Topic: Why I left Albert Lea
started by: Jen99
Posted by Jen99 on Feb. 06 2004,11:08 am
I left Albert Lea for school in Mankato almost 4 years ago. I check in on this board on occasion. It is nice to get a taste of what is going on back home but sometimes it is not (some of these threads are a joke)! It is not that I hate Albert Lea, I really don't but I will say this, I am 90% sure I will never come back to Albert Lea and here is why:-small town politics
It gets old hearing & reading about the same old-same old in Albert Lea. Politicians and their empty promises are abundant at the city and county level. Just as abundant are the people who would rather spend an eternity complaining about things then lift a finger to help change them.
-nothing to do
I know, you have heard this one before, but it is so true. I really like Mankato because it has a positive vibe and feeling to it. It gives you a good feeling to see hundreds of houses going up all over and new businesses coming to town on a regular basis. There is a housing subdivision being built about a mile from our dorm that has 700 lots! It is HUGE. You realize that you live in a vibrant, growing city. Believe me, the first couple months I lived here, I couldn't believe how the city was growing by leaps and bounds, remember, I was used to living in Albert Lea! Put it this way, I was never really proud to say I live in Albert Lea, I don't feel the same about living in Mankato! I won't even bother with specifics on what to do here vs. there, I think you get my point.
-young city vs. old city
When I drive around & look at Mankato, I see a very young town with noticeable energy. When I look at Albert Lea and it is the exact opposite.
-no real jobs, and the real ones do not pay
I graduate in May and already can see the big difference between pay just between Mankato and Albert Lea. You don't even want me to compare the Twin Cities to Albert Lea. From what I can tell, the same job in Albert Lea will pay me about 20%-25% less then what it will in Mankato, probably about 50% less then it will in the Cities. My big decision is to stay here or more to the Cities.
-taxes
I know about the taxes down there from this board and my parents, it is scary! How does the city/county expect to pay for all the goodies they want when the population is in serious decline? My parents are very concerned & frustrated about this back home.
A good friend of mine, also from Albert Lea, is in school here. We have discussed many different angles and viewpoints of living in Albert Lea. I think she would agree with everything I wrote in this thread (well, we will see, she stops in & reads threads in here on occasion like me!).
I know most of the comments I expressed about Albert Lea really can't be changed. It sure helps to have a 14,000 student University in a city, Albert Lea will never have that benefit.
I have never posted in here before but I have felt for some time like I wanted to give my side and post my opinion for once. Albert Lea is not a bad place overall, it just needs an overhaul and maybe a jump start!
I'm done, thank you for reading!!!
Jen
p.s. Hi Tracy!
Posted by Nagasakki on Feb. 06 2004,12:27 pm
Heh Jen you are right on the money. But you can't really compare A.L. to mankato or especially the T.C. What do you pay for housing @MSU.... T.C. Your going to have to make more. Unless you hit a job in T.C. that pays over $65,000, you won't be buying into any real-estate anytime soon. You will be renting in the hood for $800/mo.
Posted by guest on Feb. 06 2004,12:47 pm
hey...you left albertlea why you still complainin? ... just stay in mankato... AL isnt your promblem anymore
Posted by albert lean on Feb. 06 2004,12:56 pm
no way. jen99 i totally agree with you. i can't wait to get outta here! somewhere else...HERE I COME 
Posted by minnow on Feb. 06 2004,2:12 pm
Here's the guilty parties.1. Sparky---->should have been let go over 10 years ago. This moron has been running things WAY to long.
2. Band of 4---->These four county commissioners will get the boot soon.
3. Gabe---->Who in the hell hired this moron? THAT person should be fired!
4. Pam Bishop---->Most unqualified employee I've ever seen anywhere. I'm still scratching my head about why she was hired.
Get rid of the dirty 7 and it'd make a big difference.
Springborg out and out lied and in doing so cost us all $40,000,000----->That dumb prick deserves banishment.
Posted by truth on Feb. 06 2004,2:41 pm
Thanks Jen99 for posting such a well balanced post. Nice to see that there are some younger people out there that can see things for what they really are.
Posted by carebear on Feb. 06 2004,3:36 pm
Shouldn't Springborg be fired for having an affair with a county employee 
Posted by ironmaiden on Feb. 06 2004,4:32 pm
Nice post Jen, you must be doing well in school, what you say is true, I wish that we could change it, please don't give up on us just yet. I hope for change, I too, have kids where you are and I want them to be able to be productive here. Not possible at this time, even I realize that and am saddened.
Posted by Montyman on Feb. 06 2004,6:36 pm
How 'bout we make it 8 unregistered minnow, and send you with 'em?
Posted by Kendo Nagasakki on Feb. 06 2004,11:04 pm
minnow--you tell it like it is up there! Except for one thing, you are full of horse manure! Sparks should have been lynched, or tarred and feathered approx. 25 years ago. He is like a bad case of crabs that you can't get rid of he just spreads and spreads. Awful!!! 
Posted by Kendo Nagasakki on Feb. 06 2004,11:07 pm
Heh can anybody tell me which (Springborg) you are talking about? I do not know of him or any of his scandalous behavior, can somebody fill me in? I'm counting on you minnow!
Posted by Clovis on Feb. 07 2004,9:27 am
Great post, Jen. You have my wholehearted agreement on this.
Posted by fresno on Feb. 07 2004,2:16 pm
1000 swedes were chased through the weeds by only one NORWEGIAN!
Posted by Clovis on Feb. 07 2004,3:12 pm
Fresno, that has nothing to do with anything being said in this thread.
Posted by cpu_slave on Feb. 07 2004,3:38 pm
If this asinine county-wide smoking ban goes through, (on top of the sales tax increase, on top of the astronomical property tax increases) I will not only be doing all my shopping and dining out of county, but re-locating out of county as well. The amount of utter stupidity that the elected leaders around here display leaves me absolutely no alternative.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Feb. 07 2004,4:25 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Currently there is a drive to make Albert Lea Business Smoke Free this is to include all Bars.
I ask you a man owns a bar for 33 years he should know how to run his business.
The city never gave him any money to open it, and the one whining has never been to it, and probly never will.
I say we have a freedom to run our business the way we see fit.
I propose we post the surgen generals warning on the outside of the door should we choose to allow smoking.
You want revenue then you need to relize were else can you
smoke a fine cigar, " At The Bar".
We currently have a petition in need of 250 signitures at Eddie's bar which will force this into an issue at the ballet box.
I say and others say this is one more step towards sergregation.
All blacks to the back of the bus situation.
I say this is America, My Daddy fought in WW2, I fought In Vietnam and My son In Iraq.
We fought for freedom and we will fight you.
Friends of Freedom of Choice ....... keeping sorry ass goverment out of our business...
Posted by minna on Feb. 07 2004,4:41 pm
Just say no to drugs. Join my drug war help stop drug addicts from hitting up in public places. Their drugs float in the air where other non addicted drug users inhale their drugs.Sir Walter Ralgieh was hanged in England when they found out what tobacco does to human lungs through cutting bodies open.
Stop the sale of Tobacco..Americas #1 drug killer!
Join my war on drugs!
Posted by GEOKARJO on Feb. 07 2004,4:56 pm
Your missing the point minna The goverment starts telling us what we can and cannot do in our business, the next thing will be on the street, then in our home.
Posted by jimhanson on Feb. 07 2004,5:02 pm
Minnow--You are correct in that Raleigh introduced tobacco to England--and that he was executed (many people wouldn't have known that)--but not for smoking-related crimes. From Encylopedia Brittanica| Quote |
| He met his downfall upon the accession (1603) of James I, who had been convinced by Raleigh's enemies that Raleigh was opposed to his succession. |
| Quote |
| Some sources say on the day he was beheaded Raleigh was granted a last smoke of tobacco -- establishing the tradition of giving a prisoner a last cigarette before execution. |
Posted by Health care worker on Feb. 07 2004,5:09 pm
I find it sad that I have to drive to Owatonna everyday to get a decent paycheck. I am in the health care field and make almost $10.00 per hour more there than in Albert Lea. And where I work, there are several other Albert Leans who do the same for the same reason. Jen, when you are deciding where to live and work, the pay will depend upon what field you are going into. Mankato, being a college town does not pay real well. The health care fields are similar to Albert Lea.
Posted by minna on Feb. 07 2004,5:19 pm
"Your missing the point minna The goverment starts telling us what we can and cannot do in our business, the next thing will be on the street, then in our home. "
--->Thanks to your drug wars they are already doing that...where have you been?
They're not telling "what to do with your business" Just telling you drug addicts can't hit up there, because their drugs are inhaled by people who aren't addicts when they do.
Posted by irisheyes on Feb. 07 2004,8:15 pm
What do you think people do most in bars besides drinking... Smoking, I know people that go all day, or even all week without a cig, but when they go to a bar they smoke. Telling a bar owner that people can't smoke inside anymore, even the owner himself can't smoke in his own establishment is rediculous! If you wanna start useing examples of Britain century's ago as a role model for us, then you probably regret this country being founded independently from them to begin with.
Posted by minna on Feb. 07 2004,8:31 pm
Drugs are drugs.
Posted by Lil Pimp on Feb. 07 2004,11:23 pm
| Quote (Guest @ Feb. 07 2004,5:09:pm) |
| the pay will depend upon what field you are going into. Mankato, being a college town does not pay real well. The health care fields are similar to Albert Lea. |
True, the field you are going into means everything.
Retail pays about the same wherever you are--not much. Factory work pays better but still not great. However, if you are educated in an 'in demand' field you can do well.
I know people who work at Midwest Wireless as techs who started out around $35,000, not too bad to start out at age 20-22. I don't know for sure but I can assume after a few years they make a pretty good living. Construction work can pay as well. Granted, you need to have a demand to build things in order to fuel a construction labor market and by AL's housing numbers I don't think that exists.
In the I.T. department I work in we employ about 40 people, all making anywhere from $30-$70K. I have heard minnow say this before and he is right, you need to learn a skill in today's economic climate. Just graduating from high school and expecting to make $30-$40K a year to start is never going to happen (did it really ever?)
Jen99, I agree with everything in your post. I know I am probably biased, but Mankato is a fabulous place to live, work and raise a family.
Posted by Clovis on Feb. 08 2004,9:48 am
Plus, college towns offer jobs that you may not be able to find anywhere else... I've had several very cool teaching opportunities (elementary elective programs, private language tutoring, etc.) that are direct results of having an active collegiate/academic community.
Posted by cpu_slave on Feb. 08 2004,11:13 am
Are Mayo and the local government still the two biggest employers in Albert Lea? Assuming that this is the case, then we should expect population to sharply decrease and as a result the two biggest employers would have to start downsizing. Without real job opportunities, this place is poised to sink and do so really fast.But it will be nice to know that the future ghost town will have a nice new high school, jail, and library...
Posted by minnow on Feb. 08 2004,11:26 am
If anyone thinks we didin't spend enough money we'll ruin em'!
Posted by Pleasure on Feb. 08 2004,11:52 am
I was told this Morning that the city Council has hired a new CityManager.Its a Woman from Colorado,she is about mid-forties of age.also married.
What do you think about that.
Will be Confirmed by the city Council on monday night at the regular Council Meeting.
Posted by Madd Max on Feb. 08 2004,12:03 pm
Jen 99It is so good to get a fresh perspective from a young person on what is wrong with Albert Lea. You are right on coarse as to what is wrong with this area. We need change here very badly. We need the young people to get more involved in molding Albert leas future. We need good Paying JOBS HERE that is most clear we also need things for young people to do. We need to change the image of this town from a retirement community to a bustling and thriving healthy community. We need elected officials that really listen to all sectors of our community and county instead of the special interest of a few as to what this area should be like. Albert Lea is at a crossroads the decision we make now will decide what our future will be.
Posted by cpu_slave on Feb. 08 2004,12:03 pm
I'm more interested in her job performance track record than her marital and age stats. Do we know exactly what city in Colorado she comes from, her employment background and history? I'm just asking because I would hate to see the position go from bad to worse...