Why Is San juan Capistrano so run down down and crappy.

[angirocks]

it looks like they wrote with their phone..

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by pinkgonegreen

If you know anything about California history, you would know that CA was originally part of Mexico and therefore was filled with Mexicans. If you visit the mission in SJC, you will learn how the natives "helped" (ie were enslaved) to build the mission and serve the Catholic church. SJC has since tried to embrace the culture rather than whitewash it out as other nearby communities, Irvine as mentioned, has done. Because Mexicans were viewed as slave labor then and now, they are a product of the socioeconomic status created by greedy employers in OC and throughout CA.

Irvine is a privately owned city, owned by the Irvine Co. and even if you buy a house there, you have only leased the land for so many years, ownership is retained by the company always. It is also a much newer city...we are talking about hundreds of years in difference between when SJC and Irvine were settled.

Dude, you are wrong on so many levels, I'm not sure where to start.

Your assumption that Mexicans are viewed as slave labor is laughable. Mexicans (those here legally and those here illegally, AND those born and raised here for generations and are as "American" as you are) have had access to a very affordable community college and state university system. The community colleges, up until just a few years ago, charged $13 per unit!

All these people of Mexican and/or native heritage have had ample opportunity to gain an education and become "greedy employers," as you say, themselves.

Irvine is not white-washed. Irvine is predominately Asian (Mostly Chinese, a lot of Korean, some Japanese and Vietnamese), East-Indian, Arab (Mostly Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar), and heavily Persian. There is also a growing community of Americans with African descent (i.e. - "black").

Secondly, there is no such thing in California as a "private-city." The city is incorporated and runs on a Mayor/Council form of government. As is typical of municipalities throughout the country, their primary asset is land (City's land, not Donald Bren's land). They "invest" in their land via zoning in order to control its growth and generate income. That's how cities operate.

The Irvine Company originally owned the land where the city now sits. Before that, it was originally a Spanish land grant, eventually purchased by James Irvine and business partners to raise cattle. The Irvine Company donated thousands of acres both to the city and to continue in perpetuity as open space. In gratitude for the land gifts, they city named itself after James Irvine. The Irvine Company built and owns much of the land within the city, as any property owner would, but they do not own a private city.

[kauaidooley]

We very much enjoy San Juan Capistrano. We enjoy the history, the culture and the people that we meet . Simply put, for us, San Juan is fun !

Yes, it is old, since it was founded a few hundred years ago. Hello, earth to the OP, that Mission was here first, long before the million dollar homes of South County , or the mammoth shopping malls.

We actually like the Hispanic heritage of San Juan, and go there quite often.

It feels good to us to have diversity . And not the cookie cutter, If it is painted beige ,it is Irvine syndrome. Irvne, however, has some very nice areas, up near Turtle Rock, where we have friends and relatives living.

Back to San Juan Capistrano, we have found very pleasant and feel good places to eat and drink, and Erica has a very favorite Mexican and Central American imports shop. ( on that small back road behind the railroad tracks ). We have many of Luis' items in our home here in Dana Point. It is a family run business, and very friendly, and quite interesting . Yep, it is in a quaint old building, but so what. It is a special and fun experience each time we stop by .
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We have several places that we stop for drinks and / or meals, and that includes some of our Saturday night date nights. We also get up there during weekdays as well. Easy drive to San Juan Capistrano from Dana Point.

El Adobe : Wonderful classy Spanish ambiance, great and friendly people, excellent meals and drinks. Totally pleasant , and yes the staff there are Hispanic. For us, myself an Irish /Viking, and Erica Hungarian/ German heritage, we very much enjoy every place that we have patronized in San Juan Capistrano. We like the people and they like us.

Wide Range,

From the new and shiny " Trevors on the Tracks ", that should be up the OP's alley, for shiny and new..........

to CEDAR CREEK with their tasty and huge prime rib dinners with quality indoor , and outside patio / atrium dining. We know the staff, have time to visit, and it always a fun experience. Outstanding .
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Another fave is CAFE MOTZART, Very warm woods, comfortable cozy setting, live piano dinner music, and super great Beef Wellington . This is more of a European ambiance, with a huge wall of wine bottles bordering the dining room.
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Le HERONDELLE ( swallow) (sp) : We like to eat out on their very nice open air patio, under the trees. The staff are a mix of human beings, that are wonderful, happy, professional, friendly and fun. Erica loves the Duck, and I order the Petite Filet steak. Meals and service are excellent.
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We also , sometimes stop at the SWALLOWS INN, where we know their bartender lady, from one of the Yacht Clubs here in Dana Point Harbor, she is member # 2......joined when it first opened up. Carmen is great, as are the other staff, who we have fun with. Yep, it is a dive bar, but, again diversity is great fun, and we meet all kinds of interesting people here.

We do not go to SWALLOWS on Saturday afternoons, since the place is super packed , and hooting it up to the band . But the patrons are having a grand time.

There are other very nice and super great places to patronize and good people to meet .

San Juan Capistrano is fun, and flat feels good.

There is also the Mission to tour, and for the OP, a newer age shopping mall when you first drive into town.

Also, many of us make a grammatical error once in a while, but upon reading what the OP wrote, they might re-take a course in English, and writing, as well as spelling .

Perhaps, they will begin living a positive and respectful life and learn that there actually are other people from all over the world who make life interesting and fun.

Or not.

[danielpo]

The comments of the last person who posted is simply ignorant and racist. SJC is a nice city.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

If anyone thinks SJC is rundown and crappy, they will not make it outside the Orange County.