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The people that are from here, most-not all-don't want you here, and have no problem treating you like it. It's the cities and their pocket books that want you here..and as a native, I can remember my friends and I telling people to go back home years ago. I was also speaking to a friend of mine who is 54, from Ohio, moved here 24 years ago, and said that when she pulled in past a shopping center when she first moved here and the kids were waiving and saying "welcome to Phoenix, now go home". This isn't new, we aren't the "nice" people that our cities make us out to be, and we don't like stupid small town people moving here....and here's why:
Please be aware that if you move here from a small city it does take 20 miles AT LEAST for the average commuter to get to work. Saying that, we have some very nice freeways here. The problem is, that in the last 10 years everyone from everywhere has moved here and somehow not realized that you actually need to go about 73-75 just to get anywhere in a timely manner and not get flipped off or run off the rode. You aren't living 5 min from home anymore, and you're moving to the 5th largest city in the nation-so please come here with the idea that you must change your driving. We like to speed here..and you are allowed to go 9 over on freeways-in fact cops go about 15 over most the time.
Understand that Mesa is not a retirement community. Oh how they've tried to make it one, but you know, we were smart-built a whole place for old people called SUN CITY-and I suggest that if you over the age of 55 and you don't want to be bothered with us "younger" people then you go there and don't try to take over the whole dang city-because we don't care where you move-outside of Sun City you are going to be treated like everyone else. On that same note...Sun City is a very nice city, not newer but updated-very affordable, and real houses. Please don't get scammed into moving into a "pre-manufactured" home on a lot that is not yours where you have to live by someone else's rules. AZ is known for land, and if you don't own your own and you've actually bought a house-then you have been scammed!
------so with that out of the way..please take into consideration these factors before moving here....
We have lots of illegals here. LOTS. Racism was never an issue growing up here..in fact, kind of like a real shocker when you really see it for the first time..and I'm not the only native to say that. But I can say that I can see a problem a brewin' based on the way some people are acting when they move here.
Know that this state is very Republican, with a very liberal side. Always has been..and it just depends on the economy to see which way we go..but I would tell you that in the Presidential election, I don't remember ever seeing our electoral votes going to the Democratic party. We seem to always end up in the red.
Know that lots and lot of people say there is tons to do here..but I see that tons of people hang out in tons of bars. Lots of drunks here. Quite a bit of drugs I've seen in the bar scene..and I no longer do the "scene" anymore because of it all. And I'm not talking, hanging out for a few beers..I'm talking blasted drunk, 9 hour binge drinking cuz it's the only place to hang out with all your buddies, and driving home SLOSHED. I've seen it, I used to work in those places, I know people who still do it..and I was almost even killed by a drunk driver when I was in my teens. The drinking problem around here is ridiculous.
For some reason, every child molester in the United States has moved to AZ. I don't think a day goes by in the news where they haven't caught another one. Keep tabs on the azcentral.com before moving here..it's our local website to the AZ Republic newspaper...and I really suggest you check out what I'm talking about before moving here with children.
And it seems like everyone dislikes their jobs. Sure you find a few who like their jobs..but mostly we have call center's, retail and sales here. Most people don't like that work, but yet everyone I know is always applying for a new job. So remember, even when the economy isn't down, if you apply for something, 100 other people probably are too..and you got to really fight for it here....but the good thing is that there is always some kind of employment opportunity here. So it may take a while, but eventually everyone finds a job.
Know your areas before you move here...I have lived in almost every city around over the years...and know the WHOLE Phx metropolitian area like the back of my hand. Lived in Casa Grande (we call it casa grand, btw) back in the 80's-newer houses put up..old town is now a dump. Haven't lived in Maricopa-but if you move there or Casa Grande-be prepared to never have any friends unless they live out there because no one's driving out there to visit you. The only road in and out is the famous I-10-which is overcrowded and connects right before the edge of Chandler with another freeway-then another freeway before Phx. I hear the drive is awful..and my many times in rush hr proved the people right. It's like a snail ride into Phx.
Gilbert & Chandler-both back and forth..nicer towards the outside more than the inside of the city..but they are very pricey..and really, besides the appeal of the houses they really don't offer anything as far as cities go. Tempe-total college town..home of ASU-nice houses in busy work areas-expensive with high HIGH property tax from what I've been told. Mesa-where almost everyone moves to because everything is always NEW NEW NEW(store wise-houses more towards the far eastern side like AJ). Lots of old people, lots of young people..lots of illegals. Downtown area of Mesa is old and dirty. Not too appealing. I live in far east Mesa now, almost by Apache Junction, not far from Queen Creek. I think after years over here I would definitely say I like the far northwest sides of town better.
Apache Junction-retirement community with lots and lots of trailors. It was like, at one time, the retirement community that wanted to live in AZ but couldn't afford Sun City. LOL. Well, lots of druggies there, people living with their 90 year old parents and riding bicycles. Really ghetto. Outer part of AJ towards Gold Canyon, and Gold Canyon itself is pretty nice..but very, very far from the actual downtown Phx area.
Queen Creek-what a nightmare-don't move there. Everyone I know that did regrets it. Far out of the way-a nice 2 lane road for miles to get to an actual freeway to get into town...live there and expect a 25 mile away job to take 2 hours to get to...and that is not a joke. But it is a good investment for 5-10 years from now when they get the roads done-except remember that AZ does not work fast at getting roads improved..and 5 to 10 years is not a joke.
Peoria-very nice in the northwestern part...I grew up there-age 7-18-wonderful memories, great schools in the Peoria district. Downtown Peoria area lots of illegals again. Glendale same thing..but then you have lots of Asian and Middle Eastern people for some reason. That boom came about 10 years back. I would say northern Glendale is a nice area..go past Peoria and it's pretty ghetto. But the good thing about the Glendale area, no matter what area you live in, it kind of feels like a small town there even though it's smack dab in the middle of the west side of the Phx area. People are friendly and there's a good night life scene if you like bars and you are younger and single..I spent my early 20's there..and I very much enjoyed it.
Phoenix..The only part I would even suggest is the northern part of Phx...towards Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Scottsdale is like it's own entity-and unless you have money don't even bother to look at Scottsdale..and really don't bother if you don't have a name. You can move to Chandler or East Mesa or anywhere for that matter in a just as good house in a just as good neighborhood for way less. But if you want to be seen as "high society" or you actually want to buy a mansion, go ahead and move there. I personally have always thought that people put too much emphasis on the name. I grew up in what is now priced as a $400k house in Northwest Peoria, and yet, somehow though I lived the same as kids that grew up in Scottsdale houses, they still acted like they were better than me. And they still do..and they're not...so just a head's up about that lifestyle.
Avondale, Goodyear, Surprise...well a lot of people move out to those newer areas in the middle of nowhere..but it's in the middle of no where.
Location: In the North Idaho woods, still surrounded by terriers
2,179 posts, read 7,020,231 times
Reputation: 1014
Whew...
You kinda don't like Arizona...and that's okay, it's just an opinion. Some of your statements may be true and some not, but it is as you percieve it so I hope prospective residents don't take it as Gospel. Most of us Arizonans really are nice folks, at least up here in Yavapai County where I live. I always hate to see a poster lumping all people into one group when that poster has a dislike or hatred for a certain area.
I did want to comment on the child molester thing, though. It isn't just Arizona, it's everywhere. And there are not really any more of them than there were years ago, it just seems that way because law enforcement is now able to catch so many more of them and their faces, names and addresses are now published for the public to see. It's not a protected or secretive thing any longer. All counties, in all states as far as I know, publish websites with sex offenders listed, from community to community. It would behoove anyone with concerns about their child's safety to check out these sites and keep informed. Unfortunately, some sex offenders ignore the law about registering each time they move so it is not always up to date...but it is certainly better than not having any idea at all.
At any rate...your children will be as safe from sex offenders here as anywhere else, and that's kind of sad. It means they are everywhere, and they are. Just know your neighbors, know where your kids are and who they are with...and keep a close eye on their computers and cell phone activity
Let me be clear..I am speaking about the Phx area. Yavapai county and Pima don't even compare to Maricopa. Tucson is the dirtiest city I have ever walked into, Yavapai county is full of nice, quaint small towns with nothing to do. I have spent lots of vacation time up there, and visiting family, but not more than that. The fact of the matter is, Yavapai in no way compares to the Phx area in terms of lifestyle..so this forum is not based on Northern AZ at all.
As far as liking AZ-I love it, and wouldn't be so concerned to write this if I didn't feel like I was being shoved out by all these people moving here who have taken over. I have lived here 30 years and would like to see people for what it is though. People move out here and have no idea what's going on in the Phx area, because no one tells anyone the truth. This is the truth. This thread tells you what it's like, what frustrates people on a daily basis, what's on the news and what the areas are like.
And the child molestation thing...um no, sorry, it wasn't happening all the time back in the day here. I have lots of friends, and none of them were kidnapped, molested by family members or by some kooky guy down the road. This is new, and it's disgusting, and back when I was growing up these people would be lucky if the cops got to them before the local neighborhood dads-and knew it-so maybe that helped with this not being an issue back then. It is absolutely disgusting that so many of these perverts keep moving to AZ-and none of us want them here but they just keep coming.
I get a little tired of "natives" not wanting outsiders to move here. The last time I checked the state of Arizona was a part of the United States and I sincerely do feel badly for people when their home state or town changes. Change happens and you can either move yourself to another state that does not want outsiders, or move over. I watched California go from one of the most beautiful states in the union to becoming a third world country. We were not pleased, we simply moved. Our very nation is on the verge of monumental change and I do not think we have a say in it any longer, regardless of the party you choose. The politicians will do to us what they want. So, I say to those coming to AZ for a little bit of peace, or a new start, welcome to AZ.
Last edited by MotleyCrew; 04-17-2008 at 10:31 AM..
..one more thing. Having lived in southern CA most of my life, I found it interesting when we packed and moved to northern CA to raise our children. We assumed this was still the same state of CA. We had our office vandalized, received obscene phone calls and found our pets dead and neatly placed in our driveway. The "locals" shunned our business for nearly 5 years. The churches would not receive us either, until many years later. I detest biggotry in any form and it does come in many forms. This is NOT your state and your state alone. This is my country as it is your country and I will move where I darn well feel.
Location: In the North Idaho woods, still surrounded by terriers
2,179 posts, read 7,020,231 times
Reputation: 1014
mjvandever
Ummm, sorry, oh yes it was! Not in the numbers we have now, of course, but that's because we have many, many more people living here now...it's all relative. I work in law enforcement, part of my job is dealing with, registering and tracking sex offenders, and I see the statistics. They are directly in line with the population increase.
It is worse in the Valley areas because of the incredible influx of people (good and bad sorts). You are hearing more about it now due to the media coverage and the fact that law enforcement is catching many more of the offenders. I will say no more on this except that I understand your feelings and hatred for these offenders and I totally agree...but using that as a scare tactic to keep people away is maybe not a good tack to take. Plus, it might be a good habit to delineate between north and south AZ
Funny how so offended so many are. Take my perspective or leave it. It's mine, and so many people I hang out with, and if you don't like it oh well to you. Look, there are plenty of good things about this state, but people should be told the truth about where they are going to move, and everything I said was the truth. People drive like snails, making it take an hour to get anywhere..there is a child molestation story everyday, we are one of the lowest paying states in the nation and jobs take a while to come by even if there are jobs. Lots of immigrants here, and the people aren't as nice as what they try to make us out as. Racism is becoming an issue-especially with all the midwesterners moving here-I don't think I've ever heard the "N" word used so much until I started meeting all the people from Michigan & Ohio that tell me they moved out here recently. People were not brought up to hate color here.
All of the areas I talked about were right on target and we are a Republican state. So sorry to get anyone's panties in a ruffle..but I will not take back anything I said..and if you don't like it, boo hoo. People in previous post make things sound so fluffy and beautiful here, like we live in la la land. It is one of the largest cities in the nation and people should be aware of the issues.
I obviously don't care if everyone moves here or I wouldn't have given details on cities..what a bunch of dumb people you are. No, most natives don't want you here, but that's because we used to have a wonderful small town feel that is now gone. And the person from CA said exactly what I'm talking about...you didn't like your state so you thought you'd just move to ours and make it your own. That's why most natives don't like the changes. New stores are good but don't try to tear down what people had here to build your better future..it's just not right.
Funny how so offended so many are. Take my perspective or leave it. It's mine, and so many people I hang out with, and if you don't like it oh well to you. Look, there are plenty of good things about this state, but people should be told the truth about where they are going to move, and everything I said was the truth. People drive like snails, making it take an hour to get anywhere..there is a child molestation story everyday, we are one of the lowest paying states in the nation and jobs take a while to come by even if there are jobs. Lots of immigrants here, and the people aren't as nice as what they try to make us out as. Racism is becoming an issue-especially with all the midwesterners moving here-I don't think I've ever heard the "N" word used so much until I started meeting all the people from Michigan & Ohio that tell me they moved out here recently. People were not brought up to hate color here.
All of the areas I talked about were right on target and we are a Republican state. So sorry to get anyone's panties in a ruffle..but I will not take back anything I said..and if you don't like it, boo hoo. People in previous post make things sound so fluffy and beautiful here, like we live in la la land. It is one of the largest cities in the nation and people should be aware of the issues.
I obviously don't care if everyone moves here or I wouldn't have given details on cities..what a bunch of dumb people you are. No, most natives don't want you here, but that's because we used to have a wonderful small town feel that is now gone. And the person from CA said exactly what I'm talking about...you didn't like your state so you thought you'd just move to ours and make it your own. That's why most natives don't like the changes. New stores are good but don't try to tear down what people had here to build your better future..it's just not right.
Just as there are many different people and social misfits in MI there are everywhere. Not everyone from Michigan and Ohio (or the midwest for that matter) are racists. And living in Michigan for almost 29 years of my life I not once heard anyone use the 'n' word. Ever. And we weren't out in the country. We were in SE Michigan. So before you bash people for their supposed 'racist' views make sure you know what you're talking about. What an offensive statement.
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Whew...
You kinda don't like Arizona
! 
mjvandever
