Reviews & Comments
Grants Pass, OR
re: I hate it and here is why you will too. <
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9/23/2021While I think he could have phrased it better, I can’t say he’s wrong.
We have had dangerous smoke levels the past several years, where it’s so bad you actually can’t even see the outline of the mountains. People do wear masks for smoke, but object to wearing them for Covid.
The economy is bad, and getting worse. Most of the jobs ARE service oriented or healthcare, and do not pay a living wage. Minimum wage is the norm. Even the manager of the business will be making less than a dollar over minimum.
The food is not awful, but it is very limited and not great, with only a couple of expensive exceptions. There’s typical fast food (McD, BK, etc), a few coffee shops, pizza, and a couple steakhouses. Yes, there are a few Mexican and Asian food places, but they aren’t even close to authentic, and leave the spices out.
As for all the young women being gone or taken, that’s true. Most get married right out of high school, so they’re not out dating. Average marriage age is 18-20. Those who don’t plan to get married right away, move away. There’s nothing here for them.
Housing is an issue at this point. It was better a couple of years ago, but wildfires basically burned down the nearby towns of Phoenix and Talent, and all those people had to move somewhere. There are basically no rentals available in a 50 mile radius. At any price. People are tent camping at campgrounds, changing spots every two weeks to meet campground two week limits.
Housing is more or less non existent unless you’re buying a home, and even that is quite limited in Grants Pass, because there is no new construction.
I don’t think most of the people who live here hate it. But most 20-35 year olds probably do. There’s little to do here other than outdoor sports like hiking, fishing and hunting, or boating and rafting in summer. One movie theater that plays the same movies for weeks on end, and bars. But the bars are filled with older folk just sitting and drinking. There’s no music scene, no night clubs, no dancing, no karaoke night.
The biggest thing people do here is church related. Christian churches of all kinds. Even the holiday parades here are mostly decorated vehicles representing one church or another. The ‘parades’, by the way, are a total flop unless you’ve never seen one in a bigger city. The Christmas parade is basically a 20 minute lineup of pickup trucks with Christmas lights strung on them. And 3 minutes of the nationally award winning high school band, who are seriously amazing.
Unfortunately, that is the ONLY great thing about the schools. The education level here is terrible. Graduating high schoolers who can’t read at an 8th grade level, middle schoolers who have trouble with basic arithmetic somehow ‘pass’ beginning algebra. The schools here think they’re doing great if 35% are reading at grade level. 98% of the students are English speakers, but only 30-35% are at grade level in English. People say, “Our schools are great!” I say, Really? Look them up on Great Schools. Our schools are failing badly. Our high school graduates can’t get into the state college because they don’t meet minimum requirements, and our community college has an 18% graduation rate.
Yes, the town is racist. The N word isn’t even discouraged. It’s common. The town is 90% white and would like it to be more so.
There isn’t much violent crime here. Most of the crimes are thefts by druggies, of which there are MANY. A lot of shoplifting, but also crimes of opportunity. Don’t leave anything of value in your yard, driveway, etc. They rarely break into cars, but if it’s unlocked, they’ll take everything in it. Lock up your stuff. And ALWAYS lock your car.
Grants Pass, OR
re: Living the good life!
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9/23/2021The weather is mild 4 seasons?!
It hit 111° last month, and was over 100° for weeks. The 111 isn’t typical, but summers above 100 certainly are.