Would you????

[pootsy]

If Dodge City closed their packing plants and in turn got rid of most the crap that comes with it....would you move back to Dodge City?

[K C Muffin]

My vote's probably gonna skew the results. I wouldn't because I have a good life where I am. I just miss the simple life. Plus, medical help is hard to come by there - we have some really good docs and hospitals up here. As I age, I look at the quality of life for older adults. It's pretty nice here. Too nice to move back, even if it would be more comfy socially.

[dodgehighforeve]

The packing plants are waht brought me to dodge in the first place, and even gave me a job for a bit. But it's the lack of growth, and lack of ambition as a city that makes me want to stay where I am.

[jeezeweeze]

Originally Posted by Monster

Being from London and being a big city boy, Dodge City is just too small for me,
Sorry.

Is that close to England ?

[Highwayman]

I think them Brits are some of the biggest con artists around. They did manage to sell us an old, worn out bridge.

[Highwayman]

I think that tea business was a couple hundred years before the bridge deal.

London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

[aft_lizard01]

I guess it depends. IMO the meat packing plants arent the issue, its the illegals and the crime thats the issue. Plus it wouldnt hurt to add some variety to the shopping and eating places there, although that wouldnt bother me too much. Phoenix IMO is just too big and frankly at times scares the living bejebus out of me when I get in the wrong area. A Dodge City with little crime and I am there in no time.

[TexKan]

No for me too. Too much gossip, not enough to do, no water, to low paying jobs, too many memories, and I don't like what the ice salt did to my hooptie. She's repainted now and happy.

[Army_Strong]

If the plants closed in Dodge City would it solve the problems we have here? I think to a point it would, however there are bigger problems. Number one is the illegals and I don't see Dodge City doing anything about them anytime soon. Number to is the crime rate and there is no end in sight. I keep hearing people say wait until the casino gets here. I used to be in law enforcement and the casino will bring more trouble with it so the crime rate will just go up. Then on top of everything there is nothing to do in Dodge City. There are very few "GOOD" places to eat and the few we have do not have that great of service. My wife and I only eat out two to three times a month because of the bad service. I grew up in a town of about 2000 people and there was about as much to do there as there is here. I have about two and a half years here and I am gone. Instead of "Why not Dodge" how about "Why Dodge".

[Flying Dutchman]

Allow me to try an answer:

Number one is the illegals and I don't see Dodge City doing anything about them anytime soon.

If the plants closed most of the illegals would leave that work there since there would be no jobs. People who stay are those with roots and ties to the community. Those who are just passing through or just "working" would not stay.

Number to is the crime rate and there is no end in sight.

It depends on just what crimes you are talking about. Drugs have been a problem in Dodge since time immortal. While they were not as prolific, and everyone knew who the dealers were, they have been a problem. If a majority of the crimes are committed by the element brought here by the plants, and the plants leave or shut down, then the element does too. As for being able to do something about the crime RIGHT NOW, if our local court system would get on the ball you might see an improvement.

I keep hearing people say wait until the casino gets here. I used to be in law enforcement and the casino will bring more trouble with it so the crime rate will just go up.

You are basing this assumption on what? We are talking 1 casino, not gambling joints on every corner. So instead of someone sitting at Peppercorns and buying Keno tickets all night, they will instead spend it on slots. Instead of someone plopping 20 to 100 dollars on Loterry tickets they will spend it on blackjack. Think the mafia is going to come in and set up shop? Are you expecting a massive wave of gambling addicts hitting the streets, robbing places to pay for their addiction? There is already gambling here in Dodge, now they will have a place to do it legally. The money the casino brings in (and it will be alot) can help pay for more law enforcement, there for helping with the crime problem.

Then on top of everything there is nothing to do in Dodge City.

What do you want to do? I'll admit, there is not a great diversity of eating establishments. You basically have Mexican, Chinese or steaks and burgers. We do not have an Italian, Indonesian, Morrocon (sic) or Greek resteraunt which would be nice, but our population couldn't maintain them since most people do not eat there everynight. I have had bad service, and great service at every place I have eaten, but that is just me. We have a movie theater that shows 8 different movies. How many movies do you go out to see a week? We have dance clubs, bars that cater to different types of crowds, a dinner theater, car races.......all kinds of things. It depends on just what you want to go and do. Can we be better? Sure we can, and with the right kind of leadership maybe we can achieve some better things. I say bloom where you are planted. Don't get me wrong, this town has some problems no doubt, but I still believe that it can become a great city.