Is living in LA that bad?

Show all answers

Why Not!

traffic, expensive, dirty air..........

NannyinLA

i just moved from a small town in pennsylvania to LA about a year ago. I absolutely LOVE it!!!! Yes, it has its downfalls like the traffic and crazy rents..but the GOOd def. outweighs the bad. U learn where to avoid (south central, etc..) and move to safe areas. I live in burbank, its beautiful and trust me, i dont make a ton of money but i was still able to find a decent place. I think LA is one of the most beautiful places in the country. U are so close to many things as well (ex. las vegas, laguna, san diego, san fran, etc..) It will def. be a culture shock at first, but its worth it!! Especially since youre still young, you should def. try it out:) I dont know if i'll stay in LA once i get married and start a family, but for young ppl, i think its a lot of fun.

hyphyboi408

Ghaaaaa when i go visit friends the freaken traffic!!!

M. C. L.

Some parts are bad. There are many parts in LA rampant with crime and illegal immigration is a problem. You need to look around for the good sectors before settling down.

buddha's little sister

some parts are ugly and most parts are breath takingly beautiful, i myself would love it but it just depends on what part of L.A. you live in.

Jayne S

I grew up in a smallish-sized city and moved to Los Angeles when I was 18. At first it overwhelmed me because it is so incredibly large. I hated it. Then I figured out the way to be happy there: simply adopt the mind-set that Los Angeles is the center of the universe and everybody who doesn't live there wants to. After that I was happy for a number of years.

What made me want to leave? There are WAY too many people there, the freeways are busy all the time, the smog is bad, there are gangs, riots, fires, floods and worst of all, earthquakes. Housing prices are incredibly high. If I had stayed married and didn't have a kid I might not have moved. But my son had asthma and the smog was bad for it and as a single mother I could never have been able to buy a house short of winning the lottery.

However, here is what is good about Los Angeles: there are things going on there all the time. And I mean ALL THE TIME. There are movies, tv shows, concerts, book signings, every kind of thing you can imagine. Within driving range you can get to the ocean, mountains and the desert. It can be a fantastic place to live.

It's up to you.

lalapunk

There are many reasons people don't like L.A. First and most infamous is the traffic. Every weekday, I have to drive 30 miles --15 miles each way in traffic congested streets from my home in Silverlake just to work in Culver City. If you think the streets are really bad, wait till you see the freeways...endless line of cars stretching for miles. Last week, there was an long line of cars stretching for about a mile at the intersection of LaCienega and Slauson. I was late for 30 minutes just waiting to get off and make a right. There are also times when too many cars at the intersections waiting to make a left. It's a complete nightmare when you have to look on right for incoming traffic because there are so many cars in front of you, even those that have alot of space in front of them, but yet the drivers are too inconsiderate to move up a space. Many people think LA is a city only built for cars, which is totally untrue. In fact, we have miles of subway and light rail, most which are cheaper and go to alot of places, but people just simply ignore them. My best advice would be to move somewhere close to where you plan to go to school or work. Right now, there's talk of a possible subway construction which should link Santa Monica to the rest of the city, which (hopefully) should relieve traffic congestion, along with construction of other light rail and more bus lines.

Second worse would be the crime. Yes, there are gangs in alot of places, but most are centered around areas where there are predominantly African-American and Latino residents. However, the LAPD is stepping up on its vigilence, deploying several cars all over the city to patrol the streets and making us safer. Furthermore, a recent survey has ranked LA 250th in the nation, ahead of San Francisco, Dallas and even Seattle in safety.

Third, would be the cost of living. With the population on the rise, so also goes up the expense. I'm still living in my parent's house and I'm in my 30s (LOL!!!) My parents want me to inhereit it when they die. If you can make enough money to pay for a $1500 a month studio apartment, go for it!!! There may be some as low as $500/mo. but that may soon change with the economy.

Outsiders also have a tendancy to complain about smog. Fact is, the smog is barely noticeable. I can still breath and smell the fresh air even on a hot day!!!!

Another complaint would be the poor condition of public schools. The system is a complete mess with the scandal involving the reconstruction of one particular public high school in Downtown LA. Hopefully the propositions are up for voting in Tuesday, which should guarantee more funding for books and other equipment for schools. There are also alot of excellent Catholic and other private schools in the city, so if your parents can have the money they should enroll you in one. In fact, since you're into film, there's the American Film Institute in Hollywood, located adjacent to a Catholic high school.

Earthquakes shouldn't be much of a concern. We get a major quake every 10-15 years or so. Sometimes, they may not happen for decades. Most are not very strong enough to cause catostraphic damage compared to hurricanes in the Deep South or tornadoes in the Midwest. LA construction is regulated under a strict California code. The city doesn't have alot of skyscrapers or high-rise buildings for this reason.

If you think people in LA are rude, there are rude people around the world, even in countries where you expect hospitality. However, even in countries where you expect hostile treatment, there are also friendly people willing to help. Every weekend I walk my dogs to the reservoir, and pass by alot of friendly residents that smile and say "hi" to me. People have a tendency to believe everything they on TV and get this false image that everything in LA is about Beverly Hills and stylish women with breast implants walking their little pooches on the street, etc. L.A is more than just that. It's a melting pot of different cultures. You just have to look and see for yourself.

Believe it or not, we also have snow, but they're up in the around Big Bear in the San Bernardino mountains. They come only during the winter months, so plan ahead if you want to go skiing there.

For you to come from the peace and tranquility of Idaho, LA is going to be a culture shock for you, so enjoy your visit to this great city and just remember this: "You're DEFINITELY not it Kansas anymore."

LA (323)

You mean adult movies..wow i can show u around the city if u like.

shoowap

the people you speak of, theyre mental. dont listen, la is for foxy mommyz, i love it. LA ROCKS MY WORLD!!!!!!!!! (oh ya, almost forgot, unless you wanna get shot, dont move to south central, i forgot that peeps that dont live here dont know about south central)

Rachael71

I been they more than once and they is more traffic more freeway and you'd need to get to know the freeways and the streets so you won't get lost ,you'll need a map and a phone book with an cell phone . start to get to know the freeways and you'll be on the way ,and be careful, don't to get lost...good luck

Loli M

I live in LA and I like it. It really just depends on where you live. Parts of LA are crap holes and parts are so nice you forget you are in LA.
The San Fernando Valley has way too many people and it sucks to live there but Malibu is beautiful and its great to live there. They are a canyon away from each other.
It isn't like Idaho...that is for sure.

Jungle Luv

LA is a great place to live if you have money because everything is expensive. Their are a lot of bad neighborhoods so you have to spend lots to get a decent house. and you have to spend even more money if you want a house in a good locaition and u don't want to comute 2 hours everyday because the transportation is so terrible. And other then the polution its great place to live.

i hate phil collins

its difficult to get into the business... what kind of "school" were you thinking of going to?? do you know how many people have your same sad story? dont quit your day job....

Cher Chez (Hip Hop Stan)

depends which part really. but mostly paparazzi and stuff

lpaganus

For those of us who were born and raised in LA and environs, we grieve for the old town we lost. However, for young, vital educated people, it is a thrilling place to be...everything you'd ever want is there. Yes, there is crime and it is expensive...my middle aged kids live in Hollywood, Silverlake, and Venice, respectively and they love it, wouldn't live anywhere else. UCLA has a respected film school, I think Steven Spielberg went there. LA haters never got a really close look at a place where you can surf in the morning and snow ski in the afternoon. Winter days can be in the 80s and clear as a bell. Good luck, have a thrilling life its the only one you have.

frontier girl

well it is a really big city and the people there can get really mean. goin toschool there would be very expensive.
try fresno or bakersfield.

Position

I lived there for 10 years and just moved in the last few months because the bad list was growing much faster than the good list of things that would want to make me stay there. Let's see, congestion that makes you want to become a road rage statistic, yes it is that bad at almost anytime of the day except the wee hours of the morning. Dirty air , smog , so much so that you have tendency to forget there is actually a blue sky up there and forget what clean air smells like. Expenses, are outrageous, unless you want to live in a ghetto expect to spend close to a million dollars for a home you can get elsewhere in the country for a fifth of the cost or about 200k. Gasoline for your vehicles is more expensive. And you had better learn spanish because it is quickly becoming a bi-lingual city and you will be frustrated by the number of people you run into that expect you to speak spanish if you do not know it. Crime, gangs, graffiti. If you have money, a lot of it, you can make it a more glamorous place to live, but you can not escape the traffic, the smog, the crime and the increasingly visible problems that illegal immigrantion is causing there.

For film school you could probably do just as well or better to start in New York and at least you do not need a car there. The LA basin is so much of a sprawl that you have to have a vehicle and be willing to spend half your life in it and half your money putting gas in it and insuring it -- because, yea insurance is much higher there too, along with DMV registration cost three to ten times other states. I'll stop there but you should get the picture.

The other side is the type of people and life that you can experience only if you do go there and the song
by Shawn Mullins -- "Lullaby" on the Soul's Core album gives some more insight into the type of people and life you may find in Los Angeles (city of angels) "....she's seen her share of devils in this angel town..."

Don't get me wrong if you have the time and the money and can deal with the things mentioned above there is a world of cool and wonderful things to do , play, and see within and around LA and availible to you within only a couple hours drive or hour plane flight. But with all that, I resigned from a ten year career making very good money to get out of LA but I do wonder if I will go back one day, most likely to just visit but not to live.

Lopeds

I lived in LA for most of my life until i went to school up north in the San Fransisco Bay Area. You get tired of it thats for sure. If you wanna live in the actual city you have to pick the right place because alot of people who dont live in the sub-urbs like to think they're thugs. Then if you want to live somewhere like 20 minutes away (San Fernando Valley) there is absolutely nothing too do there. Then the school system is so messed up because you have kids who's family's arent necessarily poor ,but think they are because they dont meet the cost of living in LA, already give up on life and join negative influences. Seriously as a young male i forgot there were friendly people in the world and im often caught "giving the evil eye" to people up North because thats what im used too. Add that too the smog and traffic, and the mind set that making money is everything too life and it gets pretty old. Coming from Idaho your best bet is too go to San Jose or San Fransisco. I know a girl from Idaho up here who loves this area it's a much smoother transistion and you can still visit LA.

Debbk

Live near the coast and it is wonderful. The downside of Southern California is the crowds of people, congestion on the freeways that is what you will notice most. I grew up in Indiana and I have lived in So. Cal for 26 years and when I go back to visit in the Midwest I wonder where are all the people.

You're The Dream, Unicorn!

You get shot once a week. My day is tomorrow...better carry my bulletproof vest, which I sleep with...on.

The bad thing about living in LA is the congestion, like all big cities

Mister E

The reason that people would hate to live there is because there is a lot of crime and criminal's in Los Angles and there are a lot more people who will steal from you and cheat you and all, then on the other hand there are the very wealthy who are nobodies best friend because thy are so in love with there money. Most Major city's are like that, you would meet a lot of people that are pressured for money to pay there bills and you would probably meet a lot of people that are way over stressed and looking for answers and hope with no end in sight. My advice to you is that if you want to live a happy and good life then stay away from LA (it rhymes LOL!!) and stay away from these kinds of people i am only taking the time to wright this because i am hoping that you will have a good life, but the choices are yours. The lifes of the rich and famous are not all the good that thy appear to be trust me !! You should really think about your life, and think about the kind of life that you really want to have. Jesus said " I am the way, I am the truth and I am life: no man will meet god the father ,but by me alone" ( John 14:6). Here are some bible verses for you to read if you want (Romans 3:23) (Titus 3:5) (Ephesians 2 :8-9) (Romans 5:8) (1 John 1:7) (Acts16:31) (John 14:6)
Jesus said " I am the way I am the truth and I am life: no man will meet god the father ,but by me alone" ( John 14:6). find church read bible, go to http://www.bellevue.org and you can watch live sermons.

Lonnie P

Let's put it this way -- if it isn't so bad to live there, why do so many people MOVE from there?

I visited LA once. That was enough to know the town sucks dud duck eggs. There are no good sectors. I will NEVER go back.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: