Leaving La / California - Asap (Los Angeles, San Diego: house, rent, vacation)

[looking4home]

The dilemma about the mentally ill homeless that UB50 brought up is interesting. Actually, it was a federal law enacted by President Kennedy, which was then expanded by various state's governers that allowed the most vulnerable in our society to roam unprotected out on the streets. As a family member, you could no longer commit your mentally ill relative to a hospital for treatment, unless you could prove they were a danger to themselves or others, and that was a very broad and vague interpretation.
I guess being exposed to the natural elements, and encountering violence on the streets, while starving, and eating out of trash cans is not considered dangerous enough to one's well-being!

Why this absurd law has not been revisited is a mystery to me. It would solve a lot of problems for many major cities, not to mention the help and medical treatment the homeless would receive. I have read so many stories by anguished families who say that they cannot locate their loved one, and when and if they do, they cannot make them get help. They can try and check them into a clinic or hospital, but if they don't want to stay, they can just check themselves out and take off. Many of these people are severely mentally ill, sometimes caused by years of alcohol or drug abuse - how can they possibly determine what is best for themselves?

Yes, there were many abuses of the system before the new laws were enacted - stories about brutal orderlies and nurses, people being put away and given lobotomies a la "Cukoo's Nest" because they were societal non-comformists, greedy relatives committing a wealthy, elderly relative to get their money, etc. But times have changed since then, and we know so much more about behavioral/mental problems than we did. We could institute safeguards against these types of abuses. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water, which is what we did! We tried to correct one problem in our society and created an even bigger one.

Why lawmakers don't want to do something to correct this is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is there isn't any real benefit to either party, so why bother? The Republicans don't care because social welfare isn't their thing, and there aren't any big PAC's involved from which they can fill their campaign coffers. The Democrats conveniently use the homeless issue to demonize the Republicans, as they did in the 1980's, and when it suits them, they bring it up to show how uncaring the Repubs are, and how their economic philosophies can ruin people's lives and force them out on the streets.

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by Caliguy29

Los Angeles does have it's problems,but it's not as bad as it was in the 1980's and 1990's.

L.A is not even on the top 10 dangerous cities list and things are improving,especially with more Gentrifying Projects going on all over.

Los Angeles is currently being transformed for the better,but unfortunately L.A will always remain an expensive place to live in for most people and their will always be traffic.

L.A is not spiraling down the drain like other cities in other parts of the Country...Things are improving for L.A.,and their are signs of the improvements,but it may not be noticeable for some,but in time people will see a huge change,and L.A will be looked at as a World Class City and not a City of Gangs,Ghettos or Illegal Immigrants.

I have Hope in L.A :-)

So you think it's not going to turn into the Los Angeles portrayed in the movie "Blade Runner?" I know it's a fictional account, but it seemed very bleak.

[DeserTBoB]

Originally Posted by UB50

California doesn't have a lock on the "crazy" population. Ever since Ronald Reagan decided that they shouldn't be locked up in mental hospitals, every state has them.

Well, although he did take away a lot of mental health services (actually, he didn't...his corporate handlers did), let's be factual about the collapse of public mental health services in California. It was Pete "The Weenie" Wilson, who designed AHHHnuld Schwanzenegger's disastrous first administration with his own shills, who closed almost all of California's state mental hospitals, such as the famed Camarillo Hospital, and turned all the patients loose on the streets of California's cities. Facilities for the criminally insane, such as Patton in San Bernardino, remained open only because the Attorney General threatened Wilson with an inj-unction. Unprepared municipalities were broadsided by Wilson's actions, and had no local facilities with which to pick up the slack left by the anti-health care Wilson. You'll remember a lot of the "hacking and cutting" that Wilson was famous for doing was echoed in AHHHnuld's first term. How the electorate of California could be so stupid as to have re-elected this sham is beyond me, although I blame a lot of it on immigrants, both from other countries and from other states.

Originally Posted by UB50

The crazies in Las Vegas are not only crazy, they are also desperate for money. Las Vegas can be a really scary place to live.

Las Vegas is a sewer. The glitz and chintz of the strip barely hide the huge increases in crime rate, the dismal public services and a Nazi-esque sheriff's department. What you see on "CSI" on CBS is all faux. Clark County sheriffs, as well as their court system, are bad news. Anyone who invests money in real estate there must be out of their minds.

Originally Posted by UB50

I've even been "accosted" at a gas station just off the freeway in Texas. <snipping>

The gas station thing in Texas happened at night and there was no one else nearby. The guy wanted a ride somewhere and I was lucky because my car was absolutely stuffed with things so I had no room. He could see that so he left me alone -- but I have to wonder what happened to others that night?

Somehow, this seems normal for Texas and Texans. They're not altogether sane, you know, and are known for going "noo-kyoo-lur" at the drop of a 10 gallon hat. Violence is a way of life there. They've also been known to invade sovereign nations for no reason whatsoever other than to make one look "tougher" than their daddy was.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by fairweathergolfer

Jonah k since you have had properties in those areas since the 80s how have you seen the ebb and flow of conditions, crime etc? Or have you? I am curious besides massive development what shifts you have seen overall. 250 and 6'2", . . . dang dude .

Some parts of L.A. have improved over the years and some parts have grown worse. Ironically, the areas that showed the most improvement were the "bad" areas, while the "good" areas have grown somewhat worse. For instance, the area around Staples Center and USC has improved quite a bit over the years, while parts of Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, and Mar Vista have become somewhat rundown and more dangerous.

Los Angeles has pretty much become unaffordable for most middle-income families and it has grown increasingly Latino; however, many long-time middle-income homeowners have become "equity rich" and can afford second or third homes in other states (and/or countries) that have a lower cost-of-living.

Traffic has grown worse in most of L.A.; but the air quality has generally improved. Public primary and secondary schools in Los Angeles have grown worse; but the colleges and universities have improved. For every change that makes me want to throw up my hands and cut my ties with Los Angeles, there's usually a corresponding change that makes me want to maintain my ties. While the "grass may seem greener" in other locales, many long-term residents elsewhere often find themselves coping with a similar degree of change.

[the one]

family values are very much alive in my neighbor hood. so is respect. give respect and you will get it. and cops are crazy. i got plenty of cop friends and they have told me some stories of what other cops have done to people (when cameras arent rollin) and i have seen excessive force first hand. i dont trust cops. i respect them as long as they respect me, but i dont always trust them. make sure to get more accounts not just a cops tale.

[Jigga2006]

I understand where everyone from the LA area is coming from with their complaints of rampant crime, a Spanish-speaking culture, and poverty, however to claim that other people from other cities don't experience these type of things is rather ridiculous. There was a Bronx police precinct that reported 743 stolen cars in one day last year, just one precinct in one borough. I have had 2 cars stolen and 1 broken into in the Bronx, after I had all the necessary precautions taken including locked doors and a Club on my steering wheel. And if you think there are a lot of Spanish speaking people in LA, try going to Washington Heights in Manhattan or the South Bronx and see if you can find anybody who speaks English. New Yorkers can also relate to problems of homelessness as there obviously is a large population of homeless people in NYC. The fact of the matter is that both cities have their ups and downs, all big cities do. Both have a lot to offer culturally but both also have major drawbacks. But think on the positive side LA residents, at least it's sunny and 75 degrees on a daily basis.

[Des_Demona]

Jigga, I totally hear where you are coming from and don't doubt the Bronx and other NY areas have the same problems. I think we are just talking about LA because 1. This is the LA forum. 2. We are from LA and can only comment on our own personal experiences and 3. We are closer to the border of Mexico so we get a lot more illegal immigrants than NY despite what it may look like there.

And Sunny and 75 degrees on a daily basis isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I for one hate the sunny days and want 4 seasons. Would I rather live in LA than the Bronx? Oh yeah. I don't think anyones trying to argue that NY cities don't have their problems! They certainly do. Maybe I missed a post though...

Violence and illegal immigration is everywhere. There's just a LOT more people crammed into a small space in LA (and NYC) so it's very relevant to discuss it here.

[Singlemom2specialneeds]

Originally Posted by UB50

There was a story in the New York Times, not too long ago, about gangs in Dodge City Kansas. The town only has 25,000 people, yet they had something like 7 or 9 drive by shootings in a week!

There are a lot of stories on the internet about how gangs have moved across the country because it's easier to establish "turf" in other areas -- particularly in smaller areas with less police.

Quite a shocker!

Wow UB50, I am surprised you mentioned Dodge City. I grew up in Dodge City.. 1978-1996 (I left upon graduation).. when I left Dodge City, it was a nice sleepy town, at that time many "californians" were moving to town, I returned this past February to find the town COVERED with MS13 grafitti, "SUR LA POR VIDA", etc and yes, drive bys are out of control.. the big city ruined a beautiful town...

[gfluneedit]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

Parts of Los Angeles and its suburbs aren't too bad compared to other areas; however, I would never want to live there full-time -- a week or so per month is more than enough.

The diversity of L.A. is one of its greatest assets. There are few cities in the United States where I can go to a bank in which all of the tellers speak Spanish, shop in a Japanese grocery store, have a snack at an Ethiopian restaurant, listen to Korean music on the radio, watch a Pilipino news program on TV, and have a beer at a Samoan bar.

While crime, traffic, and the cost-of-living are definately negative aspects of life in Los Angeles, it could be worse. Just ask some of the L.A. residents that moved there from Baghdad, Kabul, Tel Aviv, Mexico City, Beirut, Moscow, Seoul, Johannesburg, Belfast, Kingston, Addis Ababa or New York.

have a snack at an Ethiopian restaurant ? lol
What the hell kind of snack could you possibily be getting at an Ethiopian restaurant ?
Are you being serious ?
Is there really an Ethiopian restaurant ?

Just ask some of the L.A. residents that moved there from Baghdad

Is that what is has disinigrated to ? The barometer is Bagdad ? LMAO

This has to be the strangest post I have read on ths forum.

[Ms.Phitt]

Originally Posted by Need_affordable_home

Is it true crime is underreported since its so common? Everyone makes LA out to be gang infested.

Yes to both, big time. I have called them literally dozens of times due to gangs in my yard, on my porch, casing the place, snooping around our cars, etc. and they have only actually showed up once because all the other times they were too overwhelmed and tied up with shootings, burglaries, and other major crimes in progress to even make an appearance and take a police report. Despite this, I still call even though I feel like it's a complete waste of time. Given the utter uselessness of trying to get them down here, I would be really surprised if everybody else was as persistent as I am. Honestly, I feel stupid that I even bother.