Wow, I’m not as popular as TG, but I have also lived in Temecula since 1990. I went to HS here, worked for many local businesses large and small, and sold RE for a while.
TG did say a few things that I disagree with though…
“Temecula is actually almost at build out, every piece of dirt is either built, planned and definately zoned.”
Not true, and definitely not true if talking about the whole valley like he does in the rest of his rant. There are actually many open lots, some of which have been graded specifically FOR housing that haven’t been developed, and because of the RE crash, won’t be developed for some time. There are areas off of butterfield stage, ynez, and just south of murrieta hot springs (some might be in Temecula) that are all designated for residential that won’t be built on.
“There are only a few apartment buildings in the city, confined to a few locations, multi housing is the key to urban decay.”
Not true, there are PLENTY of apartments scattered throughout the city AND its neighbors. If anyone likes I can point them out on a google maps image and post a link to it. There are apartments and condos all over the city. BTW, “urban decay”.. Some of the safest cities are built around multi housing. Think NYC, and many cities in UK, Europe, nearly everyone lives in an apartment, yet a very safe city.
“Temecula was designed to have no downtown, no place to live and be a pedestrian, something in existence in almost every ghetto.”
Just wondering if this is speculation, or you were there helping to design the city in an effort to make life as tough as possible for lower class individuals without cars?? Poor people, need not apply, Temecula is a utopia free from struggle and the unappealing aesthetics that come with it. Us middle class citizens whom are above those in poverty, need not be inconvenienced or made to feel guilt by your presence. Was that the city’s motto back in the early days?
“in temecula, you need a car or you will die.”
Hmm.. plenty of apartments and housing within walking distance to Costco, Abbot (largest employer), Winco (cheap food), Target, numerous Albertsons, the mall, movies, car dealers, etc… The list goes on and on. You definitely don’t NEED a car unless you live at one end or the other. I know and see plenty of people who walk around town, or ride bikes to travel the relatively flat and easy to navigate areas between Winchester and Ranch CA road.
“The city also purposely has a weak transit system, until recently it was completely cut off from it’s neighbors and still you cant get to elsinore, fallbrook, escondido or hemet without taking greyhound,”
The city does have a weak transit system, traffic sucks, by nature this is improving as gas prices rise, and transplants fall out of the area, but we do have more than just greyhound. Maybe you have seen the RTA signs, and benches located throughout the city and COUNTY. This has improved drastically in the last 4 years and is constantly expanding.
More info here… http://www.riversidetransit.com/bus_info/schedules.htm
[img_assist|nid=7922|title=transit|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=58|height=100]
“they do everything to avoid poor people under 55 so to meet the minimum they recruit the over 55.”
I would just like to have a reliable source on this one..
“Escondido is more than half Spanish speaking, the environment fit their needs and they were attracted to the area, Temecula has a B/P checkpoint in it and is designed to not meet their needs so even though a house in Temecula is cheaper than Escondido, it never became an Escondido.”
Uhh.. there are plenty of spanish speaking people that live in Temecula. The BP checkpoint isn’t even located IN Temecula, and it doesn’t do a good job of keeping out illegals anyways. There are plenty, and you or I couldn’t tell the difference between many legals and illegals anyways, if it is a bother to you or not. Illegals work in Temecula, the area IS attractive to them. And as a not related to an above post, there is low income housing available in Old Town, and, not to stereo type, but there are many Mexican families living there.
“if anything the demographics will improve.”
This is a bold statement. What exactly does this meant. The city will have wealthier residents in the future?? Crime will go down?? Quality of life will increase?? Hmm, since I moved here the quality of life has fallen slowly and steadily. The median income may have risen, but that doesn’t say anything worthwhile about a community.
In 1990 Temecula was a quiet little ranch town off the beaten path. Most people bagged on the city. People said it was a boring hick town in the middle of no where. The true residents at the time took that as a compliment. People came here to avoid big cities like LA and San Diego, experience fresh air, play outdoors, raise their families safely and in a wholesome environment. Temecula was a modest city that had nothing to prove. We enjoyed the lack of traffic, materialism, and big egos. Now the city is rat race, with plastic soccer moms who believe they could play a part on desperate house wives. Wanna be big shots hauling ass around in BMW’s dressed up pretending to be wealthy, trying to find their own trophy wife, so they can fit in with their new neighbors. Temecula 2 years ago was all about how much you could consume. People are getting more and more impatient with others on the road. It is still a nice place, I call it home and plan to for a while, but I’d take the old version in a second. I don’t see how a recession, high gas prices, massive amounts of over priced, over sized homes to sell, and slowing employment can make an EXURB city improve in its demographics. I don’t see how people won’t resort to crime to make it. (and they already have) The cops I know can confirm the increase in crime, theft, and yes, even murder. I hope Temecula can be a great city again. I hope we can reduce the phonyness, the attention whore in the Escalade with the 22s, the women who are concerned only with their beauty and possesions, and the kids who don’t have parents that pay attention to them. I won’t run away, thinking that moving will be the answer, because no place is perfect, but I do think things will get worse before they get better. The residents of Temecula have been partying like rock stars for about 10 years… there is gonna be one severe hangover.
