What don't you like about Phoenix? (Globe, Taylor: to live, cheap housing, rich)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by pokuku

Phoenix also was recently cited as having the lowest number of Fortune 500 Corporate Headquarters for any the large American cities. About to get worse when US Airways HQ shuts down, as planned with the merger.

The problem with a lack of HQs is a lack of high paying jobs. When US Airways leaves, the entire state of Arizona will only have five F500 HQs left.

This has always been a concern of mine. Having a large amount of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in any city gives the city prestige, and gives the strong reputation of being business friendly & world class. Competitive, higher paying jobs also arise from this. Phoenix has the potential to be a world class city, but it seems like there's a lack of interest from people who move here for non essential reasons like the climate, etc.

Originally Posted by Golden_Monkey

So not to be cynical, but I think the Phoenix job market might be great for people who don't have degrees, because there's an equalization factor--whether you dropped out of high school, or you completed grad school, you'll probably end up working the same job for the same pay anyway. Geez, our governor dropped out of community college, so I guess that really sets a precedent for the rest of the state.

My degree has helped some in my advancement, but I don't credit that alone. A college degree is nice to have, and it definitely can make a difference in salary ... but how hard you work, how willing you are to do extra projects, how well you network, and overall people skills are the key. This is not just in Phoenix, but everywhere. These days, pretty any kind of college degree can be earned on line and it just doesn't have the merit like it used to.

I really think too much emphasis is put on kids attending college, and not enough emphasis is put on hard work. Many of these young people go to college just to party, socialize, play sports, or just to say they're attending college, but many of them don't know what they want to major in. The worst part is all the student loans they have to pay when they graduate, and they often can't begin to afford it on their own. The best education in my experience is learning by DOING.

Originally Posted by seattlecoming

They move there for the sun, low-cost housing, the lazy laid-back life style, to retire, and then die - that's about it. Real productive life, huh?

I agree, except for the part about coming here to die. That's a little over the top.

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Oh man, this guy again?! Just because you were a failure here doesn't mean everyone else is. I assure you that no one thinks a $35-40k salary is living well.

Things I dislike about Phoenix? People that moved here with high hopes, failed miserably and then go on to blame their poor experience on the city and not themselves.

Other than the exaggeration & being negative, Seattlecoming is absolutely right about the unfortunate lack of competitive jobs & business minded people. Those who move here strictly for the climate, retirement, and cheap housing really contribute very little to making the city or metro area more world class. We still put too much emphasis on things like the sun, seasonal tourism, and golf resorts. That's one of the reasons why Phoenix is viewed by many outsiders as little more than a small desert city. That was fine 40 years ago when we were smaller, but the nation's sixth largest city should be attracting more reputable firms, educated people, entrepreneurs, as well as prominent leaders in big business. We should also strive to be a year round destination ... not just some part time haven for snowbirds.

[omaraz]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

omaraz,

While I've only lived here for going on six years I have to say I've never experienced anything you're talking about. You're using a lone person "from Chicago" as an example of how Phoenix is as a whole? I think you just ran into someone "from Chicago" that is an idiot as that isn't representative of the Phoenicians I've seen over the last six years. Your example would make more sense if you were complaining about people "from Chicago" then it does about Phoenicians as a whole.

You completely missed my point, it has nothing to do with Chicago, it has to do with the attitude this woman had about her lifestyle and used it as a reference point of condescend. That attitude isn't just a Chicagoan attitdue, there are plenty of people from all over the US, native Arizonans and Phoenicians, etc. that live in metro Phoenix that did the same time.

I believe OP asked, "what don't you like about Phoenix" for me this (condescending people and arrogance) was it, I was also responding to a post that specifically asked for "an example" so I gave one. There are plenty others that I could have shared. I have plenty of friends that still live in Phoenix and love it and don't share my perspective. They are entitled to their opinion based on their experience just as much as I am entitled to my perspective based on my experiences and the same goes for anyone on this board...not everyone will agree with one another.

[pokuku]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Other than the exaggeration & being negative, Seattlecoming is absolutely right about the unfortunate lack of competitive jobs & business minded people. Those who move here strictly for the climate, retirement, and cheap housing really contribute very little to making the city or metro area more world class. We still put too much emphasis on things like the sun, seasonal tourism, and golf resorts. That's one of the reasons why Phoenix is viewed by many outsiders as little more than a small desert city. That was fine 40 years ago when we were smaller, but the nation's sixth largest city should be attracting more reputable firms, educated people, entrepreneurs, as well as prominent leaders in big business. We should also strive to be a year round destination ... not just some part time haven for snowbirds.

Great post, and it goes along with this thread's question. What don't I like? Well, Phoenix doesn't strive to be better.

[BoiWonder13]

Originally Posted by cityKing

It's ugly scenery
it's suburban sprawl
it's lack of culture
it's lack of diversity
how hot it gets
it's not unqiue
not an urban center
crappy sports teams
tries too hard to be like the westcoast instead of the southwest

i can go on and on but you get the picture.

Tucson > Phx

-Tucson is less diverse than Phoenix as a city last time i checked?

-Tucson has much worse scenery imo, they don't have south mountain, camelback or even the Mcdowell's type of cascade Phoenix metro has. Way more epic compared to those flat flowing mountains down in Tucson lol.

- Both cities are hot as ever in the Summer.. i guess Tucson 2-3 degree difference is more tolerable.

-Tucson has U of A and oops nothing else.. so kill that the statement about sports teams!

-Phoenix is definitely southwest culture... LA has a way different vibe, granted both cities have similar attributes and Phoenix is younger than LA so its gonna have its style in some way shape or form.

-Ok I give you sprawl.. its damn crazy and will hopefully be cooling off into the years to come. Downtown Phoenix is more of an urban center than it was five years back.

Please come back and visit before you do this again..thanks

[DougStark]

Phoenix area has terrible FM music stations. There isn't even one alternative rock music station in town... Unbelievable.

[DetroitN8V]

I have another one. Few solid dive bars. None with pinball. Get with it, AZ hipsters.

[magnum0417]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I have another one. Few solid dive bars. None with pinball. Get with it, AZ hipsters.

Plenty in Prescott, Jerome and Flagstaff if you want to have that vibe and that is a good thing. I am a sports bar ,juke box and dartboard type myself although I do not drink at bars locally anymore because the drinking laws don't make it worthwhile. One beer in your system can get you popped so I drink at home unless I am in walking distance on vacation. There are a couple "dive bars" pretty close to where I live in Tempe along Baseline and McClintock area and I've hung out at them drinking unleaded beverages and the people seem cool enough. When I am done I buy a 6 pack and settle in at home.

I mentioned the bad drivers on the highways along with getting the monsoon humidity without the rain the other day. However, Tempe FINALLY got some action monday night where I live. I hate the cold and snow and understand the trade off of living in the Sonoran Desert is a lack of rain. I enjoy rain and thunderstorms and that is something I miss. I've actually on weekends gone storm chasing just because I love a good thunderstorm. You see them north,east and south but very rarely over Tempe as I stated.

[FierySun]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

This has always been a concern of mine. Having a large amount of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in any city gives the city prestige, and gives the strong reputation of being business friendly & world class. Competitive, higher paying jobs also arise from this. Phoenix has the potential to be a world class city, but it seems like there's a lack of interest from people who move here for non essential reasons like the climate, etc.



Other than the exaggeration & being negative, Seattlecoming is absolutely right about the unfortunate lack of competitive jobs & business minded people. Those who move here strictly for the climate, retirement, and cheap housing really contribute very little to making the city or metro area more world class. We still put too much emphasis on things like the sun, seasonal tourism, and golf resorts. That's one of the reasons why Phoenix is viewed by many outsiders as little more than a small desert city. That was fine 40 years ago when we were smaller, but the nation's sixth largest city should be attracting more reputable firms, educated people, entrepreneurs, as well as prominent leaders in big business. We should also strive to be a year round destination ... not just some part time haven for snowbirds.

You have good points. I think it's too little too late though. The city should've focused on these things decades ago. Now there are more options for educated people to live. The question is why would a educated professional or entrepreneur choose to come to Phoenix when they can live in Seattle, Chicago, D.C, Boston, NYC, Minneapolis, Austin, SF Bay Area, Atlanta, or even Dallas? Arizona doesn't exactly have a very positive reputation.

[Scottay]

Originally Posted by BoiWonder13

-Tucson has much worse scenery imo, they don't have south mountain, camelback or even the Mcdowell's type of cascade Phoenix metro has. Way more epic compared to those flat flowing mountains down in Tucson lol.

The Catalinas are way more pretty IMO (more jagged and rocky/granite looking, with pine trees like the Tetons) not to mention the Catalinas are about 5000 feet higher than every peak in the Phoenix area with the exception of Four Peaks. The other factor is that the Catalinas get snow every year that sticks for at least a few weeks unlike Phoenix where Four Peaks is the only one taht gets any measurable amount and it's gone in a day or two.

Originally Posted by BoiWonder13

Both cities are hot as ever in the Summer.. i guess Tucson 2-3 degree difference is more tolerable.

Tuscon may be only a few degrees cooler in the day but the real difference comes after sundown. Tuscon is much cooler at night.

[Scottay]

Originally Posted by FierySun

The question is why would a educated professional or entrepreneur choose to come to Phoenix when they can live in Seattle, Chicago, D.C, Boston, NYC, Minneapolis, Austin, SF Bay Area, Atlanta, or even Dallas? Arizona doesn't exactly have a very positive reputation.

Motorola, Microchip, Intel, Lockheed, Honeywell, General Dynamics, Western Technology, Black & Veatch, ASU Research Facility in Tempe..............

Originally Posted by DougStark

Phoenix area has terrible FM music stations. There isn't even one alternative rock music station in town... Unbelievable.

Yeah, it's really just pathetic.