If you are white, wealthy and self-centered, Seatt
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1/19/2017
Before you chop my head off, let me explain. I had always wanted to move here since I was small, to the Pacific Northwest. When that opportunity came in the form of a job in a very specialized field, I jumped at the chance. I didn't come here with anything but love and an open mind.
Seattle- the portrayal from the outside-looking-in, to the reality of living here are night and day.
The very best things are there are beautiful mountains, the Puget Sound and all sorts of stuff within your fingertips. The downside to this is for instance, having to book a place to camp in January for the upcoming season. You will see people on your treks unless you go far out, like the backside of Mt.Olympus or the Wonderland trail. The mountains here are stunning. The weather is very mild, coming from central PA, I would say we had just about as many overcast drizzly days there, near close to it. You get used to the rain and just go out in it. Oysters here are the best I have had from all over the US, the Dungeness is not to be missed, and the King Salmon rocks, if you can afford about $25/lb. For the good stuff, that's about it.
The City Growth: This is a city that has neither planned nor cares to plan for the massive influx of people that were drawn here by the growing tech sector, excellent unemployment rate and potential. As a result, you have ridiculous rents and home prices that are soaring skyward. While these are nowhere near much of LA, San Francisco, NYC or DC, they are getting there fast. And the amount of inherent wealth is stunning. Their most major projects, the new 405 bridge and the marathon of the Bertha tunnel project are laughable. These don't solve much of anything, and while they are welcome improvements, they do nothing to solve the worsening traffic, which is only getting worse because the city is becoming so expensive and competitive, forcing people to the outskirts, which are also growing in cost. For the most part, renting a place here is like you take what is given to you because there are like 7 other capable tenants in line. If your credit is less than stellar, or you have ever had any trouble with past rentals, as they say in Joisey "Fuggedabouddit".
People: Please don't move here if you are black. I am in an interracial relationship and have sadly come to the conclusion that the Gentrification and isolation are very real. This is not a diverse city. It is mostly white by demographic. This is by design and can be traced back to not-so-distant times where real estate code prevented blacks and other minorities from purchasing, especially in the now hip Ballard area and other areas. The pockets left to the black folks are not growing because the cost of living is pressing in hard. Don't try to make friends, just don't. People have the most plastic, imitation relationships I have ever seen in my life. After several years, I have about two or three relationships I would call genuine, but only about 1 friend. They will be all "yeah I'm there" when they are in your presence but will immediately seem to lose sense of who you are five minutes later. It's a culture of "don't look, don't ask, don't tell, don't care" and am not referring to anything related to individuality or sexuality. I mean it. They don't care. You pull a u-turn in the middle of the highway? They won't care. Lose your job and ask your acquaintances for help, they won't care. Robber smashes a window in broad daylight? Call 911, they don't care. (You have to be either taking your junk out in public or wielding a weapon and then the police might show up). And that brings me to the next point...
Crime and Police: There is a major lack of a police force. I think these guys are awesome, don't get me wrong, but when you can drive all around town and probably not even see a cruiser, there is something wrong with the numbers. It's a fairly safe city, for now, but over the last year I have noticed a growing number of incidents in my personal life (three family incidents) within less than a year: smash-and-grab, purse-snatching and attempted burglary. Hey Cannabis is legal, big deal. It would seem to indicate that violent crime may be on the rise, as is homelessness.
Social: Tents on the street. People will literally pass out on the sidewalk, usually on Heroin (which by the way you will see people shoot up on park benches, broad daylight and not in the 'bad' areas. The amount of homelessness is steadily growing day by day. In a city where people are living in $500,000 2 bedroom homes, there are people living just outside around the corner under a tarp. The most recent jerk-knee reaction from the mayor? Approve another tent city. In NY you can immediately get shelter and aid. Here, if you are homeless you are in danger. There's not enough people to care and the disjointed government agencies are laughable.
I'm sure once-upon-a-time, Seattle was what most long-time residents have assured me it is: "The Greatest City On Earth". I can't tell you if it's the influx of people that "ruined" this place or if they were content to be isolationists and hate the idea of people invading their beloved city. Either way the result is the same: A paradise for rich, white, self-centered liberals who, under the hood, have a very racist backbone.
Mooshoo | Seattle, WA