tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post4675473509612558725..comments2023-10-26T07:17:32.263-04:00Comments on The Cliff: Young, professional ... and leaving?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-56942292098435121542009-02-16T22:25:00.000-05:002009-02-16T22:25:00.000-05:00This isn't too encouraging ... already tied with C...This isn't too encouraging ... already tied with Cincinnati, Ohio/Middletown, Ky. for America's 15th emptiest city?<BR/><BR/>http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/12/cities-ten-top-lifestyle-real-estate_0212_cities_slide_2.html?partner=yahooreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-17990688700120499482009-02-16T09:55:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:55:00.000-05:00Within a year Charlotte could be the hottest city ...Within a year Charlotte could be the hottest city in the nation for jobs. WF and BAC will cut overlap jobs but that will be offset. Within a year Merrill Lynch and Countrywide will be money makers instead of money losers. Good business principles of span of control, coordinating, and networking will necessitate central control of assets and employees to Charlotte. Result will be even more jobs here. GMAC will most likely move here ASAP, from Detroit. Morgan Stanley will headquarter it's commercial banking operations here. Life is a gamble, but if it were me I'd gamble on Charlotte before I'd gamble on any other city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-52536211154117448602009-02-16T09:04:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:04:00.000-05:00I always laugh when I read Charlotte people's comm...I always laugh when I read Charlotte people's comments!<BR/><BR/>Read through the comments and laugh at the expectations...<BR/><BR/>- not as bad as "insert lousy northern city here"<BR/><BR/>- foreclosures nowhere near the bad places like Vegas, Phoenix, etc...<BR/><BR/>- Unemployment in Charlotte is only the fifth worst of major U.S. cities<BR/><BR/>LOL...it's like saying "I didn't take the FATTEST girl to the prom...just the fifth fattest"<BR/><BR/>People...come on. The premise is "If you are young, mobile, and professional, would you stay here and try to make a go of it or go somewhere else?"<BR/><BR/>The answer is...GO where the best chance for furthering yourself is!<BR/><BR/>Right now, in this "Worst since the Great Depression" economy, that is where a steady job with some chance for advancement!<BR/><BR/>Everyone's goal is the best possible life for themselves and their family (whatever version of that you relate to). <BR/><BR/>If that means that in Charlotte, you just got laid off and your home value has dropped 20%...<BR/><BR/>But<BR/><BR/>You can take a job in another location that puts you in a comparable position (home/rent prices and salary) and the economics of selling your home work...<BR/><BR/>DO IT!!!<BR/><BR/>If Charlotte is so great...so wonderful...it will still be here! You can come back! You can retire here!<BR/><BR/>This concept that you must stay and weather the difficult times to truly be a Charlottean is idiotic! That's how the textile workers wound up with no marketable skills and no jobs. They missed out on opening their eyes and moving on to other things when the neon sighs were blinking "Dead End Career"!!!<BR/><BR/>Now...the concept that the banks here are no worse than anywhere else and blah blah blah...no...you have missed the point!<BR/><BR/>Corporate America is selling off the future of this country. People in positions much higher than anyone who reads Charlotte.com are building facilities in India, China, the Philippines, Brazil...<BR/><BR/>They are hiring workers ate 40 - 60% less than workers here with no worries about benefits, laws, regulations...<BR/><BR/>They are purchasing product from outside the U.S. marking it up and selling it here in every way shape and form with nowhere near the level of regulation that an American should expect...<BR/><BR/>And YOU are paying for it! Shall we say...banks and auto industry...the high profile cases from recently!<BR/><BR/>But look at the offshoring of IT jobs...and the importing of H1B visa workers...think there are not qualified workers in the U.S.? No...they would just expect benefits and a salary!<BR/><BR/>THAT..is what will become of Charlotte...North Carolina...the United States in the coming years and decades. Don't believe it...look at the outrage from Europe when the "Buy American" was included in the stimulus bill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-56971362471055509032009-02-16T08:13:00.000-05:002009-02-16T08:13:00.000-05:00Most the posters here need to get perspective. Whe...Most the posters here need to get perspective. Where are you going to go? You want to see a city (state) that is suffering from really putting its economic eggs in one basket? Check out Detroit. Where are you going to go? Cleveland? Las Vegas? Arizona? Florida?Boston (good luck affording that)? we are in a NATIONAL recession and Charlotte is better off than most, trust me. Home prices have held here better than anywhere else in the country, there's a burgeoning technology, biotech, research and yes, Health Care industry here. Leave if you want, but those of us committed to Charlotte will only reap the benefits of your leaving. A little perspective would do most people here wonders.Mark Gilmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15232962548010030401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-43550578463647269712009-02-15T22:36:00.000-05:002009-02-15T22:36:00.000-05:00To the naysayers out there, this is no Detroit. Th...To the naysayers out there, this is no Detroit. That city has on average 125 foreclosures a day... About 3x the average of the next worst city. And that's not Charlott btw. Housing values have gone down yea, but not hte 30+% in other cities. Not ever close. Try Phoenix, Las Vegas, or any FL city for that. I've been here 2+ years and believe it not, I'm not in the banking industry and life is good. There's plenty of opps here. You just need to actually need to get your head out of your arse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-33907560478928397662009-02-15T12:54:00.000-05:002009-02-15T12:54:00.000-05:00Charlotte has the fifth-worst unemployment of any ...Charlotte has the fifth-worst unemployment of any large metro area in the US, and Bank of America and Wachovia have only begun laying people off. The large population that the city attracted in recent years was only sustainable at a bubble level of employment. In addition to the shrinking financial sector, many of the jobs that attracted new residents were in construction. High employment in construction is only sustainable in cities that are growing, not flat and certainly not declining. Therefore, my advice to the unemployed and those thinking of moving to Charlotte is to find somewhere else to live. You wouldn't go looking for a better life in Detroit, would you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-50823867540179071902009-02-15T10:28:00.000-05:002009-02-15T10:28:00.000-05:00These are scarry and uncertain times, but things w...These are scarry and uncertain times, but things will get better. All of us have to do what is in our best interests.<BR/><BR/>For those who do stay, most have not been horribly overpaid. Educated professionals should work hard and make a living that provides a middle class lifestyle. (If you made over $250,000 last year, you probably were overpaid.) Be careful about accepting jobs for salaries that are too low. <BR/><BR/>There is still a world of opportunity out there. We are talented and should be paid for the value that we bring to our work.<BR/><BR/>If employers think they can undercut compensation with strategies like offshoring to India, they are making a big mistake. Most of the work that comes out of India for $30 an hour is not worth $7 an hour. The quality is mostly horrible. Managers in Charlotte just have to keep acceptting it because they are told that it is the labor that the company wants to use.<BR/><BR/>I have nothing against people in India being trained and making a living. The true value proposition just needs to be realized.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-56014720316062853452009-02-15T00:27:00.000-05:002009-02-15T00:27:00.000-05:00so funny ... i left in 2001, just could not take t...so funny ... i left in 2001, just could not take the fake charlotte atmosphere, a huge smoke and mirror show.... love this episode!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-53324836832598275572009-02-15T00:02:00.000-05:002009-02-15T00:02:00.000-05:00Funny how the Charlotte haters all come out on sto...Funny how the Charlotte haters all come out on stories like this. People saying "yea, I left this place X number of years ago b/c of this and that and am so much better off"... whatever. If you were, you wouldn't be logging on to this web site to say this crap. Bottom line is Charlotte is suffering like so many other cities are now. Charlotte will rebound and will do just fine. There will be jobs lost, but with that is lots of opportunity. The city may be different 5-10 years from now, but it will be for the better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-13772642997671423792009-02-14T23:15:00.000-05:002009-02-14T23:15:00.000-05:00Detroit South.Gonna be big downtown full of gleami...Detroit South.<BR/><BR/>Gonna be big downtown full of gleaming empty buildings, surrounded by rotting suburbs.<BR/><BR/>Have fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-42382386951474483442009-02-14T21:52:00.000-05:002009-02-14T21:52:00.000-05:00Folks -- this is a depression, not the recession p...Folks -- this is a depression, not the recession people have lived through in prior cycles and the banks are at the middle of it. The government has de facto nationalized B of A and will liquidate the bank over time -- we need to find other professions (i.e. infrastructure) or wither away to Detroit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-85825736423792305272009-02-14T20:17:00.000-05:002009-02-14T20:17:00.000-05:00My Suggestion: Re-evaluate YOU, then worry about t...My Suggestion: Re-evaluate YOU, then worry about the Economy.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I'm so tired of seeing the negativity surrounding the Future for Charlotte. I'm a 2 year transplant, a single parent, and doing JUST FINE. I'm also in real estate and doing JUST FINE! <BR/><BR/>Yes my Edward Jones Statements make me want to cry, but that's part of the cycle of risk and reward! I'm not leaving. I'm so tired of seeing so much blame placed on everything else. How about someone stand up for once and take personal responsibility for their life and their choices. You don't need to drive a BMW, a Toyota gets you to the places you need to be in the exact same way and time. As a country we need to recognize that we don't have to keep up with the Jones'. <BR/><BR/>What it all boils down to is that EVERY person needs to take personal responsibility. If people did that in the first place, things might not have gotten so bad. I think some of the people in my fellow "Young Professional" age group need to Get up on Sunday Mornings, Go to Church and realize what is REALLY important in Life. <BR/><BR/>You can blame the government, the banks, the industry and everything else, but until individuals take responsibility nothing will change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-84769370609634596132009-02-14T16:16:00.000-05:002009-02-14T16:16:00.000-05:00Thanks for your insight 2/13 5:20pm. I get so tir...Thanks for your insight 2/13 5:20pm. I get so tired of all the negativity. It's ridiculous that we have too many people on here that want to see Charlotte fail and for what, just to say "WE Told You So!" If memory served me, Charlotte wasn't all that great in 1985. It's a much better place now and when this economic mess passes over, things will get better and Charlotte will be better for it. Here's for a prosperous future for Charlotte, a Place I truly love. <BR/><BR/>P.S.! For all the haters out there, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED TO GO. SAVE THIS CITY FOR THE ONES THAT REALLY WANT TO INVEST IN IT AND MAKE THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE TO BE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-90412945068243880022009-02-14T14:02:00.000-05:002009-02-14T14:02:00.000-05:00@5:22: Charlotte isn't a city. It's a couple of bl...@5:22: Charlotte isn't a city. It's a couple of blocks of tall buildings and condos inside 277 and a bunch of suburbs (stereotypically great for being single (I'm dripping with sarcasm)). Cities are compact and densely populated. Charlotte isn't outside of 277.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-89535948832236753762009-02-14T12:15:00.000-05:002009-02-14T12:15:00.000-05:00I can’t believe the amount of illogical and ill in...I can’t believe the amount of illogical and ill informed nonsense shared on this blog by disgruntled former bankers, so-called long-time residents and the like. Let’s start with correcting the misinformation:<BR/><BR/>1. The contract between big public companies and their employees was irrevocably broken in the 90’s. Your parents, advisors or heck even your friends should have told you that working for a big company (bank) is no more secure than working for smaller companies.<BR/>2. Your career and income can only go up. Re-read number 1. Sometimes you have to go backwards to restart your upward direction.<BR/>3. Having a narrow set of highly remunerative skills is all you need in a career. Sorry, re-read 1. and 2.<BR/>4. Charlotte has lackluster employment prospects now and that will remain the case indefinitely. Re-read 1, 2, and 3. Hands-down the growth in job opportunities has been firmly established in the broad swath of states in the southern half of the country including NC. Charlotte will recover because employees and companies will continue to want to be located here.<BR/><BR/>My advice to anyone is to lower your short term career and lifestyle expectations, broaden your job skills so they are transportable to a broad range of industries, and spend more of your time focused on finding a job with a privately owned company. By no means move simply because you are unemployed, as the cost of moving will likely out way any benefit given the nationwide deep recession. My own story is pretty simple- I was raised in Charlotte, started my career in Texas and returned to Charlotte in a recession similar to this one in 1983 to take a job in banking. I’ve spent most of the last twenty five years working for closely-held businesses in the region. Ironically I may next be working in Texas although I have no intention to permanently leave this area. Good luck!<BR/><BR/>Call me NC-TX-NC-TXAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-49303279704606726792009-02-14T08:26:00.000-05:002009-02-14T08:26:00.000-05:00Two comments.1. I've recently pledged to stop read...Two comments.<BR/><BR/>1. I've recently pledged to stop reading reader's comments because of the negativity and hatred. Can we all start focusing on being positive and coming up with solutions? We're all in the same boat.<BR/><BR/>2. I'm a young professional who lived here for 2 years after 6 years in the Navy, left for 2, and came back to make this my home. Admittedly, I not only bought a house at the most inopportune time (June 2007), but I bought too much house. It's in Plaza Midwood, and though it is only 1500 sf, it cost a pretty penny. I was optimistic, hoping for the continued revitilization of the area. Well, the tone is quickly changing for the worse, and I even had my house broken into last week. Conservatively speaking, my house has lost 10% of it's value. I'm sure I'm not the only person in this situation, and I think we all need to band together and share ideas. My plans are to get a roommate to help out with my monthly finances, take pride in my house, neighborhood, and city, and weather the storm. We can only emerge stronger after a time like this.James Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05445981201740141109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-88074308681602335392009-02-13T18:30:00.000-05:002009-02-13T18:30:00.000-05:00I agree with the poster from Vegas. There are so ...I agree with the poster from Vegas. There are so many cities out there doing worse than Charlotte. Notice people are blaming the banking industry for Charlotte's woes. If that's the case, then what's the reason for all the job losses in places like Atlanta and Tampa, and other cities with so called more diverse economies. If Charlotte can point to banking and say that's our problem, then heaven help the cities that have no clue why they're losing jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-45908276361372779982009-02-13T17:27:00.000-05:002009-02-13T17:27:00.000-05:00Crews Walden, well said, along with others on this...Crews Walden, well said, along with others on this post. Young professionals, step up to the plate and take responsibility for not only your careers, but for the state of the locale in which you decide to live, whether it's here or someplace else. Personally, I like Charlotte's location -- it's a pretty boring place to live (which is fine), but its within driving distance of SC, GA & FL which have great beaches and tourist attractions, and Charlotte has a lower threat of hurricanes because of its geographic location. In short, make your own choices based on your needs, but for God's sake, start taking the lead in municipal decisions wherever you decide to settle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-9658098982168961352009-02-13T17:20:00.000-05:002009-02-13T17:20:00.000-05:00I'm sorry but... I've lived here my whole life and...I'm sorry but... I've lived here my whole life and I don't remember Charlotte having any soul 20 years ago. Not sure what some of you are talking about... I remember lots of fast food restaurants (that hasn't changed much), buffets, and horrible shopping, downtown was dead - especially at night - and there was a lot more crime in the Uptown area compared to now. It was nothing like it is today. If anything, Charlotte is a MUCH better city for singles now then it was 20 years ago. I'm from here and I like Charlotte better now than I did in the past (you can't go backwards anyways and nothing stays the same so get over it). <BR/><BR/>Charlotte is an attractive place for many reasons and it will continue to grow. Heck Atlanta at 5 million + people is still considered attractive and their metro area is still growing faster than Charlotte's (which hasn't even reached 2 million yet). Stop all the doom and gloom. I don't think a lot of you know what you're talking about and I think some of you actually hope this city fails. Pretty sad...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-16800420753205798092009-02-13T17:15:00.000-05:002009-02-13T17:15:00.000-05:00I am actually leaving Charlotte next week after 3 ...I am actually leaving Charlotte next week after 3 years of great living to Washington D.C. to take a job offer after 3 months of no responses locally. I love Charlotte & hate to go, but I have no other options...<BR/><BR/>Hopefully one day I can return! Here's to all the good times!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-38791613791868208542009-02-13T16:02:00.000-05:002009-02-13T16:02:00.000-05:00Yep, we're leaving and I won't miss much about thi...Yep, we're leaving and I won't miss much about this city. Moving to a smaller city with more family ties. Seems to be the best option. This city has nothing natural except trees. The rest is smoke and mirrors. Very disappointing place to live. Not enough good diversity and too much bad diversity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-36783138914349349222009-02-13T15:57:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:57:00.000-05:00I was reading all the posts in this blog. Actuall...I was reading all the posts in this blog. Actually, I am getting ready to graduate from ASU soon so I face a difficult situation with the economy. However, I am not panicked because it won't really change anything.<BR/><BR/>As far as Charlotte is concerned. I do think the economy will come back. I also agree with people that say that Charlotte's economy needs to diversity. Banking and Finance is GOOD. However, having most of the economy of a region in one industry is suicide in the long run.<BR/><BR/>Moving away right now may not solve problems unless you know you have a job waiting in another place. That is about the only way I would move out of the situation. Job losses are happening everywhere and Charlotte is simply one microcosm among many in the United States.<BR/><BR/>People do not realize that moving during a recession is sometimes higher risk than staying put. I would say the exception is if you have a good job offer in another place you'd like to live then go for it.<BR/><BR/>Realize of course that you will have to reestablish friends, community spirit, etc in a new place unless you really don't care about that. For me, I have moved many times in the past. It has usually been a good decision. Still there are things to consider before moving out of your current situation.John Keelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794758194665322912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-23246898583167808752009-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:00Anonymous 10:45 AM,You wrote "ENOUGH SAID!" in res...Anonymous 10:45 AM,<BR/><BR/>You wrote "ENOUGH SAID!" in response to the sentence "They were from New Jersey and Delaware, Ohio and Michigan." Just curious, how many Delaware transplants do you know and can you please describe their overall personality traits to me? I'm interested in hearing what opinions anyone can have of a freakin' Delaware native. I mean, it's kind of like saying "screw the Moldovans!" Anyone from Moldova can go straight to hell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-41611021284925411122009-02-13T15:35:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:35:00.000-05:00I'm not sure what my advice would be. I'm a rare ...I'm not sure what my advice would be. I'm a rare Charlotte native who has seen Charlotte's soul die over the past 20 years. The banks may have built it into what it is now but I'm not really liking what it's become. The bank leadership is corrupt and the political leadership simply non-existent. I think it would depend on whether you're supporting a family or not. If single, I'd say go and go now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338316905613216821.post-89435810391772524802009-02-13T15:27:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:27:00.000-05:00Charlotte is definitely experience difficulties bu...Charlotte is definitely experience difficulties but those pale in comparison to other US cities. I moved from Las Vegas and can tell you that if you want to see economic stress and difficulty look west. The entire US and world are experiencing economic woes, but Charlotte is still in RELATIVELY good shape compared to other cities especially those in the rust belt and out west.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com