Thinking of moving here? You may want to reconsider (Anaheim: real estate, apartments)

[John Alemu]

Originally Posted by DeserTBoB

<snip>

"Proud" of it? Then why is all the trash from Compton moving up to Palmdale/Lancaster? To escape the horrid schools, corrupt city government, out of control crime and gang infestations? No, it's because the LA County Housing Authority is moving Section 8 garbage out to the high desert in droves.

San Bernardino's been a scummy town since the 1940s. Crime in the Muscoy ghetto was some of the worst outside of the worst parts of LA and its ghetto satellite cities. Once mandatory school busing was outlawed, things did settle down in various parts of the city, but it's still a scumball city overall, with a long, long history of corrupt city government, poverty and crime. I remember as a kid, if someone from Riverside wanted to do something illegal, they could always do it in San Berdoo. Once the Santa Fe started closing down the big shops on 2nd St. and Norton AFB closed, the area started into an economic downward spiral from which it never has recovered.

Compton's beyond hope its present form, but with all the trash moving out on Section 8 to Palmdale/Lancaster, investors/developers will buy all the shacks, bulldoze them, and recreate the whole South Central area into expensive single family houses and townhomes. It's just a matter of time, and is the real reason why the Housing Authroity is moving all the welfare blacks out to the desert while closing the 1940s projects, which are dilapidated beyond repair. Jordan Downs is already condemend, and Imperial and Nickerson "Gardens" will follow shortly. It's a smart move, as the area has a much better climate and redevelopment there will eliminate senseless commuting to downtown and Wilshire Blvd. offices from far flung suburbs.

What you say is very much true. I can definatley say that I'm VERY proud to be from Compton, and decades of crime and negative images of my city will not change my perspective on Compton. I was born and raised here and its all I know, I dont give a **** about all you people saying Compton is horrible. In reality Compton can be a very pleasant and nice place to live if you are NOT a gang member. As for San Bernardino thats another city trying to fight its negative image but constintley is battling crime and gang problems just like Compton. I do think their is hope for Compton,SB ,South Central,Watts etc...These are all places filled with so much history and culture, more than meets the eye and good people that go beyond all the negative steroe types that plague these cities. My family used to live in the area around Muscoy called "Delmann Heights" and back in the late 80's and early 90's that place I will agree was one of the worst areas I've seen in Southern California. I remember my family telling me about killings in their neghborhood almost everyday.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by John Alemu

What you say is very much true. I can definatley say that I'm VERY proud to be from Compton, and decades of crime and negative images of my city will not change my perspective on Compton. I was born and raised here and its all I know, I dont give a **** about all you people saying Compton is horrible. In reality Compton can be a very pleasant and nice place to live if you are NOT a gang member. As for San Bernardino thats another city trying to fight its negative image but constintley is battling crime and gang problems just like Compton. I do think their is hope for Compton,SB ,South Central,Watts etc...These are all places filled with so much history and culture, more than meets the eye and good people that go beyond all the negative steroe types that plague these cities. My family used to live in the area around Muscoy called "Delmann Heights" and back in the late 80's and early 90's that place I will agree was one of the worst areas I've seen in Southern California. I remember my family telling me about killings in their neghborhood almost everyday.

About once a month, we take a trek from Burbank/Glendale to south of LAX. Frequently, I take surface streets and I'm not always sure what neighborhood I'm in. More than once, I've driven off the main streets through various neighborhoods and I'm usually pleasantly surprised by what I see. There are a lot of nice neighborhoods with well-kept homes that people don't say much about. Most of the people that we talk to are friendly too. So, I think the area does suffer from the perception that things are "terrible" but I don't think the reality matches that.

[John Alemu]

Yes MANY neighborhoods in my city, and other cities like Inglewood parts of South Central, Gardena, Carson have very nice neigborhoods with well kept homes and nice green lawns. But you have to remember that its the few people here that make it have that bad image.

[hairmetal4ever]

Originally Posted by CBaillo

and you have no escape. you can move to the nice areas, and it buys you a few years of peace, but the scum start moving in trying to 'provide a better life for themselves', but instead of conforming to the neighborhood, and learning to live a better life, isntead bring their ghetto mentality w/ them.

before anyone can say my comments are off base/racist/ignorant, just know i grew up in ghettos, was involved w/ latino gangs growing up...so i know what i'm talking about...but thats just it i GREW up...when i moved out of the ghetto, i didn't take the ghetto w/ me.

Quite true. As I've said before, you can take the thug out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the thug.

[ArthursChoice]

exactly! :-)

Originally Posted by CBaillo

I don't think israel was saying it was just recently. The migration from the ghetto has been going on for a long period of time, and is still going on, and will be the way it is forever. But you have to realize that 20-30 years is no time at all in the life of a city. That's like 5 minutes.

But I didnt get that impression from him post at all, that he was trying to say the changes have only happened in the past 3-5 years. It was just a overall generalization.

[fastfilm]

I wish this forum still had the 5 stars system since I would rate this thread as EXCELLENT for CBaillo's, jrobe's, terri's and blinkingblythe's truthful posts about the reality of L.A.'s massive deficiencies, crime and thuggery in all but the richest areas. Exalt reps to all of you. Even the one admits that people who stay tend to learn to live with it, a sad commentary within itself.

After fifty years here, I don't want to anymore. I'm tired of foreign nationals moving in and breaking laws, particularly "quality of life" ones, as a matter of knee-jerk reflexes. Low to moderate income people relocating to Los Angeles will be shocked at how different life is amongst these impolite-to-outright-vicious neighbors who insist upon slum values.

jrobe, I'm going to suggest you investigate running for a neighborhood council position (they're elected, but there's many positions open in every district, more like winning a 1 in 4 lotto chance than a 1 in 4,000,000 one. It shouldn't cost anything more than a run of a few 100 flyers with your name on it before the election, for name recognizability, and going to meetings to see what they do.) It's a way to get your feet wet in politics while helping your neighborhood, and a good way to figure out how to accomplish things without getting stuck in political infighting. Based upon your posts, I think you're a natural; check out a meeting and see if this would be a good fit for your desire to better things. No need to keep being depressed.

[artichoke63]

I'm looking forward to leaving Los Angeles for good in a few weeks. I moved out of my apartment and put everything in storage. I'm hanging around at friend's for a few more weeks, and I'm looking forward to leaving. Yes, it's sunny and warm, but I am tired of breathing all this pollution. I can taste it in my mouth and feel it in every breath I take. On top of that, it's so expensive here to live, the traffic is difficult. Even a 5-mile trek across town is exhausting. And it's ugly here. This is really an ugly, ugly place with almost no natural beauty, just lots of streets, telephone wires, and concrete. The nice weather just doesn't make up for all the ugliness. Besides, I like other types of weather, like thunderstorms and snow.

Artie

[SandyCo]

Originally Posted by CBaillo

and you have no escape. you can move to the nice areas, and it buys you a few years of peace, but the scum start moving in trying to 'provide a better life for themselves', but instead of conforming to the neighborhood, and learning to live a better life, isntead bring their ghetto mentality w/ them.

before anyone can say my comments are off base/racist/ignorant, just know i grew up in ghettos, was involved w/ latino gangs growing up...so i know what i'm talking about...but thats just it i GREW up...when i moved out of the ghetto, i didn't take the ghetto w/ me.

This is an old post, but it's still quite true. It has been my experience as well. I moved from Van Nuys to Sherman Oaks, from a noisy building to a quiet one, etc. Now this building is almost the same as the previous one. My neighbors scream at each other in Spanish day and night.

When I move, I'm moving out of L.A. altogether, but right now it wouldn't make sense. If I stay in this area and move to a different apartment, I'll pay $400 more per month with no guarantee of better neighbors!

[fairweathergolfer]

jlrobe: You could always start small and see how it goes .

I hope you don't stay depressed about this although I certainly understand this depression just thinking about it. It does seem as though a political life in this day and age is either ripe with corruption or someone else beating on the good guy and causing them destruction . Hey I'm rappin', I'm rappin'. LOL. But even if you find politics isn't the right thing for you and your family, there are so many difference ways to impact change as I am sure you already know. And if there isn't the exact right way for you out there, you can always carve your own path. Just the story you told was impactful. I completely saw the screenplay unfolding. So I can imagine in any setting or career you have a way with words, story and a directness that doesn't confuse, but shines a light and inspires.

Maybe even writing non-fiction and public speaking. If your audience is large enough you can impact a globe and influence policy, by changing people's thinking or causing them to rethink their already hardened conclusions. You can always start a web site or start writing columns and work into online political magazines . . . anyway I digress .

Thanks for sharing your family's story. You have wonderful parents from the sound of it and it shows in you.

Good luck to you.

P.S. I just read fastfilm's post. What a great idea she has laid out! If you do decide to run one day, let us know!!!! :-).

Originally Posted by jlrobe

Widespread poverty is one thing, widespread thuggery is another and truly truly scares me. It is easy to try and help poor people but what does society do with all the thugs.

I am very worried. 2nd or 3rd generatoin thugs are far more difficult to deal with than 2nd or 3rd generation poor people.

What to do. Sometimes I want to go into politics to try and make a differnce, but i am sure I will just **** everyone off and ruin my life and family in the process. I think all the really good politicians are either scared to fix things, arent allowed to fix things, or get manipulated by the nasty beaucratic system in place.

Man, Im getting depressed as we speak.

[Robert123]

This has been a great thread to read. I do have some experience living in Southern CA, and see the validity of points made here. My comment is for those who can't wait to get out. I know you probably don't think this is possible, but you might end up in some TX city as I have, be totally shocked at the mentality in said place (not all happy cows are in CA, let me just say), and wonder why you found thugs and pollution to be so disturbing. The grass is always greener...