Ease me of my fears? Boyle Heights (apartment, skateboarding)

[Andthevictoris]

Hey guys, I've posted in here about Boyle Heights but it kind of went off into another direction. My friend and I are talking about living together in LA. She has already leased out an apartment in Boyle Heights (off of St. Louis Street).

She is racially mixed -- native american, hungarian, chinese background. Our roommate, another friend, is a white female.

I'm, however, still so nervous because I don't know how I will be perceived there. I'm a 23 year-old black male. I know the area is predominantly latino, and that there is some tension over gentrification, but do you think it is so much an issue that violent crimes would be pressed against me?

Apparently our area is changing and high-priced apartment living is being constructed on our street. My friends tell me that they walk around and feel perfectly safe, even at night.

I just need more ideas. It seems like some opinions from the outside of the neighborhood differ from those from the inside.

Thanks!

[BeatAngMoh]

Originally Posted by Andthevictoris

Hey guys, I've posted in here about Boyle Heights but it kind of went off into another direction. My friend and I are talking about living together in LA. She has already leased out an apartment in Boyle Heights (off of St. Louis Street).

She is racially mixed -- native american, hungarian, chinese background. Our roommate, another friend, is a white female.

I'm, however, still so nervous because I don't know how I will be perceived there. I'm a 23 year-old black male. I know the area is predominantly latino, and that there is some tension over gentrification, but do you think it is so much an issue that violent crimes would be pressed against me?

Apparently our area is changing and high-priced apartment living is being constructed on our street. My friends tell me that they walk around and feel perfectly safe, even at night.

I just need more ideas. It seems like some opinions from the outside of the neighborhood differ from those from the inside.

Thanks!

BTW the tension is not against gentrification. I think as long as you are respective of the people there before you and street smart, you are OK. However, for you, as a black man, some Hispanics are bent on eradicating blacks and performing an ethnic cleansing from their neighborhoods. This topic is well documented and you can Google/YouTube it. Historically, Boyle Heights has had Chinese, Japanese, and Jews (i.e. Donald Sterling) living among Hispanics without problems. Of course, demographics have changed over the generations and the skew is toward less diversity. I'm not aware of any presence of blacks in large numbers in the past nor present but that doesn't mean you can't be a modern day new settler. Just do your homework, including on the ground looking around, before you make a final decision.

[Andthevictoris]

Originally Posted by BeatAngMoh

BTW the tension is not against gentrification. I think as long as you are respective of the people there before you and street smart, you are OK. However, for you, as a black man, some Hispanics are bent on eradicating blacks and performing an ethnic cleansing from their neighborhoods. This topic is well documented and you can Google/YouTube it. Historically, Boyle Heights has had Chinese, Japanese, and Jews (i.e. Donald Sterling) living among Hispanics without problems. Of course, demographics have changed over the generations and the skew is toward less diversity. I'm not aware of any presence of blacks in large numbers in the past nor present.

Yeah I've been doing research and I still cannot really tell. Thanks for your input, though! There are white tenants who have just moved into the duplex as well apparently. So I would really be viewed negatively/harshly more so than whites who are moving into town?

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Andthevictoris

Yeah I've been doing research and I still cannot really tell. Thanks for your input, though! There are white tenants who have just moved into the duplex as well apparently. So I would really be viewed negatively/harshly more so than whites who are moving into town?

Who do you think will be viewing you and judging? Randoms on the street? Forgetaboutit.

If you are a decent person and not a douche nobody is going to care about your color or ethnicity. Really. Worrying about what others think it a sure fire way to make your life hell.

[Andthevictoris]

Originally Posted by Ceece

Who do you think will be viewing you and judging? Randoms on the street? Forgetaboutit.

If you are a decent person and not a douche nobody is going to care about your color or ethnicity. Really. Worrying about what others think it a sure fire way to make your life hell.

This is true, but given the sometimes violent nature of the neighborhood, I don't want there to be violence sprung on me for something as simple as my ethnicity. I'm just being careful. I see your point, though. I agree.

[socal88]

Unfortunately, blacks have at times been targeted in Hispanic-dominated areas of northeast LA and east LA. That being said, there is more Hispanic-on-Hispanic crime than racially motivated crime given that the area is heavily Hispanic, so the general issue is that east LA just has higher crime period.

Another consideration to bear in mind is that St. Louis Street is right by the 5 freeway near the 10, 101, and 60 intersections. This is hands down one of the most heavily polluted areas in LA. See the pollution map below:

http://graphics.latimes.com/responsi...ution-burdens/

I'm not sure what your overall budget is, but if you can afford an area that is safer with cleaner air, your quality of life would be better off.

[elbatmanuel]

I live in BH and I've lived in Nela and ela all of my life. The black/brown thing people write about is mostly overblown. Yes there has been racial tension in nela and some in BH but that's not the general public, it's really the gangs who have the issue and it's not all gangs.
I've been a BH resident now for 5 years and what I have personally seen is a rise I the number of black and afro-caribian residences. But I haven't seen any "beef" as a result. I live by the high school and near about5 other schools and I see no racial tension. Nela has more of a problem with black/brown because their main gang the avenues have a major issue with blacks.
The one issue i do think you should worry about is your location, the northern part of BH has more active gangs and crime. Don't get me wrong get all of BH has gangs but it's "hotter" North of chavez between Soto and evergreen.

[Andthevictoris]

Originally Posted by elbatmanuel

I live in BH and I've lived in Nela and ela all of my life. The black/brown thing people write about is mostly overblown. Yes there has been racial tension in nela and some in BH but that's not the general public, it's really the gangs who have the issue and it's not all gangs.
I've been a BH resident now for 5 years and what I have personally seen is a rise I the number of black and afro-caribian residences. But I haven't seen any "beef" as a result. I live by the high school and near about5 other schools and I see no racial tension. Nela has more of a problem with black/brown because their main gang the avenues have a major issue with blacks.
The one issue i do think you should worry about is your location, the northern part of BH has more active gangs and crime. Don't get me wrong get all of BH has gangs but it's "hotter" North of chavez between Soto and evergreen.

I appreciate your input. Thanks so much. Our apartment is located on S. St. Louis street, apparently a couple blocks from the mariachi plaza -- really close to public transit. Do you know anything about this particular area??

[elbatmanuel]

You're in primers flats territory they are currently an active gang, they beef a lot with neighboring gangs. The police station isn't too far from you and that area is for the most part chill.

[elbatmanuel]

Right now gangsters really are just messing with other gangsters, it's rare for a civilian to get mixed up in their crap. Also, the youngster aren't really interested in becoming choose they're really into punk rock and skateboarding.