Is living in L.A. really that bad? (Los Angeles, Beverly Hills: renting, home)

[Radical Raul]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

You know, the funny thing is... everyone who has answered this thread is telling the truth - even though they seem to be contradicting each other. LA is all these things and more. It isn't some teeny tiny town where a blanket generalization will work for the whole place.

Drive around and take a look for yourself.

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by harhar

Wow, didn't know it actually existed. Or at the very least I didn't actually think it'd be 50%.

I know a lot of programs now, as probably mentioned earlier, have been kicked to the curb for the time being. At least until the credit crunch is over.

Well, as I mentioned, the link no longer works -- so it's possible that the program has been (at least temporarily) discontinued. Dunno .....

[EDDIEISTAZ]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

So true. You really can find whatever you want someone in the L.A. area.

I'm reminded of this as I'm having a discussion in another category about public displays of affection. The small town people are all having a tizzy about people who display affection in public. Can you imagine living in L.A. and getting upset about two people kissing in public?!

depends on what u mean by kissing just a quick kiss no but someone kissing for about an hour and gropping each other is upseting specially when u are with kids. probably not in a club but at a kids movie yes a chuckeches at mcdonalds yes

And you cant generalize LA it simply is to big to be generalized theres the ghettos the hills, downtown,holliwood and even the beach areas u get a little of everithing

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by EDDIEISTAZ

depends on what u mean by kissing just a quick kiss no but someone kissing for about an hour and gropping each other is upseting specially when u are with kids. probably not in a club but at a kids movie yes a chuckeches at mcdonalds yes

Well, yes, of course. I just mean that you could go to a public park in L.A., for example, and probably see two people being affectionate with each other, whereas in small towns, that type of behavior would not be seen as much.

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by Radical Raul

Drive around and take a look for yourself.

You drive around and take a look for yourself - there is a whole lot of variety here. What people experience as the norm in one place is just not the same as the norm in another place - even within a fairly small sampling of LA county. The population mix, the public transportation options, job market, safety, availability/affordability of housing, nightlife, you name it - it is all different, all over the place. Take a look around - it's a wonder to behold. They call it a world-class city for a reason, dude.

While I'm at it.... Not every place in LA is overrun by illegals, either. Or graffiti or trash. Not every place is image-driven or fake. Not every place has fresh air, or bad air, or good or bad traffic. The variety is amazing.

When CESpeed tells of her experiences, I believe her. I also believe nickdahammer and the one. They are all genuine LA voices telling of their life in this very large, varied metropolis. I have learned a lot from all of them, and many others. They've kept me from making costly missteps in my relocation here. (Thanks guys)

[Radical Raul]

I'm glad you can draw some good elements from living in L.A.

I grew up in the greater Los Angeles Basin, and it has become a world class ghetto, comparable to third world nations.

[Radical Raul]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Well, yes, of course. I just mean that you could go to a public park in L.A., for example, and probably see two people being affectionate with each other, whereas in small towns, that type of behavior would not be seen as much.

Any where in the world other than oppressed society's you can see people holding hands and kissing.

What's the relevance whether it's more prominent in one part of the country compared to another?

What is the relevance?

[nickdahammer]

Only two choices? Los Angeles has as many (I believe more) positives as negatives. I moved here shortly after the 1992 riots, it didn't stop me then, and the current state of the City doesn't dishearten me now. In fact, moving here turned out to be a pretty smart move: I did well by moving closer to work and making use of public transit.

And I wouldn't call Highland Park, where I do most of my shopping and dining, a gentrified area. If you look at pictures of North Figueroa in the 1930's, if is pretty much the same worn, working class street it is today.

Originally Posted by Radical Raul

Either you are totally out of touch with reality or you haven't been gentrified.

Southern California use to be nice, but the traffic always sucks, rarely do you see a pristine day, the beaches are overcrowded, the housing costs are not inline with the actual median incomes. Houses going for over $500,000 in El Monte, get real.

The only thing L.A. has going for it is it's underground economy where you can always find a job and rent a room during hard times, but then again most people have been living through hard times in L.A. making $15 a hour. You just don't hear about it very much in the media or sites like this. Who would want to move here if they really knew the truth?

The quality of life in L.A. even when compared to Texas a state of 24 million sucks.

BTW, things are going to get much worse, especially for those who have to adjust, after prospering on the back of the largest ponzi scheme in the history of mankind which has just collapsed on a global scale.

Enjoy your posh overvalued homes while you can, I may end up buying it.

[BennyPhoenix]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

Only two choices? Los Angeles has as many (I believe more) positives as negatives.

LA has only 1 real negative; too many people. All other negatives come from this.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

Ditto. The portrayal of Los Angeles as a city of crushingly poor or ridiculously wealthy (and nothing in-between) is laughable and unreal. I make less than $100k and give to FOLAR, Big Brothers, LA Conservancy, LASPCA. I am also a member of LACMA and the Natural History Museum. And I live on the Eastside, or what it's worth.

Me too. I live comfortably and can donate to charities. I consider myself middle class. That said, LA can be a difficult place to live for the poor.