[stars99]

I've found some people try to claim that everything down there is awful, except for the wealthy area. The people I know (in person, not on this forum), enjoy it down there and don't carry on about crime when I speak to them. I'd be a lot more about a burglary in some of these areas than personally being a victim of violent crime. As you said, common sense, etc. and what you're up to goes a long way.

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Riviera Beach is bad. Like Camden with Palm Trees. It's southern border "bleeds" into WPB's northern border. If I had my way, I'd cede northern WPB to Riviera Beach. WPB's crime stats would drop like a rock, lol.

Of course, even in Riviera Beach (which technically includes parts of Singer Island, which is actually a very nice area), "what you're doing," "who you are," and "who you are with" can go a long way in determining your victimization possibility.

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

No. Once you get a "macro" of the crime situation in a particular area, there is and will be yet another layer to the "crime ranking" statistics, which is MUCH easier ascertained by OTHER OBJECTIVE FACTS than asking people how safe they FEEL in West Palm Beach:

For example,

Do you know that the vast vast majority of murders in West Palm Beach are young black men killing other young black men in a part of town that I ASSURE you, you and/or your family would NEVER live in?

Do you know that a vast vast majority of murders in West Palm Beach are "acquaintence/family" related, and or drug and gang related?

Do you know that "Hispanic" migrant workers are more likely to be targeted for robbery because they are known to carry large sums of cash around?

THOSE are OBJECTIVE statistics.




See above. There are additional OBJECTIVE facts that will allow you to TRULY gauge your personal crime victimization possibility.

If I tell you, "I live in West Palm Beach and have never been a victim of crime, so you should ignore the statistics," then THAT is a subjective opinion that may not jive with the overall threat, depending on YOUR personal situation. It actually does not help ANYONE because I don't know a damn thing about you, your age, race, whether or not you'll be trolling the ghetto for drugs at 3AM, whether or not you can only afford to live in Section 8 housing, etc.

Even if someone asks, "Do you FEEL safe in West Palm Beach" I can personally answer by saying, "I feel safe in West Palm Beach." NORMALLY, I will tell people, "Don't move to the northside of town unless it's one or two particular neighborhoods" but if five people say, "I feel safe" and five more say, "I don't feel safe..." what good has that done?


My mother lives 40 minutes or so North of West Palm Beach, in a city that has moved up and down the "safest city in America" list for years and years (at one time a couple years back it TOPPED the "safest city in America" list. SHE, however, has had her house burglarized, while I have never (knock on wood). If she came on her ranting about how bad crime is in Port St. Lucie because she got her house broken into, and I came on here talking about how it's peaches and cream because I've never had my house broken into, isn't it a BAD THING if people walk away from the forum thinking WPB is safer than PSL?



Now, if someone asks, "What is it like for interracial couples in X area," then THAT is something that "personal experience," particularly from people in interracial couplings, can give "personal opinions" on, since it measures SUBJECTIVE.

The point of my post(s) was to embrace the same level of caution when reviewing the statistics that are often bandied about, as opinions that are generated by personal experiences. Because a number has been attached, or a certain place on someone's list assessed, biases still exist. Even your "objective statistics" on this thread suggest a level of bias and subjectivity, because any interpretation of data is a derived opinion, based upon those facts.

There is much to be learned from those who post from personal experience, even though sometimes the personal component translates into frequent generalities. This a forum where much can be learned.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by Doctor Octagon

TNRyan doesnt live in FL anymore, although he did.

For 20 years, I'm sure the way things are done hasn't changed.

The scenery may have changed and the everglades may be built up but Florida is Florida.

It doesn't just change.

[honglee]

My husband and I want to move to FL after he retires. I did some research on Tampa, north of Tampa, and St Peterburg. I found out that housings aren't cheap, property tax is high, and crimes rates are not any better than CA, and "sink holes" zones. This is a first time I hear about this type of natural disaster. Although, my husband and I still like the idea of tropical climate of FL, and a nice mixtures of peoples. We have son and we want move to a place does not have gang problem, reasonable housing, and no..."sink holes"!
I hope I don't sound like a snob! I just want a nicer place to raise my son and my husband can have a peaceful retirement. we are both in our fourtyish, so we don't mind to hang out with some old folks but we also like people our ages too.

[TriMT7]

The West Coast of FLorida seems to have more sink hole issues than the East Coast. If you're looking for good retirement areas, look into the Treasure Coast - Stuart, Jensen Beach, etc.

Home prices ARE tracking at about year 1999 - 2000 levels. Property tax is roughly 2% of value.

[loillon892]

I've always enjoyed living here. In my experience, the people who don't like Florida generally don't belong in any big state, because things such as diversity, immigration, and traffic drive them insane. And I really question the mental stability of people who move here but don't like hot weather...

[stars99]

Originally Posted by Bizforum

my vote = terrible place to live

Another insightful post by bizforum.

[loillon892]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I've found some people try to claim that everything down there is awful, except for the wealthy area. The people I know (in person, not on this forum), enjoy it down there and don't carry on about crime when I speak to them. I'd be a lot more about a burglary in some of these areas than personally being a victim of violent crime. As you said, common sense, etc. and what you're up to goes a long way.

A friend recommended that I read some of the posts on this site and join, and I couldn't agree more. Apparently, all of the Floridians on this board live in Goulds, Liberty City, and Riviera Beach. You would think that the entire state was some sort of warzone just by reviewing posts here. For many of us - I dare say the vast majority of us - crime is no more of an issue here than anywhere else. Act with some common sense, avoid certain areas, and you'll be fine. I've lived in Florida for a long time - and not in a super-exclusive area - and I've never been the victim of any type of violent or property crime.

[stars99]

Originally Posted by loillon892

And I really question the mental stability of people who move here but don't like hot weather...

At best they show a serious lack of judgment. In extreme cases the "Ignore" feature comes in very handy (I didn't realize we could do that until a couple of weeks ago).

[HOT ROCKS]

I grew up in FL and moved to Raleigh, NC 13 yrs ago. When I lived there it was okay, I didn't have many complaints except for South FL was not the ideal place to raise the kids and parts of Orlando where I grew up have gone way down hill. When you compare taxes and things like that, it probably all works out in the end...FL has homestead exemption, but higher property taxes, NC has State taxes. Wages are higher in NC and I don't think our prices on gas and groceries are much different then FL--my mom and I always compare.
NC is growing, especially where I live, but we are keeping up with roads, unlike Orlando's I-4 & some areas in other parts of the state. Schools are better even though they are getting crowded (we are moving more Elementary's & Middle Schools to year round). I chose private schools in South FL, there was no way I would put my kids in those schools.
Weather is great in NC, snow is rare and when it happens it melts in a day, no shoveling, a day off from school/work and everyone gets to play in it. Change of seasons is nice and the heat is by far more tolerable then the FL heat on most days...at least the season is shorter. I can also get to the mountains in 3 hours and the beach in 2 hours, so that's ideal too.
What do I miss about FL, family & friends and that's about it.
I'd be happy to chat with anyone who is considering a move to Raleigh, it was the best decision I ever made! Nothing against FL, I know some love it, but I'm one that has seen something more appealing.