Toluca Lake/Burbank, LA or Buckhead, Atlanta for Single Black Mother (Oakland: amusement parks, crime rates)

[SingleMom2Three]

Thanks so much!! This was some REALLY helpful information. I already ended up going ahead with my interviews in both locations, since I could not decide. None of the jobs I am looking at are willing to pay my expenses to come into interview or relocation, so I just did phone interviews. (economy?). I am driving down to Atlanta on Friday for 2nd interviews, and will get a chance to check out the area over the weekend. And hopefully, will make arrangements for Los Angeles next week.

[speeddemonz]

Originally Posted by SingleMom2Three

I was really just trying to decide on the city moreso, Los Angeles or Atlanta. I was hoping to get advice as to which locale might would be best suited for me, and then focusing on trying to get the job in that city specifically. I was told that I may need to fly out as early as next week for face-to-face interviews, but I don't want to waste anyone's time flying out to Los Angeles and then turning down the position, if say, Atlanta is really the better location for me, or vice versa.

Also one job is located in Gardena and the one I prefer, in Chatsworth. I wouldn't be commuting from one city to the other. And I was told that if I get the position, they would want me to start fairly quickly, (2-3 weeks). Considering I would have to pack, and move from Memphis, that would not give me a lot of time to look for a place of residence. And since I have the kids to consider - schools, etc., and I would need daycare immediately, I don't want to wait until the last minute to do my research. I need to get a general idea of areas narrawoed down that I might live in, so I can start looking into possible daycares, summer camps, in those areas, etc.

I can say this making a 100k in Atlanta you will live like a queen. Have you been to Atlanta or California? You and the kids should visit both places and see everything first hand.

[jorge112597]

toluca lake is great

[xani]

If you have kids I'd definitely say Atlanta... much more peaceful, calm city and healthier air. Lots of kids have asthma in LA. Burbank is a very toxic location (if you look up on google, you'll find the info you need), so if you go with LA and do work in Chatsworth, live somewhere around Reseda/Granada Hills/Northridge, and stay away from entire Eastern end of San Fernando Valley which is a big superfund site--so big that it had to be divided into 3 sections. My asthma problems were much lighter when I lived in Reseda and Northridge, after I moved from Eastern SF Valley--it's less toxic over there, better air quality. But Chatsworth itself has a factory emitting toxic stuff, so look up its location before u decide to rent something. West Hills, Simi Valley also have some toxicity problems. Atlanta would be better for you I think! Personally, I wouldn't move kids to a city where they can buy porn and hooker publications from pay machines on the street corners for 50 cents (like in some parts of LA). LA isn't a place to raise a family... it's better as a party town.

[jorge112597]

Originally Posted by xani

If you have kids I'd definitely say Atlanta... much more peaceful, calm city and healthier air. Lots of kids have asthma in LA. Burbank is a very toxic location (if you look up on google, you'll find the info you need), so if you go with LA and do work in Chatsworth, live somewhere around Reseda/Granada Hills/Northridge, and stay away from entire Eastern end of San Fernando Valley which is a big superfund site--so big that it had to be divided into 3 sections. My asthma problems were much lighter when I lived in Reseda and Northridge, after I moved from Eastern SF Valley--it's less toxic over there, better air quality. But Chatsworth itself has a factory emitting toxic stuff, so look up its location before u decide to rent something. West Hills, Simi Valley also have some toxicity problems. Atlanta would be better for you I think!

toluca lake is very great for kids its has parks, lakes its very fun for kids, and also very peacefull. the air quality is pretty good itd covered with trees.

[xani]

Toulka lake is 2000 feet away from extremely congested 134 freeway and a little more from busy 170 freeway. I wouldn't wish it on her, including the commute to Chatsworth. Nobody in the right mind would pick Toulca Lake to commute to... Chatsworth.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by xani

If you have kids I'd definitely say Atlanta... much more peaceful, calm city and healthier air.

Much higher crime rate, and on its way to possibly displacing L.A. as "gang capital".

Personally, I wouldn't move kids to a city where they can buy porn and hooker publications from pay machines on the street corners for 50 cents (like in some parts of LA). LA isn't a place to raise a family... it's better as a party town.

The same is true of Atlanta.

[nowincal11]

Originally Posted by xani

If you have kids I'd definitely say Atlanta... much more peaceful, calm city and healthier air. Lots of kids have asthma in LA. Burbank is a very toxic location (if you look up on google, you'll find the info you need), so if you go with LA and do work in Chatsworth, live somewhere around Reseda/Granada Hills/Northridge, and stay away from entire Eastern end of San Fernando Valley which is a big superfund site--so big that it had to be divided into 3 sections. My asthma problems were much lighter when I lived in Reseda and Northridge, after I moved from Eastern SF Valley--it's less toxic over there, better air quality. But Chatsworth itself has a factory emitting toxic stuff, so look up its location before u decide to rent something. West Hills, Simi Valley also have some toxicity problems. Atlanta would be better for you I think! Personally, I wouldn't move kids to a city where they can buy porn and hooker publications from pay machines on the street corners for 50 cents (like in some parts of LA). LA isn't a place to raise a family... it's better as a party town.

I know you don't like LA, but what you are posting is not completely accurate. Anyone anywhere can look up free porn now via the Internet. I've been through some really not so nice parts of Atlanta that appeared to be hooker central.

Atlanta is also a huge party town. The San Fernando Valley outside of Sherman Oaks and Studio City are mostly sleepy suburban communities. I hardly think there is a lot of partying going on in Chatsworth on a regular basis, even by ATL standards.

For toxicity, I'm not disputing LA has poor air quality, but according to Forbes, there are 5 major cities ahead of it, including NYC.

[xani]

Sorry, LA is a porn capital, not Atlanta.
Specifically, Chatsworth.

LA (native) younger kids have rotten or absent morals. If you don't see it, you're blind, I deal with high schoolers a lot and the stuff I see sickens me. Time to start hanging drug dealers.

NYC is not nearly as toxic as LA. LA has horrible air quality compared to NYC.

Lady, this is not a place to raise a family! Especially if you have to deal with 3 kids by yourself. Lots of drugs and gangs, and other ugly stuff. Atlanta is a tamer town.
In fact, if someone has a family/kids the best thing they can do for them is to take them out of LA, to some healthier place. Atlanta DOESN'T BEGIN to compare to LA in terms
of the negatives.

I love LA more than you. You don't know how I feel about LA. LA is NOT A FAMILY/KID-FRIENDLY TOWN, in any parts of it. This is the environment.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by xani

Sorry, LA is a porn capital, not Atlanta.
Specifically, Chatsworth.

Atlanta is a prostitution capital and also a gang capital.
.

Lady, this is not a place to raise a family! Especially if you have to deal with 3 kids by yourself. Lots of drugs and gangs, and other ugly stuff. Atlanta is a tamer town.

Atlanta has plenty of drugs too, and for gangs it's coming very close to L.A. - its violent crime and murder rates are twice as high as L.A.'s ; the only places with higher murder rates in CA than the ATL are Oakland (concentrated in certain neighborhoods), Compton, and Stockton. Even Richmond's safer than Atlanta.