When I first moved here, the people across the street brought me cookies to welcome me to the neighborhood. I lived near S 30th Ave at the time. I lived there for a year before my private landlord sold the property and the new owners JACKED the rent up $100! I was furious and had to move, shutting me out of a neighborhood that welcomed me with open arms. I was the only "ethnic minority" left living in that entire neighborhood and it was not as if I didn't notice.

Years later, a friend told me that a 2-bedroom apartment was opening up in my old 30th Ave neighborhood and it was only $525 a month. I excitedly made an appointment with the private landlord to view the property a day later. When I arrived, he told me that the rent was now $575. He had JACKED the price up for ME by 50 bucks. I should have reported him to the authorities for discrimination, but I was so sad and shocked at what had happened to me that I decided not to say anything. I didn't want to bring any attention to me for standing up for what was right. If I could go back in time, I would now not only CALL HIM OUT right then and there, I would have reported his butt to the City of Yakima!

What that landlord did to me was illegal. I still remember his name because he had the nerve to tell me to put a MISTER in front of his name. I should have reminded him that I am a free, grown woman in her 40s and I don't have to call anybody a MISTER in the year 2021 unless I choose to. But shoulda woulda coulda.

A lady in a Facebook group I'm in posted today that she was moving to Yakima from Montana and wanted suggestions from group members on where to live.

It broke my heart to see so many people say "move anywhere except below 25th Ave". As a person who now lives below 25th Ave, I took offense to that right away. I see comments about that all the time and the ones who say that are trying to nudge and wink that there is too much crime happening below those streets. Well, I am here to tell you: As someone who listens to the police scanner all the time, crime happens E V E R Y W H E R E in the Yakima vicinity. Yes, there are more instances of certain crimes in certain neighborhoods, but that does not make the entire city of Yakima.

I live in Yakima, not too far from downtown (southwest), and it is a great place to live! I have lived here for almost 20 years. My neighbors in my block are loving, caring, friendly, and we all look out for each other and even pet sit when needed. My residential street is full of people walking their dogs, families with kids in school, and whatnot. When people say "below" a certain street, I hope you realize what they mean. If I could live anywhere I would choose the heart of Yakima, out in the country where I'd have wide-open spaces, or somewhere in the Lower Valley where the land is plentiful and pretty and my agriculture friends are close by.

Yes, I have had my car broken into a few too many times (and once somebody stole the tire off my car) but that particular thing seems to be a personal vendetta against me, not a regular neighborhood occurrence. I would recommend someone move to the city of Yakima and I would tell them to drive around and find a neighborhood that speaks to YOU, not to listen to the naysayers and the prejudiced.

The only reason I would ever tell someone not to move to Yakima is that we don't have a Chipotle or an Ikea. Because, ugh.

A lady in a Facebook group I'm in posted that she was moving to Yakima from Montana and wanted suggestions on where to live.

It broke my heart to see so many people say "move anywhere except below 25th Ave". As a person who lives below 25th Ave, I took offense to that right away. I see comments about that all the time and the ones who say that are trying to nudge and wink that there is too much crime happening below those streets. Well, I am here to tell you: As someone who listens to the police scanner all the time, crime happens E V E R Y W H E R E in the Yakima vicinity. Yes, there are more instances of certain crimes in certain neighborhoods, but that does not make the entire city of Yakima.

I live in Yakima, not too far from downtown (southwest), and it is a great place to live! I have lived here for almost 20 years. My neighbors in my block are loving, caring, friendly, and we all look out for each other and even pet sit when needed. When I first moved here, the people across the street brought me cookies to welcome me to the neighborhood. My residential street is full of people walking their dogs, families with kids in school, and whatnot. When people say "below" a certain street, I hope you realize what they mean. If I could live anywhere I would choose the heart of Yakima, out in the country where I'd have wide-open spaces, or somewhere in the Lower Valley where the land is plentiful and pretty and my agriculture friends are close by.

Dislcaimer: Yes, I have had my car broken into a few too many times that I had to report to the police (and once somebody stole the tire off my car (but those things have only happened to me, which indicates a personal vendetta someone has against me, not a regular neighborhood occurrence). I would recommend anyone to move to the city of Yakima and I would advise them to just drive around and find a neighborhood that speaks to YOU, not to listen to the naysayers and the blatantly prejudiced.

The only reason I would ever tell someone not to move to Yakima is that we don't have a Chipotle, Trader Joe's, or an Ikea. Because, ugh. 😂

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