worst areas in Santa Ana (Corona: apartments, neighborhoods, living in)

[RobE]

The problem with Santa Ana isn't the heavy hispanic population per se. To be frank, the average Mexican is warm, friendly, funny and hard working. No problems there.

The main issues have to do with four things: overcrowding, the gangs that have developed in hispanic neighborhoods, the effect of undereducated immigrant children on the schools and their seemingly becoming a permanent underclass, partly due to a lack of concern for education (something Gustavo Arellano remarked on this past week in the OC Weekly).

Now the historical reality is that the most prominent immigrant groups have brought some kind of organized crime with them, whether it was the Irish, the Jews, the Italians or the Chinese. And that has certainly been born out with the illegal immigration we have seen from Mexico over the last 40 years. Nevertheless, when you are a guest in someone else's home it is not politic to act like a troglodyte and the troglodytes in the hispanic community have damaged that community's image greatly, though organizations such as MALDEF and MECHA have enabled gangbangers, too.

And when some element becomes an origin of fear in the population, as Mexican gangsters are (especially with the Zetas bragging that they are infiltrating every major city in the U.S. right now) the natural reaction of the natives is to want to stamp out that which they fear. Some do it in ways that make them look like bozos (Tom Tancredo, Barbara Coe) while others seek to find a more rational way to deal with the practical consequences for statecraft the illegals problem engenders. However, political pandering may forbid any rational proposals from ever coming to fruition and thus Santa Ana will become a symbol for folks in OC of our failures to address the immigration issue in a practicable way. That's just reality.

[OCADA]

Wes,

I grew up in North Tustin, a really nice area in OC and trust me when I say that Santa Ana isn't that bad. During college, I lived right off 17th and Tustin Ave in Santa Ana and its a solid, working class neighborhood where you wouldn't have anything to worry about really. I'd look into places around that area. I then moved up to Oakland for law school, trust me people don't know what bad is until they go up there.

I think there are a lot of solid areas in Santa Ana, just take your time to decide. There are some areas which are really broken down as well. I think, for the most part, if you make a mistake the worst thing that will happen is your house may not appreciate much. But its not like you're going to end up in the middle of an episode of The Wire.

[graciously]

Originally Posted by OCADA

But its not like you're going to end up in the middle of an episode of The Wire.

Maybe not but some areas or streets could happen.

[GxGSieteUnoCuatro]

@Ocada um 17th and tustin is about the nicest part of santa ana i can think of don't judge it on that homie come to the hood
at the thread starter, 5 and harbor, 1st and harbor, hazard and harbor are all bad with prostitution , gangs (santa nita, hard times , 1st st) and are not accepting of black people (dono what you are).
i was in the neighborhood of first and harbor behind the 7/11 wit two black friends and there were many cholos on the street and they would whistle when they see us and were following us gettin redy for a jack move (its happened b4) along the street b4 we took off.
also avoid bristol until the costa mesa part
edinger and macfadden are bad
and main seems bad pretty much all the way through although havent been there much.

[graciously]

Originally Posted by GxGSieteUnoCuatro

@Ocada um 17th and tustin is about the nicest part of santa ana i can think of don't judge it on that homie come to the hood
at the thread starter, 5 and harbor, 1st and harbor, hazard and harbor are all bad with prostitution , gangs (santa nita, hard times , 1st st) and are not accepting of black people (dono what you are).
i was in the neighborhood of first and harbor behind the 7/11 wit two black friends and there were many cholos on the street and they would whistle when they see us and were following us gettin redy for a jack move (its happened b4) along the street b4 we took off.
also avoid bristol until the costa mesa part
edinger and macfadden are bad
and main seems bad pretty much all the way through although havent been there much.

yeah you know. Said in couple previous thread about the areas and those are right within the many streets. Main is like the other streets until like most of them the other cities cm gg etc..

[estlkwdhgguy]

North of 17th Street, south of the Garden Grove Fwy CA-22 between the Santa Ana River on the west and the City of Orange on the east. On Santa Ana's south side generally from South of Warner Ave, North of Sunflower St(Adjacent to South Coast Plaza Mall) From Fairview St on the West to Main St on the East are Generally,safe areas.

[Coldjensens]

THe area from about McArthur to 17th from Bristol to Harbor was formely known as the COmbat zone in the Da's office a long time ago. Voilent crime occured there ever few minutes. Now like all of Santa Ana, it is much better. However I think that that general area is still probably the worst part of Santa Ana. Other parts are in pockets. For example Park Santiago and French Park are both very nice, but French Court which is between them is pretty bad (or really awful, depending on whom you ask). It is hit and miss all over.

The nicesest neighborhoods IMO are Floral Park, Park Santiago, French Park, Sandpointe, whatever the little neighborhood is immediately north of Floral Park.

Then you ahve Washington Square, Wilshire Square, Henniger Park which are all pretty nice nieghborhoods, but some pretty bad areas around them. South Coast Metro area is pretty nice but boring. The extreme North East side of the City is pretty nice (Tustin and 17th area).

As you get way south of downtown, it gets a bit less nice, especially when you get south of Santa Ana high. But then as you go futher, it starts to get nicer again. If I had a map, I could highlight areas for you, but you can pretty much figure it out by driving around and looking. The bad areas are apparent. Look for unkempt lawns, trash on the street, furniture on porches, boarded up or barred windows, people carrying sawed off shotguns. . . these are signes that you are not in one of the good areas. Also the types of stores are telling. When you see nothing but liquuor stores and pawn shops, time to go in a different direction.

[Woland]

Floral Park is the worst area. Total yuppieville!

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by RobE

The problem with Santa Ana isn't the heavy hispanic population per se. To be frank, the average Mexican is warm, friendly, funny and hard working. No problems there.

The main issues have to do with four things: overcrowding, the gangs that have developed in hispanic neighborhoods, the effect of undereducated immigrant children on the schools and their seemingly becoming a permanent underclass, partly due to a lack of concern for education (something Gustavo Arellano remarked on this past week in the OC Weekly).

Now the historical reality is that the most prominent immigrant groups have brought some kind of organized crime with them, whether it was the Irish, the Jews, the Italians or the Chinese. And that has certainly been born out with the illegal immigration we have seen from Mexico over the last 40 years. Nevertheless, when you are a guest in someone else's home it is not politic to act like a troglodyte and the troglodytes in the hispanic community have damaged that community's image greatly, though organizations such as MALDEF and MECHA have enabled gangbangers, too.

And when some element becomes an origin of fear in the population, as Mexican gangsters are (especially with the Zetas bragging that they are infiltrating every major city in the U.S. right now) the natural reaction of the natives is to want to stamp out that which they fear. Some do it in ways that make them look like bozos (Tom Tancredo, Barbara Coe) while others seek to find a more rational way to deal with the practical consequences for statecraft the illegals problem engenders. However, political pandering may forbid any rational proposals from ever coming to fruition and thus Santa Ana will become a symbol for folks in OC of our failures to address the immigration issue in a practicable way. That's just reality.

this is a really good post. It is refreshing to see somone actually take a rational instead of emotional look at the situation. You left out that the average Mexican throws really great family parties. And that they are very family oriented.

[Raelyn28]

So my question is?? Why not just stay away from the area?? Why risk driving through a bad area and subjecting yourself or a family member to something bad? This is what I mean about OC. Streets and boundaries, pockets and areas that are not safe. Personally, I don't want to be anywhere near all that stuff and why not go to a better city when there are so many other options? I don't get all this. Who wants to get out a map and circle areas that are nice and stay in a safe zone. I don't live like that anymore and who would want to?

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

THe area from about McArthur to 17th from Bristol to Harbor was formely known as the COmbat zone in the Da's office a long time ago. Voilent crime occured there ever few minutes. Now like all of Santa Ana, it is much better. However I think that that general area is still probably the worst part of Santa Ana. Other parts are in pockets. For example Park Santiago and French Park are both very nice, but French Court which is between them is pretty bad (or really awful, depending on whom you ask). It is hit and miss all over.

The nicesest neighborhoods IMO are Floral Park, Park Santiago, French Park, Sandpointe, whatever the little neighborhood is immediately north of Floral Park.

Then you ahve Washington Square, Wilshire Square, Henniger Park which are all pretty nice nieghborhoods, but some pretty bad areas around them. South Coast Metro area is pretty nice but boring. The extreme North East side of the City is pretty nice (Tustin and 17th area).

As you get way south of downtown, it gets a bit less nice, especially when you get south of Santa Ana high. But then as you go futher, it starts to get nicer again. If I had a map, I could highlight areas for you, but you can pretty much figure it out by driving around and looking. The bad areas are apparent. Look for unkempt lawns, trash on the street, furniture on porches, boarded up or barred windows, people carrying sawed off shotguns. . . these are signes that you are not in one of the good areas. Also the types of stores are telling. When you see nothing but liquuor stores and pawn shops, time to go in a different direction.