Get out if you can!!!! (Los Angeles, Riverside: environment, smog, gated)

[corndog]

Lets face it, unless there is some serious disfunctional reason for wanting to stay in the Los Angeles area other than all of your family is there, then get the hell out.

LA is crumbling fast. I work as a Deputy in LA's jails and see it first hand. I am sorry to paint a dark and gloomy picture, but it is the truth. Gangs are growing faster now than ever, growing with such intensity as there is no way to ever extinguish the fire. Drugs, go hand and hand with gangs. Conjestion, well LA is the worst by far! Pollution, YEP!

Here is one major sobering thought that no one on this forum has said yet, Earthquakes. We have all heard of the "Big One." But, don't forget about the dozens of other faults under down town LA. Get a good center 8.0 quake around there and forget about Katrina, ****, that area will be a mess of untold proportions. Remember, there are around 4 million people who live in LA city alone, and over 12 million in LA county not to mention the other areas such as Orange County, Riverside, San Bernadino, and Ventura!

Prices are absolutely ridiculous, driving anywhere takes some serious time. I am on my way out, maybe I have already gone, but think before you consider a move here about what impact this environment well have on your children and your piece of mind! If that doesn't work, then visit me in the jail and I will straighten your head out for you!

[lookingfortheperfectplace]

I will be getting out within a year. I only hope that I get out before the "big one". It has worried me that we haven't had any good sized earthquakes in a while.
It just blows my mind that people are willing to raise their children here. My whole family leaves here but I don't care. My childs up bringing is more important.

[kp100]

there's no way to know when or how big the big one will be... i wouldn't worry about that. i would be worried about the big hole in my wallet that california living will take out of you. my golden plan is to finish up school... AND GET OUT ASAP. ca native or not... peace out!

[LC81]

I still want to live there. lol. Im single with no kids. Gangs are everywhere also. Dallas/Houston are just as bad. Pollution, yep got that as well. Now Earthquakes are a different story. haha.

[anywherebuthere]

LOL...Wow, those are sure some encouraging words! Every place has it's problems, corndog. I am in New Jersey, and I hate it (for various reasons.) But you don't see me yelling on the NJ forum to stay away from Camden and the other rough spots here unless you want to get killed! Why scare people? Yes I would let them know where the rough parts were....but wouldn't go on peeing on everyone who might move here's parade. There are good things here too, as I am sure there are there. How about New York City for that matter! Yes, it's safer now, but you can still see crack heads and crack whores at any hour, and bad things do still happen. Gangs, traffic...they got it too. But at the same time, you can go see Wicked on Broadway and have a wonderful time, and experience no crime firsthand. Is it worth the risk? I think so. All cities have their own problems, even the "good ones".
For every bad thing you just named about Los Angeles, I bet someone more optimistic could name something great.
Granted...we don't experience earthquakes. That's a big one. But a chance I would still be willing to take! Pollution...it's bad here too! I grew up in an urban industrial area...think of what you see if you have ever flown over Newark Airport. Pretty huh? At least you have nicer scenery than here, earthquakes, pollution or not. We have awful traffic, awful prices..everything you just named. But it's still prettier where you are!
Good Luck on your way out...if enough people leave, hey, maybe it won't be so overcrowded!

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

LA is definitly going down the tubes. It doesn't surprise me the Corndog's sight of more gang members. While many of you hold on to the idea of moving before the next "big one," I might embrace it. Maybe it will destroy enough that we can start this city over~such as Santa Barbara did. (*wishful thinking..)

May I also take this moment to express my condolences to everyone who owns property within the city limits of Los Angeles. Prior to the passage of Measure H(thousands of new housing) for a billion dollars ..Sorry to all the grandmas and grandpas, inheritances, but you are now paying for MORE traffic, MORE congestion, and places to house MORE illegal aliens, MORE workers. Granted, those council members had to 'stack' the bill with other necessary tasks like taking care of the homeless problem for passage.

Let me go to ask, why $1 billion dollars didn't go into LA's infrastructure first?! Don't add MORE people, until you have MORE resources, infrastructure, and MORE public transit to accomodate.


In Orange County we just approved 30 more years of new freeway lanes, less traffic, and a light rail system expansion. May I ask, where's L.A.'s?

[fastfilm]

anywherebuthere, the difference between your hypotheticals and the posts of us residents here is that we actually experience what we post about: it is not hypothetical from us. I went through the 1994 earthquake, and two of my neighbors across the street were killed in it. I encounter gangs and their fallout daily, because I'm middle class, and anyone in L.A. who's not really rich will be living in a gang-infested area. (Only the richest areas are immune from them, as L.A.'s unique crime pattern is so spread out, unlike most cities with a "bad area" or two or three.) Compton is the most violent place in the U.S. L.A. smog levels are always the worst in the U.S. The commuter traffic here is acknowledged as the worst in the U.S. over a larger portion of the urban area. There is a subculture of anti-American laws and values here due to its magnetism for illegals. Housing purchase prices here do rival Honolulu's or Park Avenue for mundane tiny dwellings. And so on.

Anytime one reads the normal rhapsodising about the sunny weather, beaches and resorts, you must factor in its inattainability for most who are not rich enough to have money and leisure to enjoy them. Going to the beach is now a complete day trip for all not hugging the coast, traffic-wise. We here are used to the illusion of LaLaLand promulgated by the film industry etc. Realistically, most people's idea of L.A. truly is abouit forty years out of date. It's just not like that any more.

[LC81]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

anywherebuthere, the difference between your hypotheticals and the posts of us residents here is that we actually experience what we post about: it is not hypothetical from us. I went through the 1994 earthquake, and two of my neighbors across the street were killed in it. I encounter gangs and their fallout daily, because I'm middle class, and anyone in L.A. who's not really rich will be living in a gang-infested area. (Only the richest areas are immune from them, as L.A.'s unique crime pattern is so spread out, unlike most cities with a "bad area" or two or three.) Compton is the most violent place in the U.S. L.A. smog levels are always the worst in the U.S. The commuter traffic here is acknowledged as the worst in the U.S. over a larger portion of the urban area. There is a subculture of anti-American laws and values here due to its magnetism for illegals. Housing purchase prices here do rival Honolulu's or Park Avenue for mundane tiny dwellings. And so on.

Anytime one reads the normal rhapsodising about the sunny weather, beaches and resorts, you must factor in its inattainability for most who are not rich enough to have money and leisure to enjoy them. Going to the beach is now a complete day trip for all not hugging the coast, traffic-wise. We here are used to the illusion of LaLaLand promulgated by the film industry etc. Realistically, most people's idea of L.A. truly is abouit forty years out of date. It's just not like that any more.

What part do you live in?

[Caliguy2007]

L.A is not for everyone....Some people Love L.A,and Some people Hate it.

Los Angeles has Problems and Ghetto's just like every Major City in the Country,but Los Angeles also has alot of Nice and Safe Areas too.

I've learned not to rely on people's negative comments about an area if I haven't experienced living or visiting the place,because some people's Hell Hole can be another person's Paradise or Vice Versa.

For those who truly want to try living in L.A,you should give it a try and if you don't like it,then at least you know that you've experienced it for yourself to decide that it's not for you.

[corndog]

Caliguy29 and anywherebuthere have some points. Caliguy29 actually lives here and can say it from the heart as where anywherebuthere can't.

I don't mean to paint an all bad picture of the scenery of Los Angeles, but face it, it sure isn't as pleasant as it was even 15 years ago. Yes, I work(ed) in a terrible place and yes I saw all the negatives or downtrodden of society, but I have also seen the nice of areas of Los Angeles. Be proud of where you live if it helps you, but face the reality. LA is crumbling under its weight. Earthquakes wasn't my main point, but one of many. Gangs, well sure I see it more than most because of my profession, but they are spread out unlike other cities where their landscapes are more vertical. Gangs, fact is that there are more gang members in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the US.

LC81 I am not sure where your question is going, but where are there truly nice cities in Los Angeles that is also surrounded by crap. There is however one city which has extremely low crime in Los Angeles and is free from vehicle theft period, "Avalon" Catalina Island!!!

If you love it, then enjoy it for how ever long you can. If not, then get out. There are other wonderful cities that will take the stress away.!