Leaving La / California - Asap (Los Angeles, Burbank: relocating, housing, rent)

[LindaTx]

Originally Posted by Pacificop

For those of you who love Los Angeles and HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE, you are delusional to think that every place is like here and that they have the same problems or it’s the same thing everywhere or some other quaint notion that just simply isn't true. I used to think the same thing until I started traveling throughout the United States. First, I had no idea that those pretty pictures of America in Almanacs and other places are of real places. This country's landscape is gorgeous everywhere east of the Southwestern United States. If you are a desert lover, I mean no offense, but our transplanted greenery is in no way comparable to absolute beauty the rest of this country has.

But more to the point, as a career law enforcement officer in Southern California for a large agency, I have had the great fortune to work all crimes including a 6 year stint in homicide. I have been to all four corners of this country and places in between on business and pleasure trips. I’ve spent time with cops in other major, moderate and small towns. Even some Chicago cops couldn’t fathom some of the experiences I’ve had. There are cities and regions in this country (not Simpletown with 5,000 pop or less) that are dumbfounded at what goes on here. I finally figured out what seemed different on a recent trip to Appleton, Wisconsin. It was that the people seemed relaxed. They enjoyed living there, therefore they enjoyed each other, their jobs, parks and downtowns. They don’t live in constant fear.

I think the difference here is that we have a large populous who are nervous and fearful most of the time. You don’t know how abnormal that is until you visit some other city of 50,000 – 75,000 people and realize, life isn’t supposed to be scary. Is any place perfect – NO! But come on, LA and a growing number of its people enjoy the Gotham mentality. Well, this isn’t the movies; Batman, Superman and all of the other superheroes aren’t going to instantly restore order to a place that has taken decades to deteriorate.

The kind of crimes that get reported and printed on the front page of newspapers in other areas, I wouldn't bother to even prepare a press release for here - the local press would laugh at me for trivializing their work. We take for granted and think it is normal that everyone everywhereis wallowing in the same despair as we are; living in fear just going to the mall or grocery store. But it ain't so.

You see, even if you are wealthy and live in a gated community or mansion, you still need a hair cut, toiletries from the local drug store, milk, bread and eggs from the market and (over priced) gas from the local pumps. It is there that the fight for your life, the fear of being robbed and catching a disease from some virus infested goober trying to get money for drugs - they're not going to buy soup. (Try this social science experiment for those bleeding hearts out there. Next time you are hit up by someone who needs money to eat - offer to buy them a sandwich and see how much hostility you are met with. I've done it.)

I'm pulling an early retirement and moving away from Liberal Angeles to a place where family values are important and part of the city/county goals, being held accountable for ones actions is still regarded, school grades are important to the family and the grass is actually green. The only complaint I hear from people or POSTs about the southern region of the US is the humidity.

Point of fact: Humidity doesn't spray paint on walls, sell drugs on the street corner, offer to put your 12 year old daughter in a sex movie, etc. etc. etc. (I'll just have to lather up on "Bug Off" and carry a fly swatter I guess. Not a bad trade off.)

Come on down and Move to Austin Texas! We need you here! You will love it..
All of CA is moving here, or investing here. I will help you finda a place called home! Our country's landscape changes every few miles! Maybe not CA, but its not a bad trade off.
LindaTx

[Olivia Jones]

I have lived in Southern California all my life and the only two other states that I have ever visited are Arizona and Nevada....but I have spoken to others who have been to New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa - and they all say the same thing - there are far more better places to live than Southern California. I have always said that I would NEVER leave California. But I am raising a 14 year old daughter.. Do you think I want to raise her in L.A. with all the gangs, the illegals, the cost of living, the crime, people "flippin" you off just because you switch lanes in front of them?? Get real. This is not living - it's craziness. I want my daughter to grow up where life is better than that. Where people wave hello and good morning and mean it. I own a home, have a very good job, but I can't afford much anymore. I feel bad for anyone who's out there looking for a job. Just try to buy a home these days. The payments are at about $3200.00 a month. Good luck to those of you who think there is no better place than Cali. Sure the weather is great, lots of things to do providing you have the money to spend. Just wait another 3 -4 years, Southern Cal will be so crowded with illegals, crime, etc. It's like this: "California is a nice place to visit, but I would not want to live here." Good luck with the illegal population, crime, and gangs. And remember, the more illegals come over, and get on California's welfare system, the higher the taxes will be. Basically you will be taking care of all the illegal familites.

[McGowdog]

Nice. Nicely done, Jonah K.

Have you been to Sharky's lately?

[gfluneedit]

Originally Posted by Olivia Jones

I have lived in Southern California all my life and the only two other states that I have ever visited are Arizona and Nevada....but I have spoken to others who have been to New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa - and they all say the same thing - there are far more better places to live than Southern California. I have always said that I would NEVER leave California. But I am raising a 14 year old daughter.. Do you think I want to raise her in L.A. with all the gangs, the illegals, the cost of living, the crime, people "flippin" you off just because you switch lanes in front of them?? Get real. This is not living - it's craziness. I want my daughter to grow up where life is better than that. Where people wave hello and good morning and mean it. I own a home, have a very good job, but I can't afford much anymore. I feel bad for anyone who's out there looking for a job. Just try to buy a home these days. The payments are at about $3200.00 a month. Good luck to those of you who think there is no better place than Cali. Sure the weather is great, lots of things to do providing you have the money to spend. Just wait another 3 -4 years, Southern Cal will be so crowded with illegals, crime, etc. It's like this: "California is a nice place to visit, but I would not want to live here." Good luck with the illegal population, crime, and gangs. And remember, the more illegals come over, and get on California's welfare system, the higher the taxes will be. Basically you will be taking care of all the illegal familites.

Olivia what do you think is going to happen when all the middle class american move out, then doctors and nurses and teachers follow.

[inappropriate]

[Ms.Phitt]

To be fair, you can't just blame the illegals for everything. Make no mistake, there are plenty of U.S. citizens involved too... and even if you deported every illegal alien today there would still be plenty of gang problems.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them. I believe in not giving them any incentive to break the law. Children born here to illegal parents should not get citizenship. Illegals should have no rights to our already strained medical system. Any employer hiring illegal workers should be fully prosecuted under existing laws. Any gang-related activity should result in the gangster's entire household being flagged for immediate INS investigation and deportation as applicable, along with a background check and appropriate arrests for any remaining citizens in the house. That would be a terrific start for controlling part of the problems.

That said, I really don't care for some of the racist comments being posted here. I'm sure there are a good number of illegals who aren't causing these problems, and I know for a fact there are plenty of legal citizens who are causing them. If you think dumping all the illegals would make all of L.A.'s problems go away, you are sorely mistaken. Many of our own citizens are in desperate need of better schools, help out of destitute poverty, a decent living wage, mentoring, proper medical care, etc. All the things that have long been neglected in this country and especially this city -- things that have been systematically stripped away from the average citizen while the filthy rich get filthier and richer. Stop fooling yourself -- you won't see real resolution until the underlying problems are properly addressed.

It's so easy and convenient to point out one group or another to blame for all our society's ills. Wake up! The roots of these problems are far-reaching and lie within our own system.

[fairweathergolfer]

Here is the link: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16208270.htm

If link is removed it is Mercury News, article Droves Say Goodbye to Golden State. I believe fastfilm is quoted here.

[LAnoMORE]

I cashed out and left LA for Texas. I worked in Santa Monica, where they had to cancel the annual 4th of July fireworks because the homeless were robbing, assaulting and raping the attendees. By the way, they just kind of hang out everywhere on the streets, commit crimes and the problem is never addressed by the city. One of my final deciding factors was when a homeless man stabbed a guy in the face near Fatburger at the Promenade. A police officer acquaintance told me about it, and I don't even know if it made national news. He also told me that crime in the LA area is way under reported because many of the people feel like they'll be killed if they report it. If you are driving a Benz, you may be followed home and find that someone has slipped into your garage behind you.

The crime problem is real.

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by Ms.Phitt

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.

Wow I wouldnt feel safe even visiting LA! I have been to San Diego before, lots of homeless and weird people that I just ignored. I value personal safety highly and would not even consider living in any place that isnt low or no crime. Oil city appeals because crime is very low, half the national average and most crime is petty crime at that. Most years dont have a single murder and only a handful of burgularies, grand auto thefts and rapes.

[scrammy]

Originally Posted by Pacificop

Thank you for your kind words and respectful discussions. Although, we don't all agree, at least there wasn't rude name calling. See ya later, I'm heading out for Nashville in the morning for a weeks vacation and new residency prospecting.

Hello Pacificop, I just stumbled upon this post in my search for info on Nashville and its suburbs. Just curious, how did your vacation and possible new residency quest go? Do you have anything wonderful to report? Did you make the move?

I am a 4th generation native californian and truly love the state, both northern and southern ca, but as a single parent it's time for me to move on - I'll just never get ahead financially in my home state as much as I would like to.

I've identified 2 neighborhoods that have what appear to be really good schools, affordable homes available, and are close enough to the city that I think I could still make somewhere close to what I make here in SoCal, but.... I have yet to make an investigative trip to be sure. Can you shed any light my way? Thanks in advance...

[Pacificop]

My trip was great! Nashville and Knoxville(previous trip) are both places I would move in a heartbeat. Regarding Nashville, Franklin and Spring Hill (essentially anywhere in Williamson County) are where we are going to wind up. They have the best schools int he state according to everyone you ask, not just the school officials. At this point, it is only a matter of getting the job lined up and selling the California house. Nothing in the RE market is moving at the moment where I live - at least not at the price I know we can get closer to summer. If not this year then; next year definitely. My eldest daughter will be in junior high soon and whatever it takes, we are gone by the summer of her freshman year.

Go visit! It's some of the most beautiful landscape and people you could care to see and meet. IT IS DIFFERENT! I went on a ride along with a cop in Franklin and we spoke about the differences in lifestyle both on and off the job. I met several former Californians out there who moved years ago and sometimes visit Ca. IT IS DIFFERENT! And for clarification, different for me equals BETTER!

Lots of luck to you. Tennessee is a great state with a different type and standard of living that is and has been for gotten on the degrading lifestyle we are living with here in Southern California.

Sorry folks…this is as brief as I could be. So much to tell and describe, it won't all fit here.

Best Wishes,

Pacificop