[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

I moved up to Washington last month to take a job opportunity. The job is great, but I am also excited about the chance to raise my kids somewhere besides Las Vegas. I still own two homes in downtown Las Vegas, and I still feel strongly about the redevelopment plan, but I'll just rent them out until I feel like it's the right time to sell them.

I lived in Las Vegas for 16 years, with one year off in 2001 where my wife and I lived in Barcelona. I really got to know the city like the back of my hand and loved coming on this board to give helpful advice and talk about the city. It's kind of fun going on the Seattle board as a newcomer and asking questions instead of answering them. I still love reading this board and chiming in now and then, and I promise not to become one of those people who leave town then come on the board and bash the city.

Good luck to you & family.

[tdt]

Originally Posted by AliceT

No matter where you go or think of going, there will be those who are dissatisfied with it and will try to deter you from seeking your happiness there. The same that you've heard about Vegas has been said about almost every city you can name in the country. Take it with a grain of salt. It stems from unhappy people who sought happiness when they wouldn't know it even if they found it. You know what they say - misery loves company.

So right Alice, I must applaud you. I moved here with a young daughter. She was 11 at the time. People from the south where I moved from of course were appalled and questioning my judgment as a parent. I have to say, my daughter loves it here. She is so happy we moved here. If you come from a small 'Bible Belt' town there may be some things that at first will be awkward for you . . . . .like passing those 'rent a sexy girl' vouchers that are in those dispensers on the sidewalks. That stuff can take some getting used to. But I have to say, every negative thing the young people face here, they face in small southern towns as well- gangs, offers of drug use/sales, violence, etc. There is no town you can live in where you can shield your child from all these things . . . . .if you instill good values in them and teach them about the harsh realities of drug abuse and gangs then they should be fine.

[tdt]

Originally Posted by AliceT

No matter where you go or think of going, there will be those who are dissatisfied with it and will try to deter you from seeking your happiness there. The same that you've heard about Vegas has been said about almost every city you can name in the country. Take it with a grain of salt. It stems from unhappy people who sought happiness when they wouldn't know it even if they found it. You know what they say - misery loves company.

So right Alice, I must applaud you. I moved here with a young daughter. She was 11 at the time. People from the south where I moved from of course were appalled and questioning my judgment as a parent. I have to say, my daughter loves it here. She is so happy we moved here. If you come from a small 'Bible Belt' town there may be some things that at first will be awkward for you . . . . .like passing those 'rent a sexy girl' vouchers that are in those dispensers on the sidewalks. That stuff can take some getting used to. But I have to say, every negative thing the young people face here, they face in small southern towns as well- gangs, offers of drug use/sales, violence, etc. There is no town you can live in where you can shield your child from all these things . . . . .if you instill good values in them and teach them about the harsh realities of drug abuse and gangs then they should be fine.

[airics]

that got a +

[tom_c]

Originally Posted by olecapt

YOu were doing fine until you threw in the 311Boyz. Never has a less gangy gang existed. By that standard ever group of people who ever grew up in the US is a 'gang'. Maybe you think that true but I sure don't.

There is strong indication that violence is decreasing and has been for many years.

Meth is a problem but not a huge one. Needs fixing. Other drug usage in NV is not terribly high.

Where was your career based before Las Vegas. My first wife, an RN, trained at Bellevue. I have spent some time at UMC and have never seen anything that remotely resembled Bellevue. Simply not in the same class. I presume Bellevue was an ultimate big city hospital...but UMC does not have that level of action.

The problem with your experence is that it is anecdotal. You need numbers to make such a view stick. I don't believe they exist.

Then you need to come out of your ivory tower. I trained and worked in PA and a limited amount in Phoenix. Just because you didn't see Bellevue at UMC doesn't mean it's safe. How many kids rolling down a hallway to the OR does it take to be "the Ultiumate" hospital.

Don't think it's real, put your eyes where your post is,
Maybe you'd like an eye opener:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (http://www.lvmpd.com/programs/citizen_academy.html - broken link)

[MomMom]

Originally Posted by CedarView

I was born and raised in Vegas to the age of 18, whence I promptly left ASAP.

Growing up in Vegas is difficult to describe. Most (not all) of us went to college, got degrees, became teachers and all the very nice and normal things our nice and normal parents wanted. We were involved in sports, healthy activities, had nice homes, and lots of excellent parental modeling. However, Vegas IS unique in that, when kids are bored (as they get anywhere), there are more shifty, shady activities to get involved in...even for the valedictorians, perfect students, good clean children, who all learn to be be quite slick at lying to parents about what they really do, see and learn there.

The effects and aftershocks of growing up in Las Vegas have damaged and lingered with every single solitary person I know from there. Not all of it is obvious. Many of us are polished professionals with graduate degrees all over the US and Europe now. but...

We from Lost Veguts call it Las Vegas disease, or Vegas-itis, something to escape and try to heal from. No one we meet in any other place where my friends or I have moved quite comprehend. It wasn't "lucky" or "exciting" to live there. Perhaps it is not really something to explain...more like a feeling, an atmosphere, an experience only a patch of dirt full of bright lights in the middle of nowhere breeds. We refugees collectively try our whole lives to survive it, still. Ask any person who grew up there, starting prior to the age of 10. Please, it's no place to put a child, no matter how "family-friendly" it appears.

Oh I agree with you said, I feel the same exact way

Only thing is I grew up in New York....

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by tom_c

Then you need to come out of your ivory tower. I trained and worked in PA and a limited amount in Phoenix. Just because you didn't see Bellevue at UMC doesn't mean it's safe. How many kids rolling down a hallway to the OR does it take to be "the Ultiumate" hospital.

Don't think it's real, put your eyes where your post is,
Maybe you'd like an eye opener:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (http://www.lvmpd.com/programs/citizen_academy.html - broken link)

the citizen's police academy?

[MomMom]

Originally Posted by tom_c

Then you need to come out of your ivory tower. I trained and worked in PA and a limited amount in Phoenix. Just because you didn't see Bellevue at UMC doesn't mean it's safe. How many kids rolling down a hallway to the OR does it take to be "the Ultiumate" hospital.

Don't think it's real, put your eyes where your post is,
Maybe you'd like an eye opener:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (http://www.lvmpd.com/programs/citizen_academy.html - broken link)

Try looking to see how many kids are rolling down the hallways at any large hospital anywhere...and you think the link to Metro Citizens volunteer group is unique to ONLY Las Vegas? YOU need to open your eyes and travel round the country a bit...lots of police departments have this my friend.

Those of us that have been here a very long time, raised kids here and have had no problems and love it here, just don't agree with you. We go by what our experiences here in Las Vegas have shown us...no opinion is right or wrong.

Our opinion is just as valid as yours.

[kimba01]

Originally Posted by tom_c

Then you need to come out of your ivory tower. I trained and worked in PA and a limited amount in Phoenix. Just because you didn't see Bellevue at UMC doesn't mean it's safe. How many kids rolling down a hallway to the OR does it take to be "the Ultiumate" hospital.

Don't think it's real, put your eyes where your post is,
Maybe you'd like an eye opener:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (http://www.lvmpd.com/programs/citizen_academy.html - broken link)

Oh, c'mon. Really. It is sad and devastating to see children ruin their lives anywhere-and they do it anywhere. Of course you feel it more when you see it firsthand, but I bet in every ER there are horror stories of "when good kids go bad". This does not always go hand in hand with where they live, their economics, their parents...sometimes kids just act like idiots. And they do not fear their mortality. This has been going on since the beginning of time.

Lower income areas just breed different kinds of criminals. Crackheads, meth addicts...as opposed to prescription drugs, alcohol, cocaine in the higher income areas. Or guns, gang wars as opposed to the businessman that beats his wife or constantly belittles her, cheats on her...it is just more hidden.

This is a ridiculous argument and it seems that the Vegas forum bears the brunt of it because of the Strip. It is stupid. You are a flight away from the Strip whereever you live and there are many casinos, prostitution, drugs, gangs elsewhere in this world for kids to get into if they so choose.

Difference between raising them here and there is that the ones raised here may most likely choose to live elsewhere, whereas the ones raised elsewhere may be dying to live here.

[jaada]

for my 2 cents i think vegas is no place to raise a family, it is dirty, it does have porn mags on the strip for free, that kids can grab, they are usually flying around the streets on the ground where people have thrown them. yes the strip is still part of vegas. my sister lived there she didnt stay there, lots of work she said. but vegas is too big too crowded. we went to go see my sister 4 yrs ago there and my kids saw their first real dead guy laying in the street cars just driving around him like he wasnt even there. sad