10 Common Misconceptions About Yakima

Sure, we have crime. All cities have crime. Whenever I tell someone I'm from Yakima, they usually ask if I've been shot or stabbed or been involved in a drive-by or something. No, no I haven't. In fact, Yakima doesn't rank anywhere close to the crime in Detroit or Memphis.

Yakima is a very agricultural area, that's for sure. Yes, there are some farmers in our area, but they don't look like typical farmers. You wouldn't even recognize most of them half the time because they dress like anyone else. Just because you farm doesn't mean you're always in a straw hat and overalls.

The Yakima Valley is home to 75 percent of the hops in the U.S. and many great vineyards. Just because we produce the best beer and wine in the country -- and possibly the world -- doesn't mean everyone is a lush all the time. Trust me, I know a few who are, but they're not everybody.

No, everyone is not a conservative in Yakima. Although Seattle tends to vote more liberal and the east side of Washington state seems to vote or lean more conservative, it doesn't mean that everyone on this side of the Cascades is a conservative.

Another statement I get is, "Oh, you're from Washington? I heard it rains all the time." No, no it doesn't. On the west side of the state it rains more than the east side, but we get our fair share of rain. It's just not "all the time."

The other day I met someone who was a die-hard 49ers fan. Since he wasn't a fan of the Seahawks, I can honestly say that not everyone is a Seahawks fan because he wasn't. Sure, it may be a rarity around here, but we're not all Seahawks fans.

Again, do your research. Yes, we have a vast group of ethnicities here in Yakima -- it's one of the reasons I love it here so much. But it's not full of illegal immigrants.

Drugs are everywhere. When they made the show "Breaking Bad," it took place in Albuquerque, N.M., not Yakima. I'm not saying drugs aren't a problem in Yakima, but they're a problem everywhere.

As true as you want this statement to be, sorry, it's not. In fact, Washington state doesn't even list in the top 10 states for worst drivers. Good news there for those long commutes.

There's a phrase I've heard a few times that goes, "Welcome to Yakima, set your clocks back 10 years." Although it seems like the city isn't advancing as fast as it could, it's advancing just fine. It's right on time for Yakima. The trick is to let the other cities fail at moving too quickly and we'll pick up the stuff that works and go from there. There are plenty of progressive thinking people in Yakima to provide entertainment as well as shopping and more to make Yakima a great place to live.