Stop Talking down on Memphis (Charleston: transplants, crime, homes)

[vicgray100]

I am from Dallas Texas, getting ready to move back to Memphis.
Memphis is a nice city. I believe that every city has crime, poor schools, lazy cops, you name it. I love that memphis has cultural and southern hospitally. some of the people are nice. just like in other cities some people are nice. My only negative thought is the shopping and restaurants. I think memphis should invest in more malls and restaurants. it brings more jobs and more people to move to the city. Memphis inner city is no worse than any other large city. crime is crime. the mayor and city officials have the authority to make it better and to make sure they bring large corp.. to the city for jobs for the people. In dallas we are growing only in parts that the minorities live that have money. the lower income residents are still broke and poor. so all the neg feedback about memphis and comparing memphis to other cities is a bunch of bull. I have friends in memphis that are well educated people with big nice homes and businesses, money and cars. that travel. and want the best for their families. they have money saved for a rainy day. Dallas is very materialistic, everybody looking nice, but do you have some money in a saving. Live your life and make the best choices by experience living in whatever city you pick to live.

[Jadastwin]

Originally Posted by vicgray100

I am from Dallas Texas, getting ready to move back to Memphis.
Memphis is a nice city. I believe that every city has crime, poor schools, lazy cops, you name it. I love that memphis has cultural and southern hospitally. some of the people are nice. just like in other cities some people are nice. My only negative thought is the shopping and restaurants. I think memphis should invest in more malls and restaurants. it brings more jobs and more people to move to the city. Memphis inner city is no worse than any other large city. crime is crime. the mayor and city officials have the authority to make it better and to make sure they bring large corp.. to the city for jobs for the people. In dallas we are growing only in parts that the minorities live that have money. the lower income residents are still broke and poor. so all the neg feedback about memphis and comparing memphis to other cities is a bunch of bull. I have friends in memphis that are well educated people with big nice homes and businesses, money and cars. that travel. and want the best for their families. they have money saved for a rainy day. Dallas is very materialistic, everybody looking nice, but do you have some money in a saving. Live your life and make the best choices by experience living in whatever city you pick to live.

I'm noticing there are a lot of transplants here. It has been rare for me to run into someone that is originally from Memphis. Even though I have met a few locals, there seem to be more people here from Atlanta and Chicago.

[expatnortherner]

Coming from a large city this is the frontier, the new West. Cheap housing, loads of viable commercial space, nice climate (mostly anyway). No organized crime. It's an entrepreneurs dream. IF you can handle the occasional unrest from the native population, infrequent shoot-outs and general wild west activity happening.

Nothing is more American than carving out a successful future from sometimes challenging (or dangerous) environments. I guess somewhere along the way many have lost sight of that. It's in our blood, a part of our heritage and history.

A lot of your view of Memphis depends on your exposure. The local populace sees despair, newcomers see opportunity. I tend to side with the latter.

Fresh eyes bring fresh ideas, which this town needs badly.

Ex-Pat

[PhDnMe]

A lot of your view of Memphis depends on your exposure. The local populace sees despair, newcomers see opportunity. I tend to side with the latter.

Fresh eyes bring fresh ideas, which this town needs badly.

Ex-Pat[/quote]

I agree, which is why I am willing to relocate from Socal, if given the chance....

[Gravytrayne]

Your optimism is refreshing. But no outsider has ever been able to change the culture here. Traditionally outsiders only come in and exploit the citizens then leave. Is that the "opportunity" you speak of?

[expatnortherner]

Originally Posted by Gravytrayne

Your optimism is refreshing. But no outsider has ever been able to change the culture here. Traditionally outsiders only come in and exploit the citizens then leave. Is that the "opportunity" you speak of?

I think you're referring to my post. Define "exploit"? My take on it is that locals are doing a pretty good job of exploiting themselves. One look at the demographics and political situation will show that...clearly.

I'm remined of that Star Trek episode where they are caught in a chronal loop and repeating the same day over and over. Memphis is like that, repeating the same scenarios over and over. Fresh blood stops the cycle, the key is having that fresh blood reach a tipping point.

It happened in Atlanta, Richmond, Charleston and a number of other cities, it will happen here.

Ex-Pat

[Huckleberry3911948]

all your statements are true . but memphis is in trouble.
civil rights law have been used way too much to protect the uncivil
and to incapacitate the police from doing their job. as to urban renewal projects, it is an evil in itself. it makes very dangerous areas look safe.
the balance of good and evil in memphis has shifted for the worse. patrons of memphis will return when memphis becomes safe. i am no stranger to memphis. fyi i am non white. i have a dream.

[RikBrooks]

Memphis was once a proud and very regal city. She was the pearl of the mid-south. I can recall many hot and humid summer nights walking in the park beside the Mississippi and just laying down in the grass for a nap - then waking up with dew all over me. I was young then.

I see vestiges of the old Memphis everywhere. I'm going to contribute as much as I can for the next decade or two before I retire. Then I'm moving far into the country.

[strumpeace]

Originally Posted by Gravytrayne

Your optimism is refreshing. But no outsider has ever been able to change the culture here. Traditionally outsiders only come in and exploit the citizens then leave. Is that the "opportunity" you speak of?

I agree. I think at all the companies that come to Memphis from elsewhere just to take advantage of cheap labor. And all the people who come here from elsewhere just to take advantage of the cheaper cost of living. And then when things get tough, these companies and individuals--who have no connections here--can just up and leave. It happens all the time.

[expatnortherner]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

all your statements are true . but memphis is in trouble.
civil rights law have been used way too much to protect the uncivil
and to incapacitate the police from doing their job. as to urban renewal projects, it is an evil in itself. it makes very dangerous areas look safe.
the balance of good and evil in memphis has shifted for the worse. patrons of memphis will return when memphis becomes safe. i am no stranger to memphis. fyi i am non white. i have a dream.

"all your statements are true . but memphis is in trouble."

Every major city has been in trouble. NYC almost went bankrupt in the 70's. It's the nature of things, seven fat years, seven lean years. That this city is in a series of lean years only points to the fat years on the horizon.

"civil rights law have been used way too much to protect the uncivil"

Don't know what you mean by this.

"and to incapacitate the police from doing their job."

With overall crime being down I also don't know what you mean by this.

"as to urban renewal projects, it is an evil in itself. it makes very dangerous areas look safe. "

Again, what does this have to do with a positive outlook? Every city has good and bad areas, it's your personal perception of safety that changes how you react to it.

"the balance of good and evil in memphis has shifted for the worse. patrons of memphis will return when memphis becomes safe. i am no stranger to memphis. fyi i am non white. i have a dream."

In my definition this is actually exploitation since the folks doing the work to make things change for the better will be displaced or outpriced by the folks returning.
Ex-Pat