Poor or lower Middle Class Whites (Huntington Beach, Santa Clarita: houses, condos, rent)

[Huckleberry3911948]

we are hiding. when we come out, people like to blame us a lot for stuff.

[the one]

i remember the cities of cudahy and bell gardens had mobile home parks full of white people!!!! but then in the late 80's and 90's they all moved to fontucky and areas out that way. also to the high desert. it seems they kinda disappeared...

[swagger]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

a very large percentage of working class whites from the LA area have also moved out of state to places like Phoenix and Las Vegas.

*Raises hand*

[JTGJR]

As a side note, one of the most offensive terms, to me anyway, is "working class." At some point in time it seems to have replaced "blue collar." But if you're at an upper income level and working 60 or more hours per week, how is that not "working class?"

But I digress. You can find poor and middle class in every area of LA from downtown to South Central to Malibu to Manhattan Beach. Yes, many of the residents of the "upscale" neighborhoods are rich only by virtue of having lived in these areas since the beginning of time. But, unless they move, they're also on a limited, fixed income.

I was at a luncheon today where a health care advocacy group stated that they advocate for 10-15 Manhattan Beach residents per month who cannot afford health care or the costs of basic medical services. Are folks of this type better off than the poor? Yes, in relative "house rich" terms. But many have no inclination to cash in on the rich property that they own and live hand to mouth as those in the poorest areas.

For all of you Sociology doctorate hopefuls, seems that would make for a fascinating thesis.

[JTGJR]

Originally Posted by Charles

Another side note. Just because someone is "working class" doesn't mean they have low net worth.

Exactly my point. But if you research the term, you'll find that it generally refers to low income positions for the middle class. I suppose someone just decided that "blue collar" was no longer politically correct and decided upon a term that redefined those who work hard for a living and those who also work hard for a living and, for whatever reason, have been more successful.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

I still see some working class people in Santa Monica, but that's probably because they have lived here for so long that they pay $200/month in rent. For the most, the working class white population has moved to the IE: Fontana, Ranchom Cucamonga, and to places even further out. Even cities like Corona and Temecula that were once affordable alternatives to Orange County are now middle to upper-middle class. I would also say that a very large percentage of working class whites from the LA area have also moved out of state to places like Phoenix and Las Vegas.

I agree on the Phoenix move. We are having a home built in Surprise, Arizona a suburb of Phoenix with over 100,000 people and a lot of them are from so cal. I meet people there all the time that wanted a nice home but couldn't come up with the money to do it. Out there they can live more affordably than here. Then there are people like my parents who cashed out and moved to the area as well. Many of the communities in the Phoenix area are 70 and 80% white. Most are middle class and would have been lower middle class in the LA area. They just can afford so much more out there than here.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by JTGJR

Exactly my point. But if you research the term, you'll find that it generally refers to low income positions for the middle class. I suppose someone just decided that "blue collar" was no longer politically correct and decided upon a term that redefined those who work hard for a living and those who also work hard for a living and, for whatever reason, have been more successful.

Besides I wear a brown collored shirt as part of my uniform at the hospital where I work.

[jerblaine]

Originally Posted by scottl333

Where in L.A. do they live?

Well they live with the latinos!! :-))

that would be inner SFV or near downtown or east LA and west LA but not in Hollywood WEHO Westwood or Bev Hills. :-)

Hollywood isnt affluent but they charge affluent area rates because of the ACTOR FACTOR :-D hey i just thought of that! lol but it is true!

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by scottl333

Where in L.A. do they live?

They're not really in the city. Not full-blown neighborhoods, anyway.

Are you asking, in essence, are there 'South Boston' or 'South Philly' type neighborhoods in L.A.? Ultimately, no. There aren't. The demographics are totally different out here. But there are poor people here and there.

I guess Tujunga would be the closest thing to what you're asking about.

But for the most part you'll find them in Hemet, Barstow, San Bernardino, and places like that. Inland Empire.

[King0fthehill]

Some paockets of Culver City, Torrance, Lomita, El Segundo, Van Nuys, Tijunga, Sylmar, Sun Valley, Sunland, Buena Park

And many I.E communities such as Colton, Redlands, Upland, parts of Ontario and Rancho Cucumunga.

And father out in high desert/antelope valley like Palmdale, Lancaster, Lake Los Angeles and Victorville.