Advice on Tustin neighborhood

[MonkeyKid]

Originally Posted by IloveOC

I was just reading this and have a question. I have been gone for many years, but I am curious about the statement that the Tustin PD will not let the Santa Ana crime move into Tustin or Irvine. Why is it that Santa Ana has gotten so out of control? Is it budget cuts or just too much population?

Santa Ana has a large low income population and low education levels. These factors decrease opportunities for success. More importantly though is that the Mexican community (at least the immigrant generation, which is a large portion of Santa Ana) does not stress education to its children like other cultures. Asian cultures place a large emphasis on education; while Mexican culture does not do this generally speaking. Recent mexican immigrant parents are at a disadvantage in that they sometimes have a harder transition in parenting/adapting their children to their new environment in the US. For the most part you can't parent a child exactly like you would back in your home country you must adapt. Their are a lot of potential negative external forces here in the states that do not exist in one's home country. This can be said of a lot of cultures just not mexican culture. In summary, Santa Ana's problems come from low income, low education levels and natural transition problems/issues that arise from new immigrants attempting to fit into the american system.

I don't follow Santa Ana politics so i can't comment on budget cuts specifically, but I imagine most of the county is experiencing some type budget cuts.

[IloveOC]

what I don't understand though is why they allow so many people to live in a 1 or two bedroom apartment...when I lived there the limit was 2 adults and 1 baby to a 1 bedroom. When we were in a 1 bedroom with 2 young woman with 2 babies - they told us that it was not allowed by the health dept and they could get in trouble. They did enforce it too. It seems that now they allow many people to live in a small 2 bedroom or even 1 bedroom. Why has that changed or why is it now allowed? I rrealize that many of those people with low incomes need to pool their money to pay for their rent so if two families can make do, it helps to make their money go farther. But from what I am seeing - the cheapest rent area's are very run down and many unsafe area's to live. I know that is the same here in Minneapolis - but we do not have the population issue's - yet.

[russlancea]

You know, I've always wondered what I would do if I was a political leader of a city, say the mayor, and my city was run-down like Santa Ana. I'm more familiar with Long Beach, which is far better than Santa Ana (I think), but there are pockets of good and bad in LB.

So, as mayor of a city, how hard is it to clean up your city? There are power struggles within politics, but I think I would enforce the city code, because that seems easy enough. Crack down on illegal additions, thus reducing the multiple dwellings we often see in the poorer neighborhoods and increasing health and safety. Don't allow cars to be parked on lawns, etc. Start with the easy stuff.

I think that if city leaders really want to clean up their city, they can, budget cuts or not. Seems like most politicians are in it for themselves and there's lots of wasteful spending. I would be ashamed to be a political leader and not see positive changes in my district or city while in office.

[IloveOC]

I definitely agree with you on that - I too would feel that way. I guess it is like the old saying goes - you have to pick your battles. Maybe they just feel overwhelmed.

[jkl814]

Originally Posted by russlancea

You know, I've always wondered what I would do if I was a political leader of a city, say the mayor, and my city was run-down like Santa Ana. I'm more familiar with Long Beach, which is far better than Santa Ana (I think), but there are pockets of good and bad in LB.

So, as mayor of a city, how hard is it to clean up your city? There are power struggles within politics, but I think I would enforce the city code, because that seems easy enough. Crack down on illegal additions, thus reducing the multiple dwellings we often see in the poorer neighborhoods and increasing health and safety. Don't allow cars to be parked on lawns, etc. Start with the easy stuff.

I think that if city leaders really want to clean up their city, they can, budget cuts or not. Seems like most politicians are in it for themselves and there's lots of wasteful spending. I would be ashamed to be a political leader and not see positive changes in my district or city while in office.

Long Beach far better than Santa Ana?? Unlikely...in fact I'd say they're a lot more similar than you think. Every part of Long Beach I've been to hasn't been any better than your average part of Santa Ana, and I'm almost certain Long Beach has more gang activity. Given Long Beach's greater diversity, you also have more race-based gangs (which is the only type there is anyway).

And the area off Mitchell IS shady. I understand what the OP is saying. Even though that area of Tustin is near Tustin Ranch and not far from Irvine, in general, the areas off Mitchell/Nisson/McFadden and the south ends of Newport/Red Hill are all pretty ghetto. It's not like South Central but I definitely would not move there if I didn't have to. Stabbings by meth addicts are not unheard of in Tustin. The Key Inn off the 5 freeway is notorious for illegal activity.

Just my $0.02

[russlancea]

I'm not too familiar with Santa Ana--just drove by City Hall and worked and do light shopping near 17th and the 55. I know a SA police officer and I get to hear about the problems he deals with. SA has areas that are nice, but it seems to me there's more affluent areas in LB. There are some pockets of LB where you don't want to go to.

And yes, more racial gangs there in LB and the political leaders aren't doing hardly anything to address the problem. LB got a new police chief, though, so maybe things will change.

[MonkeyKid]

Originally Posted by jkl814

Long Beach far better than Santa Ana?? Unlikely...in fact I'd say they're a lot more similar than you think. Every part of Long Beach I've been to hasn't been any better than your average part of Santa Ana, and I'm almost certain Long Beach has more gang activity. Given Long Beach's greater diversity, you also have more race-based gangs (which is the only type there is anyway).

And the area off Mitchell IS shady. I understand what the OP is saying. Even though that area of Tustin is near Tustin Ranch and not far from Irvine, in general, the areas off Mitchell/Nisson/McFadden and the south ends of Newport/Red Hill are all pretty ghetto. It's not like South Central but I definitely would not move there if I didn't have to. Stabbings by meth addicts are not unheard of in Tustin. The Key Inn off the 5 freeway is notorious for illegal activity.

Just my $0.02

I don't consider Mitchell street (east of Newport) to be ghetto. The areas off of Mcfadden (especially by the bridge) in Tustin do start to get a little ghetto relatively speaking, as this area borders Santa Ana.

This is too funny, You sound like another OC bubble head. Some parts of south Tustin are a little ghetto but nowhere near what you see in Santa Ana. What you see in Santa Ana is nowhere near what you will find in the worst parts of LA/Long Beach. Many OC bubble heads think they will "get shot at" if they drive through Santa Ana LOL. Stabbings by meth addicts in Tustin not unheard of? This would be very very rare. Only an OC bubble head would say something like this.

The Key Inn has long been a problem spot for Tustin PD. It seems the problems are contained to the motel and do not spill over into the streets.