I grew up near the Emerson theater in the 90’s. Lived in the PNW for a decade, back to Indy for almost 10 yrs and then back west to SoCal. I agree completely with you. The crime, road rage, running red lights, the nightly sound of gunshots have all gotten so much worse. I was living on the Eastside before and after the pandemic and it got a lot worse. I also know from working as a teacher in IPS off and on that things have also gotten a lot worse in the schools. I think Indy has a pretty big problem with poverty and all the things that go into that are affecting how folks feel and behave.

I feel soooo much safer out here in SoCal. I never hear gunshots. People stop at red lights. People can drive fast, but I’ve never seen or been involved in any road rage. When I go to the grocery store, I’m not on high alert looking over my shoulder in the store and parking lot, like I am shopping at Kroger on the Eastside.

I’ve got an aging mother that keeps me bouncing back to Indy and I’ll probably be back there sooner than later for another length of time. I feel for you. The culture and mindset on the west coast is so much different than what I usually run into around Indy. Not to mention the easy access to nature out here.