Cali can be a very dangerous place

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cali can be a very dangerous..., posted by Traveller on Aug 27, 2003

Hey Traveller,

I have a lot of respect for your opinion on a variety of topics but in this one area, I just disagree.  I love Cali as much as anyone and if I could, I'd be there right now.  I never discourage anyone who is serious about finding a wife from going to Colombia either.  I'd even like to live in Cali with my wife some day. But having said that I still think Colombia in general is a far more dangerous place than the United States to live.  

My wife from Cali and I live in Northern California now and Cali IMO is much more dangerous than any city within a couple of hours of here.  Sure there are bad areas in Oakland that there's no way in hell I'd enter after dark, but there are very bad barrios in Cali too that even taxis avoid.

So what's the point of my argument.  I'm not trying to bad mouth Colombia in any way but I don't think Cali or Bogota equate with any other U.S. city as some people have suggested.  I don't think it's even close.  That's not to say that there aren't incredibly dangerous neighborhoods in the inner cities, right here in the U.S., of course there are.  But the reality is, most of us don't live or venture out in these areas.

When I talk about Cali being a lot more dangerous, I'm comparing my day to day activities, in strata 4,5 and 6 barrios and commercial parts of Cali with middle class activities here in the States.  I don't think there's any comparison.  I've spent a year in Cali, generally in nice areas and witnessed more violence first hand than I've witnessed my whole life living in three states in western United States.

Granted, my experiences are anecdotal but for me it has left an impression on me that I can't ignore.  I know very few people in Cali who have family or friends who have not been affected directly by very violent crimes. With the exception of some very random and infrequent cases, I can not say the same for the family and friends I have here in the States.

James

[thundernco]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali can be a very dangerous pla..., posted by zack on Aug 27, 2003

Zack,

I live there also, actually split my time between San Francisco and Cali, and have been back and forth in CO in some capacity since about '88.  Yes there are shootings, muggings, robbery, homicide and kidnaps.  That said, I did my undergrad in Los Angeles and that was no different except for maybe slightly less kidnapping.  Let's face it, Cali is a big city by CO standards, and the poverty rate is very high so crime will happen.  However, that is no different than our larger cities, in CO we just tend to stick out a bit more = be a bit more careful and you'll be fine.  The final point for me is: I live with my wife and kids in Cali, there is no way in hell that I would ever live in some cities in the good 'ol USA, much less ever move my family to.

Take Care -TNC

[zack]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cali can be a very dangerous..., posted by thundernco on Aug 27, 2003

I grew up near Chicago and I have to agree with you and Traveller. Even though my experiences in Cali are much less than yours, I would still feel safer walking through Cali than I would south Chicago.

Zack