Well-polished squalor. - 6/4/2020

If you move to Vallejo, you will quickly realize that you're paying a lot of money to live in well-polished squalor. I moved to Vallejo in mid-2008 just as the city declared bankruptcy. It was difficult at first, with rampant crime and a dramatically-reduced police force due to catastrophic budget cuts. I hoped things would eventually improve, but I had to move to the east coast in late 2011 before I saw any positive changes. Fast-forward to 2014 and I returned to Vallejo--and I've regretted that decision ever since. I can honestly say that it has been the longest six years of my life and I have literally dreamt of moving. (I don't even tell people I live here, it's that bad!) Sirens at all hours; sideshows (cars doing donuts) at all hours; gunshots at all hours; violent crime and murder is COMMON here in a city of just over 100,00 people! The homeless population has increased exponentially and the city absolutely refuses to do anything about it, apart from moving the camps from one place to another within city limits--always kicking the can a little farther down the road but never picking it up. Enjoy the trash and burned-out cars beside the camps... OH! The panhandling! You can look forward to panhandling at every major intersection, usually from a young guy with his pants down around his knees, with his pitbull panting in the sun beside him. Drugs are rampant; violence in the schools is out of control; racism is VERY MUCH ALIVE. If you have skin on your body, expect to be judged on the color of it--even if you're white. And no, I'm not exaggerating. In 2017, Vallejo was the hottest real estate market in the nation--what they don't tell you is that many of the houses were cheaply bought by drug dealers from Oakland... again, I'm not exaggerating. The Waterfront (what little there is of it) and the historic downtown is very pretty--the TV series Thirteen Reasons Why was filmed in Vallejo--but it's dangerous after dark. There is ONE fine dining option (and that's a stretch), but there tons of chain restaurants and little holes-in-the-wall that aren't anything to write home about. I go to neighboring towns for good food--Napa, a genuine foodie mecca, is eleven miles away. The people of Vallejo constantly complain about everything but they seem to keep electing the same kinds of politicians over and over again. The Nextdoor app is awash with incessant citizen bellyaching--and if they disagree with your post, you can expect name-calling and/or wave after wave of forwarded newspaper articles showcasing how wrong, ignorant and stupid you really are. Nothing changes in this failed city, except for the ever-increasing tax rate. I can't wait to put this festering, miserable 'burb in my rearview mirror--and I won't even watch it recede into the distance!

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If I could move I would - 10/1/2018

I would love to live in a place where there are not fireworks all year round or gunshots every night. Police are understaffed and overworked and this is coming from a Vallejo police officer. This city has potential and things are starting to happen very slowly but remember this is the fourth worst city in California for crime. FACT: LOOKUP STATISTICS. Maybe with new people moving in the trash that lives here will go someplace else. Cars doing burnouts/donuts all hours and lots of drugs. so, you decide if Vallejo is worth living in. 5/4/19 I need to add a few tidbits of some fun FACTS. You can now have ROOSTERS IN CITY LIMITS AND LET YOUR DOGS BARK ALL DAY AND NIGHT. YOU WILL NEED A TWO WEEK LOG OF TIMES AND DESCRIPTION OF BARKING DOGS AND FOUR PEOPLE TO SIGN A PAPER AND TWO MUST BE WILLING TO GO TO COURT. When all is said and done Solano County Sheriff's Animal Control will take the other side you're complaining about so they don't have to do their job! Nowhere else around Solano County will allow such insanity.

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Phoenix Rising - 2/16/2018

I've lived in Vallejo for 5 years I moved here from Alameda California where I spent about 3 years and before that was in Seattle for 18 years. People said to me

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Vallejo is a great option to live in the Bay Area - 5/23/2016

Vallejo is considered very affordable compared to San Francisco. It is 30 miles north of SF and 30 miles south of Sacramento. It is next to Napa, CA. It has great weather. You can ride the ferry to SF. It is one of the most diverse areas in the United States: 25 percent each Hispanic / Latino, white, black and Asian/Pacific Islander. I have lived in East Vallejo for 16 years and have had no problem at all. East Vallejo, which is East of I-80 is very beautiful area, rolling hills and you can still see wildlife (deers, coyotes) at night. Downtown or Central Vallejo has beautiful century-old houses. Mare Island Shipyard, which was the oldest naval base in the west was the area's biggest employer. Vallejo was thriving when the Naval base was open, however, when it was closed in the 90s, businesses and local government struggle to provide good employment opportunities in the city. Currently, the biggest employers within the city are the hospitals: Kaiser and Sutter. Nevertheless, Mare Island remains a very beautiful spot to explore. There are hiking trails there called Mare Island Preserve. There are three universities within Vallejo: CSU- Maritime Academy, Touro University and Solano Community College. There is a lot of potential in this city. More and more artists are moving into Vallejo. ( Artists are getting priced out of SF and other cities.) The artists are reviving the downtown. Glen Cove area is also very scenic. So, to answer your question, where should you look if you want to buy a house? Depending on your budget. East Vallejo and the historic houses may be more pricey. Good luck!

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Life in vallejo - 1/12/2016

I was born and raised in vallejo and moved to oregon in 1996. No jobs and lots of drugs from what i remember. After mare island closed that was it. My sister was the victim kill

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Vallejo isn't perfect, but NO PLACE is...... - 12/22/2014

Coming to the Bay Area from Brooklyn, NY, and living in San Francisco for 10+ years, my partner and I just bought a house in Vallejo. I think Vallejo has it's issues, but what city doesn't? If you ask me, Vallejo seems like a fairly decent place to live: there's some really beautiful neighborhoods, especially in West Vallejo, with really well-preserved Victorian architecture, and it's AFFORDABLE to buy a home there, compared to other places in the Bay Area. When I consider that in some other places, homes like the one we just bought in the Bay Terrace area near River Park and the Mare Island Causeway with views of Mare Island and San Pablo Bay beyond, would start at $500,000; we are extraordinarily lucky to have found a home for a little over $200,000. That just DOES NOT happen in other places! AT ALL! I can still easily commute to SF (just an hour by ferry) for work, and it's a pleasant commute. All in all, I don't love everything about Vallejo, but I love my home, I feel relatively safe in my neighborhood, and I think the revitalization of the downtown area is an indication that Vallejo has more to offer than meets the eye. However, it has a serious lack of non-profit social services (my background), so SF is still where I'll have to work. C'est la vie. Vallejo aint so bad. However, I would probably feel differently if I had grown up here. I feel the same way about Brooklyn, and there's always a reason to leave where you're from and live in other places. Fortunately, I found some compelling ones to stay.

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Great place to live - 9/28/2013

I used the "Crime" category because that is probably what most people are interested in or concerned about in regards to Vallejo, I was. That is not however the focus of my post. I moved here in April and couldn't be happier with my decision to buy in Vallejo. I did loads of preliminary research before closing to figure out all I could about my new prospective city and home and am confident I made the right choice. After bottoming out with a bankruptcy, there is no way to go but up and it appears that is exactly what is happening all over town. It's only a matter of time before other people being run out of SF due to rising costs discover what Vallejo is about. It's awesome! The weather is great, there are abundant places to eat, loads of shopping and amenities, more than acceptable commute times with many different alternatives and houses that are affordable and also architecturally desirable. The daily grind here is just perfect. I'm talking up Vallejo to everyone I know, everywhere I go and people are actually listening. Hope there is more good to come for the city of Vallejo and all it's residents. It's a great place to call home.

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Come Help Us Reinvent a very old City! - 8/7/2013

Vallejo was once the capital of California and the city dates back to the 1850's. Vallejo's citizens have stepped up their involvement and have reclaimed their city government. There is an entirely new management staff from police chief all the way to maintenance director. The new city manager is excellent, and the city council and even our formerly intractable mayor are changing to meet the demands of the people. Vallejo is a beautiful city full of wonderful people with no more trouble than other cities of its size. The bankruptcy did create challenges, but the city has emerged stronger and more progressive. Participatory Budgeting, Neighborhood Night Out, block parties, arts festivals, ethnic festivals, the Pirate Festival, the Vallejo Powwow, and the fabulous Obtainium Cup Race (google it!) provide entertainment and activity many times during the year. The is live music weekly at the Empress Theatre downtown, at Gracie's on the weekends, and opera, jazz, and live theater at the Bay Terrace Theater. We have a wonderful symphony as well as the Vallejo Chorale. All that and a range of housing from heritage Victorians and bungalows along with bay front, river front, and modern homes in the hills and on Mare Island. The views from many neighborhoods are breathtaking! And while we can't see Russia from our houses, we can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the Carquinez Straits, which are the end of the Sacramento River. The ferry ride to SF is spectacular and a great way to commute to the city. Don't pass us by; we are where the Napa Valley begins!

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Arty City - 7/3/2013

The city has a vibrant art community that thrives in spite of the economy - live theatre, art shows, fabulous farmer's market on Saturdays - check out The Coal Shed on Mare Island, some splendid art going on there. The city itself has a questionable reputation on a lot of levels, most of which are based on certain areas in town - not an uncommon issue for most cities anyway - and much has changed over the years for the better.

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Cool near the water - 7/3/2013

Perfect climate, a few hot days during summer but breeze from the Carquinez Straits makes for lovely evenings.

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Vallejo is a valuable fixer-upper - 5/25/2013

The selling points of Vallejo are easy to see. A beautiful water front off the Napa River, lovely Victorian and bungalow architecture, nearly perfect drinking water from the tap, close proximity to a wild life preserve, gentle weather and a Six Flags amusement park. However, it is run down due to the loss of its naval base and failure to attract other businesses other than construction. So, it is over built in quick 1980's houses that stand empty due to the housing bust. Empty houses and no local employment meant a drop in the tax base and suddenly it is a city in crisis. However, in the year that I have lived here, I have seen many improvements with more to come. It is a worthwhile place filled with worthwhile people, it just needs time to re-discover itself.

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Police response. - 11/21/2012

Our neighbor found a blonde kid with a hoody hiding in their back yard. They called the police, but the police asked if there was a crime in progress, inwhich the neigbors answered no. Two nights later, their shed was being robbed and because of his profession there were thousands of dollars worth of construction equipment. They heard the noise, saw the culpritee. Police response was "Are they in your house? " Our neighbors explained the situation, to which the police responded, "We don't do anything unless they are in your house, Sorry, we can't come out. Several years ago I had three tires taken off my car and a jack with fingerprints all over it (I could tell because it was oily and left distinct prints) I called the police and they said that they do not have the technology to process prints, but they would send out a form for us to fill out. Now, our police force is one of the most highly paid in California. I would think that they would break up their poker game long enough to investigate these sort of incidences. Any time there is a problem, I suggest they call the fire department, they are very good and respond to every call.

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The Wost Summers - 6/25/2012

Moved here in 2008( Vallejo). If I would have known the weather was so bad during the summer season, I would have not come. This place does not have a summer season. It is sooo windy and cold, or foggy. I long for the day when I can experience real summers. I am tired of being shut in most of the time. I am sooo tired of wearing jackets, scarfs and sometimes gloves on the 4th of July, This is ridculous.The Bay Area has the worst climate of any place I have lived or visited.

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Worst city - 2/23/2012

I was born and raised in Vallejo and its NOT a good city to live in. I mean there are nice houses and neighborhoods, but there are also bad neighborhoods out here. The people of Vallejo made Vallejo what it is now. Its not really the city's fault. I still (sadly) live in this God forsaken place and let me tell you, i HATE it. Im in the 12th grade, and im moving out of Vallejo (Thank God) right after i graduate.

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Vallejo - These are a few of my favorite things - 4/28/2011

1) Walking or running on the dirt trail along the Napa River at River Park. It's a a loop just over one mile. 2) Walking or running on the gravel trail along the San Pablo Bay Trail on Mare Island. An almost 4 mile loop. 3) The annual Flyway Festival on Mare Island focusing on the migratory patterns of bird and celebrating nature and ecological living in general. 3) The weather! 4) The Carquinez Strait waterfront by the Ferry Building. 5) Taking the Ferry from Vallejo to SF 6) The beautiful Victorians, Craftman and Spanish Mediterranean homes all over the St. Vincent's Hill, Vallejo Heights and Heritage neighborhoods. 7) Getting ice cream at the old fashioned ice cream parlor, Liled's, on Tennesee Street 8) Swimming at the Cunningham Pool 9) The wonderful people who work toward improving the neighborhoods, schools and general community of Vallejo. 10) Seeing the free, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra concerts at the Empress Theater. 11) The close proximity to Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country as well as Berkeley. SF is only an hour at most away by car. Vallejo is a good town with good people - come visit this misunderstood and undervalued jewel at the confluence of the San Pablo Bay and the Napa River.

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Vallejo's Crime - 11/3/2009

I'm 20 years old and I been living in vallejo ever since I was 4 years old so I pretty much know what goes on around here. Vallejo has had a bunch of car jackings from imports, luxury, to even pimped out buckets (scrapers) and I really dont see that problem slowing down anytime soon. Long story short, my my modded acura integra was stolen right in front of my apartment back in June 09, but was recovered the next day on the side of highway 37. Just last saturday (halloween) around mid-afternoon, I was driving in the north side of vallejo near north vallejo park, and some guy with a laptop and charger was sprinting across the street towards traffic and ended up running in front of my car, and some guy with a suit and tie was screaming "THAT GUY STOLE MY LAPTOP!!" 45 seconds later, 2 squad cars caught up to the thief and tazered him to the ground, and I was like "wow, forreal" We have our shoplifters, homeless community (which is rising fast), gangs, etc. What can I say, Vallejo is Vallejo

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Rent - 9/28/2009

Rent is pretty low in comparison to the inner citys!!!!!!!

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Crime and gang ridden! - 9/23/2009

Full of gangs and crime. Police force cut by 30 %. Closed 3 of 8 fire stations. Vallejo is the best place to become a crime victim.

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Ghetto Ghetto Ghetto!! - 9/22/2009

I was born and raised in Vallejo, California. It is heartbreaking what has happened to Vallejo. Fiscal mismanagement and political vendettas caused Vallejo to file bankruptcy in 2008. Since then the police force is down 50 officers and 3 fire stations have been closed. Crime is UP. Robbery, car-jacking, etc in daylight. Kids with guns. Property values are DOWN. If you call the police department , you reach an answering machine. 911 calls take too long to respond to. It will take decades for Vallejo to be what it once was. I am glad now that I did not move back home.

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Vallejo is really a Diamond in the Not so rough! - 9/13/2009

We purchased a home 3 years ago in an older established area, where Spanish, Mediterranean, English, French style homes are abundant. Vallejo's weather is truly mediterranean and similar to Italy's climate. This town has been progressing the last decade in many ways, politics, police, quality of life, schools, crime rate is lower...many people from all over San Francisco Bay have made Vallejo their town and are very loyal and defensive when speaking about Vallejo. There is definitely a mix of cultures, colors, educational levels, wealth status, etc... Like many California cities, many younger residents might need a course in ethics and tact to fine tune their personas. Vallejo has many good people from all sections of the spectum. We hope that after filing for BK protection, Vallejo will rise and get all it's financial issues in order and start beautifying it's streets, parks and Historic buildings. You can also go to www.vallejoindependentbulletin.com Did I forget to mention, we have a nice Marina front, where you can take the Ferry to San Francisco, Ca. or use your own boat to access the Pacific Ocean. Vallejo really is the last Bay area city on the North Bay...a quick drive North and you will be in Napa Valley, Marin County or East and arrive in Sacramento, West to San Francisco and South to San Jose area, you get my drift. If you're looking for more house for your money, this is the place, at least until the economy pics up. Touro Universtiy, Mare Island, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, affordability, local, Las Palmitas Mexican Restaurant on Nebraska, diversity; many gay, bi-sexual, lesbian residents have moved to the city and we welcome them to their new town. I will agree, there are still thefts, robberies and personal crime, but almost every town will have it's own issues. The Vallejo Police Department is made up of hightly proffesional, educated and talented personnel, while most live in Cities like Pleasenton, Dublin, San Ramon, Napa, Marin, etc...for the same reason know Vallejo can and will continue to be enforced to lower crime, improve quality of life and protect Valleojans. Okay, I believe I'm done with my run-on-sentences for today. Cheers

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