Where to live in south/east Tacoma (Seattle, Bellevue: environment, jobs)

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by marmelade

I felt your response of "boo hoo" was somewhat catty. My pointing out problems that other places have, like Puyallup, was in direct response to people recommending Puyallup as a place to live. If you can comment on negatives about Tacoma, then I can comment on negatives about Puyallup.

I didn't notice you pointing out problems with other places, just making a snide remark about my username.

And yes, to me it is annoying that there is little attempt on these boards to give a rounded picture of Tacoma. It's certainly an uphill battle to try to even point out anything good about Tacoma without being attacked.

I've pointed out good things about Tacoma as well. In fact a large portion of what I've had to say on this thread was that Tacoma wasn't as unsafe as some people would lead you to believe. Perhaps you need to double check your attributions?

Tacoma is not all gangs and shootings. I have spent plenty of time on 6th avenue and never had a problem or seen a crime. Our experiences differ.

And I've spent plenty of time there as well. Considering I live 3 blocks away it was a good possibility. You may note that I mentioned that 6th Ave was improving? I've spent time east of Steele as well within the last few weeks and it's not an area that I feel safe in.

I think your new state, Wisconsin, will be safer than Tacoma, and safer than Western Washington. But it's not perfect--they have gangs coming in from Chicago, meth problems, etc. I've seen it personally--the cops in small midwest towns don't know how to deal with the gangs. Hopefully your new town won't be affected by that.

Hopefully not but we'll see. OTOH the state prison will be less than a mile away so they may have some more experienced people around.

[Yac]

Remember to treat others the way you would like them to treat you. no need to get personal. Discuss the topic, not each other.

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Why would there be a COPs series on a city of only 200,000 people? That should say it all.

That doesn't make a city/town bad or just plain out dangerous.

I've been reading your posts in this thread and have to question some of the things you have mentioned.

You say murder is high? Well, it might be according to crime statistics, but have you looked at the whole picture? Do you know how they were murdered i.e. manslaughter, vehicular homicide, murder-suicide, etc. compared to shootings (walk-ups/drive-bys, retaliatory or random shootings), stabbings. The latter list would make the city dangerous IMO.

(I'm looking at Tacoma's City-Data page and see 6 murders in '99 with 19 as the highest in '02. Crime goes up and down all the time.)

Drug deals are everywhere, in good neighborhoods and your rough parts of town. I'm sure you feel safer in Phoenix, but alot of people might feel safe in Tacoma as well. Tacoma is not Compton, CA or Oakland, CA, New Orleans, LA or St. Louis, MO.

You also said that Phoenix airs of lot of their high speed chases but Tacoma doesn't. Well, there might be a reason for that. One being that there's a difference between a chase that lasts for hours compared to one that last 30 minutes to an hour. Alot of big cities don't air every single high speed chase for one reason or another. I've seen a police chase as it went (and ended) by my home in the Denver, CO metro area that was not aired.

I'm not from Washington, but planning to move to Seattle, so I don't have personal experience so anyone reading my post, take it for what it's worth.

[jwb123]

You do have to note though, that the first 15 mins of the news each night is spent discussing the days worse criminal or sensational activity... and that it's usually almost always, based in Tacoma.

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by marmelade

I felt your response of "boo hoo" was somewhat catty. My pointing out problems that other places have, like Puyallup, was in direct response to people recommending Puyallup as a place to live. If you can comment on negatives about Tacoma, then I can comment on negatives about Puyallup.

And yes, to me it is annoying that there is little attempt on these boards to give a rounded picture of Tacoma. It's certainly an uphill battle to try to even point out anything good about Tacoma without being attacked.

Tacoma is not all gangs and shootings. I have spent plenty of time on 6th avenue and never had a problem or seen a crime. Our experiences differ. Also I don't hang in the poor part of town where the gangs are ... I feel safe in my neighborhood so that's what I know. So far we don't have a big crime problem in my area, other than the usual small random property crimes that I have also experienced in "good" neighborhoods in other cities/states.

I think your new state, Wisconsin, will be safer than Tacoma, and safer than Western Washington. But it's not perfect--they have gangs coming in from Chicago, meth problems, etc. I've seen it personally--the cops in small midwest towns don't know how to deal with the gangs. Hopefully your new town won't be affected by that.

Sorry about the "boo hoo" comment. It was a reaction because my family is in so much denial about Tacoma too. Except my aunt who is sick and tired of the meth houses in her Parkland neighborhood. I visited last year and the area was inundated with meth trash. Fortunetly, my children were able to see some older people at Dennys who were unable to control their body movements. I told them that's what happens when you do drugs..it spooked them out.

I am not in Wisconsin. I am actually in the Phoenix area. There are issues here too. Many issues. But I am able to escape...Gilbert, which is #22 safest city to live. I know where to go to avoid Tacoma like crime. Know to stay off of Van Buren after 5pm. I live in cozy safe North Scottsdale where I can relax. I am more relaxed. Every time I go back to visit Tacoma and I do visit all over - I have friends who live everywhere..none in Seattle, my guard is up again. Maybe it's post traumatic stress from the history there but it was really bad all my life. I understand, you do not talk to your neighbors there, do not trust your neighbors, keep to yourself, lock all doors and windows. Make sure your car doors are locked at all times, do not send your kids to that school system after elementary school - because junior high/middle school is extremely bad. Do not carry cash around, do not work in convenient stores, drug stores or banks.

I was taking all precautions and it wasn't enough so I had enough.

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

You do have to note though, that the first 15 mins of the news each night is spent discussing the days worse criminal or sensational activity... and that it's usually almost always, based in Tacoma.

I am fed up with the Tacoma Police and mayor. It irritates me to visit my family in Parkland and to see drug activity going on next door, across the street, etc. Not to mention down the street, the next block. What the h...are the cops and the city doing? Joining them? They are not tough enough on crime. I am so fed up they are letting the city go to waste. Why not renovate, develop jobs, crack down on crime moreso than before, lock up criminals and throw away the keys, clean up, and fix the school systems, take kids away from drug addicted parents - hold them accountable and don't make the kids stay with them!

[MANDOLIN]

Once again as i've stated in many other posts. Check out Browns Point located in N.E. Tacoma. I think you would be surprised. It is a great place to riase your family. Unfortunately we have to move...so if you are looking for a place.....honestly it is one of the best areas i've ever lived.

[magrack]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

I am fed up with the Tacoma Police and mayor. It irritates me to visit my family in Parkland and to see drug activity going on next door, across the street, etc. Not to mention down the street, the next block. What the h...are the cops and the city doing? Joining them? They are not tough enough on crime. I am so fed up they are letting the city go to waste. Why not renovate, develop jobs, crack down on crime moreso than before, lock up criminals and throw away the keys, clean up, and fix the school systems, take kids away from drug addicted parents - hold them accountable and don't make the kids stay with them!

Well, since Parkland is in unincorporated Pierce County and not within the city limits of Tacoma, I'd suggest you re-direct your displeasure.

Statements like that lend no credence to your posts.

If anyone is looking to live in Parkland you might check out some of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of Pacific Lutheran University.

Some bad spots there too, but generally speaking, it can be livable.

[T-Town For Now]

I completely identify and agree with magracks postings. I have recently relocated to this area from Orlando FL and have lived in D.C., Charleston, Jacksonville and overseas. Like any city there are spots to go to and spots to avoid. Tacoma is the same way. I have recently been offered a job that is in Seattle but elect to stay in Tacoma as the public transit is efficient and dependable. Seattle is exciting but it has been that way for some time. Tacoma, even in the short time i have been here, has progressed and improved tremendously in a very short time. I live in the Stadium District and wouldnt trade it in for the world (portland or seattle). I always have something to do rain or shine. If I go to Seattle its to see a band and i really dont mind the drive in that case. The people that i meet that have the most negative things to say or usually stir crazy house wives who have lived here their whole lives or drunks that swear they're going to clean up and move on but never do (no offense to anyone). When it comes down to it, it is what you make of it. If you are fond of whining and complaining you will be doing that anyplace you move.

[AZ_singlemother]

It's a short-timer's perspective versus a native.