Spanish Speaking Parts of LA (Downey, Whittier: college, suburban, areas)

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by burgler09

Yeah, I'll be coming from Miami. I'm used to the crime and everything involved with a big city, although in Miami, it is a bit different because there is anywhere from the lower class newly arrived immigrants to the rich that don't speak a word of English. I like this kind of environment and I was mainly looking for areas that might be like this with the different latin american restaurants. I just wouldn't want to go into an area that would be covered by gangs etc. I don't think there are really gangs in Miami like there are in Los Angeles although for all I know this could be overplayed.

No, compared to Miami where Spanish is spoken in all economic sections of the city, LA is different. The Cuban population of Miami includes many middle-class and wealthy people who fled Cuba after Castro took power. Most located in So Florida. In California the Spanish-speakers are mostly Mexican-Americans who either speak both English and Spanish fluently or recent immigrants who only speak Spanish. There are areas of Los Angeles where Spanish is most definitely the dominate language but mostly among immigrants and these areas tend to be lower-income barrios.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Island_OnThe_Land

Don't overlook Downtown LA as a possibilty. The young professional crowd is a mix of white, asian, black, and Latino (of all races). That said, you also have the historic Brodway corridor which on any given Saturday or Sunday is like walking down a street in Mexico City (meaning: spanish is THE primary language). You would love the rush of energy, historic buildings, and ethnic foods and stores. At a minimum, go check it out on a Saturday afternoon.....a VERY, VERY unique street.


Broadway from 3rd Street to 9th.....not many places like it. The largest concentration of World War I era movie theatres in the USA, the Grand Central Market (in operation since 1917), the historic Bradbury Building (seen in movies like Bladerunner), and the historic heart of LA for generations of Latino immigrants in LA. Move one street over to Spring Street and you are on LA's Gallery Row...which has a bustling art scene and many lofts in renovated historic buildings.

Downtown seems like the best possibility for what the OP's looking for....

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by californio sur

No, compared to Miami where Spanish is spoken in all economic sections of the city, LA is different. The Cuban population of Miami includes many middle-class and wealthy people who fled Cuba after Castro took power. Most located in So Florida. In California the Spanish-speakers are mostly Mexican-Americans who either speak both English and Spanish fluently or recent immigrants who only speak Spanish. There are areas of Los Angeles where Spanish is most definitely the dominate language but mostly among immigrants and these areas tend to be lower-income barrios.

I was trying to say this in an earlier post...CalSur stated it more clearly and succinctly than I did.

[intelfan11315]

Yeah, all the posts were extremely helpful here. It helped me put the two cities into perspective. Also, I really liked that suggestion of downtown LA. That sounds exactly what I'm looking for and if it is like it was described, sounds like its possible that i'd enjoy LA more than Miami which is near impossible

[the one]

dtla is an excellent choice!
since you are coming from miami you should also know that traditionally cubans in LA concentrated themselves in the small city of bell. they then "moved up" to the cities of glendale, downey and whittier. but i think bell might still have larger percentages of cubans. all thsoe 4 cities are relatively safe. bell and downey might have more "latino" diversity. nicaraguan, peruvian, cuban, mexican, guatemalan, ecuadorian (as evidenced by restaurants).

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

My question, related to his, and I'm not trying to be controversial either.

I read some statistics that Los Angeles has more millionaire Latinos than any other metro in the USA. Are all these people second, third generation Latinos? Do these Latinos and other ethnicities looked down on first generation immigrants and assume that if you are a first generation latino you are low class and uneducated? Are assumptions about class made when Los Angeles residents hear someone with a non native American accent?

Just curious because in Miami you can pretty much be of any class and attain any job even with a Spanish accent.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by ♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥

My question, related to his, and I'm not trying to be controversial either.

1) I read some statistics that Los Angeles had more millionaire Latinos than any other metro in the USA.

2) Just curious because in Miami you can pretty much be of any class and attain any job even with a Spanish accent.

1) LA has MORE Latinos (in Total numbers) than any other metro area....so it follows we'd have more Latino millionaires. I don't have the data but I am guessing Miami might have a higher number per capita.

2) Same is true in LA...assuming you have the skills and education. Ever hear of plastic surgeon Dr. Rey on that plastic surgery reality TV show. Granted he is Brazilian but you get my point.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by burgler09

Yeah, all the posts were extremely helpful here. It helped me put the two cities into perspective. Also, I really liked that suggestion of downtown LA. That sounds exactly what I'm looking for and if it is like it was described, sounds like its possible that i'd enjoy LA more than Miami which is near impossible

Glad we could help out....

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by burgler09

Yeah, all the posts were extremely helpful here. It helped me put the two cities into perspective. Also, I really liked that suggestion of downtown LA. That sounds exactly what I'm looking for and if it is like it was described, sounds like its possible that i'd enjoy LA more than Miami which is near impossible

Well, we don't want to pump Downown LA up too much. It is very eclectic and interesting. That said, downtown LA is still a work in progress....but it has jumped leaps and bounds over the last 5 or 10 years.

I would also note that downtown LA has many different "districts" or "neighborhoods" with different flavors or personalities. So I am confident you could find something to your liking....assuming you like "urban" living (which it sounds like you do).

One of the COOLEST and most INTERESTING events in all of SoCalif. takes place on the 2nd Thursday of every month on Downtown LA's Gallery Row on Spring and Main Streets. The Downtown ArtWalk.

See the link here:
Los Angeles Art Walk | Art Galleries Los Angeles | Art Gallery Los Angeles

All the art galleries are open to the public and the sidewalks and bars are filled with throngs of people. There are live bands performing at certain intersections. For a moment you MIGHT think you are in San Francisco or even NYC...but with an LA (or spanish) accent.

[uptown_urbanist]

I love downtown LA. It's definitely a fun place.

People with Spanish accents can succeed at any level of business; I doubt people will make an assumption based on accent. The most successful Spanish-speaking people will almost certainly speak English, too, though. There are definitely successful first-generation immigrants, too. I think assumptions as far as education, class, etc., are more likely to come from other things, like overall context when you meet someone. I'm not Latino, though, so this is from the perspective of someone who has met and worked with middle-class and wealthy first-generation (and second, third, and so on) Latino Angelenos.