Bellingham, the ugly truth.... (Vancouver, Birch Bay: unemployment, theatre, incomes)

[E Roy Slade]

i heard recently bellingham has the fifth lowest crime rate in cities in our size bracket

so the crime rate is low

the people are pusillanimous and meek in a way but theyre probably carrying a handgun in a backpack or some could and thats legal here

its hard to meet people here i suppose unless you are a democrat from the college ,well not always

[E Roy Slade]

well they can get a gun permit if they carry the gun in a safe way

[E Roy Slade]

i think i heard most the people read at an eighth grade level in whatcom co and i frequently have to explain the meaning of very basic words-its pretty lame and uninteresting at times and i know i dont type too well

[fy10fyr]

Originally Posted by E Roy Slade

i think i heard most the people read at an eighth grade level in whatcom co and i frequently have to explain the meaning of very basic words-its pretty lame and uninteresting at times and i know i dont type too well

Lucky for them you only type at a 6th grade level, so they can read your rantings.

Kudos to you sir!

[rkcarguy]

Lately things have been getting better with theft. Seems like law enforcement finally got off their traffic ticketing butts and did something. On a bad note, I was in court for a minor equipment ticket and watched several members of the 18th St. gang from California(they are moving here like the rest of you) get out of jail time, get their fines cut in 1/2, one with a record of 2x narcotics possession, 5x driving under influence with no license insurance registration, and 3x domestic violence. Then I got up and didn't get a break at all

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by rkcarguy

Nice comeback greenery. I don't want to come across like an ass or anything. I realize people are coming here because they are obviously leaving somewhere worse. The whole cause of this goes way over our heads clear to D.C. in my eyes. A failure of an administration holds interest rates super low in a time of record national debt to stimulate and otherwise dead job market, which caused this real estate boom, while at the same time alot of the expansion hasn't been accomadated which made demand go up and prices soar. I feel it's only a temporary fix, and eventually we may see some very ugly interest rates and possibly one of the largest flops we have ever seen in the real estate market. It also irks me how someone can completely fill in a wetland area and build 100's of apartments yet a homeowner trying to find a lot can't build within a 100ft radius of a single cat tail. I personally feel like we(younger generation) are being forced into crap jobs and apartments around here. The only solice I have is that a majority or these people will hopefully be in the ground in a few years. Maybe I will invest in cemetary plots soon.

Btw, my family members haven't benefited a bit from this boom, their property taxes have increased 2-3 times, and we generally pay more for everything because of this inflated cost of living.

I hate being right all the time(about the housing flop at least).

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by rkcarguy

Lately things have been getting better with theft. Seems like law enforcement finally got off their traffic ticketing butts and did something. On a bad note, I was in court for a minor equipment ticket and watched several members of the 18th St. gang from California(they are moving here like the rest of you) get out of jail time, get their fines cut in 1/2, one with a record of 2x narcotics possession, 5x driving under influence with no license insurance registration, and 3x domestic violence. Then I got up and didn't get a break at all

Do you know what the crime rate is up in Custer, Washington by the Vacouver border?

[Loriandrandy]

Greenery said the weather in Bellingham "begins to perk up" or something like that, in January. I'm throwing the BS flag - it is hideous until July, and even then it could still be rainy and ugly.
Check out the Bellingham stats - 23.7 percent of people living at the poverty level, cost of living index is 107 (avg. is 100), and median income is 36 grand.
I've lived here eight years so I'm not a lifer, and I just don't like it. It's got a depressed feeling most of the year (except for the very short window of time when it's not dark and dreary, mid-July through September), there are no good paying jobs...or very few, at least. There's next to nothing to do - no culture, few good restaurants, and the worst shopping I have EVER seen!). I feel like I"m the one saying the emperor has no clothes on - but I gotta call it the way I've experienced it. Look before you come here - look really closely.
Edited to add: In response to the poster who asked about crime in Custer - I work with adolescents and know firsthand that the crime rates in the areas closer to the Canadian border are high; plenty of people - kids, especially - are used for "mules" to carry drugs back and forth across the border. Custer is a horrible, horrible, place - as are Birch Bay and Blaine.

[Loriandrandy]

...sorry you got such sarcasm from the prior post. The highest heating bills in the winter for our 2400 sf home with gas heat are $140. I keep the heat no highter than 66 degrees. I don't have AC, and you really only need it one month, maybe two, during the summer.

Gasoline is more expensive here than Seattle or even Burlington. Food is more expensive by a lot. Yet nearly 25% of folks are living at the poverty level, and the median income is far below average. Go figure!

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by E Roy Slade

i heard recently bellingham has the fifth lowest crime rate in cities in our size bracket

so the crime rate is low

the people are pusillanimous and meek in a way but theyre probably carrying a handgun in a backpack or some could and thats legal here

its hard to meet people here i suppose unless you are a democrat from the college ,well not always

So it is legal in Washington State to carry a gun if you have a Carry Concealed Weapons Permit?