A Liberal Paradise
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10/4/2020
I've lived in Columbia for 10 years. I went to college here, left, and then returned to take care of my parents. These reviews amuse me. I will be leaving Columbia, but not for the reasons given. Some of you would absolutely love it.
Columbia would hold enormous appeal if you're young, somewhat or mostly liberal, and an outdoor enthusiast. The parks here are outstanding. The city-owned trails like the Katy Trail and Bear Creek Trail wind through miles of woods and neighborhoods, and if you're so inclined, you can use these trails to ride your bike from your house to your job. There are also several hundred acres of open space parks in town. The geography is beautiful. Columbia is a heavily wooded town, with beautiful fall colors. Deer, raccoons and foxes live right in town.
If you are a fan of music, art and theater, you will love Columbia. If your religious persuasions lean toward more modern and progressive churches or Tarot readings, this is your town. There is an Islamic mosque here. Lots of businesses selling marijuana. If you love college football, you'll enjoy the party-like atmosphere on game days.
But this town actually has a terrible crime problem. There are drugs and gang activity here, and when you hear what sounds like gunshots on Saturday nights, those are indeed gunshots. Murders are not uncommon. There is a large population of homeless people, attracted by the numerous soup kitchens and homeless shelters set up by the liberal populace. Don't be surprised when you see a homeless person sleeping in the parking lot of a business. The people here don't discourage it. And even though there is a city ordinance against panhandling, every street corner has a begger on it.
On the other hand, the locals DO enforce the city ordinance requiring a coronavirus mask (struggling businesses will pay a huge fine, and people here love to tattle on each other). If you're a Southerner at heart, throw around "ya'll" and "I reckon", vote Republican, don't believe in global warming, are an evangelical Christian and believe that people ought to let each other live their own lives, you won't like this town at all.
Taxes are high here; Columbia's surcharge hikes the sales tax well over 10 percent. They don't freeze property taxes for the elderly here. And if you don't have a college degree, you will find it difficult to get a job here.
I could also add that the city water tastes like the bottom of a swimming pool and the weather sucks, but I think that's already been covered.
Lydia | Columbia, MO