Merced is not a bad place if you could change a fe
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6/9/2016
I resided in Merced for over 4 decades, basically grew up there and we truly loved the place. However in 2006 we saw a shift in the city and 2 years ago our family moved out, and from reading the online local paper, it’s gotten worse. Merced was a great city as long as the Air force was there but has struggled since the base closed in 1995. The city rallied around the UC Merced campus in the late 1990’s and secured it by taking over a small golf course near Lake Yosemite in the early 2000’s. It was hoped the UC would make up for the base loss. However, after 10 years in operation the UC hasn’t changed the city much. The city and UC are isolated from each other and the area between them is pretty much a no man’s land. This was a direct result on the City and county fighting over a revenue sharing agreement for the last 10 years stone walling any development and economic growth. Site developers quickly walk away from this place for a number of reasons starting with the infrastructure, and ending with the high crime and murder rate due to the drug trade from the lack of jobs. The city in general has a good old boy culture and if your born and raised there, your one of them, if not good luck. Because of the good old boy culture that extends into city leadership, the city lacks vision, thus economic development is nonexistent. Because of a lack of economic development the city lacks revenue so there is little attention in developing additional parks or recreation activities for your kids or youth in general. Crime is rampant, and in the last 5 years the homeless population is more then noticeable and would not recommend going to the downtown day or night because of pan handlers and gang activity. Too bad, because the main theater is there and if you do go, you don’t know if your car will be there or not or if it’s been broken into when you return to it. It’s generally accepted by UC student the downtown is scary place and to stay away. The city has embraced the gang graffiti as some form of art instead of removing it. They are plans of turning the old hospital off the Yosemite National Parkway exit into a regional homeless facility and where of number of hotels are located at. Given that, I would suggest taking either Hwy 120 or Hwy 41 through Fresno to go to Yosemite due to the increase in car break ins in that area. Merced was the ground zero for foreclosure and has turned into investor town for low cost housing and to house UC students. Crime is high, employment lacks and the air quality sucks. There are little if any quality restaurants in the town and when a number of local buffet style restaurants close, you know there an economic problem. It’s also still true from the advice my parents got when they moved there in the 60’s, when you move there, most likely you will need to shop and entertain out of town. Its centrally located so Turlock is a good start and a 25 to 30 minute drive away. Locals still say with pride were centrally located rather reinvesting in their future. Other than that, Merced is a great place to live.
Jill | Atwater, CA