Los Angeles (Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Gardena: school, wages, live)

[junkman18]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

I've spent half a century here, and we will move the second my husband retires. Weather isn't the only quality of life issue.

Los Angeles is only liveable if:
1)You're quite wealthy
2)You're an illegal immigrant
3)You love being in a gang

You are telling the truth! The only good thing about Los Angeles is leaving Los Angeles.

[copyguy]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

I have to say you appear to be the only poster I have seen who has something positive to say about LA.

Hey. . .don't count me out. I've been very positive about L.A. and have defended the city when those among us attack it with the kind of sweeping, stereotypical generalizations that boggle the mind.

I sincerely do wish these disgruntled Los Angelians happiness elsewhere. I can't imagine hating someplace enough to be constantly berating it in an Internet forum. I'd focus that energy on finding a place in which I could be happy and getting myself there.

(He says as he waits for the inevitible attacks to begin)

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by copyguy

Hey. . .don't count me out. I've been very positive about L.A. and have defended the city when those among us attack it with the kind of sweeping, stereotypical generalizations that boggle the mind.

I sincerely do wish these disgruntled Los Angelians happiness elsewhere. I can't imagine hating someplace enough to be constantly berating it in an Internet forum. I'd focus that energy on finding a place in which I could be happy and getting myself there.

(He says as he waits for the inevitible attacks to begin)

I won't attack it. But you can't deny that quality of life in CA, and LA specifically has gone down the sewer over the past 30 years. Commutes which took 30 minutes now take 2+ hours.

Services are a joke. Taxes are atrocious. Where is all the money going?

BTW--this year California LOST population--that's right, LOST population. How can this be, you say? We have LOTS and LOTS of people arriving! That's true, but the natives and even legal immigrants have had enough and are moving out in droves, faster than legal and illegal immigration can fill the void.

And guess what that means? The tax base is leaving, meaning the middle class (if there is such a thing in CA anymore) is going to have to pony up more and more for those "without" (read: illegals). Hospitals will continue to close, traffic will continue to get worse, and moving out to the IE is not going to be the answer even in a few short years.

Think it's gonna be easy even now? Checked out the U-Haul type sites for prices? Even for a move to Phoenix, a typical rental truck costs 3-4 times as much going from CA out as one coming to CA. Why? Because EVERYONE IS LEAVING!

So stick it out, guys. Close your eyes or just stare at the ocean you can't swim in every time it rains because of bacteria and pretend there isn't a problem or that anyone who does bother to point it out is somehow racist or a xenophobe. One day, very soon, that California dream you've been having will have turned into a nightmare, if it isn't already.

As for me, I voted with my feet. Nuff said.

[looking4home]

Wow, what great post! Where did you move to, OCCASparky? When you say people are moving away, that is not true in my area. People are arriving in droves, spurred by an exodus out of the Bay Area, and to a lesser extent, So Cal. We in Central/Eastern Nor Cal have none of the problems that face the south - but I'm sure we will. We already have the atrocious traffic in some areas, and a rise in crime that goes along with an increase in population. plus, our median price for homes skyrocketed in the past several years, but has sort of leveled out now with the downturn in the real estate market. But there are symptoms/problems of growth and occur many places around the country.

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by copyguy

disgruntled Los Angelians

First time I ever saw THAT term to describe Los Angeles residents. I always thought it was Angelenos...but what do I know (lifelong Southern California resident here).

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

BTW--this year California LOST population--that's right, LOST population. How can this be, you say? We have LOTS and LOTS of people arriving! That's true, but the natives and even legal immigrants have had enough and are moving out in droves, faster than legal and illegal immigration can fill the void.

People are leaving CA because housing went up 240% state wide and the cost of living is driving people out. People wisely left because they were older and knew that one CA house would buy 3 houses anywhere else in the US, so during the big housing boom, people cashed out.

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

And guess what that means? The tax base is leaving, meaning the middle class (if there is such a thing in CA anymore) is going to have to pony up more and more for those "without" (read: illegals). Hospitals will continue to close, traffic will continue to get worse, and moving out to the IE is not going to be the answer even in a few short years.

I disagree. People are leaving houses that they paid 100k-400k for and selling them for 400k-1.6million. That is a HUGE amount of sales tax and property tax paid by the new owners and sellers. Even if people are moving to compton, a house is 400k there, up from 110k 4 years ago. THat is ALOT of sales and property tax increase. Also, shopping centers and car dealerships are multiplying state wide producing MORE in sales tax. SOME of the people moving into the new houses might be unreporting taxes, but not all.

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

Think it's gonna be easy even now? Checked out the U-Haul type sites for prices? Even for a move to Phoenix, a typical rental truck costs 3-4 times as much going from CA out as one coming to CA. Why? Because EVERYONE IS LEAVING!

Okay?!?!

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

So stick it out, guys. Close your eyes or just stare at the ocean you can't swim in every time it rains because of bacteria and pretend there isn't a problem or that anyone who does bother to point it out is somehow racist or a xenophobe. One day, very soon, that California dream you've been having will have turned into a nightmare, if it isn't already.

Well, you said you wouldnt attack LA, but your tone sounds pretty doomsday to me. Also, I see surfers in the water everyday, AND I check 3 sites for bacteria levels. I live next to 17 (mini-beach) areas that are tested twice a week. Most times, at least 13 of them are open and completely safe to swim in. Also, it rains like 20 days a year here.... ALso, people dont go to the beach until summer, and it NEVER rains then, so what is your point!?!!?

I will stick it out here. I wont be blinded from the blight, but the CA sunshine! LIFE is SO HARD going to Laguna beach every other weekend, and going to the hawaiin bar/grill or European cafe and bakery to enjoy my 72 degree WINTER afternoons. MAN. I CANT HANDLE ANTOHER TRIP TO SANTA MONICA OR MALIBU! If I have one more 72 degree winter afternoon, I think I am going to go insane. Darn, life is so tough in the beach cities!

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by jlrobe

I will stick it out here. I wont be blinded from the blight, but the CA sunshine! LIFE is SO HARD going to Laguna beach every other weekend, and going to the hawaiin bar/grill or European cafe and bakery to enjoy my 72 degree WINTER afternoons. MAN. I CANT HANDLE ANTOHER TRIP TO SANTA MONICA OR MALIBU! If I have one more 72 degree winter afternoon, I think I am going to go insane. Darn, life is so tough in the beach cities!

hee hee!

I HATE going to San Clemente the day after Christmas and sitting outside on the Pier eating Fish and Chips!

I HATE going to the Borrego Badlands the next day!

IT SUCKS that even though it rained all night, the skatepark is dried out from the sunshine by noon!

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by looking4home

Wow, what great post! Where did you move to, OCCASparky? When you say people are moving away, that is not true in my area. People are arriving in droves, spurred by an exodus out of the Bay Area, and to a lesser extent, So Cal. We in Central/Eastern Nor Cal have none of the problems that face the south - but I'm sure we will. We already have the atrocious traffic in some areas, and a rise in crime that goes along with an increase in population. plus, our median price for homes skyrocketed in the past several years, but has sort of leveled out now with the downturn in the real estate market. But there are symptoms/problems of growth and occur many places around the country.

New Hampshire--go to the Home Depot here and there aren't 100 day laborers hanging around, harassing people for work.

People are in fact leaving the metro areas like LA and SF for (at least in LA's case) more inland areas because of "affordable" (laugh) housing.

I ought to show you what 250K gets you up here--and that's considered "expensive" by local standards.

My wage is virtually the same, and when you consider no state income or sales tax, it's all good, as they say.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by ;238750

harassing people .

They really harrass people. They stand there with hands in their pockets and talk to their amigos at home depot all day long until they are picked up by an employeer. Do you mean when they rush an employeers car looking for work? It's called desperation for wages. They are a menace to society.

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by jlrobe

People are leaving CA because housing went up 240% state wide and the cost of living is driving people out. People wisely left because they were older and knew that one CA house would buy 3 houses anywhere else in the US, so during the big housing boom, people cashed out.

It's not just that. WHY did housing go up so much? It's not that more people are moving in so fast, it's that environmental restrictions, etc., jack up construction costs as well.

Taxes are driving jobs out of state--why should a company get nailed for being an "eeeeyvillle" corporation in the eyes of the socialists in Sacramento? To heck with it they're saying, and voting with their feet.

Originally Posted by jlrobe

I disagree. People are leaving houses that they paid 100k-400k for and selling them for 400k-1.6million. That is a HUGE amount of sales tax and property tax paid by the new owners and sellers. Even if people are moving to compton, a house is 400k there, up from 110k 4 years ago. THat is ALOT of sales and property tax increase. Also, shopping centers and car dealerships are multiplying state wide producing MORE in sales tax. SOME of the people moving into the new houses might be unreporting taxes, but not all.

Some are, some aren't realizing that much of a profit. People who bought two years ago aren't coming out ahead and when you consider realtor commissions, etc (I just paid 40K in commissions to realtors), they're losing money.

BTW--there is no sales tax on houses. Do be a good boy and know what you're talking about next time, won't you? The slowdown is severe--nearly 30 percent lower than a year ago--prices aren't coming down nearly enough to make up for any shortfall in the state budget, and what is coming in is going to BS projects and social programs we don't need.

Originally Posted by jlrobe

Well, you said you wouldnt attack LA, but your tone sounds pretty doomsday to me. Also, I see surfers in the water everyday, AND I check 3 sites for bacteria levels. I live next to 17 (mini-beach) areas that are tested twice a week. Most times, at least 13 of them are open and completely safe to swim in. Also, it rains like 20 days a year here.... ALso, people dont go to the beach until summer, and it NEVER rains then, so what is your point!?!!?

I will stick it out here. I wont be blinded from the blight, but the CA sunshine! LIFE is SO HARD going to Laguna beach every other weekend, and going to the hawaiin bar/grill or European cafe and bakery to enjoy my 72 degree WINTER afternoons. MAN. I CANT HANDLE ANTOHER TRIP TO SANTA MONICA OR MALIBU! If I have one more 72 degree winter afternoon, I think I am going to go insane. Darn, life is so tough in the beach cities!

Assuming you live in those beach cities. BTW--I avoided Laguna like the plague--too crowded.

Yeah, weather sure is wonderful. What were those the other night, like 80 mph winds? Oh, and those wildfires--charming. Mudslides--yeah, another wonderful byproduct of all the wildfires when nothing is holding anything. Let's not forget the earthquakes!

And I've been to HB where it's been blackballed for WEEKS at a time, so please don't tell me it's safe. Lemme ask you this--those guys fishing off the pier in Redondo--would YOU eat those fish?