Albuquerque not what it used to be
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7/29/2015
I have lived in Albuquerque for the past 16 years plus a few years back in the early 90's. It has changed a lot - for the worse. It's a shame because you don't get any better climate than here but the culture is terrible. The crime rate has increased dramatically. We do not feel safe going even to the grocery store - you never know when you might get carjacked or worse around here and we are in the NE Heights which used to be considered the "good" area. The BioPark is really nice, good museums, some really amazing restaurants and quite a bit to do with kids - jump park, lots of dance studios, indoor play places, museums, pools. The public schools are overcrowded, understaffed and education/graduation rates are low. The city just seems dirty - the people just don't seem to take pride in their town, their properties, nor their businesses anymore. There's a culture that celebrates violence as a rite of passage. There are panhandlers on nearly every single street corner - not homeless mind you - just people looking for drug money/handouts. The city can't seem to draw in big business. Really - who would want to open a business here and hire some of the laziest workforce around? The number of illegals here grows daily - they utilize all the low income resources without giving much if any back to the community. The teen pregnancy rate is alive, high and well here. This city is rife with low income/poverty level, kids needing free lunch programs, clothing programs. SNAP and welfare rates are high. The same culture that promotes violence has taken to torpedoing our police force. We are at an all time low in police officers. Basically the cops can hand out stickers and lollipops now so they won't get sued and/or lose their jobs. It's very sad because this town has/had such great potential. But with the influx of illegals and crime, it's best to not move here. Or to leave if you are already here. I wish I could give a better review but I would be lying if I did.
Mar | Albuquerque, NM