How is the "Quality of Life" in and around L.A. ? (Los Angeles: rent, condos)

[fastfilm]

As a five decade survivor of L.A. and relocator the nanosecond my husband retires, I don't see sonrise' post as bitter, just truthful. The very first post on the L.A. forum here was by me, only half-jokingly claiming that L.A. is only liveable if you're wealthy, illegal or violent. NDA, some of us get miffed seeing only posts glorifying L.A. by sunworshippers. Maybe for the tourists, but not for anyone else actually living here not in the three aforementioned categories.

The shrinking middle class in L.A. stats, I seem to recall, are 26% middle, with a tiny percentile of rich and the rest poor. Most major cities in the U.S. have a tiny percentile of rich, with the remainder evenly divided betwixt middle class and poor. Again, Los Angeles is not liveable for the non-rich.

[NDA]

Fastfilm there is enough bitterness in your own comments that it might be difficult to notice the bitterness in Sonrise. You seem to think people who want to move here are a trifle delusional.

Illegal immigrants are everywhere. Other states have them from other countries.

If you've been here 5 decades, I don't think you have room to complain. You share a part responsibility in what the city is now. Where were you when the city was turning into such a wreck? Did you just notice the problems and plan to escape or did you make efforts to help for the benefit of younger generations?

[NDA]

I'm not wealthy, illegal or violent and I find L.A. to be a place full of opportunity and promise for those willing to take the opportunity. I'd find opportunity and a good life wherever I was, it isn't the location it is the person.

[Sonrise]

Ultra,
I worked in the entertainment industry. Kinda cliche', I know but...anyway I now do the same thing however I mainly work out of Atlanta, going down there a couple of days a week. The funny thing is, although it's 2 1/2 hours south of G'ville my commute is about the same as it was going to and from anywhere in LA. lol Although, in all honesty Atlanta is rapidly becoming LA South. It is huuuuuuuuge and the traffic is almost as bad, much to my surprise.

NDA,
I didn't mean to come across as bitter and I apologize for that. I wanted to give my completely honest opinion regarding the op. imho, the "quality of life" in LA is horrible if you're not a multimillionaire or an illegal gang banger. Solely my opinion and I honestly respect those that have one that differs from mine. I was in LA for about 9 years total and my wife is from there so she obviously misses it more than I do, mainly family and food. The weather, food, my church and friends are what I miss. Although the weather here in G'ville is very nice, all 4 seasons but none are extreme. Not much humidity like down in Charleston because we are at a higher elevation being close to the Blue Ridge Mts. It really is nice here and I've seen about 6 Cali. liscense plates since I've been here. If I see a topic that piques my interest I should still be aloud to post, shouldn't I?

[fastfilm]

Los Angeles has 300 illegals entering it daily. This is a tad different than all other major urban areas.

But back to topic. Since this is the quality of life in L.A. thread, let me insert the following phone numbers that I distribute to my neighborhood via the neighborhood watch program. It might be of use to posters here.
In my area of the Valley, it would be:

Police: 818 7576 8343
Police non-emergencies: 877 275 5273
Fire Dept. non-emergenciesL 818 756 8121
Abandoned car removal: 800 222 6366
Bulky item pickup: 800 773 2489
Parking enforcement 818 752 5100
Building & Safety code enforcement: 888 524 2845

or call 311 (just the three digits) 24 hours a day to find any Los Angeles government department.

I don't have the most recent stats of this week, but a sample of Basic Car Officers' updates, given to neighborhood watch people like me noted my neighborhood had, in the space of a sample week:
-1 rape suspect still at large
-3 graffiti vandalisms
-1 murder
-assorted residential burglaries
-5 locations identified as gang locations
-assorted robberies from vehicles

The gangs most active in my area of the Valley, according to police, are:
-Mara Salvatrucha, clique FLS of MS-13 (Latino)
-VSLS (Latino)
-BVN (Latino)
-LNX-13
-Assassin Kings (Armenian)
-NHBZ
-TKS

Did I ever invision myself having to become expert in urban criminal activity? No way, but it was necessary as my neighborhood become more and more dangerous and disgusting. As was my neighborhood activism over the last 30 years. Thanks to many others and my own participation in the former TNI (targeted neighborhood initiative) program, our declining area at least had speedbumps put in to stop the street racers, tree planted, sidewalks repaired, crosswalk ramps built for wheelchairs and strollers, code enforcement, and the Valley's first Historic Preservation Overlay Zone declared right here.

[fastfilm]

Remember, I've prefaced this discourse as being for the non-rich in L.A. Because of my own and so many of my fellow neighborhood activists' actions, life is a little better in our immediate locale than it would have been without us (see previous post.)

Because of the lack of responsibility of mean-spirited foreign nationals who have repulsed every effort made to include them and help them keep our neighborhood liveable (and their, as well as our own investments in housing here viable and valuable), life here is rather worse. In fact, dire, for us non-rich. At some point, for sanity, one must bail.

Sonrise, yours is a valid comparison. Other forums here have relocators' conclusions all the time, to and from, pro and con. I want to know how much you lowered your blood pressure moving from L.A.!

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Quality of life?, if you're a multi-millionaire in a gated community or an illegal gang banger you'll do well. Otherwise think long and hard about why you're living there, we did and our eyes were opened. According to a recent study LA has the smallest percentage of middle class in America and it'll continue to shrink.

Sometimes, even the rich in LA can't handle it. A wealthy relative of mine in the Entertainment Industry is selling his two mansions and getting out of LA.

Those who live in LA seem to pay a very high price, in dollars or in stress, to be able to live in an area with nice weather.

[cynwldkat]

And remember...the weather isn't what it use to be! This use to basically be a desert..dry. But water is being piped in, people have swimming pools, lawns have been planted requiring watering constantly usually with automatic sprinklers going off at least once a day usually two times a day and of course all the trees. Then combine the smog with that humidity and it's not really that nice anymore. There has been zip for rain so things appear dirty much of the time and the forests are extremly dry and dieing. The air feels sticky...basically in the hot months. The whole climate has been altered. I lived my entire life in CA. and 35 years in the Los Angeles area. I could see, feel and smell the changes. Anyone who has lived their entire lives there would have to admit the climate has indeed changed. Oh there are plenty of sunny days but that will not keep down the humidity. Just watch and compare the humidity and dew point with other states---you will see. It's just not what it use to be anymore.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by cynwldkat

And remember...the weather isn't what it use to be!

I have noticed when watching the national weather reports, that LA seems to get into the 100's a few times in the summer. I don't remember hearing those temps reported for LA in the past. That is something I expect from the Phoenix area.

Has anyone else noticed this change as well, or are the national reports really only for the Inland Empire area?

[cynwldkat]

Like I said..I lived in the Los Angeles area for 35 years. The last few years it was not uncommon for the summer temperatures to reach way over 100. Infact for a couple of days/weeks it was around 110/112. I was there, I know. Course that was in the San Fernando Valley and the Inland Empire. But L.A. was nearly as hot. It was miserable. I can't say I remember so many hot, humid days as I have experienced in the last few years.