LA is the greatest city in America, period. (Los Angeles, Burbank: crime, high school)

[EclecticEars]

I wanted to live at least closer to L.A. or Long Beach. I was willing to put up with a sometimes gnarly commute.

I chose to live in Irvine for the sake of convenience and economic feasibility in my case. Talk about a place (and south OC altogether) where the architecture, "urban" planning and people have no personality or soul for the most part.

Let's just say that I wish I had chosen to live at least closer to L.A. or Long Beach anyway. By the way, the L.A. I like isn't the westside--but closeby Topanga Canyon is pretty sweet. But if I lived up there, I'd at least live in a (safe) neighborhood where I could be reasonably close to some combination of Venice, Pasadena, Burbank, Claremont, the Angeles Crest Highway, and, of course, Downtown LA and Long Beach.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

LA still amazes me though. After a year and a half I'm still amazed whenever I drive. I still feel the vibrancy of going out.

The only things rubbing me a bit the wrong way are rent and job situation. I'm doing just fine financially but I feel stuck and fear that losing my job meas being banished to a wasteland and enduring the rough side of LA.

Honestly I'm only enjoying LA because I'm doing well financially

Yeah , I guess that's probably a concern for people anywhere in the country.

Good idea to have some money saved up 'just in case' until you can find another job if that happens, but I know what you mean.

Also curious , what area are you living in?

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Dub D

I'd say LA more than any other city has the most radical differences between nice and pure crap areas extremely close to each other. A few blocks of nasty and danger followed by mansions and/or posh stores, that sequence seems to be in most of LA.

No, Houston has LA beat on that.

But LA does come in at close second

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yeah , I guess that's probably a concern for people anywhere in the country.

Good idea to have some money saved up 'just in case' until you can find another job if that happens, but I know what you mean.

Also curious , what area are you living in?

NoHo. I love my area and would want to move to burbank and toluca lake sometime in the future.

I actually have no desire to move closer into the city core

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

NoHo. I love my area and would want to move to burbank and toluca lake sometime in the future.

I actually have no desire to move closer into the city core

Oh ok cool. Lot's going on in NoHo arts district, Burbank and Toluca also very nice too.

Citycore meaning downtown LA?

[FreeSpirit2219]

You've got flaky people
You've got triple inflation
You've got high taxes
You've got a lot of other things I can't mention here because it's too spicy.
But for those of you who 'love it' - more power to you!
(jm1952) is right. I live outside of LA -

[Fontucky]

Ooooooh, spicy.

What are you, 95 years old?

[andrecle]

Originally Posted by Dub D

I'd say LA more than any other city has the most radical differences between nice and pure crap areas extremely close to each other. A few blocks of nasty and danger followed by mansions and/or posh stores, that sequence seems to be in most of LA.

Definitely agree with that. Sort of a reminder of how quickly you can go from being a have to a have not (or vice versa) in this town.

[jm1982]

Yes, this is very true. Even if you are looking at one part of the city of L.A like the San Fernando Valley.

It's clear that City Hall isn't able to run the city well, and the city services need to be split up, along with LAUSD ,etc.

Too many neighborhoods that have had their best days behind them.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Too many neighborhoods that have had their best days behind them.

That's what's great about DTLA: Its the opposite of this. It was economically depressed for decades and now its getting billions in development at once. Its fun to see a neighborhood transform for the better in front of your eyes.