Any stories from people who moved out to LA because it seemed so glamorous on TV and the movies? (Los Angeles: crime, house prices)

[Oregon Transplant]

Where ever I go I run into young people who want to move to Los Angeles. They have not got the memo that LA's best days may have been 30 years ago, before waves of illegal aliens, overpriced housing and huge overcrowding and gang activity hit the City. For some reason they know nothing about this and expect that they can move to the City become an actor or work in another fancy glamorous job and move to a home within walking distance of the beach and party.

I can not tell you how many people I meet that still have that dream. Have you or anyone you know followed that dream of a glamorous LA and what did you (or they) learn?

[CESpeed]

Interesting thread. I have been screaming this truth since I joined this forum but people think I'm just a naysayer. The unfortunate truth is that people are so caught up in what they believe to be true, that they cannot consider that what you are saying, and what I have been saying, is true and they are just "enjoying the honeymoon" of moving to "Glamourous LA".

[katenik]

stick around. we get two or three stories like that every day, except they are loathe to admit that that is why they are/want to be here.

[Hayden589]

I live close to LA, in orange county and trust me it's not that cool. They have all the expensive houses up north of downtown, but around downtown it's like kinda ugly. But sure if you have a lot of money(like 2 million) then LA is a good place to live or should I say Hollywood, Beverly Hills, malibu?

[impala666]

Originally Posted by Hayden589

I live close to LA, in orange county and trust me it's not that cool. They have all the expensive houses up north of downtown, but around downtown it's like kinda ugly. But sure if you have a lot of money(like 2 million) then LA is a good place to live or should I say Hollywood, Beverly Hills, malibu?

Man, $2 Mill is beer money in Malibu!!

[nicole_bell]

Originally Posted by Oregon Transplant

Where ever I go I run into young people who want to move to Los Angeles. They have not got the memo that LA's best days may have been 30 years ago, before waves of illegal aliens, overpriced housing and huge overcrowding and gang activity hit the City. For some reason they know nothing about this and expect that they can move to the City become an actor or work in another fancy glamorous job and move to a home within walking distance of the beach and party.

I can not tell you how many people I meet that still have that dream. Have you or anyone you know followed that dream of a glamorous LA and what did you (or they) learn?

What do you mean by young? You must mean young and uneducated...don't include everyone under that "glorious LA" category. I'm 23yrs and will have a MS in Chemistry...and I want to get to LA desperately. I'm not going to lie and say the excitement of the city doesn't intrigue me...but they have one of the highest profile crime labs in the nation at LAPD, which is where I have applied to work...

I don't mean to come off in such a disgruntled manner. But please don't group the "young" as the only people that come to California for "LA Living"

[harhar]

I have a dream that London is that way. That I'll meet a hot British female and she'll pay for everything and I can live in my flat, and put all of my newly purchased things in the boot of my Austin Martin.

Most people are stupid about a lot of things, there's no need to single just one group out.

BTW the gangs are not that bad, I could care less about illegal immigrants and house prices are going down. I don't think L.A. is a bad city, but it sure isn't as glamorous as everyone else outside of California makes it out to be.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Interesting thread. I have been screaming this truth since I joined this forum but people think I'm just a naysayer. The unfortunate truth is that people are so caught up in what they believe to be true, that they cannot consider that what you are saying, and what I have been saying, is true and they are just "enjoying the honeymoon" of moving to "Glamourous LA".

wow, you really need to take a look in the mirror. You seem as caught up in your own BS as anyone else on here. You seem to have trouble grasping the fact that for some people life is good for them in LA and they like it or even love it...

[dereistic01]

pretty much everyone who wants to move here thinks la is just like it is in the movies.

[Think (Freedom)]

5 years ago, when I first wanted to visit L.A., I'll admit, it was the this supposed 'glamour' that drew me to it. I saw Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and etc in the media, and I really wanted to visit.

So I convinced my friend to go with me on a week long trip. When we arrived, it was anything but glamorous. We stayed in Hollywood, where the streets were dirty, we saw someone almost get hit by a car, and it would really be just another average city if it werent for that big Hollywood sign looming in the background.

As the week went by, we walked up and down Hollywood blvd day and night, went through Beverly Hills, to Pacific Palisades, took a tour to the sign, Santa Monica, and all the touristy things most tourists do.

My friend, by the end of day 2, was ready to go back home. She hated everything, thought it was ugly, dirty, smoggy, average, over priced, and any other negative thing you can think of. I on the other hand LOVED every second that I was there. Nothing was perfect, nothing was glamorous, but for me, it was like no other place I'd ever experienced. And I thought it was beautiful the way it was (or is).

So my point is, that yeah, at first I pictured Los Angeles as pretty much the definition of glamour and gloriousness, but I went and I saw the reality of it, and I still think its amazing. And maybe the same thing has happened to others like me. Who dream of and appreciate L.A.'s beauty, but also acknowledge its reality.