Did I miss the nice parts of Ventura? (Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks: apartment complexes, foreclosures)
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The funny fact is, I, like you, am contemplating
whether or not to move to VC for a job.
Except the difference is you come in with a negative vibe, negative remarks,
Start comparing it to other areas, etc. I asked questions with no agenda.
I visit the area. I research it. And I, like you, have lived in many different places.
Have an open mind. Visit. Ask questions. Don't already have your mind set beforehand, otherwise,
Don't move.
rgb,
I have lived in Ventura almost all of my life, but have travelled and lived in other parts of the country briefly as well. If you are looking to avoid crime, gangs and thugs, Ventura and Oxnard areas are not for you. I worked in Camarillo for a long time and I didn't like it much more, but it's a personal preference thing. Over the hill in Thousand Oaks, it is pretty nice, but even more expensive. Ojai is just about the nicest place I can think of around here, but almost impossible to afford it either. In fact, we are planning a move out of state in the next couple of years but just haven't figured out where.
I am sooo used to this area so I usually am on a mission and don't notice a lot around me. But when I drive around and really start looking and try to envision myself as a tourist, I see all the garbage and run-down places and business after business that is now out of business. It's really disgusting. There are constant fights out in public and in and near schools as well. I live in a "nicer" area of town and am afraid to go outside at night and NEVER leave my cars unlocked, and I have old cars. It is almost impossible to survive here, $2200+ for a 1200 square foot, 50+ year old home (generally speaking, most of Ventura). We earn what most would consider excellent income, however, we are absolutely unable to afford to buy a home here. The prices of homes are currently a little bit more reasonable than they were a few years ago, but now it's almost impossible to win a bid on a house, and shark-like investors are buying up all of the short sales and foreclosures (which are EVERYWHERE!) Just about everyone is on food stamps, life has been very hard here.
Before I talk about the schools, I want you to know that I have extensive hands-on experience with this subject, one went all 13 years here and just graduated and another about to graduate. They went to a few different schools in different parts of Ventura. I can say with confidence that I do NOT want my third child to attend school here! I have encountered very few teachers and staff who actually care, and fights, drugs and alcohol are unbelievably out of control in the schools and out, amongst school kids. (and adults for that matter!)
Check out www.vcstar.com for local news and you will see there is a lot of shady stuff going on here.
I know you said you are single, and maybe it will work out for you here but I just wanted to warn you and others about what I believe is an area that really has seen it's better days, and I feel confident in my knowledge of this area and don't see hope for the better. The reason we are not looking for another area to live in Ventura County is that CA state taxes and other services (utilities, DMV fees, etc) are part of what is killing our budget. For us, living in CA is no longer possible without tons of money to throw away. (Sorry to anyone this post may offend)
thank you very much for your personal story and unbiased viewpoint Nisini, I was hoping to hear from someone else in this thread.
After being there (and heck, I was a geography major, based on my knowledge as well) I can understand very well why you feel the way you do, as well as Open Sky. Two different viewpoints on the same place which both make sense to me.
As for Pedro though, it's completley lost on me. Telling me it's just as bad else where is simply not true.
CA has very unique issues in the country right now and I'm far too educated, aware and experienced to simply take this arguement as fact. Simply, it's not the same situation anywhere else, and Florida might be the only comparision, not even Texas though Texas has a lot of the same issues.
I'm speaking as someone who loves California. I hate to hear/see good people leaving because that is what the state needs.
So that is what I take into consideration in moving there. Move to CA knowing it's not the place we dream of but still special; work to be a good force there and not one of the 'that's just how it is deal with it' gang.
Or do I just try to stick out here in WA and finally make my way home to the midwest, where so many of the 'good' Californians end up anyway....because it might be a sign to me that in a few years I might be beat down by CA too and just want to go home.
But I guess at least I could say I went and tried...
not sure totally I do have it pretty easy where I am right now and it occurs to me every few minutes right now.
rgb,
You're welcome. I hope it helps you or at least kind of confirms your initial impression and therefore your judgment seems very good! Ha, I must have missed that you are in WA. That is currently at the top of our move-to list! Vancouver area is first thought right now, but I know people in the Seattle area so thats another option. I have been getting some good info on my post on a thread there but would love your opinion of the areas too if you have any time especially since you seem to have good judgment.
Sure, I'd love to help you out. I've only been in Washington since October, so I'm no expert, but I can definitley give my impression since I came here as an outsider myself.
I live in Spokane. It has it's issues too, but I can honestly tell you I felt more threatened/concerned in one day in Ventura/Oxnard than I have in 6 months in Spokane.
I seriously had to wonder if some of the gangs there deal with the Mexican Cartels because of the obvious fear people in authority have with dealing with an out of control problem there.
I'm also speaking a someone who lived in San Antonio, IN the city. I rarely felt threatened there. I'm not racist, but I am definitley thug-ist!
Anyway, maybe point me to your threads and I'll contribute.
Overall I don't know much about Vancouver -- drove through it when I stayed in Portland and went by it on the train. Seems a great place because you don't have income tax from Oregon, and you can shop in Portland to get away from the sales tax (I stayed in the area in Oregon just over the border where the WA folks shop!).
That area is very beautiful (I think) though very dreary and humid. Sometimes I really prefer it but a lot of people have trouble with it.
Seatlle and Portland have crime and drugs but just not on the same level with gangs and such. (though that may change).
In Spokane I get the feeling the druggies are not motivated enough to get up the hill to where I live, they are more opportunists and wouldn't think to come to my apartment complex to use the pool and terrorize the residents. They just want their drugs and to hide out under the overpasses collecting money. Pretty harmless for the most part. And they tend not to socialize in most areas requiring shoes and shirt. If we don't go to their skate park/overpass they tend to stay out of the way.
Overall I really really like the PacNW and yes I pay $750 for a very nice 2bdr apartment with luxury features and a nice view. It's not gated which concerned me at first and now I routinely leave my door unlocked. I also have good health care options and tons of recreational options. The winter IS long. But I kind of enjoyed it, then again I'm from the midwest.
Food and sales tax are more expensive here than I am used to. But the no-income tax makes up for that.
Seattle is an expensive city to live.
They call it San Fran JR for many reasons.
And drugs, gangs and Crime fill the streets of
Tacoma and have moved into areas like Renton,
Tukwilla, etc. Aurora ave was known as the place for
Drugs and prostitutes.
The east side got populated by microsoft millionaires.
Yes, the economic situation is better, but it's an expensive place to live.
Portland is wonderful but there are drugs, gangs and crime there too.
Like i said if you have an agenda, you'll find what you want and think what you want.
Nobody these days leaves California for Seattle to save money.
Yes, California is overpriced. But again, you people act like crime doesn't exist anywhere else but California.
It's easy to make up assumptions when nobody really knows what's going on elsewhere.
The problem is that I've lived elsewere. I grew up elsewhere.
Problems and crime exist everywhere. Some worse than others.
Again, if you find VC unliveable, than find a place you like. Find
Some gated community. Thousand Oaks probably would suit you.
rgb,
I have lived in Ventura almost all of my life, but have travelled and lived in other parts of the country briefly as well. If you are looking to avoid crime, gangs and thugs, Ventura and Oxnard areas are not for you. I worked in Camarillo for a long time and I didn't like it much more, but it's a personal preference thing. Over the hill in Thousand Oaks, it is pretty nice, but even more expensive. Ojai is just about the nicest place I can think of around here, but almost impossible to afford it either. In fact, we are planning a move out of state in the next couple of years but just haven't figured out where.
I am sooo used to this area so I usually am on a mission and don't notice a lot around me. But when I drive around and really start looking and try to envision myself as a tourist, I see all the garbage and run-down places and business after business that is now out of business. It's really disgusting. There are constant fights out in public and in and near schools as well. I live in a "nicer" area of town and am afraid to go outside at night and NEVER leave my cars unlocked, and I have old cars. It is almost impossible to survive here, $2200+ for a 1200 square foot, 50+ year old home (generally speaking, most of Ventura). We earn what most would consider excellent income, however, we are absolutely unable to afford to buy a home here. The prices of homes are currently a little bit more reasonable than they were a few years ago, but now it's almost impossible to win a bid on a house, and shark-like investors are buying up all of the short sales and foreclosures (which are EVERYWHERE!) Just about everyone is on food stamps, life has been very hard here.
Before I talk about the schools, I want you to know that I have extensive hands-on experience with this subject, one went all 13 years here and just graduated and another about to graduate. They went to a few different schools in different parts of Ventura. I can say with confidence that I do NOT want my third child to attend school here! I have encountered very few teachers and staff who actually care, and fights, drugs and alcohol are unbelievably out of control in the schools and out, amongst school kids. (and adults for that matter!)
Check out www.vcstar.com for local news and you will see there is a lot of shady stuff going on here.
I know you said you are single, and maybe it will work out for you here but I just wanted to warn you and others about what I believe is an area that really has seen it's better days, and I feel confident in my knowledge of this area and don't see hope for the better. The reason we are not looking for another area to live in Ventura County is that CA state taxes and other services (utilities, DMV fees, etc) are part of what is killing our budget. For us, living in CA is no longer possible without tons of money to throw away. (Sorry to anyone this post may offend)
No offense taken.
I haven't been here all my life...10+ years and I've never had an issue with gangs or violence of any kind. I cannot speak for schools since I have no children or know anyone well enough with children to ask about the school system.
I want to know...what exactly are you afraid of at night...I am not being sarcastic, just curious as to why you feel you can't move around freely. Personally, I don't understand it and maybe it's because of where I grew up???
Google "Seattle Sucks", "Portland Sucks" and "Los Angeles Sucks"
A kernel of truth in each.
There is a material segment of California's population that perenially complains with the same litany about the state (taxes, budgetary issues, illegal aliens, cost of living, traffic, smog, etc etc etc).
Some leave, many come back.
California is larger than the combined population of Minnesota, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisana, Kentucky, and Oregon... as a state, we're bound to have a good number of folks that simply don't like it here. We've flirted with the idea leaving for greener pastures, but ultimately couldn't pull the trigger.
As far as Nisini's indictment on Ventura, it's a familiar refrain I hear in nearly every city from one group or another - it's "not as great as it used to be" and "it's going downhill."
So on one hand, it's terrible and on the other the cost of housing is too high. Seems to me that if it were that bad, the demand for housing would move rental prices downward.
Alas, that renders Nisini's opinion in the minority, and ultimately you have to decide if it's right for you.
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I do have it pretty easy where I am right now and it occurs to me every few minutes right now.
