t watch much of the news. I kept up with politics, but that was the extent of my local/national knowledge. I never had any issues while living on campus that first year. I think that blinded me to what was outside of the campus, but it happens to the best of us.

After my freshman year, I moved out into a student rental home with 5 others. We had a decent 5 bedroom house within a 10-15 minute walk from my classes. We lived just north of Speedway…which some of you may have heard is the main drag in town, especially for anyone connected to the University. Not long after living there, we had cops swarming around and blocking off the surrounding areas. Turns out a murder suspect was trying to outrun the cops, crashed into a pole less than a block away from my home, tried to run through an alley, and somehow shot and killed himself by accident. Strange – yes. Did I feel unsafe? Slightly. Anything else happen after that? No.

For the beginning of my junior year, I was accepted for a study abroad program in Spain. I packed up and moved to Alcala de Henares, just outside of Madrid, for 5 months. That being the first time I left the country, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was warned about pickpockets, but really nothing else. After just a short time, I came to realize – and experience first-hand – that threat. I also came to realize that I was comfortable walking alone at any time without threat. I never heard news reports about murder or the like. Five months both in Spain and travelling solo around Europe, never once walking with a knife in my hand in fear of my life. Constantly walking alone through unknown streets actually convinced of my safety for the first time in my life…still aware, but not needing to look over my shoulder with every step.

Coming home from Spain, I felt refreshed and filled with a new sense of self. I was able to sort out a lot of my own issues and revise what I wanted from my life over there. I discarded my pre-med minor and pursued my love for learning foreign languages and cultures. I had seen enough carnage in my life…I worked in a hospital for a while in several different areas. I had assisted in a burn unit and a trauma room. I knew how unfair life could be. I wanted to focus on the serenity and love of life I found in Europe and not on the carnage I had become numb to in the past. I moved into a house with a friend on the south side of Tucson. It was a brand new development – very nice – and we both looked forward to a new experience. After a while I realized that I needed to be on my own, especially after an incident with murder in our community.

I moved into an apartment in central Tucson…near First and Prince. The price was relatively low, and it is a quiet, gated complex. I found a new job at Safehouse, a local coffee shop where I had been a loyal customer over the years. It is located near Speedway and Alvernon. On any given night, you can expect to see more than one police car speed by with sirens and lights going. I sit there and count them on a regular basis…3, 5, 13 even, in one night.

A few months into my lease, I met my neighbor that lived 3 apartments down from me. We quickly realized our immediate and undeniable connection, and we fell in love – the kind of love neither of us ever thought existed. It was that once in a lifetime love that most people never find. We never fought, and instantly became part of a huge family of friends that saw and encouraged how we completed each other and bettered each other in every way. He had just graduated with his associate’s degree in business in December 2007, and was looking for a new job. He drove a cab at night to put himself through school. It paid the bills, and he loved the interaction with people, but he wanted a more reliable income. Three months after we met, we found out that I was pregnant, and this made his job search ever more important to him. He was excited to be a father and actively involved in being at every doctor’s appointments with me. We moved into a new 2-bedroom apartment together on March 1, 2008 in the same complex. We celebrated his 27th birthday on March 3 by going to a concert with a great group of friends. He was a happy man and was looking forward to the great new life we had started together. We were planning on getting married later this year. On March 5, 2008 Tim Royce, my fiancé, was robbed and murdered while driving his cab. It happened a block north of Speedway, in central Tucson. He was shot and killed, his body left in an alley. It was a normal pickup…2 women and a man. He didn’t see anything sketchy about the call otherwise he wouldn’t have taken it. I can only assume they didn’t ask for his money, because he would have given them everything he had. These 3 people are in jail pending trial, and they are all charged with first degree murder, aggravated robbery, and armed robbery. They left his unborn child without the man who would have been an amazing father, his friends without a great friend who would do anything for anyone, his family without a son/brother/nephew/cousin/grandson, and me without the man I was going to spend the rest of my life growing old with. It has left the community in disarray and shock. Granted, the community is doing more than I ever expected to help out in this tragedy, but this shouldn’t be how the community comes together.

Tim was the 17th homicide in Tucson since January 1, 2008. Since his murder, the number has escalated to over 20. I don’t know what’s going on in this town so far this year, but I have never felt so unsafe. Several pedestrians were murdered in February for just walking down the street. In my opinion, this would not be my idea of a place to live if I was in your shoes. But then again, I don’t see anyone on this forum letting you know about the murders and people still missing so far in 2008. I’m not looking for sympathy or pity. I know my life will never be the same. I know this child’s life will be difficult. But if I can save another family from going through planning their child/sibling/spouse/father’s funeral and seeing their body lowered into a grave, then Tim’s murder was not in vein. Please, reconsider your options.

[LordBalfor]

Well, not much I can say to that except I'm sorry for your loss.

Ken

[sierraAZ]

I'm really sorry for your loss, but incidents like this are hardly Tucson-specific.

[InLovingMemoryTimRoyce]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I'm really sorry for your loss, but incidents like this are hardly Tucson-specific.

True, this incident is not Tucson-specific, but to further emphasize this point...the homicide rate so far this year is TRIPLE what it was last year. TRIPLE. I'm just putting in my experience with that hightened rate. Like I said, in my original post I'm not looking to hear "I'm so sorry for your loss," although it is nice of you all to say. Hearing this doesn't make me feel better, it won't bring him back. But warning anyone that is thinking about moving here about the rediculous homicide rate and maybe saving someone else from losing a loved one - or even their own life - is why I posted. He was a great man with no enemies. He was bettering his life. If the roles were reversed, he would probably be doing the same for me right now warning everyone about the senseless killings in Tucson. Yes, this happens in many places, but to this degree? This high of a rate? Take a while to think about it. Look at the rate per capita so far this year...sadly it is surpassing bigger, "more dangerous" cities. I'm not speaking from ignorance or self-importance, I'm speaking from fact. My mother works in the federal judicial system, I'm close with several lawyers/ex-private investigators, I've been dealing with more media and detectives than you can dream of, and I'm the kind of person who likes to know what they are talking about and not go on blind faith alone. I'm a scientist at heart as I have always been, and I take caution in speaking without information to back up my thoughts. Things are frightening in this town right now, and I think everyone deserves to know so they can make an educated decision on where they are going to be living.

[milliebfit]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I'm really sorry for your loss, but incidents like this are hardly Tucson-specific.

I so agree...a 26 yr. old man was just murdered in philly waiting for a train. The 3 kids that murdered him said " they did not like the way he looked". The young man just left his manager job at starbucks waiting for the train to go home. He was engaged to be married. So sad to see his fiancee...
So sad that this can happen anywhere...I am so sorry for your loss.

[LordBalfor]

While you folks are clearly right in that such tragedies are not Tucson-specific, I do have to admit I find it puzzling that the murder rate has climbed so much this year - especially after all the expectations that crime would drop off after Arizona's new law designed to rid the state of illegal aliens went into effect (the claims being that illegal aliens were responsible for the area's high crime rate - note that I am NOT trying to make this thread into a debate about illegal immigration).

On the other hand, even though the murder rate is clearly much higher than last year, when you are dealing with numbers as "low" as in the twenties and a time period as short as 3 months, it's really pretty hard to stack that up as statistically significant - YET - it could after all simply be a statistical fluke rather than any kind of trend. If, however, that high rate continues through the year then clearly SOMETHING is going on.

Ken

PS - PLEASE don't take my comment about 20+ murders being a 'low" number as any kind of diminuation of the loss of those lives - clearly each and every life lost is tragedy to family and friends of the victim. I was merely looking at it dispassionately in order to make the point that although the numbers ARE alarming, it's hard to draw firm conclusions in such a short time and with such a "limited" sample.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by InLovingMemoryTimRoyce

True, this incident is not Tucson-specific, but to further emphasize this point...the homicide rate so far this year is TRIPLE what it was last year. TRIPLE.

I don't doubt that. The prices of everything are triple as well. This country is being deliberately sent down the drain and you won't hear me arguing about it. As a matter of fact, we can talk about it until the cows come home. That's how dear this subject is to my heart. I'm originally from Europe and I curse the day I ever moved to this country every day. However, what am I to do? Can't broadcast it constantly. Many native-born Americans don't wanna hear it. Most likely I'll alienate even more people responding to you. When we foreign-borns call a spade a spade, we're usually advised to go wherever we came from. Up until recently when the big s**t hit the fan and we make international headlines, even if I did try to warn somebody what it's really like here (unfortunately, I moved here before the Internet era and before it was too bad, completely unaware what's going on), do you think anybody believed me...?! NO!

The US is the most violent country in the civilized world and it shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody because that's how it's set up to be. Do you think it's a fluke that all these violent movies, TV shows, video games, etc. are being shoved down people's throats? Who do you think controls the media? What are they supposed to cultivate... kindness?! I've seen ideas for crimes that otherwise wouldn't even cross my mind, ever! The way children grow up here - in total isolation and surrounded by violence everywhere - it's a MIRACLE that more murders don't happen, not fewer. At least in the rest of the world murders usually happen for a reason, whatever idiotic reason it may be. The US is the birthplace of random shootings, which until fairly recently were somewhat unique to the country. Now with the mass export of our "culture," they started happening elsewhere, too, but hardly to this extend. And I don't believe they come out of the blue, do you. The stress and paranoia people endure on a daily basis, the lack of sufficient vacation time, and now the reality for many of barely being able to make ends meet or not at all can't lead to anything good, can it. Heck, some day I may feel like shooting. I've got two TVs and cable and to tell you the truth I'm not sure why I'm paying for it. Don't wanna turn them on. Watching the "news" to me is the equivalent of voluntarily giving your arm to have poisonous IV inserted.... Commercials drive me nuts. If I haven't worried about something by any chance today, they'll make sure to remind me. Did you insure this... you know what bad thing's gonna happen if you don't spend money on that... guess what new disease is out there... guess how you can drive your doctor crazy telling him what to prescribe you... oh, but we can medicate you to death in order to be a good and obedient slave... Do you think this brainwashing and mind control doesn't get to people?! If you don't, think again!

Back to the topic. Tucson IS in the US, so that's the way it is! The lifestyle here is not my lifestyle, so I'm not a huge fan of it by any means, but in all fairness it's not worse than many other places in the country. In many ways it's even better.

[actinic]

Originally Posted by InLovingMemoryTimRoyce

But then again, I don’t see anyone on this forum letting you know about the murders and people still missing so far in 2008.

Here's my 2 posts about Tucson's homicides this year -

http://www.city-data.com/forum/3170838-post274.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/3091584-post257.html

I'm amazed the murder count isn't higher in this cesspool of a town. No doubt it will continue to grow rapidly.

My condolences.

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I don't doubt that. The prices of everything are triple as well...
The US is the most violent country in the civilized world and it shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody because that's how it's set up to be. Do you think it's a fluke that all these violent movies, TV shows, video games, etc. are being shoved down people's throats? Who do you think controls the media? What are they supposed to cultivate... kindness?! I've seen ideas for crimes that otherwise wouldn't even cross my mind, ever!
...The stress and paranoia people endure on a daily basis, the lack of sufficient vacation time, and now the reality for many of barely being able to make ends meet or not at all can't lead to anything good, can it. Heck, some day I may feel like shooting...
Back to the topic. Tucson IS in the US, so that's the way it is! The lifestyle here is not my lifestyle, so I'm not a huge fan of it by any means, but in all fairness it's not worse than many other places in the country. In many ways it's even better.

You raise a great point. I surely don't know Tucson as well as others here in this forum, but I can chime in on where I came from... Baltimore. Roughly the same size city as Tucson (population-wise), but geographically much smaller.

In 1994, I was carjacked in January by a woman (a junkee no-doubt) with a hypodermic needle filled with blood. Long story short, she took our money and made us drive her around for 45 minutes while she held this "AIDS infected needle" against my back. Eventually she had us drop her off in a lovely area in West Baltimore. She was never caught, and unfortunately we were too stunned to run her over as she got out of the car.

February of that same year my car was stolen from my workplace. In June of that same year, my friend that I was carjacked with was beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled to death in her apartment.

Each of these incidents occurred in what are supposedly "safe" areas of the city.

I'm not trying to play the "poor me" card or anything, but yes, these incidents happen everywhere, to anyone - not just those who are dabbling in bad things or are somewhere they shouldn't be.

I agree w/Sierra, this country sets people up to fail in many ways. Now, with the economy in the crapper, I can't imagine things will get any better - anywhere. I'm sorry to say, that you can't blame one city for certain crimes. They happen with more frequency in other places and will continue to for some time until our government takes a page from other countries' handbooks.

I hated Baltimore for quite some time after 1994, but no longer do. I feel sorry for the people who try to make it a better place who are bound to be shat upon. Sorry to get into my history in Baltimore in the Tucson forum, but I thought it appropriate in this thread.

[roadrunner1]

I am sorry for your loss.