Temecula area for raising a family...

[that1guy]

Look from the typical youth perspective.
1. Temecula had a fierce ban on skate boarding, the most strict in the inland empire.
Fortunately this has changed, only when the city realized that there was nothing
youth do to.

2. The profile of the average drug user is a middle class young male. Males engage in riskier
behavior and being middle class affords the habit. The city needs to propose more activities
to this demographic. More city sponsored activities such as paintball, sports, skate boarding,
both non-mainstream and mainstream music, as well as other forms of art. Appealing to those
people that normally won't take part in a civic activity.

3. I'm not saying that youth don't do drugs in large cities, they do. Drugs are everywhere. This is not
a horrible thing, we all do drugs. A drug is simply a substance that alters psysiological functions.
This is a huge range, from pharamceutical drugs to controlled substances. Thus, paranoia should not
set in on controlled substances. However, a 16 year old is too immature to understand that how drugs work
A 16 year old is too young to experiment with drugs and understand the health and social consequences.
Temecula does not harbor an environment that supports its youth. It has a very narrow view of what is acceptable.
The city was founded on the notion of them-versus-us. People moved out here to escape the large city and create
an insular town.

4. Temecula is hardly bustling. Nor is it hardly a sleepy hamlet. It is a an upper middle class suburb north of San Diego,
south of Riverside, with some employment opps (I'm applying to Abbott!!! wish me luck!!!). It is a nice town, great schools,
beautiful surroundings, but it's not perfect. It should as be more open to its youth instead of trying to perserve prop values
and engage in less traditional methods in engaging youth. It did not make sense to have a huge battle over the skatepark
(built in 1996, but it took years of effort to convince the city).

Again, drugs are everywhere. Riverside County ranks as meth leader in the nation. The same problems in youth activity also
plague the rest of the county. It is to be said that Temecula is town full of wonderful people. Some of these people do drugs.
This fact doesn't make them any less of being a good person. Drug use can be done in a a mild manner where people are still
productive members of society. Teens, typically, are too immature in understanding this. It is up to parents and the community
to offer activities that appeal to teens. Create an environment that is in touch with youth. I think it would be cool to see the
the Flobots, with M.I.A., and some Dead Kennedy's.

[Numbercruncher32]

It has its shopping mall, movie theaters, restaurants, plenty of parks, riding trails, athletic programs, art & dance programs, community events, "Old Town" (and corresponding events), Wineries & Casino (for those of age), festivals, a weekly farmer's market and I'm sure much more that I can't think of off the top of my head. Not to mention mini-golf, bowling, etc in the sister city Murrieta just to the North.

This is the reason my family moved to Temecula along with the great school district. I am one of those people who drive far to work (85 miles one way to pasadena everyday) and I really do not mind it. There are employees that I work with that travel half as many miles but take as long as I do to commute due to the freeways that they take.

I know my family is in a great city and my kids are in great schools. The residents of Temecula are great and friendly.

[SoCalDaveL]

Originally Posted by that1guy

Look from the typical youth perspective.
1. Temecula had a fierce ban on skate boarding, the most strict in the inland empire.
Fortunately this has changed, only when the city realized that there was nothing
youth do to.

But that's a narrowly focussed view. While skateboarding is a big youth activity its not all encompassing. Not all kids skateboard. Yes there's finally a skate park (actually I think there are a few around). Cities have had bans on this in public places forever though... not just Temecula. The problem isn't that the city doesn't understand the kids... its likely because the kids don't know how to handle it. Meaning they're not responsible enough to know when or where to skate (rollerblade or skateboard) and respect those around them. Not trying to sound like the old guy 'cause I'm surely not but I've had my young kids run over by the mall by teens not watching where they were going. Its give and take.

That being said, my kids love to skateboard and I'm glad there's a place where they can go do it when they're bigger. Luckily I'm in a cul-de-sac now and its perfectly safe for them to skate around there.

It may not be the popular view among youth, but when it comes to kids complaining about not being able to skateboard or the taxpaying adults who fund the city... guess who'll win everytime?


But I digress... there are city activities and plenty of sporting leagues around. You just have to look and join. They're not going to knock on your door. Baseball, Soccer, Softball, Football, Gymnastics... there's plenty of them and they're quite competitive.

I will agree with you about the music though. I've heard nothing but complaints on this front from people who've tried to organize the local music scene. Anytime they have events at coffee shops or try to be sneaky and hold them at music stores they get shut down. The best I've seen around is when they had concerts at the community center (Inverse, a local Temecula rock band, played there... and rocked)

They definitely need some work on this front though.

Originally Posted by that1guy

....and some Dead Kennedy's.

right. 'cause nothing screams out to the youth of today like a punk rock band from the late 70's.
I"m still waiting for that Clash revival at Pechanga... not holding my breath though. lol


... and best of luck on your job application.

[SoCal Bottom Rider]

' It is a an upper middle class suburb north of San Diego'

I have to disagree. It's mostly middle class. If it was upper we would be in SD or OC no? I think the fake housing boom appreciation and having your own wineries added to the pretentiousness of Temecula.

[SoCal Bottom Rider]

Wait. Suburb of SD? LAst I heard it was the eastern most part of Riverside county. See what I mean about the pretentious aspect? Nice town but come on.

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by SoCal Bottom Rider

Wait. Suburb of SD? LAst I heard it was the eastern most part of Riverside county. See what I mean about the pretentious aspect? Nice town but come on.

upper middle class...the median income is almost 80k. This in the range for the median income for Orange County. This is if we agree that 60K is the median for California and represents the middle 50%. Also it's much closer to the San Diego county border than Orange county or LA. Actually Temecula lies equidistant between Escondido and Riverside. Regions immediately west of Temecula offer ocean views, the only part of Western R. County that does. Only in my opinion....my personal opinion the town is nice but I have to agree the marketing is pretentious. Oh and thanks for the "good luck".

[SoCalDaveL]

Originally Posted by SoCal Bottom Rider

Wait. Suburb of SD? LAst I heard it was the eastern most part of Riverside county. See what I mean about the pretentious aspect? Nice town but come on.

actually the quote is...

Originally Posted by that1guy

4. Temecula is hardly bustling. Nor is it hardly a sleepy hamlet. It is a an upper middle class suburb north of San Diego

It's a suburb NORTH OF San Diego. That's different than saying it's a suburb OF San Diego. That1guy's statement is correct. That's hardly pretentious

As for Temecula being the Eastern most part of Riverside County ...
you may want to double check your compass. Its off a bit.

http://www.californiacountymaps.com/

Temecula is in the western part of Riverside county to the South... bordering San Diego county. That doesn't make it part of San Diego. It most certainly is part of Riverside, but let's be accurate when stating where it is as Riverside county extends east all the way to the California/Arizona border. Many Temecula residents either came up from San Diego or work in San Diego, so you can understand where the natural bond is.