From L.A. to Santa Ana? (Los Angeles, Anaheim: foreclosures, maintenance, jobs)

[Tasksgirl]

People on the OC forum have only terrible things to say about Santa Ana.. so let me ask you fellow L.A. folks.. is it really that terrible.. According to my research the crime rates aren't astronomically high.. it can't be worse than the valley.. are they just being snobbish or is it really bad? We would be moving from L.A. so would be looking at it with L.A. point of view not rose-colored OC glasses.. !

[Tasksgirl]

Anybody?

[Chowhound]

Originally Posted by Tasksgirl

Anybody?

Santa Ana is a sh**hole. You don't want to go there. There are some parts that are good, but for the most part it is really rundown and there is a lot of crime.

There areas around there that aren't that bad.

Sam

[subPrimeTime]

If you have a choice, don't move to Santa Ana. It's getting worse, especially with all the subprime foreclosures & illegal immigration. Costa Mesa is a better option, there's also Orange or Anaheim.

[LASam]

I find it so strange that the County seat of Orange County would be such a dump. Granted, I've never been there... but shouldn't it benefit from the permanent jobs? Isn't Santa Ana supposed to have a nice downtown? Why is it in the condition it is?

[straight outta camden]

Downtown Santa Ana is surprisingly nice, and there are some (not many) affluent streets with really nice Victorian houses. But much of the city is poor. It strikes me as no worse, and no better, than many parts of East Los Angeles, though I haven't looked at the crime statistics. There are lots of illegal immigrants, and have been for decades. As soon as people get citizenship and decent jobs they move out to Anaheim, Orange etc.

The reason Orange County folks go on about the awfulness of Santa Ana is that they are offended by the sight of poverty.

[bhcompy]

santa ana is a large, old city. old cities tend to fall into disrepair. many of the neighborhoods are full of houses at least 50-60 years old. most of orange county is full of houses built since the 70s. LA experiences the same problems in older areas that santa ana does. gentrification just hasnt occurred yet

honestly, its a fairly safe city to live in, its just a bit ugly in places due to age and improper maintenance and code enforcement. violent crime rates arent astronomical or anything. perhaps there is a bit more hooligan type stuff(vandalism, trespassing, littering, etc). it also has a high hispanic population and that throws some people off. one of the best private schools in the state(and in the nation for sports) is in santa ana(mater dei catholic high school). its a city that you have to see for yourself if you like because its much more than meets the eye and you can have a drastic change in scenery just driving over a bridge or past a major intersection

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by straight outta camden

The reason Orange County folks go on about the awfulness of Santa Ana is that they are offended by the sight of poverty.

and thats more or less the truth. OC is one of the most conservative counties in the state(at least of the populous ones) and is one of the more affluent counties. the proximity of santa ana to the upper-middle class/high class areas(starting with parts of Tustin, Newport, and the Costa Mesa country club area on down the coast) contributes to what you hear as well. anaheim, stanton, garden grove, etc have plenty of older/run down areas full of immigrants, but its away from the main body of affluent OC.

[Tasksgirl]

I liked Santa Ana because they have so many duplexes at affordable prices.. my family is mixed hispanic/white so we wouldn't mind alot of immigrants/hispanics.. but we don't want to feel completely unsafe either..

So Anaheim would be much better? They also talk about how terrible Anaheim is now .. I figured alot of it was the fact that they live in very affluent stuck-up areas of OC .. I am sure there is some truth to it but I don't mind seeing trash, bums, immigrants, etc. come on you see that anywhere it's L.A.

[bhcompy]

honestly, ive never seen or been in an area of santa ana or anaheim(or anywhere else in OC) that i wouldnt mind living if i was on my own. as a parent, the schools are of concern and i would make sure you research each school if you have kids that would be attending public school. santa ana has some poor performing schools.