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Forbes Magazine Says it...Does That Make it True?

Looking through the online edition of REALTOR Magazine and there is a story posted this morning that references an article published on Forbes.Com by Zack O'Malley Greenburg that claims to have found the 10 Safest Places to Live, in the USA.

The criteria was reviewed with four factors in mind:

Workplace Accidents
Weather Catastrophes
Crime Rate
Traffic Accidents

OK, so I can see why these issues are considered and will help define safty for the average family looking to find a place to call home and raise a family.

The problem I have with the results is that they are all cities of significant size. Take a look:

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wisc.
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisc.
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, R.I.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.
Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio (tie)
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio/Denver-Aurora, Colo. (tie)

No where on this list do I see either Hemet or San Jacinto. Granted we may only have about 100,000 residents in the entire valley but I can almost guarantee that we have NOT had any Weather Catastrophes (OK, maybe a case or two of sun stroke or an occassional dehydration - but hey, this is Southern California and we are in a very arid valley...could be considered desert by some).

I'm quite positive that we have a very low WORKPLACE ACCIDENT rate here in the Hemet - San Jacinto Valley. Since they quit building new homes about 2 years ago, there are hardley any jobs here for anyone to get hurt at. Most of our employers are either retail or service related and most are very low risk. Many of our residents commute to places like Temecula, San Diego, Riverside,m San Bernardion, Ontario and even Orange County. Hemet and San Jacinto is very safe when it comes to the workplace...I can practically guarantee it.

If it wasn't for TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. Granted our 'Blue Haird Ladies' and 'Old Men with Hat' population is rapidly declining as the average age (but it does seem that we have more senior involved traffic accidents than ever, as they continue to age) in the vally has dramitically lowered itself from the high 40's to the early 30's in just the last 5 years, we still do have a few crazy drivers around here. Heck, on July 11th of this year, I toateld my car on the Ramona Expressway when som yahoo ran a red light at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. So, I guess traffic accidents is our Archilles Heel when it comes to being a safe city.

I just can't imagine the 10 safest places to live are 10 major metropolitan areas. Heck, I moved out of the City in '92 becuse they tried to burn down LA - how safe is that?

Until Next Time, Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, ePRO & Five Star Certified REO REALTOR®
www.JohnOcchi.Com
Hemet - San Jacinto Valley, CA
The Excellence in Real Estate Team @
Allison James Estates & Homes
2281 W. Esplande Ave, #102-B
Next to "Starbucks"
San Jacinto CA 92582
(951) 654-5550

This blog and the contents written here is the intellectual property of John Occhi, Hemet - San Jacinto Valley REALTOR® in the South West Riverside County region of the Inland Empire of Southern California. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of John Occhi and those who comment. Please note that I am not an attorney or a tax professional and any time I discuss either topic, I suggest you consult with the proper professional for relevant assistance.

This blog is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information the can be used to make better real estate decisions.

I am proud to be a full time REALTOR® who is proud to be a contributing member of the ActiveRain community.

Posted by John Occhi, ePRO, Hemet-San Jacinto CA Real Estate, 951-443-6259 on 10/27/2009 01:16 PM

Comments (6)

Places to Live in the Moving Channel

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Originally posted at: John Occhi's Blog: Forbes Magazine Says it...Does That Make it True?

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6 Comments on Forbes Magazine Says it...Does That Make it True?

OCT

John, I guess if you edit the criteria, you can make any city safe. These cities wouldn't be my choice for the safest. I wonder if the criteria is based on crime per 1000 people or something like that. If that is true then these cities could be considered.

Boulder City Steve

John- I see your point however, there is another list that does rate small cities. How do I know this? Because for many years, two Ventura county cities were often in the top three. Simi Valley (my hometown) and Thousand Oaks (right next to each other) have often been rated the safest small cities in the U.S.

On another note, the one Forbes list that recently ruffled my feathers was the "Prettiest Small Towns in America". SERIOUSLY!!! Like they toured every city in America! PULEEEAAASSSEEE!

While the safest cities are based on actual data, the prettiest cities are sooo subjective.

Steve,

I asked myself the same questions - I do believe they were more focused on cities that are true metropolitan areas. Perhaps if I read the Forbes magazine article then I would have known more...but this is REALTOR Magazine reporting and I for one do not find it very subjective for a publication like this to be reporting these kinds of lists - it certainly made me feel alienated.

John

Donne,

I know right where you are - I lived in the SFV for many years 70's through the early 90's. I'll bet Simi Valley took a big hit after the Rodney King trial - just my guess but that's what most of American thinks about (if they can remember that far back) when thy think of Simi Valley. Of course the Ronald Reagan Museum is a spectacular place and one that should not be missed by any visitor to California - foreign or domestic.

Anyway, I agree, lists like this don't do anyone any service except for the one who end up on them. Not sure, but my guess is that is a golden opportunity to sell some advertising with a local flare. Hmmmm, I wonder, could that really have an influence?

John

John - That's so funny that you should mention Rodney King. I was born and raised in Santa Monica and lived in Laurel Canyon with hubby #1 during the late 80's and early 90's and in Beachwood Canyon after the divorce. In 96, I fell in love and married a valley boy and he dragged me (literally) to live in the valley (Granada Hills).

One day, he came home and told me we were moving to Simi Valley. The first thing out of my mouth, "wasn't that where Rodney King got beat?". That's all I had ever heard about Simi Valley. Heck, at that point in my life, even Granada Hills was a bit of a culture shock to me (I had never been there before until hubby #2).

I came to learn that Simi wasn't where King was beat, it's just where the trial was (he was actually beat in Chatsworth). Hubby #2 and I have been in Simi ever since and I absolutely love it. As for their "safest small city" status? I think it's because we have such a high percentage of Los Angeles county cops and Ventura county sheriffs that actually live here that makes our neighborhoods so safe.

And yes, that is a good selling point. I am currently working with an LA county cop who wants to move his family here from LA county (Altadena) and they qualify for Simi Valley's first time buyer program too. Always happy to help more cops move to my hometown. :)

OCT

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Beaverton, Oregon was on that list. We are not a big city, but we do have Nike and Intel, but prior to this list, I don't think Beaverton has ever been on any list and I would be surprised if any major news outlet even knew where it was compared to Portland. (Just west of Portland for the record)

Todd Clark - www.LivingBeaverton.com

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