Ten worst things about living in Utah ? (Salt Lake City: house, college)

[newtoutah]

Originally Posted by Lmejh

Ugh, remind me you're from Maryland because I keep thinking you're from New Jersey. Anyway...

Look at it this way: Maryland has other sources of revenue that Utah will probably never have. I'm assuming you guys over there have ports and oceans and fishing, so that must bring in cash. Are there toll roads over there? By the way, there are eight states that don't allow lotteries and Maryland isn't one of them, so that's some money right there. Maryland obviously has stuff Utah doesn't in terms of getting money into the budget (all we have is Mormons, mountains, and Moab) but yeah, you just gotta look at it deeper. Of course Utah has an underfunded system; all I was saying was comparing Utah's school systems to those of the 1950s is, well in my opinion only exaggerated.

NO I dont live in NJ....Maryland has lottery and thats it..its not gambling and very little if any of that money goes towards the school systems..Baltimore City has a very very low school budget, but somehow they manage...The reason this state doesn't have any type of lottery is because the LDS won't allow it and basically they run this state..its time for non mormons to step in and say something...When a child is learning stuff that other school systems in other states are learning a year or two before them yes than its pathetic (stuck in the past like the 50's)....AS for the ports, yeah we have them in Maryland, and Maryland is a much richer state than here but possibly maybe we know how to manage our revenue better.....maybe if the government would clean up Salt Lake that possibly could be a revenue source..not all the money that you described, ports the ocean lottery goes to schools....here is where the money from the MD lottery goes besides the little bit to the school system....
Lottery revenues are deposited into the State's General Fund. Over $529 million was contributed to support such services and programs as education, public health, human resources, public safety and much more, all of which greatly benefit the citizens of Maryland.

Designated proceeds from the Mega Millions game benefit the Stadium Authority. In FY2008, $21,500,000 was contributed to the Stadium Authority.

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

I'm actually really encouraged by this thread. There is nothing in these complaints (other perhaps than the large families) that I didn't hear people complain about all the time in NC. Taxes, water bills, rude people, bad drivers, etc etc. I think there is a thread like this on every state forum!

Nothing in these complaints seems specific to SLC to me so I'm thinking it's all just perception and although UT isn't for everyone, nothing too scary in these posts.

The one I'd add, which IS a bit scary imo, is that it's overdue for a major earthquake. Now that is something UT has which not every state has, and something of concern to me.

I agree with you - people will find stuff to complain about anywhere - no place is perfect. I agree about the earthquake issue - it's not something I've ever needed to give a thought about before. But I'm not going to worry too much - there's nothing to be done about it & it may well not happen for 100+ years.

Originally Posted by Goldwing

I think your wrong in Nothing in these complaints seems specific to SLC

Highest gas price in the Continental US
Highest use of antidepressants
Highest sexual offenders
Want more specifics?

The high percentage of sexual offenders is a concern, but what is the average person's chance of encountering one or being affected by this? I wouldn't choose not to live here because of it, but maybe the state needs to better address the problem.

Highest use of antidepressants - well it's high everywhere... And besides, so what, how is this your problem? I work in the mental health field, and I happen to take antidepressants. Why is this a big deal to people? This doesn't necessarily mean it sucks here, it could mean people are more likely to seek help, which is a good thing.

I'm not trying to pick on your complaints, but I think stuff that affects people's every day existence here, as opposed to living elsewhere, is more relevant... like the gas price issue & the drivers.

As for alcohol, the funny thing I'm finding is that you can by beer anywhere! And even on Sundays! I've bought it at Walmart, Costco & convenience stores. In NJ, which has maybe 3 Mormons living there, you can only buy it at liquor stores, so it's a lot harder to find. The prices are quite reasonable at these places as well. Even if it's 3.2, I used to buy Corona light, now I just get the regular, so it's probably not much different.

The interesting thing about reading these complaints is almost all the people I've encountered in person who live here absolutely love it. The only negative I've heard people mention is the inversion.

And as for chain restaurants, find me a city anywhere that isn't full of them - it's a national thing. There are plenty of non chain ones here as well.

Maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but I think it's awesome here. It's so beautiful - I can't stop looking at those mountains.

[newtoutah]

I know plenty of cities that don't have chain restaurants all over the place..maybe one...the mountains in Maryland only has a Mcd's and thats it..its a city..not a big one but still considered a city

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by newtoutah

I know plenty of cities that don't have chain restaurants all over the place..maybe one...the mountains in Maryland only has a Mcd's and thats it..its a city..not a big one but still considered a city

I meant a major city or metro area... For example, I go to Atlanta sometimes and I can't get over how many are there - in the suburbs mostly. And they were all over in NJ. Personally, I don't mind them anyway. A lot of them have decent tasting food, not too expensive. You have to take them for what they are. (I'm talking about places like TGI Fridays, Houlihans, Red Lobster, Cheesecake factory, not fast food).

[newtoutah]

LOL I was being sarcastic....i dont mind those kinds..i mind the Mcds and stuff since i can't go past one without my son screaming for chocolate milk..lol

[Lmejh]

Originally Posted by newtoutah

NO I dont live in NJ....Maryland has lottery and thats it..its not gambling and very little if any of that money goes towards the school systems..Baltimore City has a very very low school budget, but somehow they manage...The reason this state doesn't have any type of lottery is because the LDS won't allow it and basically they run this state..its time for non mormons to step in and say something...When a child is learning stuff that other school systems in other states are learning a year or two before them yes than its pathetic (stuck in the past like the 50's)....AS for the ports, yeah we have them in Maryland, and Maryland is a much richer state than here but possibly maybe we know how to manage our revenue better.....maybe if the government would clean up Salt Lake that possibly could be a revenue source..not all the money that you described, ports the ocean lottery goes to schools....here is where the money from the MD lottery goes besides the little bit to the school system....
Lottery revenues are deposited into the State's General Fund. Over $529 million was contributed to support such services and programs as education, public health, human resources, public safety and much more, all of which greatly benefit the citizens of Maryland.

Designated proceeds from the Mega Millions game benefit the Stadium Authority. In FY2008, $21,500,000 was contributed to the Stadium Authority.

Yeah, the LDS Church does basically run the state as 80% of the whole damn legislature is Mormon. I heard some guy in the Leg. talking about splitting Utah south and north; I'm all for it. Northern Utah (which would be north of Utah County) is certainly different than Southern Utah in all except Mormons. But in N. Utah we have different priorities, a growing population and less Mormons every day. I think if the Leg. was right now populated to reflect SL County (50% Mormon, 50% other) our state would be much more different right now. Or not; as the saying goes, old habits die hard

[Lmejh]

Yeah but our Legislature is 80% LDS.

[lolagranola]

Did I mention the us/vs/them thing??



(BTW, "non" here, and opposed to a lottery)

[chazcrew]

The Ten Worst Things About Living In Utah:

1. People move here from other states, then complain that it's not like the place they moved from.

2. Every time something bad happens, people try to blame it on the Mormons.

Complainer: I stubbed my toe!
Haters: It's the Mormons! If they hadn't made these streets so wide, you wouldn't have missed the curb!

3. People talk about things like "conventions at the temple" as though that actually made sense.

4. The mayor of Salt Lake City is always way too liberal.

5. The drivers really are bad. I gotta be honest.

6. People bad-mouth the majority demographic, then claim they're being ostracized by the very people they were talking trash about.

7. People get all confused by the road numbering system, thinking that for some reason it's easier to know the names of 50 different roads, and where they are, than to simply drive along a grid. If I said I lived on Vanderbilt Drive, would you know where that was? No? How about if I said I lived on 1300 East? Ah. Now you just head east til you get to 1300. That was easy.

8. People here actually get bent out of shape over things like other people being too friendly. Or too blonde. You know, serious societal issues.

9. Some Utahns are going to vote for Obama.

10. The inversions really do suck.

[Goldwing]

Originally Posted by chazcrew

The Ten Worst Things About Living In Utah:

4. The mayor of Salt Lake City is always way too liberal.

5. The drivers really are bad. I gotta be honest.

10. The inversions really do suck.

Think I'll stay out of this one but the 3 above yes