I never knew how much I missed Michigan till I lived in Tucson (Phoenix: high school, casinos)

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by actinic

From the same person predicting a 40% unemployment rate

Unemployment rate? Michigan's is significantly higher than Arizona's.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Unemployment rate? Michigan's is significantly higher than Arizona's.

Except in Flagstaff !

They're both in the double digits so it's a serious problem.

[CCCVDUR]

Very well written comments, Actinic, -- responses in blue below --

[quote=actinic;8017447]
"Growth and speculation turned boom into resounding bust. The state failed to diversify its economy due to its growth addiction and will go through a lengthy and painful detox."

And now the State of Arizona imposes Smart Growth on us - and that doesn't help - driving the cost of living and services even hire.....I'd like to see a suspension of the Smart Growth Act.....,

"It was one of the first states into recession and will be one of the last out in its attempt to work off the glut. In trying to do so the protacted recession will erode important quality of life issues including education and public services while other states rebound more quickly."

Indeed, quality of life way down for anyone ages zero to 34 including college students who pay higher tuition.....New Mexico expected to recover from its recession in 2010.....

"Its proximity to the border of a country where 9000 were killed in drug wars last year will continue to adversely affect it in crime and crushing social service demands."

If marijuana was legalized that could free up police resources to other drugs / crimes, but that won't happen in conservative AZ.....

"Disillusionment will hit the younger crowd as these quality issues start impacting them directly. Population growth will be more concentrated in the retirement sector where weather makes virtually all other problems blindly ignored while youthful vitality, community involvement, and plentiful good paying jobs go to other states with like-minded people having vested. and long lasting concerns about their future and those of their family."

My 18-34 generation will be moving on to Albuquerque, Austin, Boulder, Raleigh-Durham NC, and Denver.....some of us came from those places during this current recession, and deeply moving to AZ....There is very little support for young professionals who are not college students here in Northern Arizona in the Flagstaff area.....unless something changes very quickly I'm out of here but relocation is expensive and not fun.....compare to Boulder, Colorado where they have a "boulder 21-40" group for young entrepreneurs.....

[Greatday]

Tom Lane wants "Smart Growth" to "go away". Well Tom, I'm afraid you will be waiting an awfully long time - SG isn't going away

And Tom - you seem to want to turn Arizona into California - why? We NATIVE Arizonans like Arizona being Arizona. Not CA, or CO, or NM etc. Arizona.

And, if "your" demographic group wants to move? Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[D-Towner]

as long as my Arizona pals realize that Texas is most supreme state in the union, then I have no problem acknowledging the glory of Arizona

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by D-Towner

as long as my Arizona pals realize that Texas is most supreme state in the union, then I have no problem acknowledging the glory of Arizona

Who cares?

All states are 'supreme' in their own way

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Tom Lane wants "Smart Growth" to "go away". Well Tom, I'm afraid you will be waiting an awfully long time - SG isn't going away

And Tom - you seem to want to turn Arizona into California - why? We NATIVE Arizonans like Arizona being Arizona. Not CA, or CO, or NM etc. Arizona.

And, if "your" demographic group wants to move? Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I think that it will go away very soon in Flagstaff -- because the residents are tired of high rents, food prices, and impact fees.

Everyone I talk with in Flagstaff thinks the concept is absolutely ridiculous -- given the current recession.

After the recession? I'd be all for many of the concepts of smart growth, and a 100% green economy.

But that's the conundrum -- how can the recession end in Arizona when smart growth is limiting the economic growth rate?

That's why it's in the best interest of the working people to Suspend the Arizona Smart Growth Act.

I think most working families, struggling singles, and students would agree with me.

People here laugh at the City's "private/public infill project" now under construction in Flagstaff, with a New Frontiers, Chicos, a bar, and loft apartments. Nobody will go to Chicos ... the joke in Flagstaff is that there's no dress code here

How about a Costco, Trader Joes, and REI? Now THAT would generate HUGE sales tax receipts, and stop people from driving to Phoenix

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

I think that it will go away very soon in Flagstaff -- because the residents are tired of high rents, food prices, and impact fees.

Everyone I talk with in Flagstaff thinks the concept is absolutely ridiculous -- given the current recession.

After the recession? I'd be all for many of the concepts of smart growth, and a 100% green economy.

But that's the conundrum -- how can the recession end in Arizona when smart growth is limiting the economic growth rate?

That's why it's in the best interest of the working people to Suspend the Arizona Smart Growth Act.

I think most working families, struggling singles, and students would agree with me.

People here laugh at the City's "private/public infill project" now under construction in Flagstaff, with a New Frontiers, Chicos, a bar, and loft apartments. Nobody will go to Chicos ... the joke in Flagstaff is that there's no dress code here

How about a Costco, Trader Joes, and REI? Now THAT would generate HUGE sales tax receipts, and stop people from driving to Phoenix

Maybe Flagstaff needs to bottom out; then it will start to grow up.

Hell: it seems that Flag's fraternal twin; Prescott, is doing things right

Of the two northern Az High Country cities----------the latter is a better place to live for regular people.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by JGatti

Here I thought North Carolina would be a good fit for me moving from Michigan. But my wife refuses to move somewhere we have no family. Sorry to hear you don't like it. Mind sharing? Please respond in a private e-mail. I'd hate to see this turn into a, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina post.

Smart wife! Being close to family matters more than many appreciate when they decide to move away. It's one of those never miss the water till the well runs dry kind of things. Being near family is what makes home "home". A good number of people who are unhappy in Arizona (or other adopted places) would be a lot happier if they had parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc here too. My wife's family is mostly in the Phoenix area, mine is in Michigan. Going to visit once a year is both too little and too much.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Smart wife! Being close to family matters more than many appreciate when they decide to move away. It's one of those never miss the water till the well runs dry kind of things. Being near family is what makes home "home". A good number of people who are unhappy in Arizona (or other adopted places) would be a lot happier if they had parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc here too. My wife's family is mostly in the Phoenix area, mine is in Michigan. Going to visit once a year is both too little and too much.

Although I have two brothers in Arizona I can honestly say I don't see them taking the place of all the family and friends we have here in Michigan. Before you go calling my wife smart ( she is but not so much in this sense LOL) I have never been that close with either of my brothers and they both are very involved in their lives and extremely busy day after day. I'd like to give Arizona a chance mainly because with my digital media background I feel I have a better chance of success out there than here. Michigan will however always be home. I can't see me as comfortable and at ease anywhere else as I am here. 41 years is a long time to up and move and start over. We'll see.