Never thought of leaving - 7/5/2016

I was doing some research that landed me on this site and I have to say I was compelled to write in response to all the negativity! I have lived hear most of my life, with short stents away and a good deal of travel. I can honestly say that besides college, I never thought of leaving! Spokane is amazing! I have never been without a job; neither have my kids. My youngest just applied for a job at 16, and got the first one she applied for! My oldest is in College getting a great education right here in Spokane. Our outdoor recreation opportunities are well known and legendary but on top of that we have a strong educated workforce, a nationally recognized education system, amazing weather (Don't confuse us with the other side of the State; we get nearly 200 days of sun a year), crystal clean air and water, a growing cultural and start-up scene, a ridiculously short commute time (from downtown to rural America in as little as 15 minutes), incredible and inexpensive golf, and some of the most friendly people on the planet. I am not kidding; I hear that all the time from visitors; literally someone new to Spokane just told me last week; "people here are so friendly it is a bit weird at first!" Oh, and did I mention, you can run a business for as little as 70 cents on the dollar from what it is on the coast (when you calculate lease rates, labor, local taxes etc), with waaaay less rain and buy a beautiful home for $200,000? Finally, I have worked downtown now for 11+ years and though I encounter homeless people and have been panhandled I have NEVER felt unsafe or felt threatened.

[Comment on this Posting]

You can find better - 6/16/2016

I have lived here for about 11 years. I'll start with what I like about Spokane: Greenbluff- cute family owned farms where you can pick your own produce. Lots of fun activities mainly in the Autumn. Manito Park- Has several gardens that are all very pretty. Great place to take a nice walk and have a picnic. There are a lot of parks. You can pretty much find a park in every neighborhood, or really close by. Things I don't like about Spokane: The weather. It can get nice and warm during the Summer which is great....though sometimes it can get a bit hot (90s-100s). People always say there is all 4 seasons, but I have to say that's kind of a lie....unless you consider a season to be only a couple weeks long instead of 3 months. Winter takes over half of fall and half or more of Spring (most years, this year for Spring has been different, which has been nice). August is always considered the warmest month in most places (and for some reason even Spokanites claim this about Spokane).....maybe the first week of August is warm, but after that it gets cold, fast. Winters drag on and on. It seems like every year the city of Spokane is not ready for winter, like they have no clue how to clear off a road and de-ice it. There are never enough snow plows and all the side streets are ice rinks. You would think with such long winters every year that the people here would know how to drive in the snow...nope. In fact, they can't even drive on dry roads. In a single trip to the store and back you will get to meet the slow grandma driver, the tailgater and the person who almost clips your bumper while passing you. I don't know what has been up with all the crazy wind lately, but it seems to be getting more and more frequent to have wind storms that tear out trees by their roots, damaging property (homes, vehicles...). It took up to about a month for some people to get their power back from the last big storm that was right before Thanksgiving. There really isn't much to do here. You have Greenbluff during growing season, Manito and other parks, Libraries, Laser Tag, Wall Climbing, Mobius for little kids, and some hiking and walking trails, some nearby lakes and skiing. The only thing sort of like a Zoo is a joke...it's called Cat Tails. Its really small, and they have a couple big wild cats that lay around and do nothing (don't waste your money). Spokane is trying to be like a bigger city. They just built a really big hotel that connects to the convention center/opera house area. We do get some good shows, I think they are hoping for more since they put in the hotel. There are 3 malls (Spokane, Spokane Valley and Downtown Spokane). Each pretty much have the same stores...Downtown has the least, but there is Nordstrom, so you have that. There are some little shops Downtown, but it's mostly Restaurants. There are a lot of places to eat...if you like fast food or Chinese food ;). There are a couple sit down restaurants that are good, but nothing to write home about. I guess it's an ok place to raise a family, even though there's not a whole lot to do. Most people who live here have lived here their whole lives...they just never leave, so their whole family is here and so they just stay or leave and then come back.

[Comment on this Posting]

Smaller size city with a long history - 6/4/2016

Spokane has the cleanest downtown of any city I have ever seen (and I have lived in San Francisco, New York City, Montreal, and DC). I have no idea what the first reviewer is talking about. Downtown Spokane is pristine. The same goes for parking downtown. Having lived in several larger cities, the parking here is a dream! It is not expensive - street parking is always available, unless there is a big event going on. And sure, there are homeless in Spokane just like in every mid-size to large US city, but this issue is not unique to Spokane. It's negligible compared to the situation in San Fransisco, for instance, where human feces litters the sidewalks in some neighborhoods. There are beautiful neighborhoods with wonderful architecture, historic mansions, all sorts of Churches (this is a mostly Christian place, it must be said), and awesome parks (like Riverfront and Manito). Spokane was a boom town 100 years ago. It's true that it has had some decline since then, and there are some shabby areas that reflect this, but many locals are dedicated to Spokane's rejuvenation and revitalization. The winters can be a drag, but if you like all four seasons, this is a great place to be. Jobs are not as plentiful as in some cities, especially mid- to high paying jobs. Compared to San Francisco, Seattle, DC, and many other larger cities, real estate is truly a bargain here. Locals are not 'weird', or not more so than in other places. Come visit and see if you like it! Don't rely on any of these comments alone :)

[Comment on this Posting]

Live here if you choices are Spokane, Mogadishu an - 3/13/2016

Move here if your choice is between those cities. Lots of people from those cities have moved here and within minutes they are on Medicaid. The city is safe when compared to the above cities but I don't think there is a city in the nation that has more bums and homeless on the downtown street corners than Spokane. The downtown parking is difficult and expensive. Home construction is expensive. The locals are weird. The climate is acceptable and the area has some fun things to do but the fact that the locals say the city is cleaner than it used to be is truly frightening. The Brown's Addition which has (had) most of the city's iconic older homes is now an apartment ghetto where homeless wander aimlessly through the neighborhood and you can walk around to the smell of pot wafting through the air. The airport has very limited airline service and flights to most places involve two stops. We are a sanctuary city which is to say the city will not report the actual or suspected immigration status of an illegal resident (undocumented alien) to the immigration and customs authorities which is a violation of federal law. A large plurality here is on Medicaid, many are on meth and the city looks like a slowly dying great uncle....but hey, it is better and safer than Moscow, Russia and Mogadishu!

[Comment on this Posting]

Visit but don't move here - 3/13/2016

The city is dirty but if you speak with the locals who have been here all their lives, they say it is much better than it was. The homeless are on nearly every corner downtown. The Browns Addition which has some of the city's oldest and grandest homes has been turned into an apartment ghetto with homeless inhabiting Coeur d' Alene park. Forget about your teenagers getting jobs here because the leftest city council has made it impossible for businesses to hire the young and unskilled. Last week we went to the downtown mall and spent 35 minutes trying to get out of the flipping parking garage which you are obligated to use (and pay) because street parking is sparse (and expensive). Only a few airlines service the city. drug use is rampant. I am a physician and I do not go a week without taking care of some pregnant patient who is actively using meth, heroine, ethanol or all three. Everyone is on Medicaid....why work? The city was planned to have parks within walking distance of most neighborhoods and the parks are nice. Unless you have to move here, don't.

[Comment on this Posting]

I'm trying to save you - 1/17/2016

I have lived in Mississippi, Utah, Germany and Nebraska. I found all of these places very pleasant. In our desire to be closer to family(in a neighboring state)we moved to Spokane. BIG MISTAKE. First of all the neighborhood Airway Heights is an abomination. It is built around a jail. We had door to door salesman ALLLL the time. I'm assuming due to the lack of jobs. There was actually someone selling hair WEAVES door to door!! Spokane itself is dirty. Don't believe me? Google these words " why is Spokane so..." It will say ghetto, dangerous and dirty. It is all of those things. New businesses struggle here. The mountains, rivers, and lakes are gorgeous but the people are weird and any normal jobs are given to local family members. I have been a professional for 10 years and cannot find a descent job.

[Comment on this Posting]

no jobs - 10/22/2014

there are no jobs in Spokane wa. my grandson put in an application for a job at a movie theatre and was told they had over 100 applications for it. I have 30 years office and call center experience and could not get a job in spokane. my daughter has a bachalors and a masters degree and could not find a full time job. I have to drive 45 minutes to the next city Coeur d alene id to work and it is next to impossible to find a place to live in Coeur d alene id unless you have perfect credit and it takes a week to find out if you are approved for an apartment. all housing in both cities are owned by corporations. there are very few apartments or houses owned by an individual for rent a one bedroom ranges from 650 to 1000 a month. I have lived in several places in this country and this area is the most difficult to live in that I have ever seen for jobs and housing. it is pretty here but not that pretty. in Spokane there are homeless people all over the city panhandling and there are four colleges and a military base to compete for jobs. in Coeur d alene id it is a tourist area and extremely expensive. if I had known what it would be like to live here I would not have moved

[Comment on this Posting]

20 Years in Spokane - 8/14/2014

We were assigned to Fairchild AFB 20 years ago. The city has grown into a great spot to live, with descent shopping, restaurants and entertainment. There is a lot to take advantage of with several lakes, rivers, mountains, etc. The healthcare is very good, and with Riverpoint campus and all the expansion of the medical school, it keeps getting better. We even have specialty veterinarian schools in Spokane. My Boxer was treated at their eye clinic for a very reasonable fee. I felt very fortunate to have such great healthcare for my pets. Most of my opinions about Spokane are positive, but there are just a couple of things I'm less optimistic about. First, the amount of graffiti and other vandalism is becoming an issue for me. But I was surprised at how high our crime rate is here, since I generally feel safe and confident in most areas. And second, the winters are becoming more difficult for me as I get older. Although, the weather is generally easy to deal with the rest of the year.

[Comment on this Posting]

Should You Move To or Visit Spokane? - 6/12/2014

Oh heck, if you are looking for a great place to live or just want to visit, move to Spokane, or come on by my place! 89% of the people here are fantabulous. The rest, coming and going, want more for less, don't want to work, are whiners, know-it-alls, in short not worth listening to, so ignore their negativity. I own The Heart of Spokane, it is a retail store currently on Monroe Street. If you come in and it's your birthday and you tell me I will sing for you. If you need something vintage, jewelry, collectible or something dusty to keep you busy come on by. We dance, tell funny stories, you can watch me paint, or check out the fine art in the store. There are also seventeen other vintage stores on Monroe in case I bore you, but I pride myself in knowing all kinds of stuff about Spokane. If you just want to take up some time, do it here, I promise it will be fun. If you need advice on your kids, husband or spouse I offer it up with big chucks of silly, and funny stories, I mean really you have to get free stuff sometimes. If you need to know where to eat try Christ Kitchen up the street has the best doggone gourmet chicken pita sandwiches in the world, they are a wonderful group of women who have gone from being homeless to being an important part of the community. But I have a list of the gourmet, as well as the best junk food in town. There are a dozen places to check out art, close to 900 restaurants to feed your face, and the median cost of houses are $120,000.00 if you are looking to buy. There is lots of business being done all over Spokane and in most cases the business folks are handshake loyal. We have some lovely bars, and some unbelievable events. Hoopfest, and Bloomsday are huge people draws. We have picnics and parties all over Spokane. People are diverse here, and most of us love everyone. Yes, there are a few crabs, a dozen or so meth monkeys, always a bad apple or two but that's life anywhere in the world. We have some real pearls The Davenport Hotel, and its offshoots. The Fox Theater is amazing. Riverfront Park has all kinds of things to view and there is an amazing sculpture walk along the river. Manito Park is our most formal park and is a great visit, and if you want a bit of a drive CDA is about 50 miles away. We have skiing, biking, basketball, rafting, boating, horseback riding and a whole lot of wineries. It's not that expensive to stay for a short time and it's easy to live financially comfortable here too. Fairchild Air Force base is nearby and we have lots of active and retired military in the area, don't forget to shake their hands when you see them. I've never met one who I did not want to know better. I want you to know I welcome you to Spokane, have a great short visit, or, move here, either way come spend some money in the area and have a great time. See you soon!

[Comment on this Posting]

City that needs jobs, less liberals and an identit - 5/26/2014

Spokane is a city that seems to have lost it's identity. Not a bad place to live or raise kids. Like all areas, it has ghettos and crime in particular areas. Democrats in the Governors office and US Congress WA reps have done little or nothing to create jobs. The pro sports entertainment is lil fish in a big pool. Only Junior Hockey and rookie league baseball. There is a growing arts culture and Spokane Valley and Sprague has great potential to be an arts district. Education? There are too many schools to name in the area. SFCC, WSU, EWU, etc

[Comment on this Posting]

DON"T MOVE HERE - 2/20/2014

I moved here and started a business 4 years ago. I have had to spend more time trying to fix this community than I could on my business. No matter how many nonprofits and community groups I have joined it did not change the facts about Spokane. Spokane is poor and defeated, miserable and hostile, trashy and unprofessional. Most of the people have adopted a culture of lazy, selfish, hostile, and violent behavior. Spokane is a Cesspool! Spokane is the real-deal ghetto. The whole place! I am desperately trying to liquidate everything here and move. I will be taking most of my staff with me. Not joking... It is that bad. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Spokane will turn your little-ones into convicts and your property into rubble...and the cops don't even show-up when you call 911 (can you believe that?!) DO YOUR REASEARCH. Don't buy into the positive image the city is trying to promote.

[Comment on this Posting]

Media controlled site.... - 1/18/2014

Didn't realize this was a communist type site that reviews comments. That is so controlling, and unfair to people who are trying to get honest feedback. If I am saying I am looking for an all white place, you won't post it. If I say I am proud to live in a diverse place, you will post it! Hateful racist anti-white site!!! I bet my bottom dollar you won't post what I just sent in, and I would not have bothered if I had known you review comments. We live in the Middle East!!! Controlled media everywhere, how freedom of speech lovely of you! Thank goodness people are starting to fight back. America is dying....

[Comment on this Posting]

Liberals and non-whites please consider California - 1/18/2014

I am so relieved to read that Spokane is conservative, and that if you are non-white, you should consider somewhere else. It is a sad day that we MUST look at diversity as no other option. Like forcing marriage onto someone with a partner they have nothing in common with. No other country has this stress. If you live in Japan, you can move to any city and it sill feels like your culture, your language, and your home. Diversity is not for everyone. That isn't to imply automatic hate exists, or that anyone wishes bad things on another race. I love different cultures and different groups of people, and that's why I have spent my entire life traveling. If I don't wish to bring back every part of the globe I have visited to be my neighbor, because I love and value my own culture and language, that does NOT make anyone a bad person. The progressive liberals who force their preferences and political agendas onto everyone are the people full of hate and lack of sensitivity. The blatant unfairness of being forced to live with the globe in your own homeland is so sickly unfair I don't know where to begin! No other country does this to their own people! After what I have read, I am considering Spokane seriously, because I am now in California in an all non-white neighborhood, and although people are ok, I am lonely. I prefer my own culture and language, and I won't be made to feel guilty or ashamed of my own people. In so many subtle ways, that is the hate agenda that is being pushed. If somewhere is not diverse, it must be forced. That's just wrong. We aren't allowed to go to the forbidden island in Hawaii if we are no of Hawaiian blood. Our differences is what's makes the world a beautiful place. If we force us to mix, those differences will disappear! Japan won't change, but America, Canada and Europe are on their way of being good and lost culturally......Anywhere where Europeans live they want fragmented and diversified into shards of nothingness. It's a racist hate, post-WWII agenda, aimed at an entire innocent generation of people. If you are also white-Euro, or of this ancestry struggling to find places to live where you are a majority, and stand to remain so - start taking a peaceful stand.

[Comment on this Posting]

Climate - 9/11/2013

Spokane has 4 distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Each has its charm, as well as outdoor activities from fishing in the Spring, camping/hiking in the Summer, Green Bluff trips for pumpkins in the Fall and awesome cross-country skiing in the Winter. Winters can be real sneakers, ranging from just a few showers of snowfall to ice storms that require battening down of the hatches. Fall colors on the tree is without doubt one of the prettiest shows in town. Spring is heralded in by the sweet smell of lilacs, the city's namesake flower. Their colors range from whitest of the the white to deep purples and pinks. Summer temperatures rarely go over 90 degrees and are more likely in the 70-90 degree range, tempered by the occasional and very remarkable thunder storms that take over the sky with sheet and strike lightning.

[Comment on this Posting]

A good place to live - 7/21/2013

First of all I'm going to try and clear up some misinformation and misconceptions and down right lies and meanness about Spokane. We must all remember though that many people have an agenda going when they write things myself included for the above reasons, others because of their own problems, issues, negative or positive experiences. That said...I've lived here all my life 65+ years and have been involved in many different aspects of the city and valley and because of my career I've worked with thousands of people and know their personal experiences. Spokane does NOT have a homeless problem any worse then any other city in fact not as bad as most. A poster on here implied that there are multitudes because of the 4 hospitals we have that they come for the care, that is just plain illogical thinking they can get care anywhere most choose not to. We have 4 hospitals because greater Spokane serves a half a million people not just the 200,000+ in Spokane proper. Someone else said the farmers burn their fields and smoke us out not any more haven't been able to in awhile. Another said we're overrun with gangs again not true there are gangs not anymore then any other city our size and a special gang enforcement unit was put in place and that's helped. We're to quiet of a town to attract to many, not important enough for them. Meth yes same as other towns it's a scourge on humanity. Streets not safe, drug deals on every corner that's just bull, unless you're in a bad area of town then mostly you won't get bothered unless you're looking for trouble. Panhandled maybe but just be nice and say you have nothing on you and keep walking. People in there 20's are often unsatisfied, not enough to do or they are kind of outcasts the nerds, geeks, party goers the homely girls and guys that feel slighted, etc. so they go looking for the greener pastures. If you want some good info check out... WWW.visitspokane.com Don't make a mistake of believing everything you read on here or any where put it all together, go visit, talk to people and judge for yourself. Some of the things that have been said on here have given me a good laugh like the poor man who said mental illness was rampant here. I wondered if the poor thing had experienced a stay in the mental hospital, it must be awful to think everyone around you is mentally ill, sounds paranoid to me. And the list of inaccuracies goes on but you get the idea. Collie

[Comment on this Posting]

weather - 7/14/2013

is spokane hilly or flat. when it snows do they keep the streets in good condition?

[Comment on this Posting]

4th of July ( Independence Day ) - 7/4/2013

I moved here in Jan. 2012. I have loved it here until today. Your celebration of the 4th of July is unbelievably bad. First I find out that no fireworks at all is allowed in the city or even the county. Then I find that I would have to go to River Front Park to see the fireworks and fight for both parking and space just to enjoy fireworks? I tired to see from my porch the fireworks but peoples trees are in my way. No place could I find to even see them. Wow, this is horrible. My children and grandchildren with me can not see fireworks on the 4th? Are you kidding me? For generations my family have been using fireworks and no one ever has even injured themselves, why because we carefully supervise. This is so disappointing. Worst holiday ever. Thank you Spokane.

[Comment on this Posting]

We do not have 4 seasons - 2/7/2013

I have lived in Spokane for 28 years. The statement that Spokane has four seasons is inaccurate. We get 3 to 4 feet of snow most winters. Yes, you read that correctly. You had better like dealing with tons of snow and know how to drive on icy streets. Check out You Tube if you don't believe me. The snow generally stops in March and it stays chilly and cloudy until after the 4th of July. After July 4 it shoots up to over 95 degrees. It finally gets nice in August, but that is when the farmers decide to burn their grass fields so the air is filled with smoke and chokes your lungs. So you have to keep your windows closed. There are no jobs here. Do not move here unless you have been transferred. The downtown area used to be nice, but gangs have moved in and it is not safe to be downtown after 5:00. Kids hang around and intimidate you until you stop coming downtown. The bus system is excellent. I realize this is a negative review, but you are been forewarned. To say that this is one of the best retirement cities is ridiculous.

[Comment on this Posting]

Do NOT move to Vegas - 12/23/2012

We have lived in Las Vegas for about 2 years now. I can honestly say I wish we had never moved here. It's not about a gambling problem.. We aren't very fond of heat..I know your thinking why cove to the desert. We thought we would try it out. When you visit here you don't get to see the. Beautiful areas here. Anthem Madeira canyon is on the west end I believe. Beautiful homes and neighborhoods. A lot of new homes. Crime is bad and drugs are horrible. People get run over weekly and killed here. It's sad. My complaint is the people here re terrible. Extremely rude. Now we do live in a high rise on the strip but no matter where you venture out to you won't find that many nice people. I'm not trying to be best friends with people it a simple hello or thank you would be nice. I've had my hands full with groceries and someone will be in front of me walking in and not hold the door. This happens way too much. A lot of young people here.. The only thing on their minds are what bar they will go to next and who they will take home. It's really sad just how self centered this generation has become. They drive 3 series bmw's and think they are hot stuff. We are looking to move to Spokane Washington. We love colder climates and sow and from what I've researched the whole state is so beautiful..if you like rude people move to Vegas..

[Comment on this Posting]

5 Months great, 7 months not so nice - 12/18/2012

The weather is great here during June through October. The other 7 months.....not so nice.

[Comment on this Posting]