Reviews & Comments
Las Cruces, NM
Pros and Cons -
11/8/2019As a 35 year old, lifetime resident of Las Cruces I have seen this town grow A LOT from when I was 10 years old.
Unfortunately, the crime has gone up quite a bit but that is expected with a growing city. What I didn't expect was how much shootings and murders have happened in 2019. I'm not sure if the rate has gone up or if the Las Cruces Sun News started reporting on every one that occurs now. They have happened in the poverty stricken neighborhoods between people that are known criminals, usually drug dealers and drug addicts and a rare innocent person or two.
It's sad to see that while this city continues to grow, (a lot of growth due to the retirees that come to live here) the job market is horrible. You can have a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry a masters in english and end up working at a call center for years. If people with degrees can't find decent jobs for their education level how are people with only a high school diploma or G.E.D going to fare?
To top it off the public school system needs MAJOR improvements not just here but in the entire state of NM as NM ranks 50th in the county for public education. The lack of good education and jobs have probably led to the growing crime rate. Don't get me wrong I greatly appreciate and welcome anyone who moves here as you all have been the reason this place has grown thus bringing a few more entry level jobs. I just feel that the city government might favor the retirees over the life long residents that are under 50. It's understandable as you all bring money to the city helping it grow and improve in ways that are beneficial to the infrastructure and growth of the city but I feel like the younger population is being left behind causing more poverty and desperation. I wish there would be more activities for middle and high school aged kids so that they would stay out of trouble. A lot of us didn't grow up middle class and had to make fun for ourselves in whatever way possible. Boredom and bad influence as a teen can impact your life for years to come if not forever. I know more people from high school and middle school that have gone to jail/prison and/or died from overdoses than I know people who have been successful leading a decent life. It's the sad reality about Las Cruces and NM in general. It's a side of this place that many people either choose to ignore or are not aware of.
I would love to be able to start a foundation or organization that promotes age appropriate activities for teens while also educating them on how much impact their choices have on their lives in the present and futute. Possibly start a Smart Recovery or AA/NA group for teens struggling with addiction issues and sober teens living with addict parents/family members.
I would also love to bring something like Meow Wolf into downtown and make other fun spaces for the community. If I would have had a few clean, fun places to enjoy and good influences I might have made better choices. These of course are all things I wish I could do but financially am unable to. If I can't, I hope someone that has the means will be motivated to do something for the community instead of just complaining as I have done.
Despite all the negative things I said about Las Cruces there are so many positive things about this city. The landscape is gorgeous and unique. The Organ Mountains are the focal point of Las Cruces and the city is overall beautiful with only a few not so beautiful streets. Downtown is lovely, tiny but beautiful to look at and safe. People are overall friendly and welcoming and the city is decently clean, you won't see a ton of litter everywhere.
I hope everyone can appreciate the beauty Las Cruces holds and hopefully consider how they can help to make it an even better place to live.