What do you think of Lompoc California? (Santa Barbara, Banning: crimes, credit)

[missya]

Originally Posted by KittyKat07

I think its funny that people think Lompoc is like Mexico and talk about gangs. After living in Los Angeles and Orange County, it really makes me laugh to think of a gang in Lompoc. I have never once seen a gang. Of course there have been a few shootings over the past few years, but look around, where hasn't this happened? Sure there are field workers in Lompoc, this is CALIFORNIA...that is the case in just about every city in our state. Santa Maria, is 5000 times worse than Lompoc. I think we have more white trash than anything else. I lived in Orcutt and Santa Maria and would NEVER move back. The Orcutt schools might be better but thats about it. If you want to avoid bad weather and illegal immigrants you really should avoid the central coast all together.

Sorry to tell you this but yes there are gangs in Lompoc they are really all around you no they don't look like the one you see on t.v. but they are there.

[missya]

I do Say that Lompoc has the best weather. that and my family members is what I miss about Lompoc most off all

[IsisIAmBorn]

Lompoc is a small town that is out of the way from everything. In order to really go shopping, see a decent museum, or anything to do with a true family outing you have to drive a ways to go there. Yes, there are beaches, Buelton, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara that are wonderful places to visit! But, they all require a nice drive for several miles which means gas prices up the wazoo, or train or bus prices to pay in order to get there.

The truth is Lompoc is out of the way. I always know I am getting to Lompoc because the fog and wind great me like a jealous lover that can't wait to attack your senses. Sure Lompoc is suppose to be known for its flower fields...question is...where are the flowers...where are the fields? Okay, I will admit you may see one acre or two...what a month, if that long? No one and I mean no one moves to Lompoc unless they are going broke and trying to save money, or the Air Force has pulled them here or the wonderful prison down the street has brought them here. Truth is some of the locals have serious teeth problems or asthma. Could it be all the fertilizing they do for the farm lands? Or the other businesses that seem to surround us?

We do have a Mervyn's (I hear they are going to close their doors due to small revenues). We also have a Wal-Mart that has run off a lot of mom and pop stores. The folks in Lompoc do not like to patronize their own stores; they prefer to visit the named places I mentioned earlier. So unfortunately this means a lot of stores with high hopes close their doors. We actually have a Starbucks, Ross, Albertsons, Vons and stores to make us look a little hip. Some of these really hip stores close after a few years and new ones come in. We use to have a Denny’s, JC Penny, Boston Market, JoAnns Fabrics and a K-Mart just to mention a few…they all closed their doors to Lompoc.

Home prices are through the roof, including rentals. The prices are way to competitive, they use the excuse that we live in the central coast and they must compete with Santa Barbara. Imagine that competing with Santa Barbara. Are they crazy? There is no way they can hold a candle next to Santa Barbara. The nerve to think they can compete. I'm sorry this town does not possess the revenue or attractions other central coast towns or cities posses. The majority of the population works in the surrounding towns mentioned above or Vandenberg AFB. Others are migrant workers or people passing through. The town feels isolated from 9-5 if you don’t count the people living off of Uncle Sam because more than half the population is working, like I said outside of this town. But if you are caught between the morning rush or after work hours be careful you might get run over by the wonderful people of Lompoc. Weekends they all run out of this town as fast as they can, leaving the streets once again feeling pretty desolate.

The schools here do not rate well because there is a large population of Spanish speaking natives who do not rate well on school testing therefore it gives the appearance that the schools are way below national average. Yes everyone praises Vandenberg Village but the truth is if it were not for Vandenberg AFB they would be in the same situation as the folks in Lompoc.

The weather is mostly cool (some call it perfect weather), truth is it is cool and darn right nippy. You always carry a jacket or sweater with you. There are more sinus infections occurring in this town than average, not to mention all the other respiratory ailments people complain about.

Can’t say much about the crimes committed in Lompoc other than I have lived around the world in many cities and towns, and I have never been subjected to more crimes being conducted around me than I have in this town. Do I feel safe at night? No. Do I go out of my way to meet my neighbors or invite them over to my house? No way. Truth is my husband knows a lot of people and he does not allow not even one into our home...and he's a local!

If you like feeling isolated, having to drive a ways for entertainment and don't mind the occasional respiratory ailments that plagues us all, then Lompoc is perfect for you.

Personally I plan to run as fast as I can out of here and never look back. But like some of the people trapped here, money has me stuck where I do not wish to be.

[mono#9]

Lompoc schools do not rate well? Not true. Cabrillo High recently won a bronze medal in the national rankings made by US News and World Report. None of the Santa Barbara High Schools made the list. For the Central Coast, Morro Bay HS and Cambria also won medals.

My parents lived in Vandenberg Village from 1989 to 2003 when my father died--they loved it and these were people who had lived all over the world.

Just another point of view.

[Greenchili]

Thanks for the "other point of view". We have lived in Lompoc
for 7 yrs now and havent had too many problems with upper
respiratory problems. The weather is coolish, but many here
have gotten used to it and cant stand it when it gets 80, and
it does get that warm here many days in the summer. The home
prices are really dropping. We are buying a new Centex home
for quite a good price. Its on the edge of the flower fields and crops
but that doesnt bother us at all. Life is what you make of it. Lompoc
isnt perfect, but what place is? If I lived where it was extremely hot
then Id probably complain about having to be cooped up in a air conditioned
house all summer. And if it snowed Id complain about freezing my arse
off. So, Lompoc is really pretty good in the weather dept. Just my 02 cents.


Greenchili

[Shadow45]

I have lived in Lompoc from time to time for the past 13 years. The population has grown, yet the business and job market basically stays the same.

There are no good paying jobs. Lompoc does not want any new businessess here. They supposedly want to keep it small and preserve "Old Town Lompoc". It is this small area of Lompoc that has been here since the 1800's. This is the only way they want to continue to make money is through tourism, but no creation of jobs throughout the rest of the town.

I've owned 5 different cars and each one has gotten broken into and robbed by locals. My car was even robbed and stripped at the local FoodCo. I was only inside for approximetly 15 minutes.

I've lived in San Fran, L.A., Vegas, and Washington D.C. and my cars have never been robbed there.

The streets lack sufficient lighting at night, this could be one of the main reasons. The other major reason, is that this town is full of Meth addicts.

People will say, "Oh it's the gangs, blah blah blah!" Well, I haven't seen any "gangs" or supposed "gang members" around town. I've noticed mostly METH ADDICTS walking around causing burgleries, and shootings, and killings. One even killed a toddler and they found meth all over his house. There are many more news stories that involve meth in Lompoc.

Yet, it only gets reported for a very short time and then it's swept under the rug. You can't find these stories anymore. I suppose it is to not discourage tourists from visiting. Tourists are one of the main money makers for this town.

They hype it up with B.S. about this being the "Town of Arts and Flowers". The only arts this place has is a few Murals on the side of some rinky dinky buildings. The museum is puny. I never see any flowers around this place except if you travel towards some farm patches you'll see a patch of flowers. They have a mission, for the rememberence of enslavement of the Natives.

If you really want to experience nice beaches you have to drive at least 45 minutes and up. If you want to do some shopping, you have to travel at least 45 minutes and up. There are no shopping malls in Lompoc, except in Santa Maria (30 minutes away) but that one s**ks.

The weather here usually stays in the 70's. It may go up during the summer or go down during the winter but the usual is in the 70's range.

Oh, and if you don't pronounce Lompoc the way it is supposed to be said, the locals will get upset. I mean, people don't pronounce basically all of the cities and towns in California the correct way, because they are in Spanish, yet I don't go around getting upset about it like they do.

Just about everyone in Lompoc is obese and/or on the hefty side. That's just about the only type of businessess they do allow here is restaurants. No wonder!

Some will even go as far as to blame all of the crime and addiction on the Federal Prison that is located in Lompoc. Locals have told me that it is because of the prisoner's family members moving here from L.A. haha. I don't think so. People move here either to retire because they are old, or because it is cheaper to live here. Lompoc, caters to the elderly. As for the young, like I said before, no real jobs, opportunities, fun and safe activities, entertainment, etc. Young people have to travel far far away

[Shadow45]

[quote=IsisIAmBorn;3008799]
Truth is some of the locals have serious teeth problems or asthma. Could it be all the fertilizing they do for the farm lands? Or the other businesses that seem to surround us?

This could be what is known as "METH MOUTH". Lompoc is full of meth heads.

[sun_shineshopper]

I lived in Lompoc for 4 years, personally I did not like it there. The climate is mostly cold and foggy. The beach is not enjoyable, the water is always cold and the surf is dangerous. There are gangs in Lompoc as I'm sure there are in other places. I never encountered any problems. You know they are there and they do show their colors. I have heard some nearby gun shots on occasion. Also, I was at an annual community event where they had to have extra police on hand because of reports of rival gang members causing problems. To my knowledge nothing ever happened. It's a small town and not much to do. I really didn't care for the people either. I would suggest Buellton, or Santa Ynez area.

[HUNTMAN-USA]

LOL,

I moved from the L.A. area (Woodland Hills) to Santa Barbara Co. back in 94. I lived in S.B. for a few years before buying a home in Lompoc. Lompoc is an unpolished diamond that only people who have come from L.A. or another large metro area can understand!

First of all, the following is what Lompoc has to offer:

* Great weather (Coastal fog in June/Gloom)

* Small town & friendly people

* Low crime rate (Gangs are evident in most towns & cities)

* No traffic

* No smog

* Adjacent to and within an hour to Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Ynez wine country and Santa Barbara.

* Great surfing & outdoor activities.

* Low utilities $$$ (Water, Gas, Electric).


The negatives to Lompoc:


* Housing in the median is $300,000 (+ or -)

* A variety of dining establishments, but the one's we have are great!

* Schools are not Beverly Hills, but Lompoc High and Cabrillo High serve the community well.

* Windy and cool, but never "Africa" hot.


P.S. Lompoc is a great place to raise a family, just don't tell everyone!!!!

[HUNTMAN-USA]

Originally Posted by HUNTMAN-USA

LOL,

I moved from the L.A. area (Woodland Hills) to Santa Barbara Co. back in 94. I lived in S.B. for a few years before buying a home in Lompoc. Lompoc is an unpolished diamond that only people who have come from L.A. or another large metro area can understand!

First of all, the following is what Lompoc has to offer:

* Great weather (Coastal fog in June/Gloom)

* Small town & friendly people

* Low crime rate (Gangs are evident in most towns & cities)

* No traffic

* No smog

* Adjacent to and within an hour to Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Ynez wine country and Santa Barbara.

* Great surfing & outdoor activities.

* Low utilities $$$ (Water, Gas, Electric).


The negatives to Lompoc:


* Housing in the median is $300,000 (+ or -)

* A variety of dining establishments, but the one's we have are great!

* Schools are not Beverly Hills, but Lompoc High and Cabrillo High serve the community well.

* Windy and cool, but never "Africa" hot.


P.S. Lompoc is a great place to raise a family, just don't tell everyone!!!!

Oh forgot,

Having lived in So Ca. for 43 years, in a variety of different So. Ca locations, the Central Coast area is the place to be!! Lompoc has 42,000 + or - residents and sense of community that inclusive, not exclusive.

Without question, if you can afford to live in Santa Barbara Co., Lompoc is worth your time. If you factor in other counties in So. Ca to live in, you would be hard pressed to beat Santa Barbara Co....period!

Lastly, crime is everywhere large and small. There are always those
that point a dirty finger at others for one reason or another. You can find bad in any town or city, but you would be hard pressed to find a better place to live, for what it offers, than Lompoc!