Why is everyone evacuating LA? (Los Angeles, Santa Clarita: HOA, high crime, houses)

[Carlite]

Nobody goes to LA anymore. It's too crowded.

[DynamoLA]

Santa Clarita is not really "L.A."... just FYI...

Issues of crime, or worries about lack of police/fire protection in Santa Clarita are pretty ridiculous if you look at the crime rates and how much Santa Clarita is growing/has grown.

[moonsparkle]

The main reason....they wish they were going there themselves or don't want you in an obviously cooler (not the weather) place than Texas. If you asked them this, they'd of course tell you that you are wrong and probably get mad in the process. The knee-jerk reaction whenever someone from elsewhere wants to move to California (especially SoCal) is interesting in my opinion. You could have mentioned moving to NYC, which is even more expensive, no one would blink.

You could say you were moving anywhere besides California, absolutely no one would tell you not to. California exclusively has this effect. Especially with money not being an issue...they simply don't want you in a "cooler" place than they are, it is such a knee-jerk reaction it makes you wonder if it's subconscious.

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by trancedout

The main reason....they wish they were going there themselves or don't want you in an obviously cooler (not the weather) place than Texas. If you asked them this, they'd of course tell you that you are wrong and probably get mad in the process. The knee-jerk reaction whenever someone from elsewhere wants to move to California (especially SoCal) is interesting in my opinion. You could have mentioned moving to NYC, which is even more expensive, no one would blink.

You could say you were moving anywhere besides California, absolutely no one would tell you not to. California exclusively has this effect. Especially with money not being an issue...they simply don't want you in a "cooler" place than they are, it is such a knee-jerk reaction it makes you wonder if it's subconscious.

I somewhat agree with this because that was the reaction I got from many of my friends in Texas when moving out to LA.

Yet, a lot of them also had this impression that if you weren't married, had two kids or a large house by the time you were 30 then there was something wrong with you. Yet, I know that by the time they're 40, there will be something wrong with them and the lives they've chosen. Then in a drunken state they'll reveal to you that they wish they would've made better choices, how they love their kids but they would've waited to have them.

Los Angeles is a dream city no matter how many faults it has. It has a New York like city, beaches, mountains, hills, palm trees, sunny weather, skiing, dune riding, surfing, hiking, beautiful islands only a ferry ride away and HOLLYWOOD!

OP, if you're more than willing to downgrade a notch in living standards and COL, then you will have a blast.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by DFWtoLA

OK...so I am very seriously contemplating a move to the Los Angles area (specifically SCV) with my family (wife, two 13 y/o daughters). Pretty good job lined up..wife works from home... household income about 200K.

I have everyone and their mother telling me NOT to move from Dallas to LA (although our family wants to go and get out of Texas). They all say, California is broke, crime is unbelievable, gangs, etc. Yet, no one seems to have specifics about any of this when pressed...just general consensus and personal opinion!! I see so many people moving from California (especially SoCal) to the Dallas area - it is like a conveyor belt.

My question that I would love for someone to answer is...How is California being broke (no money) truly going to affect me and my family on a day to day basis? I have a job, kids will go to good school, etc. I understand about the taxes, houses, etc being higher out there that here. But...what am I missing??? Why does everyone seem to hate California (especially LA)???

Are schools going to be shut down?? are highways not being built/maintained? Can the state not afford to have police/firefighters?

You have a job, so you'll be fine. Don't worry about it.

You just need to be very careful of the type of public school you send your kids to. Hopefully, you have enough money to do private. Yes, there are gangs, but in all of my 7 years living there, I couldn't tell you if I saw any bangers in real life as they don't "advertise" with jackets or anything. Also, just because a dude is baldheaded with tattoos doesn't mean he's banging either. This seems to be the look of a lot of people.

Cali is broke, especially LA, but since you'll be working, you probably won't notice it.

[RaymondChandlerLives]

Schools in Dallas (most of Texas, actually) are terrible and the crime rate is worse. It has advantages (cheaper, less traffic), but education and crime are not among them.

[BarcelonaFan]

Also, just because a dude is baldheaded with tattoos doesn't mean he's banging either. This seems to be the look of a lot of people.

This to a tee. In the movies, gangbangers look like regular guys in the streets wearing baggy clothes who are actually cool people in real life and can be really friendly.

It's just a style.

But real gangbangers look SCARY as hell. I saw one not too long ago, tatted up, looked strung out, super baggy clothes, I mean you could tell him apart from the regular people who just hung out in baggy clothes.

you will know the difference. Gangbanging takes a toll on a person and you can tell who is a gangbanger.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

if you are renting, you'll really feel the tax crunch a lot of more. if you are buying, it won't be as obvious since our property tax rates are considerably lower here. also, since you'll probably be purchasing a more expensive home here if you do end up buying, you'll be paying more in interest, which will be an additional tax deduction. it's true that the state income tax is high, but that only seems relevant if you wouldn't be receiving a nice cost of living increase when you move to CA.

as for schools, they are obviously affected by the state's budget issues, but if you live in a nice neighborhood with good schools you probably won't really notice much change. good schools tend to do well regardless of the state's financial situation. also, your income will give you access to some of the nicer neighborhoods in the region, so i wouldn't be too concerned.

i've never really spent any time in TX, but it seems to me it's a nice place to live if you want to live a comfortable, upper middle class lifestyle with a family income under $100k. if you will be getting a significant raise to move to CA, i would do it. CA is an amazing place to live if you take advantage of all the opportunities here.

Per the Tax Foundation, owner occupied housing median property tax is about 2800 for CA and 2200 for TX.. Per capital they're nearly the same around 1400. Yea, the rates are lower, but the home values are much higher, so it turns it around.

[Curmudgeon]

To make room for more immigrants, bless their little hearts.

[yamota]

well, not everybody, there are many people from down south who will gladly cross deserts and pack themselves like sardines into the back of hot smelly trucks for hours to get to LA