The status quo needs to change for the better.
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3/11/2019
My family has been in Grand Junction for at least 150 years and I have lived here off and on throughout my 55 years, Before I continue and so this review isn't entirely negative, I fondly remember the Grand Junction of the 1960s when it was the magic place as a child to go see my grandparents. I wish I had a time machine that could restore Grand Junction to what it was then in our day. Since the mid to late 1970s Grand Junction has decayed into what it is today, a rotting heap full of bums, homeless and drug addicts. With exceptions, unless it is a higher class area, home owners have literally let there homes rot and many openly pile garbage, junk and old cars that belong in a wrecking yard. Although, in recent years, many of the historic homes downtown have been restored, try looking East of Mesa College and the East end of town near Clifton and you can see for yourself, I am telling the whole truth. When I was searching for an affordable home here, most of what I saw, I described as "standing piles of rotting garbage". The homeless/drug addict issue is a very serious problem here, especially on North Ave. Meth, heroine, other hard drugs, prostitution and the other crimes that goes with that are a serious problem in Grand Junction, especially with the homeless. Take some time to watch the illegal activity that goes on in the park across the street from the Police Office downtown. Where we are on East end of town, we hear multiple gun shots most nights. In my opinion the local Police are completely corrupt and so is the City Council. Grand Junction has always been notorious for low substandard wages. My belief on that is that there a few families here that have most of the wealth and basically run the town to ensure they keep all the wealth and control. Low wages has been the most prevailing proof of that for the entire existence of the town. In the late 50s or early 60s my father left the area because "it didn't matter what you did you made $1 an hour". In my day in the mid 80s I left because "it didn't matter what you did you made $4 an hour". Medical care is also a real problem as I have had to care elderly and terminal family. St. Marys and Community hospitals are basically in a war for dominance and that "war" unnecessarily complicates and reduces the quality and availability of medical care in the area. Also, Doctor's that graduate at the top of their class usually don't locate in a smaller town like this. The quality issues and needless trouble we have had in getting competent medical care here is truly a mark of shame for this town. One last thing, it is bizarre the simple everyday things you can't buy anywhere in Grand Junction. For instance, my Mother needs a stationary exercise bike and at the time we needed it there are no sporting goods stores in town that sell them and Walmart only had them seasonally. After reading this, you probably wonder why I still live in Grand Junction from time to time? The simple answer is, I have elderly relatives that need help and I'm the only relative left able to provide that help. If it were not for that, I would never set foot in Grand Junction again. Since writing this I have been asked what town I like better? Personally I like Scottsdale, AZ but I thrive in hot climates, not everyone does.
kevin | Seligman, AZ