Surprisingly racist for such a "liberal" town...
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6/27/2023
Almost eight years and this place still hasn't grown on me. Or my spouse. The summers are oppressive, and the winters (thanks, climate change!) are now wet even though they're typically dry.
Our allergies (we're coastals) are on high alert here - year-round. In the past, doctors recommended people move TO the desert to escape seasonal allergies. Nope, not here!
The city (and I use the term loosely) is a strange mélange of trying-to-be-a-hip-college-town-with-snowbirds but fails miserably. Near the university, there's a pathetic attempt at life: 4th Avenue, University & Downtown. Merchants here treat you differently than other places because they're chasing the almighty dollar. But that's it. If you're a traditionally-aged college student, you might enjoy it. Otherwise...
...there are endless rows of strip malls. Smoke shops. Massage parlors suspiciously open at night with curtains drawn shut (can you say "human trafficking?"). And seedy bars (enter Dirtbags - their tagline is "...a part of growing up.").
Lastly, there are the hoity toity who live in the Foothills, and don't even deign to live/shop/dine/recreate there if you're not from there. (to be more direct, Brown and Black need not apply)
On that final note, this is the most racist town I've ever lived in. Ever. My spouse and I are at the higher end of middle class, and I've been followed/trailed in stores more times than I care to recall. And before you ask if I wear gangbanger clothing, the answer is a resounding "NO." Nine times out of ten, I'm sporting business casual or on the weekends, an eclectic combo of "mom" wear meets hippie meets urban chic.
Oh, and lovely, unsolicited comments from randos, also. Did I ask you to negatively comment on my language (I'm bilingual), my skin color (caramel brown), or my hair (think Tia Mowry)?
And there are very few protections or city regulations to safeguard tenants. Unless you consider 82/86 degrees Fahrenheit a livable, indoor temperature and have five (business) days for the landlord to fix it (after you've given them what is considered to be "legal" notice).
And P.S. landlords can raise your rent to their heart's content. No rent controls here.
Welcome to the Old Pueblo!
T | Tucson, AZ