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As I have said over and over again, the crime issue in Eugene is minimal. The statistics are skewed by small property crime around the university (it's the same in other college towns) plus one grungy area of Eugene where the down & out live. (Check the Eugene crime statistic map on the Register Guard website to figure it out for yourself.)
So here's two tips for readers to follow if they want to avoid crime and the police in Eugene:
1. Don't break the law or hang around with people who are breaking the law or associate in any way with grungy low-class individuals that have anything to do with drunk driving, meth, mullets, trucker hats, sleeveless Metallica t-shirts, and/or strip clubs. Just say no. Then make friends with the other 95% of the population in Eugene.
2. See point #1
One other issue: The Eugene Weekly is a fun local paper with liberal and oftentimes wacky views. Most readers just check it out for info on music events, restaurants, etc. The editorial content is controlled by one guy (Alan something). He gets a few goofy letters to the editor supporting his views. So take it as the view of 1 person who happens to have a printing press. (FYI, I am quite liberal myself, but the Eugene Weekly guy is really off the deep end in most cases). If you want a more accurate view of the situation in Eugene, read the localreal newspaper, The Register Guard.
All right, sounds familiar to other college towns, and I already know how to deal with that. Responding to what you said as for the editor being wacko, well, same is true of Dan Savage who edits the Seattle alternative weekly, and who is syndicated nationwide. I am mostly Libertarian which implies Liberal in the classic sense, so who knows what the Editor will do if I ever wrote them letters bashing the Democrats, who in my opinion have abandoned both Liberal and Libertarian principles.
Last edited by CCCVDUR; 02-01-2010 at 05:39 AM..
Reason: Editing
I lived in Eugene for 2 years and NEVER worried about my safety. I would bike home from the university to my house in the south hills on a regular basis. I was more worried about running over a nutria than someone hassling me. I also kept a very nice bike locked on campus and never had it stolen. I parked my car on and around campus many times and never had someone break in. I even spent a lot of time walking around the Whiteaker neighborhood where many of the "hippies" live and didn't have any problems.
You could say to all of these that I was "just lucky". I think it shows that some of the fear about crime is exaggerated. I didn't walk around fearing for my life. Eugene isn't that bad.
"The drug related side of this comes in the form of property crimes. People dismiss this, saying that it's only druggies who need to support their habit and at least they aren't hurting anyone, but imagine how YOU would like it when meth heads kick in your back door, like what happened to me about a month ago and happens in this city several times a day. Maybe that's the worst thing that happens to you living here, but it's no picnic, and it wouldn't even be the first, or the second, or even the third time for me (1208)".
These crime threads on Eugene both on this forum and the statewide forum are discouraging. The place doesn't sound safe; I've lived in too many places where it's not safe to run or bike after dark. The Eugene Weekly just had articles challenging the police in Eugene.
This sort of scenario doesn't sound good and there are many other Western and Southern Oregon towns that sound a lot better. How does Eugene's crime compare to Ashland, Grants Pass, Corvallis, and Medford? Since there's a meth problem, why hasn't it been corrected? Why is there antagonism towards the police in Eugene, when they're the ones cleaning up the drugs? I want a town that's safe 24 hours a day.
This article is exactly what I mean. The naive, uneducated author doesn't understand how drug traffickers are arrested. Now, it is true that Libertarians never lie, however, this is an exception: Eugene Weekly : Feature : 1.21.2010
These authors REALLY have serious problems if they're out on the street trying to BUY the stuff, when they COULD get it LEGALLY w/ an Oregon medical marijuana permit. Reminds me of here in Arizona, where it is a felony to possess any amount HOWEVER people do it anyway, when they could move to Colorado and get it legally. I have no problem with Medical Marijuana.
The Eugene Weekly article is anti-authoritarian. Nothing wrong with that, however, law ENFORCEMENT is our most important and SHOULD be our MOST TRUSTED aspect of government. How much hatred of the police exists? How much drug trafficking goes on behind dumpsters at night? How safe is Eugene compared to elsewhere in rural Oregon?
Just wanted to add my two cents/experience to the thread:
I tried eugene-after hearing how great it was-liberal,green college town....this was a year ago. we lasted 4 months. (via CA,BUT I lived several years each in missoula and boulder,and wanted that college vibe.)
Eugene felt like a METH CITY. seriously. I did not even read this whole thread,but the whole vibe of that place is now a small city,not a college town. And it's a small city with a meth vibe,at that. Degenerating city,like,I don't know what to compare it to-maybe a former industrial city who's economy has deteriorated and drugs have taken it's place.
The farmer's market is amazing;the food options are quite good-SO many health stores and local markets,that was wonderful.
But,truly,it is a scary place to me,and I felt less safe living in Eugene, than living in the urban neighborhood in so cal that I had come from. (or,at least AS safe-whereas you would think that eugene would be more bucolic,esp comparing 100k to 2 million people!)
The air quality in Eugene has serious issues from agri. burn in the summer,esp since it's in a valley. And in fact,the valley gives air quality a run for it's money year round-i was there in the fall/winter.
As soon as you hit eugene limits,you are faced with extreme oregon poverty. Not pristine trails and hikes. The biking is overrated;Corvallis is so much better,as are missoula and boulder.
Plus,many of the trail areas in Eugene are wrought with homeless and the meth issue.
I am sorry to anyone who is offended and who loves Eugene. I had nothing but hopes going in,and had read all the threads on C-D before I went there. I had also visited briefly,but in the summer with a tourist atittude.
Upon living there,I found many areas unsafe,for a city of it's size 100k or less,right? it just didn't make sense.
And,as in all of oregon,employment is non-existent,socialism is huge [there are no charter schools in eugene-or there weren't last I checked,and i think one or two private schools-that's it! it's very socialist,which i guess w/U of O is to be expected,but wow-normally there's more divergence in a univ. town].
I also want to add that my mother visited for sevearl weeks,from the east coast,and she has lived in multiple states and visited me in many others,and she was shocked by eugene and could not believe it-b/c she had heard such great things about oregon. She referred to eugene as 'purgatory'-it was the only word she could think of.
Oh,and my mom and I have very different tastes;so i mention this b/c we both were kind of shocked at the scene/life there.
My assessment is that Eugene once was a college town with vibrancy,and there are precious few remnants of that time-but Eugenians still think they are living in a town in it's prime,which they are not. The meth problem and crime are real issues.
It's fine to say well california is worse or as bad,etc.
But if people are looking to move to a quaint college town with all the amenities that vibe offers,do not choose Eugene. It may have it's benefits,and be right for some,but not for the aforementioned reasons. Choose Corvallis,if you must be in Oregon. I have had multiple friends live in corvallis,and visited numerous times. There you will find a college town in it's hey dey,and a proactive community w/o the social ills and crime of eugene.
Sorry;I did not feel safe in eugene. Boulder has crime and the college area can be iffy,but the city is CLEAN,and not grungy,and I did not feel unsafe there,as I did in Eugene. boulder does not have a meth problem and is far more affluent,for the same size city. So as far as Eugene being 'the same as any college town',not quite true.Corvallis is also far safer than Eugene.
Oh,and i have lived in third world countries [as a single female]for extended periods of time.ie,africa,asia. I chose to move my family to eugene. I think my is somewhat objective/useful for others,based on where I moved from and the comparisons I am going on.
Last edited by lrmsd; 02-07-2010 at 03:13 PM..
Reason: error
okay,i just realized this thread is old,but for anyone looking...housing in eugene is alot of post WWII tract housing...and there are of course posh neighbhorhoods with great bungalows/old homes-which are very expensive-ie,rival portland prices for same type of housing.
Many former residential areas are very busy streets now,so those 'older homes' are commercial,or places that you would not want to live/buy a home in. As well,the 'affordable areas' that are not on a main road,will give you newer homes w/o character or ranch homes...
and there are many areas that are not safe-multiple neighborhoods!!!! For a city of 100k,it's quite a ratio.
Corvallis is a better choice for a residential neighborhood equivalent to the midwest towns. But prices in Corvallis are much higher these days.
I lived in Eugene for 2 years and NEVER worried about my safety. I would bike home from the university to my house in the south hills on a regular basis. I was more worried about running over a nutria than someone hassling me. I also kept a very nice bike locked on campus and never had it stolen. I parked my car on and around campus many times and never had someone break in. I even spent a lot of time walking around the Whiteaker neighborhood where many of the "hippies" live and didn't have any problems.
You could say to all of these that I was "just lucky". I think it shows that some of the fear about crime is exaggerated. I didn't walk around fearing for my life. Eugene isn't that bad.
I didn't fear for my life,either. But I didn't in urban san diego,either.
If you are moving your family and looking for a midwestern college town vibe,you will not find that level of safety or bucolic vibe in eugene. I don't think the crime,for it's size,and for what many people move to eugene looking for,is overrated at all.
I don't define safety as 'not fearing for my life'.
Well, obviously you have nothing good to say about Eugene. Can't really take someone like you so serious when all you do in your posts is bash this city. There are great things about this place, just like all places. There are bad things about this place, just like all places. However, in no way at all does the crime in Eugene compare to Pittsburgh's. Are you kidding me? Please start being honest.
Christian radio stations and racists? What? Are you just making stuff up? You sound pretty foolish about now. While there are religious people everywhere, the last place you'll find religious radio stations is in Eugene. Not that it's a bad thing to have them, but Eugene is a open minded city. A city that doesn't get off on pushing ideas onto others. You'll struggle to find any type of religious talk on the local radio.
Racists now? There is very very very few incidents of any racism in this area. The last I can remember is a few months ago, I believe gas was poured on the street in the design of a cross, and burnt. Shocking to hear, and the first of it's kind I heard about in a very long time, I couldn't remember something like that before it happened. Besides, there are not true racists here.(Not to make excuses for them) The racists you find here are more ignorant people that have found their beliefs on the internet and on T.V. Not through direct contact with the KKK or Neo-Nazis.
Uneducated people? I know there's 4, and may be 5 higher educational institutions or colleges. I find it hard to believe that your statement has any credibility what so ever.
I didn't think she was bashing the city-jsut sharing her experiences. And I concur,although I wish I had read this post back in 2008,as it was started just a month before I moved to eugene and experienced much of what this person did. [I did not feel safe,though noone came into my house,fortunately].
Consisten on C-D forum is the attitude that you are 'bashing' a place if you say you don't like it and your experience has shown you that it is not a nice place to do X,y or Z.
This is a forum,and people can read a thread and make their own assessments,deciding whether a place is right for them,by researching multiple factors,not just one person's post.
Accept feedback of all kinds-not every place is for everyone.
We are all adults and allowed to share out opinions and exeriences as such.
Thanks.
ps-what are the 4 or 5 higher ed institutions? U of O,one private christian school and???
Corvallis is a college town worth considering for raising a family,and oregon state is there,but that cannot be considered part of the eugene area. And albany has a medical school now-but that is closer to corvallis,too.
Last edited by lrmsd; 02-07-2010 at 03:29 PM..
Reason: error
I would not move to Eugene. Most of the elected officials in Eugene, Oregon are very corrupt and heavily influence the Lane County Elections officials to keep people that don't fit their profile off of the election ballots (i. e. anything other than affluent white). The State of Oregon is investigating currently investigating election fraud in Eugene.
The current elected officials and the University of Oregon also are very anti-veteran, especially disabled veterans. The city of Eugene for the most part absolutely refuses to let any American Veteran, Arab American, African American organizations be included in parades and job fairs. The University of Oregon and most of the city of Eugene also does not recognize the national holiday, Veteran's Day.
In my humble opinion, I also believe that the police in Eugene are very corrupt too. Auto Theft, Buglaries, Drugs, and Gang activity is alarmingly higher than most big cities in the US. By the time anyone calls for the police, the need for them has usually long past if they even show up at all, an average of 5 to 11 hours for 911 calls is not uncommon. The City of Eugene does very little other than lip service to keep criminals in jail. It is not uncommon for people who are arrested to be let back out on the street for crimes like car theft 3 hours later only to get arrested for car theft again in the same day. The City of Eugene, Lane County, and senior State of Oregon officials are pushing to give themselves a 54% raise with no accountability, while they claim there isn't enough money for jail beds or to help senior citizens, the disabled, the homeless, and keep animal shelters open. Furthermore, the City of Eugene does everything but invite adult book stores and strip clubs on major city streets. In addition, most employers in Eugene will find reasons not to employ you if you are disabled. I know this first hand as a disabled veteran.
However, all is not lost in Eugene or Lane County, if you live outside the major city limits, the Lane County Sheriff's department is doing an outstanding job with the extremely limited resources it gets allocated to it. The K thru 12 educational system for the most part is very good in Eugene. Lane Community College is one of the best in the entire country too. However, the University of Oregon is more concerned about their sports teams than they are standards of education for their students. Also, the general population of Eugene is polite and unbiased. The situation in Springfield is much better than that of Eugene, the City of Springfield is proactive and not corrupt in trying to stop crime and run down areas of Springfield. Their worst area is car theft around Gateway Mall. I would put any valuables in your trunk site unseen if you happen to go there.
There are lots of churches throughout Eugene and Springfield for Christians like myself. But, most of Eugene and parts of Springfield is very liberal. I am a disabled US Navy veteran and have lived in the Eugene area for about 8 years. I have attended both LCC and U of O, and stay in Eugene so that I can live close to my kids that live with my adulterous exwife.
Just wondering who determined that Lane Community college was one of the best in the country??? the country???
Lots of opinions and I will happily share mine as well.
We moved to Eugene a year ago from Utah, and if I didn't ever read forums about this city I would call it the perfect place.
We moved into an apartment with out 8 yr old daughter, who met a lot of other kids who moved here from out of state, and for the first time in her life we allow her to be independent, she goes out and plays without us watching every move like we did in UT. Obviously part of this is her getting older, but it's also because we met our neighbors and have been greeted warmly by almost everyone we pass by. We have met the parents of the other kids and now know each other well enough to just chat while the kids play outside, and a benefit to this is the kids always have a parent we trust close by.
We often forget to lock our apartment when at work, I have even accidentally had all the windows rolled down all night in our 09' Nissan and nothing has ever happened to it.
This isn't to say bad things don't happen here, but I have yet to see anything that would make this place feel unsafe to us. We have never regretting moving here and do not plan on leaving.
we do the same in san diego. i guess you can find your place for children to be children safely,anywhere. i did not feel safe in eugene with my son---
i found it creepy,meth city vibe with a disturbing amount of poverty,crime and lack of education for a city of it's size. [btw,when's the last time you saw a poster at the automechanic,a state issue poster,of a little girl,about to run into traffic,and the words 'get your brakes checked'?]
I mean,are people NOt checking their brakes there? Do people not know this is common sense?
i have lived around the country and the world,and truly,eugene and oregon are not what they are marketed to be. Guess it depends on what you are comparing them to.
I'd move to NE to raise a family in a heartbeat over oregon. Or even CA,which I decided to return to and have never regretted for a moment. I shudder to this day when I think of living in eugene.
To say that it's relatively safe,or as safe as any college town,is not really true.
For a city of it's size,it has problems of a much larger city.
Alright, as someone who's lived here a long time, I must say that I don't agree with ANYONE'S opinions on crime in Eugene so far.
So far it seems like people either think Eugene is some sort of methed out hellhole with no police force, no community awareness, and no safety anywhere blah blah blah, or that all the crime is just college kids getting their bikes stolen and homeless people getting busted for drinking downtown and so on.
It has been said before, but crime in Eugene mostly is drugs and drug related. The drugs are, to some degree everywhere, but there's no reason to worry about them They are easily avoidable, and if you don't want to I doubt you will ever come in contact with them.
That said, at the same time you WILL notice obvious junkies around town, and I personally find do find syringes on my property sometimes.
The drug related side of this comes in the form of property crimes. People dismiss this, saying that it's only druggies who need to support their habit and at least they aren't hurting anyone, but imagine how YOU would like it when meth heads kick in your back door, like what happened to me about a month ago and happens in this city several times a day. Maybe that's the worst thing that happens to you living here, but it's no picnic, and it wouldn't even be the first, or the second, or even the third time for me.
However, most of Eugene is Very safe, and It seems like 4/5 of the crime happens in the central Eugene area --around downtown, including west university--and in lower income areas to the west -- around bethel. Take a look at the Eugene police map and you will see, the crimes in the further out areas are few and far between.
I have been to many places, good and bad, and Eugene is definetly safe. Someone mentioned Albuquerque, and in comparison to that, Eugene is a cakewalk. THe worst neighborhoods in Eugene look only half as bad as any neighborhood off Central in ABQ.
You will be fine here, just remember to keep close watch on your possessions. Theft won't happen every time you leave something unattended or unprotected, but make a habit of it and you will be burned.
I agree with the ABQ comparison(that Eugene is a cakewalk in comparison),but c'mon! who compares eugene oregon to alb. new mexico??? lol
ABQ has what 600k people,eugene 100,for starters. two freeways run right thru ABQ,and the state borders mexico,so the obvious trafficking occurs there. And you have racial tensions,inequalities and divides there that really cannot be discussed about eugene.
Anyway,I appreciate you saying there is a middle ground,andt hat some of what each 'side' has said about crime in eugene is true.
I have not found all other cities on this forum to have the same complaints-ie,a few individuals saying it's unsafe,meth,etc. So I guess the person who is researching cities must be picking similar demographics/types of locales.
Boulder is an exception to college towns of around 100k. However,there are many college towns of around 50k that do not have meth or crime problem-ie,corvallis comes to mind,and towns in the midwest,as well as northeast/new england area.
Meth in the western US is a huge problem,growing daily,and so people may hear the same comments about western college cities and metro areas.
I also agree that when you have patchwork neighborhoods that are not safe (I would put eugene in this category somewhat),you have more spillover for everyone in terms of crime. An example:It is such that la jolla and del mar are safe,while SE san diego is not. But,parts of san diego now have meth addicts living in canyons that 10 yrs ago were empty,and the ban on alcohol on beaches meant that literally people migrated out of ocean beach and pacific beach,and homeless population increased in hillcrest. My point is that meth addiction is growing and spreads throughout communities very quickly-as desparation is very strong with this addiction.
I also want to say,that when people comment 'oh most of the crime is drug related'...
Um,yea,most of the crime in ANY city is drug related.
The question is whether or not you will be a target for that drug related crime-or will your neighborhood be off limits?
Just piggy backing on your post-thanks!!!(:
Last edited by lrmsd; 02-07-2010 at 03:51 PM..
Reason: error
Once again, I must say, as a normal person living in Eugene, all of this talk about meth is massively, insanely, and dare I say, suspiciously exaggerated. It feels to me like a few posters have an axe to grind and so they reach for the overused claim that such and such city has a "meth problem". Maybe they had a bad time living in Eugene due to personal reasons, or they could not find a job (it's tough to do so in Eugene), or they hung around with a lower-income crowd involved in sketchy activities (including said meth use)? I don't know. But something seems to have skewed their view of reality for the vast majority of Eugene residents.
My advice for fellow forum readers is to do their best to sift through the forum posts on Eugene and divide them according to "reasonable persons like myself" and "ranting long-winded persons with an axe to grind". Needless to say, the posts from "reasonable persons like myself" are probably worth taking to heart.
Hey, it's the internet...you gotta pick and choose among the conflicting "objective views" being offered.
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