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What REALLY Constitutes A Safe Area?

By Cindy Westfall

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

December 11, 2012 09:12 AM

What REALLY Constitutes A Safe Area??

As I sit here typing this, watching the news on the Clackamas Town Center shooting, my heart is heavy for those two known persons that have lost their lives, others that were injured or those there that have had their world of safety shattered. I've shopped here so many times and have always considered this area as safe as any can be. This mall is only a ten minute drive from my home and I could have easily been one of the many shoppers in there today.

I'm asked frequently as a Portland REALTOR® what is a safe area. Of course I can't answer this as not only is my idea of safe different than others, I can't "steer" you to or from certain areas.

I can remember my best friend and I getting lost in the Bronx. NY. This is not typically known for being one of the safe areas when I was growing up on Long Island, yet not one but two seperate groups of people helped two young women find their destination. Yes, of course there are some areas that have a reputation for being less safe than others and one can check out the links to crime in certain areas. Does this gunman that walked into this mall and started shooting make this area less safe now?

We are never really "safe" anywhere are we? Using common sense safety is always good, but in some cases like this sad day in Portland, you can't control crazy. So what REALLY constitutes a safe area?

My thoughts and prayers are with all that had this touch their lives.

Here is the news story

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EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD

LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL

Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Cindy, you are so right! "So what REALLY constitutes a safe area?"

My prayers are with all in Portland!. Thanks for Sharing!!

Dec 11, 2012 09:29 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi John, This is something that's hard to explain to buyers..especially those that are moving into Portland from another state. This is certainly one of those unfortunate twists of life for all those that were in the mall at this time.

Dec 11, 2012 09:34 AM

Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker

Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX

Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

I think safety is something each of us must figure out for ourselves. What's safe for me may feel terrifying to another. But, I think most of us assume a certain level of safety will be provided at the mall. These days that doesn't seem to hold true.

Dec 11, 2012 09:56 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Jeanne and Ralph, it's these random acts of madness by very sick people that make one stop and realize that things like this can happen anywhere..at anytime.

Dec 11, 2012 09:59 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

my thoughts and prayers are with your entire community and the families of all those involved. This can happen anywhere I suppose.

Dec 11, 2012 10:12 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Tammy, thanks....just listening to the news it is for sure that everyone is just shaken and in disbelief that this can happen here. Like you said...it can happen anywhere :(

Dec 11, 2012 10:29 AM

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Cindy, I don't think any place is totally safe because sick people can go anywhere they choose to go and wreak havoc.

Dec 11, 2012 11:08 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Debbie, so sadly true. There are no neighborhoods that are free of sick and troubled people that might just snap at any time. Sign of our stressful time I guess.

Dec 11, 2012 11:14 AM

Jill Sackler

Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY

LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Oh, Cindy, how awful! I didn't know this happened. I haven't heard any news in the last 24 hours. It seems like it goes on all the time now. Are we really safe anywhere? This is all very depressing.

Dec 11, 2012 11:30 AM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Oh, Cindy, I just barely glanced across something about a shooting in Portland, but had no idea...I used to WORK in that mall many years ago! I haven't looked at the story yet, and it's becoming all-too-frequent and convenient for the crazies of the world to just open fire anywhere in public. I will look at the story now (reluctantly), but how very very sad.

Dec 11, 2012 12:06 PM

Dawn A Fabiszak

Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO

The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Cindy ~ glad to know that you are safe, but it's unfortunate for the two that died. And I hear you about "safe", it's all relative.

Dec 11, 2012 02:02 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Jill, a great reason to not watch the news...can be depressing at times. There have been several wonderful stories of selflessness of people helping others, mall employees stepping up and shining under this severe adversity.

Dec 12, 2012 01:59 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Gayle, you just never really know when something like this will happen and yeah..it does seem to be happening more often. I haven't heard any news this morning yet, but did hear that the shooter was only 22...

Dec 12, 2012 02:01 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Dawn, first thing I did was text my son that I wasn't sure if he was working..he goes to this mall a lot. It is very sad for the two that died. He was said to have shot off 60 rounds, so in that in could have been a lot worse. Just sad and unsettling.

Dec 12, 2012 02:04 AM

Lori Spohn

Eugene, OR

Thanks Cindy for your post. Unfortunately today we have a copy cat at a grade school in Conneticut. We must be thankful for those around us and give our love to them every time we see them. Many Blessings to you and yours!

Lori Spohn Team

Eugene, Oregon

Dec 14, 2012 03:51 AM

Lloyd Binen

Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA

Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Cindy, I've been reading posts about the tragedy in Connecticut and I thought you might have a post about the tragedy in Portland. if what you say is true ("we are never really safe anywhere are we?"), then I say we need to have strict gun or bullet control. The second amendment doesn't give others the right to make us live in fear that our loved ones, including young children, will be shot and killed.

Dec 14, 2012 12:00 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Lori, It's so very tragic..all those children and adults gone. Very hard right after Portland's shooting.

Dec 16, 2012 06:54 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Lloyd, It makes you wonder how these young men were able to get hands on such weapons. I know some are saying that if they were able to have a gun..then they could have taken the shooter out. I don't care what gun controls there are out there, obviously there is something lacking that can put these automated weapons in the hands of unstable people. It does make me so saddened and sick that another shooting like this could take place.

Dec 16, 2012 07:00 AM

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

What a tragic event, Cindy.

Thank God for 22-year old Nick Meli, who pulled his own gun on the murderer, and stopped anyone else from getting killed.

Dec 16, 2012 09:53 PM

Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

We all must be vigilant and aware of our surroundings - especially in this business. Like most agents I refer to local law enforcement agencies for the answer for a client. I also refer to the state sexual predator web site.

Dec 16, 2012 09:56 PM