Poverty And Drugs Are Ruining West Virginia's Capital
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- THIS is the headquarters of the Appalachian Region?
So I was just cruising around Charleston one evening looking for some interesting things to film. It was actually kinda sunny and it wasn’t all windy and nasty out.
I saw a LOT of sketchy that night in Charleston.
It was day 6 on the Appalachian winter adventure, and for the first time on the trip, the skies parted. The gray clouds broke as if West Virginia was saying here's Charleston with the covers off. After being here for a few days, I wondered - how bad would the place look had the skies not been blue.
For the next few videos, we’ll see poverty and drugs and places that need a lot of help. I’ll try and point out the good here. But it’s West Virginia. From the surface, good can be kinda hard to identify.
Charleston is the capital of this state, and you could say the capital of Appalachia. If this is the head honcho for Appalachia land, that says a lot about the rest of Appalachia.
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The best video on this topic!
Here's the entire Appalachia Road Trip playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLq-_cmf3H6yrVA4HLAJ9hgylkyIiI4Az6
You have a spammer impersonating you in this thread.
Make me wanna stay away from this region completely. People live there are suffering from economic hardship and drug addiction with no solution to the problems. Lost causes of those lost years, very depressing.
Nick, are you going to do a show on Wheeling, WV? I hope so. Perhaps a Wheeling, WV, Weirton, WV, Steubenville, OH, Bellaire,OH area. Keep up the great work. Just a matter of time before you hit 1million subscribers. There is a New Vrindaban Hindu Temple that is not far from Wheeling and Moundsville out in the country a ways. Something kind of unusual in a state like WV.
Do some more videos about how "nice" internationally renowned cities like NYC & co, everyone wants to see how big of shitholes those have become. No one outside of US cares about these lesser known villages
@@WFH910 he has many videos about larger cities. He probably has done more than his share on CA. Some similar and different problems.
If you just went there and filmed in June, people would say it's beautiful. The winter makes Appalachia look bleak, even on a sunny day.
Winter makes anyplace look bleak and gloomy.
Even Boston looks like Moscow in the winter time
The other seasons probably, inspired the song "County Roads" sung by John Denver
That place Never looks beautiful.
My neighbors are from Charleston and say it's been a chit show since the 90's.
@@buckshot6481 Charleston is nothing like Morgantown, and is about 3 hours or more away.
I was shocked at how there are no people around. That drive through the downtown with all those big buildings.......and NO cars......and NO people.
Went through in the height of the pandemic in 2020 and noted that but figured it was just the pandemic. Sadly it is mostly like that all the time it looks like.
You should see Detroit
All the people are gone and never coming back. Charleston has been abandoned, couldn't tell it could ya!!!
I live in the USA for 6 years, I work as a truck driver for 5 years, I traveled 48 states, I saw all this in all states. Every time I see this, I get the feeling that life in this country was in full swing 30-40 years ago, and recently everything has been abandoned and the creators of this country have left. I myself also decided to leave the United States, very beautiful nature, hardworking people, but the system is anti-human. this credit system and endless payments kill everything human in a person, turning people into robots. I feel sorry for the recently arrived immigrants, it will be even more difficult for them than for me, the best thing this system can do is to give illusions.
It is the drugs that destroyed America.
May I ask which country are you from, and how does the system there compare to the States?
The colonizers rapped the land sucked it dry now they are the 1 percent they can flee the country when all hell breaks loose . Passed down the richest to their offspring .
It's that we got old and it's time for us to retire and the new people that are supposed to replace us do not want to work and now it's a game and you're seeing the results of that game. ( over time that is...) There's a lot of factors that you have to weigh in here but that's one of the main reasons. (Such as both parents having to work and not having time to raise their children properly etc.. is another) but again it's a lot of decline as a result of lives lived on drugs. Back in the day people lived on drugs That's how they got through the day of work a lot of times. Today drugs are so dangerous you're almost assured death (within a very short time frame) and there is good and bad to this whole story. I feel like once we clean the mess up this time (if)we won't have to deal with it again but I've been wrong before :/ this is a literal health crisis and it's gotten to where it has to be addressed at one point or another whether they want to or not because its endangering everyone in society not just the people that are on the streets doing this stuff. (Risking their lives carelessly) I have followed the current drug crisis for years actually and I watch this take over Puerto Rico before it got here to the mainland. (Tranq) back then there wasn't a lot of coverage of the horror stories which is the reality now. (The sores, amputations etc) I think the only way this will be resolved is if we demand it as a whole. (And we should be now before it gets to the crisis level)
@@KtotheL I agree with much you said and I'm a Dem from a rural area of another state. The problem is people like to get high, in one form or another. Hopeless people really like to get high for lots of reasons. With addiction, that's a whole different ballgame in many ways.
Tourism is a joke. It's like putting a bandaid on a whale. West Virginia and Kentucky needs to produce something that America needs.
The mountains you see in the background around Charleston are (mostly) owned by large corporations. Notice there are no buildings or highways on these hills. They are not for sale. What that means is that Charleston can not expand outside of its present area. When I graduated from college near Charleston I was told "if you want a job, leave."
When you said there’s a very clean 8x8 area downtown I figured you meant feet lol
No it's not too bad a place downtown!
There are plenty of jobs in WV where you only have to work 14 days a month and make $60k+ a year with no degree. But you can't be on drugs and perform those jobs.
a lot of it is nepotism too and those jobs aren't that plentiful.
What companies? I'm trying to find a job out there.
@isaaccuddeback2064 any and every place of employment is hiring. All of the Union Building Trades will also put you to work right now too.
To be fair, the answer is not just get a job and you'll be fine in a week. Generational poverty cannot be transformed in a week. The struggle is real and requires empathy and compassion.
I grew up in Logan County and have lived and worked in the Charleston area for the last 38 years and I can't wait to put this place behind me in a couple years.
Where are you heading?
Why?
@@mr.naughtypants7069 Tired of 30 years of constant construction on I-64. And I am tired of the weather too hot and too wet.
@@sknowman1424 Don't move to Florida, It's the same.
@@mr.naughtypants7069 No plans at all of moving anywhere further south. I love Maine and Vermont, I will figure it out when I retire in about 6 months.
I live 2 hours North of Charleston. A lot of good paying jobs and very nice homes. I live in Rural area and have really good neighbors. Unfortunately drugs are every where.
WV really needs to get some Tech industry jobs. I know in my area of WV there’s nothing for miles besides a few helpdesk jobs. Some jobs in cybersecurity, server administration and things like that would be great. Tech industry is huge and people are always looking to get jobs in it
Unfortunately our politicians don't care enough about our citizens to even try to bring jobs back to WV. These career politicians do NOTHING but line their pockets. Nothing will ever change for the positive until we vote for new leadership.
Tech industry prefers to set up shop where there are lots of highly educated employees. That’s not WV.
WV is almost heaven
Sad thing about that area between Charleston & Huntington….. it has a higher per capita HIV/Hep-C rate than New York City! (IV drug users) 😞
Almost as bad in the southern tip of Ohio in Portsmouth, Ironton, Chillicothe and rural Appalachian areas of Ohio (where I live and invite you to tour!)
Shame about the OD’s and poverty. This area is just gorgeous.
Portsmouth is definitely bad. I've been all over WV and the tri-state area. Portsmouth is probably the worst.
@@kevinkelly1656 I don’t doubt it. Glad I got out of there. Went back last year and barely recognized it. I’m sure the bypass isn’t helping at all.
Heartbreaking.
I live in West Virginia capital city. I'm poor and don't do drugs. The homeless people are plentiful. My wife and my sons are drug free and my wife and I are not felons.
Poverty and drugs are ruining America. It's an America problem.
Poverty isn't some force of nature that comes out of nowhere. Building your entire economy around resource extraction and manufacturing is a recipe for disaster, eventually. The mines dry up, manufacturing gets automated or outsourced.
Charleson as i know it in my life time in the 1950ies until around 2000 was the place to be. Lots going on with so much to do without the heavy drug problem until dealers started bringing them in from the bigger cities up North.
How does West Virginians voters keep voting for a multi-millionaire corporate Democrat like Joe Manchin?
I don't know. I never ever voted for him. Just the older folks I guess. They always voted democratic and always will. Most are too brainwashed by mainstream news.
Some friends of mine from high school used to own it. I've been in there a couple of times.
No Tents? I´m surprised
I do like the quietness of the city. Montgomery was a popp'n little college town.
I feel for ol Buck... That bar probably was a great place when it first started ... Probably had lots of regulars and like he said they all died off or left ... Buck needs to go to Florida
Buck never stayed with the times and this is the results.
Could any of them make a case for why Joe Manchin should be returned to public office after decades in charge of that state in one form or the other?
He’s not in charge of the state
👋 hi 👋 from Dexter,Missouri
Super amazein video. As alAways.
Have a super amazein 🌉night.
Be safe on 🛣️roads🛣️
Is the Empty Glass like a chain lol i swear ive been to a few northeast
Love these Appalachian videos. Come to Saltville, Va & we’ll show y’all around. “Salt Capital of the Confederacy”. Population 2,007. About 30 miles from an interstate. I’ve traveled all over the country & have no desire to live anywhere else. These are good people & this is a beautiful place. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. God bless brother.
I grew up in a small town without the drug problem. There just wasn't a lot of future for a new HS grad so I joined the USAF. Spent 56 weeks in tech school which gave me a skill that got me a 6 figure job and a great career.
Thank you for serving your country and making the best of it! I made the same decision myself in '82. It taught me self discipline and opportunity for success. I cant say I make six figure income today. I retired after 24 yrs active duty. After retirement, I completed my college degree using post 911 GI bill. Today I advise our youth to consider enlisting nco or qualify for commissioned officer programs. Congratulations for your life achievements!
How many camel jockeys did you kill to further your own career?
@@conditionallyunconditional5691 Yes , thank you for serving the elites to satiate their greed at the expense of brown people the world over .
UNTILLTEY WILLFORCE YOU TO GO TO WAR AND DEFEND THE AMERICANS LEADERS PRIVATE INVESTMENTS ALL OVER IN ASIA AND OTER PALCESS... THAN YOUR THANKFULNESS WILLNOT LAST FOR A LONG.
Nice. Wishing you the very best 😊
Back in the 70's West Virginia had the lowest crime rate in the country before drugs took over.
Fentanyl I guess?
Fentanyl wasn't around back then and only has an anesthetic under lock and key in the OR supply room
Thats because they were all related 😅
@@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717 welp...you just about nailed that
Your wrong. The drugs were there. It was only a matter of time
There are a lot of countries where members of the local government would be facing jail for allowing conditions like this.
Really?
Charleston West Virginia is my hometown. I'm originally from the West Side. I married my husband who's from Texas. Moved there for several years, then we moved back to West Virginia. My husband has a thriving Tech business here, and we moved out of Charleston, to Teays Valley West Virgina seventeen years ago. West Virginia is what you make it, just like any other place in the world. I really Enjoyed watching some of my old stomping grounds. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for what you said about WV. Im born and raised here ill die here cause its a great beautiful state. WILD AND WONDERFUL!!! Every state has it problems but for the most part WV as a whole is a great state and has great people who live here. Most will help you if you need help and will speak just to be nice. Im from Amma but grew up in Spencer which is a poor place to live but i grew up on a farn not in a city.
LoL
Informative video. If you want to see another declining Appalachian city, visit Johnstown, PA. In fact, there are plenty of former coal mining communities and depressed steel towns all over western Pennsylvania with the drug problems too.
The Chiefs !
wv and az are at the top of the addiction list. every state has a drug problem, theirs are just more severe
Oh don't worry, he'll apparently come anywhere and try to kick you when you're down by painting you in the worst light possible.
I went to West Virginia for the first time back in October and I was actually blown away- the drive throughout the state was very scenic, the people were incredible, all the food was really good and felt homemade and the beer was really good, plus everything was really cheap
I'm a West Virginian. Most things here are cheap. Rent's cheap, but wages are still pretty low. It kinda cancels out, but I'll take it over life in the larger cities
@@aldoushuxleysghost I'm from logan county
@@jon-marc Boone county here. Madison
Monroe County
Upshur
Frankly, the rich got richer. Grew up there, but left at age 23. The town is full of both MDs, Dentists and Lawyers, due to it being the center of Government and Healthcare for the state. Nothing else much there, and definitely few places to make a decent living. Still visit occasionally, but find it sad to see a once thriving small city so run down.
Great place for travelers to stay overnight though. Try visiting the State Capitol Complex, and be sure that cruise the Kanawha Blvd, the 1400 and 1500 blocks of Virginia Street. We will “visit home” again soon for the obligatory family cemetery visits and such, eat at Gino’s Pizza, as well as Tudor’s Biscuit World, a tradition for many of us ex-pats.
Charleston was once a vibrant small city, with all of the dynamics you would find in larger cities. Great place to have grown up indeed. “Almost” Heaven, but not quite heavenly these days.
Nicholas, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph and Pendleton Counties in West Virginia are beautiful places to vacation. Enjoy.
Those are the best counties for sure. Many of us miss Tudors and Gino's. Maybe people might move back after retirement. Damn a Tudors down south would do great.
Someone open more Tudors'''
That John Denver song is so damn good!
Jefferson, Berkely and Mineral Counties are the booming counties in WV.. all in the Panhandle.
What is the Panhandle.please.?
@@theonefreeman5284 Jefferson & Berkeley , 45 minutes from DC & Dulles airport . Harper Ferry , WV is located in the eastern panhandle .
Heart breaking. It wasn't always like this.
The hillbillies have ruined Appalachia for the rest of us.
It used to be beautiful-so sad
They just haven't distributed enough clean needles. You wait. Good times right around the corner.
lived in West Virginia most of my life ,the state sucks,lot of good people but the state is too friendly to dirty industry .they are slowly destroying the place ,coal mines ,chemical complexes,now fracking(flare offs) and pipe lines each an environmental disaster .i love the forests and terrain.when the coal mine goes under you house and messes everything up you really see who gets treated better.
The city looks so clean, haven't been there in many years but I have family that lives in West Virginia and one day I will try to go back and visit, it is truly a beautiful state.
Sarcasm?
@@ryan0348 I said the state is beautiful what man has done to the city and living conditions is another story.
You are right, my fiancée graduated from WVU in the early 2000s and she says it looks a lot better now than it did back then. And a lot of new construction.
You can think the previous Mayor
There in Charleston WV
That's right! Good Ole Dollar Danny
They call him.
I'd be talking about
FMR. Mayor Danny Jones that is!🙄😔
He absolutely destroyed
The city of Charleston wv
#1 he let the city road's and sidewalks
Go didn't do anything to fix em!
#2 he let the drug epidemic in the city
Go to where it spiraled outta control
On his watch
An there were needles everywhere
All over the side's of streets laying!
#3 he ended a huge city event that the
City had put on for 30 to 40 yrs
Every year an drew in crowds from
All over the state of WV and
From other states an Yes sometimes from other countries they came from
Far and wide to get to enjoy this huge
City event that happened every year in the city of Charleston wv an yes!
IAM talking about the
(Charleston sternwheel regatta)😜
Because of politics Danny ended the
Regatta and replaced it with
Festivall
Claiming at the time in 2005
The economy was in a stalemate and
Couldn't resume the regatta but we All
In Charleston know now that was a lie!
From Danny not to mention he sit on
The regatta board some board member!
But think God! New Mayor
Amy shuler Goodwin brought back
The Charleston sternwheel regatta 😜
🙏🙏🙏🙏
But yeah he ended that on his watch
An tourism died in Charleston WV after he ended the regatta an he wondered
Why tourism died in Charleston
Because the very thing that brought tourism in the regatta was ended on his watch which took away the revenue
To come into the city of Charleston wv
That's why the tourism died in Charleston on his watch
But Amy Goodwin our Mayor in
Charleston now has been the
State tourism director in the past before becoming Mayor so she knows
A thing or two about driving tourism in
She did the right thing in bringing back
The regatta over the objection of
Her predecessor Danny Jones
An that's just to name a few of the
Destructive things Danny Jones
Did as Mayor
To the city shameful
Don't let em lie on here to ya
From down that way that's just
Danny's flunkys
Ask the real folks in Charleston
They'll tell you
He got 4 terms and didn't do shit 🤣
Amy has been a good Mayor
For Charleston wv
She's had some bumps but
Hopefully she'll work out praying 🙏✝️
I don't agree with everything she's done
But she's done pretty good so far
She could step IT up on improvements
To the city fur sure! But!
I think she's done a fair enough Job
As Mayor
Anything beats Danny Jones Fur sure!👌
Dollar Danny
My friend use to be a Life long resident in Charleston WV and he lives
In another part of WV now
But he's told me the stories
Definitely!
He said FMR. Mayors of Charleston wv
Kent Hall Chuck Gardner and
Jay Goldman
As Charleston wv MAYOR'S in the past
Wasn't so bad pretty good MAYOR'S
Those 3 were he remembers em lived down there under them
An they keep the regatta going under them too unlike Danny
Glad Amy brought it back as Mayor
Though he told me
But Danny Jones put it in such a
Bad state a mess the city of Charleston WV to where
New Mayor Amy Goodwin was left with
A huge! Mess!!!
And Danny treated the homeless down there like shit when he was the mayor
Put the city police up to harass the
Homeless which was rude
An they were homeless no home
I know they can't just sleep everywhere
But if they can't get in the shelter they
Gotta sleep somewhere so they tried
To find little cubby holes in between buildings and the Mayor which was
Danny Jones at that time would send the police in an harass em an run em off an they said they were walking around like
A zombie the homeless in Charleston at that time it wasn't all from drugs
It was because they couldn't lay their
Head down an get a little bit of rest
Cause they were always on the go having to keep moving from one place to another cause they couldn't get no rest cause they were being harassed and ran off by the police and Danny Jones
At that time so it wasn't all drugs it
Was sleep deprived
So yeah! That's what my buddy from down there in Charleston WV told me about Danny Jones and Charleston wv
The city and all
Just pray for Charleston wv the city
An Mayor Goodwin
This is all true by the way! ✝️🙏👍👍☺️
@Birdman I simply said the State is beautiful and never said anything about living there.
"The blight attracts crime" no, the vibrancy and theft and assault and rape and robbery and drugs created the blight.
It's a cycle both ways
Wouldn’t live anywhere else. These old hills still hug me and keep us safe. When the steel mills and coal mines were given to other countries it took our jobs.
Excuses
@@corywalker9498 facts
That's old mindset. The place is all used up buddy. It ain't no kind of good
Education is key. We can tell you guys didn't want to do that with the same excuses. You guys should have been running faster a long time ago.
I understand about the jobs being sent overseas ,my dad worked in Lexington NC at a Textile I think it was Erlanger's> but they went to china along with furniture companies
If you have to ask "Why?", the answer's $$ with very few exceptions. No industry, no jobs, no revenue, no people. Same story with most of the cities and towns out here, coast to coast. Ya gotta feel for Buck, he's been on that languishing decline of a rusty roller coaster ride for the vital years of his lifetime. Damn. Great vid!
That person bent over at The Empty Glass is probably a heroin person. Look up Kensington Ave in Philadelphia and you can find a lot of people doing the same pose.
Not herion its fentinyol.. herion dont do that unless you have done alot of it i mean alot . And we dont have real good herion no more its all benzo dope !!! This is a fact 💯
I was born and raised in Charleston. I am so sad when I go back.
When LBJ declared war on poverty people didn't think this is what he meant to do. Thanks Joe, Chuck and Mitch for carrying for LBJ.
War on “blank” means they aren’t gonna fix it, just make it worse
One of the good things lbj did
POLITICIANS DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE,.. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT SERVING THEIR CORPORATE DONOR MASTERS. .. EMPTY PROMISES ARE FOR THE DECIEVED. 🤮
@@Scott-ly2nk LBJ super corrupt embarrassment of USA
LBJ said I'll have those people voting Democrat for the next 200 years, also behind JFK death
Joe Manchin, the senator from WV has done zippo for his State. Too bad they keep electing him.
Capital of West Virginia, CHARLESTON: West Virginia's Capital Is In A Bad Place Right Now.
Capital of Louisiana, BATON ROUGE: Hold my Beer.
I’m from this region, probably pretty good thing I’m not there anymore, but sad that it’s in such a state.
I am from the Northern Part of WV- and practiced Guitar all day long and moved to Sanibel Island Fl- From Wheeling WV - and took a job transfer
@@guitartheeasywayllc582 That's interesting I've noticed good musicians tend to come out this area, I think because there's not much else to do than play music.
Almost heaven, West Virginia. Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River. Life is old there. Older than the trees. Younger than the mountains growing like a breeze. Country roads, take me home. To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain momma. Take me home, country roads. John Denver
$16, 000 for a House . Four beds and 2 bath's. Sounds like a deal . 😳😊
Hi Nick,
I just moved after retirement from Trenton NJ to Spencer WV .
People ask why?
I answer "people are people,no matter where you go,so why not have a lesser amount of people to pull you down'.
exactly. I got sick of people, so I moved out of a big city and moved to WV
I could see it. Trenton is no bargain. Enjoy retirement
Not too far from Spencer myself
I grew up in spencer. Everyone I went to school with that stayed got strung out on drugs.
Are you kidding ?
You now live there !?
Good luck with that !
Almost all of my Charleston friends left WV besides one who somehow got a job with her law degree. Most of them grew up poor too and relied on the promise WV scholarship. In the past, money kept going towards high school football even seasons where they did bad so residents complained. Years ago, a new football field was made with money donated while students were in need of basic school necessities. There is constant violence at the local schools.
So are you single Michelle?
This sounds like a mid-sized city or even town here in Eastern Europe rather than somewhere in the US.
@@pariahstat2683 Pariah Stat
This ain't a dating site.
@@pariahstat2683 if you think disabled p**** is easy to get think again there is a lot of drauma associated with that And maybe the path of least resistance but you still going to get shocked at the end
@@dimitarmargaritov 48k population so not quite based on population alone.
West Virginia is one of the most beautiful states there is. The people are helpful and kind, they help everyone! I was born in Greenbrier county, small area called Leslie, grandparents lived up on a hill made from coal slack! Most my time was in Hines, just a stop on the road! I live in Michigan, but I’d move back to WV in a flash!!!
Whomever that Woman was that was on stage singing, she has a incredible voice. She should get out of there and find a stage somewhere to showcase her talent. Perhaps in Austin, Texas... there's a lot of talent scouts down there. But she was really good! I'd buy one of her CD's if she had one.
I tried to interview her but she ghosted 🤷🏻♂️
@@NickJohnson, she had to go meet her dealer at that McDonald’s on Washington Street.
We all know where drugs come from in the USA. The US should close the borders of these drug-producing countries. Force the governments of these countries to deal with the drug problem. Extreme economic sanctions and naval blockade.
Totally in agreement. Heard our armed services were down 10%. This country needs soldiers desperately. Especially with the mess in Taiwan pending.
As a West Virginian, I'm amazed you didn't get shot in Charleston. Take an hour trip up US-35 N/W if you're a fan of the Mothman. Big fan of your channel! Glad you're showing more of my home state
Mothman like the scary thing? Email me if you know where it is! Sounds fun! NickJohnsonNC18@gmail
@@NickJohnson well there's the museum and statue in my hometown of Point Pleasant, WV. The alleged sighting back in the 50s or 60s was by a man named Tom Ury. I believe an interview of him is somewhere on RUclips. If I can find it, I'll link it here for anyone who wants to see.
There are a lot of good people in Charleston you make it sound like everyone in Charleston is on drugs stop putting the people in West Virginia down.
New subscriber here. It's tragic and sad how these towns and cities seem to be forgotten, left to decline. I enjoy your channel, the good, the bad & the ugly. Thanks for sharing.👍
Yogi!! ❤️❤️❤️
Had an ex that was doing a medical residency in Huntington, WV. That was back in 2000. We traveled to Charleston to meet some people, and the state was gorgeous. But, it was before the explosion of dope took over the state. Huntington and Charleston were both fading blue collar/middle class cities, and it's very sad what's occurred. My ex couldn't take it anymore, and left Marshall University School of Medicine, and headed back to CA. It was simply too hard after things started to fall apart...
There is money moving back there, people don't realous what famous people are around. There is a mass exodus from CA to WV, people wanting some peace and quiet and get off the grid. I would pick it any day over CA
California has cities that are much worse than Charleston filled with out of control crime, homeless, drug addicts, etc. Welfare payments are fairly high for now but that will change.
WOW I'm glad I left. It's worse than I remember. And I have only been gone a little over a year. Had to work in that hell hole Charleston. The only good thing about that town is the capitol building. It's a beautiful building. And the empty glass is cool too. Putnam county is close by and way nicer. Teays valley and Hurricane especially. The sky is still gray mostly, but at least it's clean. The houses are way too expensive there though. People are wrong about there's work there if you want it though. Jobs don't pay very well. Only options are truck driver, CNA or dollar store and fast food. And of course Walmart.
Go into charleston not just the bad side....you hove a bad side in every city and state. I moved from wv 9yrs ago I live in ma and Boston has the same shit. Go to ur home state and report the shity side of it!!!!!
It's a pity to see so many empty houses that still have good bones going to waste instead of being bought as fixxer uppers and turned into some nice first time buyer family homes.
Yeah those homes weren't empty.
So many good paying jobs left
Them aint empty Mi Amigo. Some of them are Trap Houses and some of them are just very, very badly maintained. Suffice to say there probably aint a lick of copper left in the ones that actually are abandoned, assuming there are no squatters you'd probably need a hazmat team to clean them out because of the dirty needles and human waste everywhere.
The empty houses could be used to built affordable housing for the homeless and renters. Renters should just steal these vacant homes instead living in the landlords house. The government should pay landlords reparations and let the renters stay in these houses!!
@@ChatBloom If you saw the inside of these houses, you wouldn't want to live in them
This is what happens when you don't adapt in the right way AND/OR fast enough.
Thanks for visiting my state. Did you travel to our old time millionaire city Bramwell? The good and rich days are gone for most parts of WV after the coal mining industry lost its position. We still have our beautiful New River and some tourist attractions like ATV trails or Comicon. There were big hopes when they started to build Summit Bechtel Reserve for scouts near Beckley. But in real life it didn’t produce a noticeable effect on the locals. WV has a wonderful nature and very poor, unhealthy people. So sad.
@@heatherdawn545 can will be friends
Let’s send our money to Ukraine
Another democratic leaning place
you found the Empy Glass ... mission accomplished, an excellent bar/venue, have spent many nights there and seen so much great music! stumble down the block to Red Carper Lounge too, classic dive.
Truthfully the best part about Charleston is that you can drive 15 minutes in any direction and see some beautiful country. It's cheap to live there (I worked in Huntington for 13 years) and Huntington/Charleston has some amenities that make them seem larger than they are. If you can live outside of the drugged out areas and you have a remote job, you can probably do pretty well for yourself. I have friends who make less than 25k a year and can afford to buy homes and cars. The area just west of Charleston in the Teays Valley or Scotts Depot area has some very nice areas to live. In the end though, it is still in WV and unless something changes, there's not going to be much left in a few decades.
Is it dangerous there?
@@diangelo6686 yes the rural areas hate outsiders. especially if you aren't white.
My mom was from Frazier's Bottom born there in 1925. She couldn't wait to leave. She left in 1944, but her mother stayed down there. I visited Teays Valley around 2005. It looked pretty nice back then. If I were to move down to WV, I might consider that area.
@@diangelo6686 No, it isn't, and this troll cruised the worst areas he could find to suit his narrative. I could make a similar video in just about EVERY state capital. Some of the footage isn't even in Charleston.
@@mcgervey are the white mamas there hillbilly or clean?
Buck seemed like a nice person. I was sad when you said he told you most of his regulars have died.
When you don't update your business with the times, it's destined to go under. You can never stay the same with business. Buck stayed the same and now look at his place.
Nick great video.I’m a big fan.It just breaks my heart seeing all these American cities going down the tubes.I’m a West Virginian and it would be a good to be able remove all the decrepit buildings and houses.Litter is a huge problem in the state.Either you are a proud native or, one of those I give a shit people.Many problems but, there is good.I still have hope as do many Americans in dying areas.We must act and do better as a people and a nation.
Since when is poverty a reason for being dirty? It is a shame in most cities to see all the trash.
@@therealtoni Yes, everybody wants to help the poor but a lot of poor people could care less and they prove it by their actions.
it all started back in the 70s when the teenager started trying drugs for the first time and it's been downhill every since. Most parents are on drugs now and it just keep getting worse every generation. it will not take another country to destroy America because were going to do it to our self
Grew up in the Northern panhandle in the 70s. I can second that.
Faxx but china will help 4 sure😊
Maybe the current presidential regime that was installed could help depressed cities across the country like Charleston instead of sending billions of dollars to Ukraine and putting Americans last? Maybe the current presidential regime could help stem the flow of drugs by closing the southern border and taking on the drug cartels?
Wow. How bleak. Your guest who is supposedly a “state activist” is clearly not informed and across the issues and/or plans to revitalise the state and capitol. I could have answered your questions better. She did not even know the actual name of the convention centre - she took a guess! All the best for Buck.
I have a few friends in WV. Always down to earth, hardworking & honest. They arent wealthy, but they do their best. Unfortunately meth, pills & alcohol destroyed many younger generations. Prison is part of life there. Kentucky is also bad.
At this rate, The national park service will buy up half of West Virginia and preserve it as a national forrest...might not be the worst thing that's happened to the state
I spent a few weeks in Huntington, WVA, on business several years ago. One of the ironic jokes they told was, "What's West Virginia's largest export?''
Answer: "College graduates." Fine people down there. They deserve better than they get.
You are blaming Republicans for oil, gas and coal industry decline?
Thank you for your films. Watching from the Netherlands, I wonder if there are many "pleasant, attractive" cities and towns in the United States? There is so much pitiful poverty. We Dutch do not see that in our country.
After 70 years of the American people paying for your defense I guess you would have nice cities wouldnt you?
By the way how much do you think Royal DUTCH Shell played a hand in messing up East Palestine Ohio considering how much they own stock in Black Rock and Vanguard? Or the Cracker busting plant YOUR ROYAL FAMILY built on the Ohio River. And we won't talk about the Chevron /Donbas mess.
As if you care....
There must be some
So what's wrong with being High; having your spirits uplifted. Please explain.
As an addict with almost 8 years clean, I am more than happy to tell you. I had a pretty good life. I worked as a licensed practical nurse, my husband worked for the federal government,and our house was almost paid for. I went through a period where I was upset that I couldn't become pregnant despite all of the fertility meds and procedures, and I decided to turn to prescription opiates to "uplift my spirits ". I was functional for awhile, but then I began to prioritize the drugs over everything. I doctor-shopped, I stole, and I was also drinking alcohol on top of all of that. I lost everything eventually and I didn't care for awhile. I lost my nursing license, my husband, my home, my dignity, and many family and friends. It all came to a head in 2015 when I stole some of my terminally ill father's pain medicine. He was dying of pancreatic cancer, and it's a horrifically painful one. I'm just thankful that I didn't leave him without. I should have gone straight to jail. After my criminal lifestyle was exposed, I decided to clean my act up because I didn't want to be a monster and I certainly didn't want to end up in prison. It has taken me nearly a decade to rebuild my life, and I am truly grateful. I am one of the lucky ones. Most do not make it out. That's what is wrong with "uplifting one's spirits ". If you look into the abyss,the abyss looks back at you.
Like most cities across America crumbling.
@@fredflintstone8569 yep they just voted the same dumacrat mayor expecting different results.
It's depressing. Like the faded memory of a town. All it would take is a little bit of investment on our governments part to build some infrastructure and patch up these parts. A lot of jobs will come with that. The country side is beautiful. If you build it they will come. The entire country is our home. If you have a room in your house that badly needs renovating, you dont just ignore that room, you fix it. We seem to have plenty of money for other countries in the world. We can and should invest in our own.
Why is the answer always waiting for the gov to 'fix' things? How about take some initiative and quit 'waiting' to be 'saved'.
@@crabbubbles1161 That's fair, and I agree. At some level though, let's be realists here, the government at some level is going to have to be involved. Construction of bridges, infrastructure, etc. But I understand your point and I didnt mean to sound like I want big Daddy to show up and fix it all. However, if funds are available for other people's wars, it wouldnt hurt to give grants to towns. I pay my taxes, you pay yours, that money exists. Spend it on our own was my point.
It looks like it has a lot of potential. Once the drug addicts start to die off, families could start to move in and upgrade the place a lot.
The locals can't afford to pay rent anymore because these people from places like New Jersey are coming in everywhere
I stayed in Charleston a few days like years ago. I had a pretty good time. I must have been on the nice side of town cause I don't remember anything like this.
He deliberately showed only the very worst parts of the city.
He was on the west side where they closed the old section 8 housing when they built new, and so many closed up or run down houses over there. the Family Dollar filmed is in the worst crime area there
@@wvhillgalI agree. Because I lived right around the corner from there. But I sure do miss it there.
I have been up and down all the streets you have shown so far. Work is limited to what you know and what you can do. I was born and raised on the west side on Central Ave And Its Washington Street not Ave! I have seen that city go thru a lot of changes in the fifty plus years! Go to Kanawha City to see the Rich areas.
Ty. When he said Washington Ave I said to my self no it's Washington Street.
Your compassion is just heartwarming.
my thoughts exactly
Someone told me Charleston, WV is a nice town. I didn't believe it. Now I know I was right.
They may have been referring to Charles Town, WV, which is about 5 hrs north east of Charleston
They might be poor but the streets are mostly clean
Looks like a lot of small town America where industry has moved on. Even in bigger places like Rochester NY.
Good people, like anywhere else. People would like to have good paying jobs. Walmart and Dollar general don't pay the bills. Hope Charleston can reinvent themselves like some other cities have.
I disagree….those houses are beautiful. If the economy was good they would be great to raise a family
If that’s what you’re used to than it will work
@@kenhofer8063 in places like where I live, Greensboro NC…old two story houses are hard to come by. Those things would be bought up and renovated in a second. The hills are cool too.
There's better houses in Charleston. Those were all on the west side it looked like. Lots of those old houses were slapped up fast and cheap after WW2. There was a housing boom then I was told. Very uncomfortable houses to live in. As there isn't any central heat or air-conditioning. It gets way too cold winter and way to hot in summer to live without central air. Lived there 50 years.
Charleston has a lot of issues, drugs primarily (just like any where else) the town center mall when built absolutely destroyed the mom and pop stores that used to blanket the area and now sadly the mall that killed the local stores is dying because of renting a unit there is ungodly expensive (one small pizza joint there left after the monthly rent jumped to $12,000 a month) yes! $12,000 a month! Like good god man! Now the homeless people well a good bunch of them are from other states, one homeless man was stopped by police and was found to be from Reno Nevada, a few that I talked to over the years (I worked in Charleston for over 25 years) most told me they were from other states as well. Charleston is the capital and for that reason and of course all the hospitals and the airport that will keep it a float for a while anyway. Now the population of 48,000, well Spring Hill cemetery has over 33,000 buried there and I believe the dead will out number the living in about 10 years 😂
Lol, but I’ll say working nights in that city for 25 years, I could tell you some stories 😂
But check out “Charleston West Virginia 1981-82” (this was before the mall) and see how far it’s fallen
The rush on Narcan is probably for the fentanyl users. Heroin was yesterdays problem. Fentanyl is much worse killing many more.
Everything is being laced with fentanyl. Most don’t even realize it until it’s too late.
They probably never get real heroin in WV anymore, just a little bit cut with fent.
@@charliedillon1400 Fentanyl is a lot less expensive per dose and kicks in a lot faster. Win/Win for those losers in life.
I hope this doesn't sound like an ad but Nick helped me find a realtor and I was very happy with her!! She is great! I really appreciated his help.
Maddie! Let's catch up! Email me
NickJohnsonNC18@gmail
You have the best sense of humor, very dry very dark ...keep up the great content no one can touch your narration!!!
West Virginia, the rust belt and wherever else has experienced great job loss, the same result is experienced everywhere. We are seeing the results of politicians in the pockets of corporations for 50 years. Politicians will lie just to get vote but won’t make policies that affect there bottom line. Keep up with what goes on around you and hold local politicians accountable because it’s never going to happen on the federal level.
It's the legacy of voting Democrat for over a century. And they were responsible for all the red tape and waste, crazy high taxes. Maybe now if and only if they lay off the taxes and make it easier for businesses to operate there and encourage entrepreneurs to come in. Maybe then it will improve.
Wv isn’t the rust belt.
Can't blame the kids for taking off and never coming back. I would do the same.
Baltimore got all the major wholesale drugs, and WV just one of the traffic stops. But it is still pretty bad. That’ll be a good excuse for people to blame somebody else 🤣🤣
oh they’re going the other way too. ohio has almost as bad of a drug problem in the south and east
I'm black and Charleston WV isn't that bad to be honest
Hey Nick! Me and my girlfriend went down there last year to buy a puppy, we saw a drug deal right in front of us at a gas station ⛽️ 😂 super grimy and sketch! And I live in Henry county VA! So I know grimy and sketch 😂
Remember when you used to go downtown & see a few drunks & hobos? Boy those were the days ,,lol
What did you name your PUPPY???? 🐶 🐕
@@NickJohnson we named her zoey! 😂 🤷🏼♂️ 😂 meth and coke didn’t seem to fit as well 😂
I would say Charleston is the most rundown capital city in America but then there’s Hartford and Trenton!
Baltimore
I'm only 30 seconds in and had to stop the vid- Nick, what happened to that little doggy on the side of the road??
He's ok!
My family moved from western NY to WV. I work in South Charleston. There is untapped potential for transportation companies & many other businesses. Charleston is the half way point for many travelers. Michigan, Illinois, the Carolina’s, Florida, Virginia… We are in the middle! So much potential for entrepreneurs!!! If you have an idea & some cash, this is the place to try it out. It’s lacking things to do for sure! Anything for entertainment for kids would be a hit. It’s unfortunate that it’s a poor state & so many people don’t want to get a job & many that have a job don’t actually work in that job. The pay is very low in Charleston. It’s a capital city for goodness sake! I see job ads for $16-$18 an hour & they want you to have a bachelors degree. It’s just very poor.
I agree! It is located in a great place!
Coming from Ireland, this looks like a third world country….. and it’s the capital oh my god