WHAT is happening to Charleston??

[steelersfan]

I just get alittle upset when I see what is happening to such an attractive area as Charleston, and I didn't mean to sound so hateful. I respect that you have worked hard to get where you are , you deserve it and no one should ever take that away. But , I have too ,and most of my friends have also. I spent 6 years in the Marine Corps to pay for my college , and I also work part time jobs like waiting tables, lowes ,etc... I think you get the picture , while I was taking a full load of classes. My first year after graduating college I was still working part time and spent a whole year looking in the Charleston area for full time employment , the best I found was a job paying 9.00hr with such bad benefits that I chose not to have health insurance, and I no chance of advancement. After working there for a year , I got a state job , I had done some internships for this agency and they liked how I worked so they hired me. Better benefits , but I started out making 19,000 a year and after 3 years I make 20,000 and that's only because there was state employee across the board raise. No one I work with have ever got a raise , unless it was across the board. I don't believe in big government , I would much rather work in the private sector , but I haven't been able to find employment worth taking. Currently I'm a graduate student , and going in debt taking out loans just to pay for school. I love Charleston that is why I have stayed in the area so long , but I want to raise a family and I can't afford to do it here. I have friends that have moved to various cities and they all seem to be making good wages.

[GottaHerdOn]

I'm tired of our lawmakers letting this happen??? Why doesn't WV adopt a more business friendly attitude?! Charleston is our only remaining city with 50,000 + population, Huntington slid under to 49,000 a few years ago. The time for change in policy is now! Contact your representative and demand a better business climate for the state!

[Big_Al]

steelersfan,
I'm 100% sure u'll get what you are looking for because it looks like you are hard worker and you have a plan. When you add mobility- you probably can reach your goals. It is not pleasant thing- to leave your hometown but...Very often it's the only way to improve one's life.

[ArizonaBear]

For whatever it is worth:

My memories of Charleston, VW were pretty positive; my family back in the Wash DC area was 'unstable' for want of a better word whereas my aunt and maternal grandmother Charleston suppiled an oasis of stability for me.

They lived in a two story row house type dwelling on Kanawha (sp) dead across from the river-------it was torn down ca. 1969 to make way for a freeway bridge.

Note that I was about 11 years old the last time that I visited there (I am almost 50 now).

Even to this very day; towns that remind me of Charleston i.e. Globe, Az, etc. bring back pleasant memories.

Home is where the heart is

[roanoke_expert]

I'm sick of looking at all the Charleston bashing going on. Charleston has the greatest and most genuinely nice, easy going, and down to earth people on earth. I was born and raised in Charleston, I then moved to Hurricane for several years before transfered to Roanoke, VA. To anwer the question "What is happening to Charleston?"...the answer Putnam County. Putnam County now for the past 20 years has been one of West Virginia's fastest growing counties. The Teays Valley, Winifield, Hurricane areas have grown tremendously...levels of +15% in some areas according to the US Census. They are building a new shopping center in Hurricane featuring a Wal-Mart...there is rumored to be Starbucks coming to Hurricane and Teays Valley as well. Putnam County's growth will eventually slow..and Charleston will rise again! And if Gov. Manchin gets his way Charleston will rise (already some developments!)

[hemidude]

Starbucks are OK but $2 for Grande coffee is a bit too much. What we do need are more Tim Horton's and Sheetz fuel stations down in this part of the state.

[atlantagreg30127]

Well, I haven't given up my hope that one day I can return home, but I want to live *IN* Charleston.

I grew up on the West Side (West Avenue, as a matter of fact). It was a very nice neighborhood then (mid 70s). It's no longer that way now and the home I gew up in looks about ready to fall down. I later lived in Kanawha City on Noyes Avenue near where it ends going East, and my understanding is that neighborhood is still "ok".

I do hope one day I can return and live intown though. To an intown that has cleaned up and reversed the downward decay I've heard about from family and friends over the years there. I've been in Atlanta for some time and it's just an insane out of control type of city, and as I grow older it drains me that much more to just live here. Maybe one day I'll be able to return "home".

[David Kennedy]

Steelerfan:

Is it possible to do this job independantly and create a company to provide these services?
You have decided to work for a low wage and give the service of your time to someone else who has a reputation of paying a very low wage (State of WV) Use them temporarly to get your own company started.

You are degreed, have a possible 70 years of productive worktime ahead of you, what are you waiting for?

What is your longtime plan? What are your short term goals?...ie: extension of these services into the local area/internet community/USA/ or Overseas to create an independant work network that will become large enough to support you and give you the dollars that you will need.
What does your wife/companion think?
As a beginning, look for a 'Breakfast Club Network' in your area and talk to some of those people about referrals.

I worked and wasted a great portion of my life until I took control of my time, my direction and my income...I could not depend on other employers to protect me with job security and good wages...
West Virginia's future is unlimited.
Stay here and make a plan of attack and then carry it out...it will be more difficult than boot camp but just as rewarding...semper fi...Lt.J