Spokane - the death of a city
-
7/31/2012
I moved to Spokane to work at a high tech startup - I write computer programs. In spokane I can live like a king on my income. The city has issues however, but since right now I am in my 20s and just saving money I dont really get involved with the things that concern some people that have kids and such (I actually laugh at all the issues I see - fortunately it is not my problem and I dont get involved). But from the eyes of a college grade in my 20s with a good job and I can report what I have seen here. What I can say is from my perspective Spokane is turning into a ghost city. I live downtown and I rode the bus home today, (spokane has great bus service) but when I got off the bus and walked 15 minutes home, I must have seen 4-5 drug deals going down. I dont fear the thugs that are taking over the city though. Just dont make eye contact and you will be okay. Also if they ask for something from you - dont look afraid, just hold your ground - most of the druggies are very weak from drug abuse and could not beat up a healthy person. I would guess the homeless out number the homed. I think there are alot of homeless in spokane because it attracts people that want easy access to Meth and cheap street drugs. It is funny to go outside and see guys walking around with no (or very few) clothes on - apparently when someone gets tripped out on meth, they get really itchy and take their clothes off. I once saw a guy in the downtown park rubbing his head in the dirt ( I guess it was itching - very funny to see). There is a really nice old building downtown called the Hotel Carlyle - it now houses mental patients and when you go by you see all kinds of people in various states of confusion (quite comical really) And they seem to wander throughout the city, you see them everywhere... but yet at night I suppose they must find their way back to the Hotel Carlyle somehow... On a serious note - I do wonder why there is so much mental disease in Spokane, could it be the water? High levels of Radon? Fallout from the Tri-Cities nuclear programs? Or just coincidence? I think someone should study this place and try to figure out what is going on here.
Having lived in other cities I can say this place is genuinely weird. If I was not a fast runner, somewhat strong, and making alot of money writing software I would leave - All future economic indicators are negative for this city.
joe | Spokane Valley, WA