2 weeks in..

II did speak so a bunch of expats who lived there from 3 weeks to 30 years and not one of them said crime was a big issue. Most of the long term residents knew of the incidents that are mentioned on this sited I brought them up, most of them knew people directly effect by them. If you are going to throw out there, “Then this guy with a machete showed up at my door. But that's another story for another time. “ First don’t leave it for another time. 2nd bother to tell why you stayed anyway apparently the island is worth it.

I lived in C'sted. At the Coff House. A drunk homeless guy repeatedly tried to break into the apartments there. It had nothing to do with me owing any money to anyone or being involved with a gang. I also had my house in Cotten Valley broken into. They shot guns at my neighbor and his dog. My car has been broken into more times than I can count. I had a friend killed for no reason whatsoever in his home. I lived at the yacht club on a boat for years and people warned me constantly of the possibility of crime there. In fact, I just got an email from the Commodore warning members that's it's worsening.

I've lived here for over a decade. I'm not trying to scare anyone away. People expect crime in ATL or Detroit. They don't expect it here. I lived in Chicago for years and never once felt as unsafe as I do here.

And before you give me the like it or leave it trope, please know I'm here for work and work alone. If I could find equivalent employment in Chicago, I'd leave faster than HOVENSA did.

IT

If any reader is interested, here is a thread with a rundown on overall crime in the USVI:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,226926

Yes, you really had a field day on that thread which should have been been retitled, "noOne's blog".

Oh you reminded me, I should also mention the USVI population is roughly cut in half by airplane ride, so at very least it is like two separate mostly rural small cities.

Yeah I was thinking... where I went from and to were/are similar in many ways, except for crime.

I was born in Springfield MA in 1969, and lived in Westfield, MA up to 1981. As a child (sorry I need to remind OT of this) i moved to STT in early 1981. i lived there through my teens until I was almost 21, an adult, in 1990.

Westfield is a small rural city similar in size and population to the STT/STJ/Water Island area of the USVI. There is 46.6 square miles of land in Westfield vs. more than 50 square miles for the three islands. Westfield has a population of 41k people vs the STT/STJ/WI area of around 55k people.

In 2010, (2011 and 2012 had 0 murders) in Westfield there were 2.4 murders (1 for the year) per 100k vs the USVI's 2010 murder rate of 60.0 per 100k.

There was a huge difference going from one culture to the other. As I have said before, I do not regret my time on the islands, and would not trade that time for pretty much anything.

When crime gets spoke of here, I will speak up, for better or worse, because I lost so much in the USVI. Not to complain, either - I am grateful for what I have gained from the USVI as well.

The bottom line is I would like to see things change for the better down there. How? I don't know. All I do know is that sticking your head in the sand is not going to help, and people moving there deserve a heads up where they can potentially avoid trouble. As Iris has said although, sometimes the trouble down there finds you.

Here is a link to the thread here about a book I have been writing about the inside view of crime in the USVI:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?7,224389

Guys, I totally expect crime to happen on the island, and I expect more petty crime. The point we are trying to make is a few of you paint is as nothing but crime and misery, if you really feel that way get off the island regardless of your job money is not worth it.

Guys, I totally expect crime to happen on the island, and I expect more petty crime. The point we are trying to make is a few of you paint is as nothing but crime and misery, if you really feel that way get off the island regardless of your job money is not worth it.

Sounds like you're not jobless. No offense, but sometimes it really isn't a choice. If it was, I wouldn't be here.

Sorry. Happy to hear you're safe and well off, tho'.

IT

And before you give me the like it or leave it trope, please know I'm here for work and work alone. If I could find equivalent employment in Chicago, I'd leave faster than HOVENSA did.
/quote]

When was the last time you visited Chicago?

 

I've lived here for over a decade. I'm not trying to scare anyone away. People expect crime in ATL or Detroit. They don't expect it here. I lived in Chicago for years and never once felt as unsafe as I do here.

IT

I'm wondering if maybe you should go visit Chicago and do a PMV before you say you would like to move back so bad….especially if you have not been there in a decade. I thought Chicago was still racking up the numbers on murder per capita….Much like DC, New Orleans, ATL, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Baltimore and many other metro cities.

I currently reside in Texas and we have the same things happening. Scary. I live in a nice/decent area and one of the restaurants that I frequent had someone shot and killed on the patio @ 8:45pm and before the gunman fled he pointed the gun at one of my girlfriends. Its a neighborhood restaurant and there was a band playing, crowd of all ages/backgrounds with some 60+ couples playing poker. It took a couple of months for them to return and a lot of others younger on edge.

My neighbor had their Tahoe stolen on the 4th of July and it was recovered fortunately, however, it was stripped of the A/C, rims, stereo, and even the baby stroller from the back. Who would steal a baby stroller? Really??

I am grateful for the honest info on here and its awful that some people have been personally affected by losing someone or themselves being in harms way. This info is important to us and it helps us prepare mentally and proactively.

Anyway, what I'm ultimately trying to say is that there are a LOT of CHANGES going on stateside and its not as safe and as convenient in some cases. At first it seemed gradual, however, I truly believe that someone living stateside is in total DENIAL if they say things in metro areas are going well and people feel they & their loved ones are safe.

Reminds me of a joke I heard…just to lighten the mood. I'm sure even the people in Saint Louis are feeling it right now and saying, "What the Hell is going on?"

I was in Ft. Myers, Florida the other day and I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that read, "I miss Chicago."
So, I broke the window, stole the radio, shot out two of the tires and left a note that read,

"I hope this helps!"

I haven't been on this site in a while and boy, does it still entertain. This was one of the only places I thought I could really learn about living on STX. I got here and have a completely different idea now. lol

Some of the media crews in Ferguson were shot at with rubber bullets (which can kill you in some cases) and tear gas grenades while trying to cover this story. Militarized police tore down their camera equipment and lighting as they fled. Why?

Ferguson: Proof That America is Turning Into a Militarized Police State
http://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/ferguson-another-proof-america-turning-police-state/

ear plugs
http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/08/huffpo-reporter-mistakes-foam-earplugs-in-ferguson-mo-for-rubber-bullets/

Haha damage control. Ear plugs? lol. I'm sure the police state was wearing ear plugs and everyone might want to put some in when they watch the vids below:

Tear gas and rubber bullets on American citizens...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JRo9LdrS8E

Even @ media doing their job…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqtiGhpNH9Y

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/500981295359741952/photo/1

Reporter from HUFFPOST... what can I tell you?

Iraq…coming to a neighborhood near you. Here's another one from that same media outlet Huff Post that Ryan Reilly works for…that pastor's stomach looks like it might sting just a bit.

Ferguson Police Reportedly Shot Pastor Renita Lamkin With Rubber Bullet During Protest:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/ferguson-pastor-shot-police-rubber-bullet_n_5678973.html

Some of the media crews in Ferguson were shot at with rubber bullets (which can kill you in some cases) and tear gas grenades while trying to cover this story. Militarized police tore down their camera equipment and lighting as they fled. Why?

Ferguson: Proof That America is Turning Into a Militarized Police State
http://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/ferguson-another-proof-america-turning-police-state/

Don't really care. Not our problem.

If you are an American citizen it should be your problem.

I've lived here for over a decade. I'm not trying to scare anyone away. People expect crime in ATL or Detroit. They don't expect it here. I lived in Chicago for years and never once felt as unsafe as I do here.

IT

I'm wondering if maybe you should go visit Chicago and do a PMV before you say you would like to move back so bad….especially if you have not been there in a decade. I thought Chicago was still racking up the numbers on murder per capita….Much like DC, New Orleans, ATL, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Baltimore and many other metro cities.

I currently reside in Texas and we have the same things happening. Scary. I live in a nice/decent area and one of the restaurants that I frequent had someone shot and killed on the patio @ 8:45pm and before the gunman fled he pointed the gun at one of my girlfriends. Its a neighborhood restaurant and there was a band playing, crowd of all ages/backgrounds with some 60+ couples playing poker. It took a couple of months for them to return and a lot of others younger on edge.

My neighbor had their Tahoe stolen on the 4th of July and it was recovered fortunately, however, it was stripped of the A/C, rims, stereo, and even the baby stroller from the back. Who would steal a baby stroller? Really??

I am grateful for the honest info on here and its awful that some people have been personally affected by losing someone or themselves being in harms way. This info is important to us and it helps us prepare mentally and proactively.

Anyway, what I'm ultimately trying to say is that there are a LOT of CHANGES going on stateside and its not as safe and as convenient in some cases. At first it seemed gradual, however, I truly believe that someone living stateside is in total DENIAL if they say things in metro areas are going well and people feel they & their loved ones are safe.

Dude. I *JUST* MOVED BACK HERE FROM CHICAGO. When was I last there? Like, last week. The crime is very segregated; not at ALL like STX. Moreover, I've lived on and off on STX for A DOZEN YEARS. I hardly need a PMV. And it's not petty crime on STX. Being personally mugged, having your home burglarized, having a drunk homeless man scale your building with a knife -- these things all occurred to me in C'sted and on the East End and are FAR from "petty" crimes.

IT

And before you give me the like it or leave it trope, please know I'm here for work and work alone. If I could find equivalent employment in Chicago, I'd leave faster than HOVENSA did.
/quote]

When was the last time you visited Chicago?

Um. I LIVED there last week.

IT

 

Reminds me of a joke I heard…just to lighten the mood. I'm sure even the people in Saint Louis are feeling it right now and saying, "What the Hell is going on?"

I was in Ft. Myers, Florida the other day and I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that read, "I miss Chicago."
So, I broke the window, stole the radio, shot out two of the tires and left a note that read,

"I hope this helps!"

Never happened to me in the three years I lived there. Both Chicago and STL are two of the most segregated cities in the U.S. Crime depends on where you live. My 10 year old nephew can wander Lincoln Park and Old Towne all by himself with no worries whatsoever.

I'd never let him out of my sight on STX.

IT

I haven't been on this site in a while and boy, does it still entertain. This was one of the only places I thought I could really learn about living on STX. I got here and have a completely different idea now. lol

Glad you had a positive experience, Jamison. I imagine being on the farm helped a lot. Please understand, though, that it isn't the same for everyone, and that one cannot make informed choices without knowing the facts. It's very disrespectful to be so dismissive of others' horrific experiences with crime on STX.

Best to you.

IT

Whether you are an American citizen or not, you cannot deny that people are being stripped of their basic human rights globally. Such a militarized reaction to peaceful protests is a form of conditioning. This conditioning knows no boundaries.

Here is a cop pepper spraying a child in Niterói, Brazil and also an 84-yr-old woman from Seattle with a 19 yr old pregnant woman sprayed in 2011:

Cop Pepper Sprays Child

Dorli Rainey, 84 Year Old Woman Pepper Sprayed

There is this neat little bill that passed called the National Defense Authorization Act creating a facility known as Conflict Research Records Center. Long gone are the days of privacy and Habeas Corpus is dead.

Here is how they define US citizen:

(c) The words “citizen of the United States” include a corporation, partnership, or association only if it is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of sections 802 and 803 of this Appendix, and with respect to a corporation under subchapter VI of this chapter, all directors of the corporation are citizens of the United States and, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or association operating a vessel on the Great Lakes, or on bays, sounds, rivers, harbors, or inland lakes of the United States the amount of interest required to be owned by a citizen of the United States shall be not less than 75 per centum.

(g) The term “United States”* includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Panama removed. (note) the term “includes”, is restrictive, the several states are eliminated from the definition of “United States”.

My 10 year old nephew can wander Lincoln Park and Old Towne all by himself with no worries whatsoever.

I'd never let him out of my sight on STX.

IT

Not a good idea to let a child wander anywhere on this planet. Also, perps & pedophiles know no boundaries.

I do not believe that Jamison is being disrespectful.

Also, I never said crime in the VI was mostly petty. Just stating facts and that things aren't rosy everywhere stateside either.

Ad Hominem.

I haven't been on this site in a while and boy, does it still entertain. lol

For your entertainment purposes, see this thread below where I am inquiring about local and 24 hour pharmacies on STT for my Mother. I wanted to support a local business and also thought it would be a good idea to have a 24 hour pharmacy for emergencies. Somehow, that was a "slap in the face" to CruzanIron and janestx had some insulting remarks about comparing the 24 hr pharmacy to needing a blow job that has since been removed by the mod. Needless to say, my mother was impressed.

Even funnier, they both live on STX and I was looking for info on STT. Entertaining indeed.

Pharmacies on STT

Iraq…coming to a neighborhood near you. Here's another one from that same media outlet Huff Post that Ryan Reilly works for…that pastor's stomach looks like it might sting just a bit.

Ferguson Police Reportedly Shot Pastor Renita Lamkin With Rubber Bullet During Protest:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/ferguson-pastor-shot-police-rubber-bullet_n_5678973.html

This really belongs in Under a Coconut Tree so I started a thread there for the riots in Ferguson, lets move the discussion there, please:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?7,228709