I loved LA... (Orange, Santa Cruz, Seaside: middle school, gated, quality of life)

[tellmemore]

I loved LA. Truly, I did. My family is from LA and my husband's is from Orange County. Bottom line, the air here is horrible, as you all know very well. My 2 year old daughter has asthma. Not to mention, LA is overrated, overpriced, segregated, has failing schools, and the city is rather vulgar (perpetual grayish-brown skies, trashy streets, homelessness, tweekers, GANG VIOLENCE, prostitution, and **** artists galore).

We want to make a change before my seven year old son (2nd grade) starts middle school (6th grade) in 2010. The middle school options are scary and adolescents from all parts of the city are preyed upon by...you name it! I love California, but I am so sick of LA.

I did a search on clean air in the nation and in the state. Of course Southern California, and most of California for that matter, is so horribly polluted compared to anywhere else. But I did find that Monterey, Mendocino, Lake and Santa Cruz counties have great air quality.

What can anyone tell me about the cities of Monterey Bay? We require a family lifestyle, cultural and intellectual resources, and a significant Multi Ethnic presence (more than White and Latino, but Asian, African American, Native American, Filipino, and Any Other Immigrants.)

How are Marina,CA and Seaside, CA? What about the Cal State at Mont. Bay and UC Santa Cruz? What about Lake or Mendocino Counties?

[montevista1]

Anywhere in CA where there is economic oppurtunity it will be expensive. Small cities may have a better quality of life, but will be lacking in economic oppurtunity.