Need a job? Look in, well, uh, Gary?

I was born and raised in Gary Ind. I now preside In the lovely and beautiful Washington State (Tacoma). I got out of Gary as soon as I could and never looked back. I think the only jobs that that little run down city has to offer is probably working at the morgue. If you were to get a job there would you be able to make it to and fro safely? Now that will be a gamble. I will not be going back to Gary to visit let alone working there. It is way too much negative energy in that place. I have a beautiful home a wonderful hard working husband(something that is hard to find there)and a son whom excels academically due to his safer and brighter environment. I am ashamed to tell people that I am from Gary. When asked I say Indianapolis. Forbes missed the mark on this one. Rudy Clay has nothing to be proud about and no jobs to offer.

Is it me or does this article sound a little hateful? Maybe ifthe PT did not pull its presses and newsroom from GARY we would have a few more jobs. Stop hating. At least Mayor Clay has a jobs program. Unlike our last mayor who only was a tyrant, kind of like this paper.

Hi' Gary is a great city,it was'nt bad when you stayed there.

I am a 23 year old Gary resident and I have lived here my entire life. I am currently a college student and have been actively seeking employment for the past 8 months. There are no jobs in Gary that do not consist of fast food or the Steel Mill. But, I will never be ashamed of where I come from. I am 23, no children, never been on drugs, high school graduate, soon to be college graduate,and I have never been shot. I am a product of my parents, not the city of Gary.

I'm a former Gary, Indiana resident, and I don't believe there are decent paying jobs in Gary. Mayor Clay's job program might benefit a few, but what about the majority of Gary residents looking for work. If I was the mayor of Gary, I would start calling Gov. Daniels to release grant money, to start training or enhance existing skills of my constituents. Gary needs major companies to come invest, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Frito-Lay, companies like these bring jobs. If you give major corporations tax breaks they will invest in Gary. If you get structure in the police dept and elect a qualified mayor, Gary will rise like a phoenix.

I really feel sorry for people who forget where they come from! If you've moved, good for you! But when you lie about where you're from...shame on you! It is that very thinking that has created the problem that Gary has. People leave without ever looking back. As if to say, I've made it to the top, forget about everyone else. If each one could reach one....maybe Gary wouldn't be in such "bad" shape! There are a lot of wonderful people in Gary, like everyone else. But unlike everywhere else, all the media can focus on are the bad things that happen in Gary. I left and came back, it's not at all like it's portrayed to be. Sad, yes, but peaceful!

Sure there are plenty of jobs in Gary. You can go there and make 25,000.00 for 5-6 months of work just to snap a few pictures of your dad. If you don't believe me, just ask Rudy Clay Jr.

Go Back and pull who up? You can't save a brother that don't want to be saved. Shame on me not. There are too many lazy people in Gary. I grew up there and made it, so can they but, they don't have the same dreams and desires that I had for myself. When I looked around all I saw was blight,drugs and violence. I have always known my worth and never felt like I belong there. Because I have been so blessed I have often tried to help some of my family by letting them live in my home (rent free) until they could get on their feet and they only did the wrong things so out of my house they went. After helping two family members that did not workout my husband and I decided that we won't cross that bridge again. So don't talk to me about reaching down pulling someone else up that only works for those of us who want better for themselves. Proud of my home state, and city Tacoma Washington by the way Tacoma had 58 less murders than Gary BIG difference.

I have to believe that these statistics are actually for all of NWI, not just Gary. Sadly, we are known as the Gary MSA in government statistics. How about an appeal for a name change to Indiana South Shore MSA?

I will never be ashamed of were I came from no matter where I move to. I was a resident of Gary for 17 years. When you are ashamed of where you are from you are ashamed of your upbringing. My parents did the best they could and I turned out fine. Now, about the job situation, I am a disabled vet with 7+ years in finance/human resources and a BA in Business. It took me a year to find a job. That is sad. Then, the jobs don't pay anything in Gary. I say, get real jobs with real pay for the people of Gary. Give people a reason to want to try harder. In my case, it's all debt from student loans with little to pay it back. Come on Gary!

I started my teaching career at Gary's Beckman Middle School during the From August 2002-August 2003. (I am originally from Columbus Ohio) I was very impressed with the staff of the middle school where I worked and the level of pride people in Gary had for the community, I lived in the Miller Beach area and met people from different parts of the city. I lived in Atlanta, New York city, Cleveland OH, and I am back home in Columbus Ohio. I can honestly state that I encountered some of the most positive, conscientious, caring people during my brief experience in Gary.

East Chicago ain't a cake walk either!!!

First, I would like to know where Forbes Magazine got their information from. Gary is not "full" of jobs. If you want a fast food job then it would be ideal. As far as a career, you have to look in surrounding areas(even our hospital isn't doing good). I'm not ashamed of where I'm from but we have to do better and Gary needs some help. Rudy Clay is full of it, trying to persuade people to come here when its nothing here. Maybe, he can get you a job with all the crime and drugs that go on here.

I believe that Gary is an up in coming city that will rase to the top again. It will not happen over night but with a little time it will me there.And all the haters and none belivers will look back in say they had nothing to do with the city

Yes I agree with everyone comment.I'm a emt who works for the City of Gary.Also my boyfriend was a Gary Firefighter they don't have water in some of the stations,and sewage back which is not healthy.firefighter drinking on the jobs.Firefighters bring women in the station to cheat on their wifes.As for (RUDY CLAY)sad sorry mayor.He havent yet done nothing,but take from the city of Gary employees.I think that the news reporters need to come to Gary!so that people can see for self,but (RUDY CLAY) Knows that people in Gary are not going to get him investigated. Its just so sad! I think ()RUDY CLAY) NEEDS TO BE UNDER Investigation.If thats the case they should of kept the last mayor in.On top of that he trying to cut the pay! Then (RUDY CLAY) always claim that its not no money, but yet I'm looking in the newspaper,and it say that we need people to come join our team Gary firefighter,and sign on bonus! Whatever City of Gary needs help! So as for the readers dont get a job in Gary they don't pay! Tust me I know so I'm leaving as soon as a get a chance. What city job you know that don't pay,and take away our raises at random thats not right!This job is for a single person that doesn't have a family! SO HELL WITH THE CITY OF GARY.(AS FOR NIPSCO) WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I WAS BORN IN GARY INDIANA LIVED THERE FOR 41 YEARS ONE OF MY SONS GRADUATED FROM HORACE MANN H.S. 20 YEARS AFTER I DID. IT IS NOT THE CITY WHO BRINGS THINGS DOWN IT IS THE PEOPLE , PEOPLE WHOSE UPBRINGING IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUS PARENTS WHO DON'T CARE RATHER THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL OR EVEN BETTER THEIR SITUATION. I RAISED MY 3 SONS PART OF THEIR LIFE IN GARY THEY WENT TO BANNEKER SCHOOL AND DID VERY WELL THERE THEN I MOVED TO LAKE STATION WHERE THINGS THAT GO ON IN GARY ARE PUBILIZED, IN LAKE STATION ARE HIDDEN IN A CLOSET. ANY WHERE YOU GO THERE ARE BAD THINGS JUST IN GARY EVERYONE WANTS TO TELL ALL. IF YOU NOTICE MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO GARY ARE FROM OTHER AREA'S THEY GO THERE TO BUY DRUGS . AND MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SELL DRUGS WERE BORN INTO IT IN THE HOUSES THEY LIVED IN . MY SON'S WERE LUCKY I RAISED THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE ADULTS 2 WORK IN THE BIG MILL AND ONE IS IN THE COAST GUARDS ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW .GARY NEEDS A STRONG MINDED PERSON TO RUN IT I HOPE THAT MR RUDY CLAY IS THE ONE BUT I DON'T THINK SO. MAYOR HATCHER NOW HE WAS SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN . SO DON'T BLAME GARY BLAME IT ON THE UPBRINGING OF THE YOUTH .....

Gary gots tons of jobs. If you can,t find one get a life.

If you are ashame of your hometown and where you were raise, shame on you. You can not compare Gary to cities which have an economic center of resources such as a business district. Gary's down spiral started when Merrilville annex as part of Gary. This started the flight of downtown businesses out of the city never to return. I ask all to be fair; base and compare your city with another city with the same level of opportunties.
ps. The lady from Tacoma that is ashame: Tacoma in the past was one step above Gary until Seattle housing market went out of control and force a lot people to Tacoma. Let us not talk about the aroma of Tacoma!

I am from Gary and left the city for Houston at the age of 14.

People who are on this board "talking up" Gary must have not spent any significant time in their adult years outside of the city.

Gary is an atrocious place to live and an even worse city to raise children. If you are a parent, do your best to get them out of the cesspool that is Gary, Indiana. Get them in a positive environment where their peers want to do something with their lives. Where drugs, guns and underachievement aren't the norm.

I attended Ivanhoe, Banneker and Edison Middle School. My freshman year in high school in Houston I was a fish out of water. All the White kids! We may have had 3 in Edison. How you can compete in the global marketplace where you don't know how to interact with other races? How do you know what you are missing if you don't know anything besides Gary?

My mother moving to Houston was the best thing that ever happened in my life.

I hope every child in Gary that wants to do something with their lives gets the same opportunity.

Anyone that has any sense at all will know better than to think of Tacoma as being one step ahead of...GARY. That is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. KB does not know what the h--- he/she is talking about. Obviously this person has not been to Tacoma Wa. 16 murders to...71 go figure. Don't be foolish, I know the truth hurts but don't try to make Tacoma bad because of Gary's shortcomings it is what it is. T has a lot to offer career wise, home wise, and academically. Seattle is the biggest city in Wa. state and Tacoma will always play second fiddle to her but we Tacomans know the value of our lovely city and we take advantage of her many opportunities. Did you hear that, I said OPPORTUNITIES something that Gary obviously lacks. Sign me, ashamed of Gary and PROUD TO BE A TACOMIAN.

If I could find a job in Gary that pays well, a good school for my kids and a nice and safe neighborhood to live in then I would come back home. I live in Lithonia Ga now (6yrs) and I have yet to hear a gun shot or had to hit the ground because of bullets flying all over.

u go tacomian!!!

Tacomian
You sound like you are getting a little emotional over this city issue. You missed the whole point of my statement. I saw Tacoma for the first time in the mid 70's and it reminded me of GI. My intent was to show opportunities allow avenues of success. In your statement " we take advantage of Seattle's opportunities", my point is to compare your city to other cities that are on the same level as Tacoma. GI is what it is because of the lack of opportunities.
If Tacoma did not have the open waterfront and the entire downtown district relocated to Puyallup. Lose all of your miltary bases, Boeing, white flight, and no over priced Seattle housing market. Ok, I give you 2 steps above GI.
Ps: I am very familiar with GI and Tacoma.

Emotional is what people feel when they are proud of and love their city. You are way off base. you said take this, take that out of Tacoma and Tacoma would not be what it is. Of course not. If you took the melanin out of my skin would I still be a black woman? Get it? Tacoma was a city way before Boeing was here and the military. Now, when you figure out how to move a waterfront let me know. Tacoma is a great place to live because of it's offerings and because it is able to feed off of its beautiful surroundings. It's like when you buy a house don't you want the entire block and surrounding areas to be beautiful to? Not just your house right? I don't think you know Tacoma like you think you know, you just have an opinion of it. Sign me Emotional Tacomian and proud of it. (p.s when you've had something as bad as Gary, trust me you know when you got better).