How SAFE/DANGEROUS Is LA????

[slobone]

Like any big city, there are certain neighborhoods you avoid at night, others you don't drive into in a Mercedes SUV, and certain precautions you take to keep your home from being burglarized. But I'm not from there, let's here from some people who are.

 

[hotcbr]

I dunno...I don't think I would move there if I were you. I mean, Soilwork lives there afterall! (sorry Jasun...couldn't resist) Anyway, LA is a great place to live from what I've seen of the city. I think you are going to like it. Good luck and have fun!!

 

[blackbeltninja]

When planning for my trip to the US last year, I read in a tourist guide (I think it was Let's Go Southern California) which said "Don't hitch-hike in LA because you are asking to be murdered" in no uncertain terms.

However, it all seemed cool and I really enjoyed the few days I had there; although Venice around dusk did have a somewhat carnivorous feel to it. I rented a car, though, on account of not wanting to be carved into tiny pieces there.

-d-

 

[dcmorgan]

I find that if you're not asking for trouble you don't get trouble. I've walked in so-called dodgy neighbourhoods at night, both in London and LA, I've walked past gangs at night, I've taken the Metro in LA and tube in London with dodgy individuals on, snorting coke, throwing bottles around... I think the thing is to just not look at them, don't make eyecontact, don't be provocative, just mind your own business and walk away/change directions. It's always worked for me.

 

[douseiai]

LA isn't that bad... its mostly particular areas that are bad... someplaces will have some form of crime every night but most do not... and all kinds of people live out there... but mostly the rude... i would highly recomend staying off the freeways for a couple days once you move there...

 

[metta]

I think that most cities around the Los Angeles area actually have lower crime rates than average for the country. What city do you plan on moving to? Even the downtown is going through major redevelopment (something that 10 years ago most people thought would never happen) that is resulting in pressure for the downtown to keep crime down as well. There are a few cities or certain areas of cities that I would tell people not to move to.

But with the recent increases in real estate values....it has been pushing out some of the problems in the problem areas. I don't mean to say that poor people are problems. But more serious problems tend to happen more often in areas where there are a lot of poor.

One of the things that I love so much about LA is its diversity. LA has it all...all races...all income levels (but with less poor than we had).

If you plan on buying a home....bring lots of money for the down payment. Even in the burbs, a condo starts at a minimum of over $300k (usually starting in the $400k's and up). A decent home is usually at least $750k.

 

[metta]

Gang members are not everywhere. I understand your concern there. I grew up in a city (in Los Angeles County) that has never had any gangs. The city that I live in does have an old gang but I don't think that they are very active. I think that they are just a bunch of old beer drinking friends. The city that I live in created a task force to deal with race relations and in the 4 years that I have lived in the city that I live in, have not heard of any problems.

We do get taggers going through the city from other cities occasionally but the city cleans it up within 24 hours.

Here are a few photos of our last community event. I hope that it does not look too scarry to you :
http://www.mtncove.com/social/luau2006.html

and here is one from the event previous to the luau
http://www.mtncove.com/social/images/maypole1.gif

 

[MRMATTX2]

I'll chime in here.

What metta says makes complete sense. When you say, "moving to LA", that could mean anyplace in the area. It is very diverse. I live in what's known as the South Bay area, which are the beach cities between LAX (airport) and Long Beach.
It's a very nice area, although...like metta said, pricey, as all of the region has gotten. Rents are high also.
The freeways take getting used to. I'm not sure where you're from, but it is nearly a MUST to have a car here. There is public transportation, they are getting better at it, but it's not like NY or San Fran. as far as getting around. It's still a hassle without your own wheels.

Anyway, I hope you like it here and are successful in all your endeavors.

 

[metta]

regarding driving...well....it is a metropolitan area...you will get used to it. It is a strange mix of people that drive fast (me) and people that drive really slow (tend to be certain cultures: latino and asian). We just tend to go around them.

West Los Angeles can be a pain in the neck to drive in because there is so much traffic, especially around the beach cities. If you live in the beach areas, try and pick an area where you most of what you need is within walking distance. Traffic is usually better in the burbs, especially in the eastern part of the county.

 

[metta]

FBI: New York safest big city in 2005 Tue Sep 19, 3:01 PM ET


New York remained the safest of the nation's 10 largest cities in 2005, with about one crime reported for every 37 people, according to FBI statistics.
The annual report "shows that our innovative efforts to reduce crime and increase New Yorkers' quality of life are working," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement Monday after the agency released the figures.
The large city with the highest total crime rate was Dallas, with about one crime reported for every 12 people. Los Angeles, the nation's second largest city, ranked third safest, with about one crime for every 26 people.
San Jose took the No. 2 spot, while San Diego ranked fourth. Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, San Antonio and then Phoenix followed.
The number of reported crimes in New York fell 4.3 percent last year, while the number nationwide dropped 1.2 percent. Police statistics show crime in the city has continued to fall this year, down 5.04 percent by Sept. 10 compared with the same period in 2005.
The national figures showed that violent crime rose 2.3 percent last year, the first increase since 2001. But in New York City, violent crimes — which include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — fell 1.9 percent.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060919...x10DW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhZDhxNDFzBHNlYwNtZW5ld3M-

 

[Nonimus]

I got off the Grayhound coach at the wrong stop and ended up in Downtown LA - found a cheap hotel and went out looking for a 6-pack, bumped into a gang of descent hispanic type guys n gals who had one trouser leg cut off or rolled up or whatever. On hearing my accent they were really cool and showed me where the local liquor store was.

The next day when my cousin found me he hit the roof when i told him i stopped an LA Gang to ask for directions - apparently the rolled up trouser leg was an indication of what gang they were in or something.

So in my personal experience, LA was a really cool place, freindly and helpful - and i could live with gunshots and police sirens - not too different from Newport.

 

[Soilwork]

So long as you stay out of South Central after dark (and you'd have no reason to go there during the day), you're not going to see gang members.

I've lived here for two years and have never heard a gun shot, never seen a murder scene or a mugging.

I've seen lots of annoying tourists up on the Hollywood main drag, but we stay out of there too.

LA is a totally safe city.. I walk the streets late at night and aside from the odd panhandler, I don't have a problem.

LA is HUGE.. dont' forget that. you can't accidentally find yourself in the wrong part of town by taking a wrong turn.

 

[metta]

I got off the Grayhound coach at the wrong stop and ended up in Downtown LA - found a cheap hotel and went out looking for a 6-pack, bumped into a gang of descent hispanic type guys n gals who had one trouser leg cut off or rolled up or whatever. On hearing my accent they were really cool and showed me where the local liquor store was.

The next day when my cousin found me he hit the roof when i told him i stopped an LA Gang to ask for directions - apparently the rolled up trouser leg was an indication of what gang they were in or something.

So in my personal experience, LA was a really cool place, freindly and helpful - and i could live with gunshots and police sirens - not too different from Newport.

lol....what are the odds of ending running into a gang? I have spent my entire life in the Los Angeles area and I have been to the downtown several times and have never run into a gang. The downtown is currently going through a kind of gentrification. New lofts and redevelopent are going on all over the place which is resulting in major improvements in the downtown.

 

[just_mills]

In the gang I roll with; we cut throats of people who are gay, shoot people that look at us funny, and shout random obscenities to old citizen walking past.. 24/7..

thats how a true blud rolls

 

[just_mills]

I was kidding.. Places are the same everywhere duke.. Violence, Crime, Racists.. Homophobes, Drugs etc... Never gonna get away from it..

 

[Soilwork]

yeah, but we have famous people.

 

[LeoMikey]

Just go to L.A. and make the best of it. I've been there many times, and i love it. Like any big city, just use your common sense. The traffic can be awful, but you will need a car to get around (unless you know someone who will take you places) as distances are great. The people are generally laid back and friendly, and there are tons of hunky guys. I'm sure if you watch tv news or pay attention to the bad stuff, it will scare you off. Bad news sells, and Americans do tend to be a paranoid lot. I have had more good experiences in California as a whole than any other state. One thing to remember in L.A. is that it's huge. Not just the population, but in size. It just spreads out for what seems like forever. If you fly in, you won't believe your eyes. I live near New York City, and that is miniscule in comparison. There is a subway in L.A. but it does'nt cover nearly as much of the city as the NYC subway does. And how could it? They would be digging for years on end. Besides, being in the subway during a major earthquake would suck.
One of the great things about L.A. is all the different areas and types of people. And if city life gets on your nerves, wilderness is close. There are dozens of state parks, places to ski, hike, bike...anything you want. And if you go in the desert, there are plenty of places where you won't find anyone for miles.

 

[looneysamo]

I came out to LA in 1990 for college. I've been here ever since.

I used to live in Inglewood, just east of the LA airport. When they had the "riots" in the early 90s, I was in the original "quarantine area." We couldn't leave after 6 and no one could get in. Even then, I didn't feel unsafe.

I now live just a little south, in Gardena. Some people would call it ghetto, but I don't. I've seen the area improve over the last eight years. I've never felt unsafe here. There are tags that pop up overnight, sometimes, but they are usually painted over the next day.

I've never had any trouble, anywhere in LA County. Most people just want to be left alone. If you don't go looking for trouble, it won't usually come looking for you.

Having said that, I had a former student shot and killed a few months ago. He was innocent and it happened in a nice area.

Don't be afraid of the crime out here. What you need to worry about is earthquake preparation.

 

[metta]

Since this post was made, as everyone knows, homelessness has become a larger issue. And housing has gotten even more expensive.

The city I live in is going to get a shelter, so I hope that helps with the issue in my area. My city got hit harder than some of the others because a lot of the homeless use the metro for transportation. My city has 2 stations and at the end of each night they kick people off at night, so they can clean them, and we are the last stop. The metro is currently being extended, when that opens that should help my city as well.

I have been pushing the city to do that for several years now to get a shelter. They told me by the end of this year. We need a lot more affordable housing to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Pasadena is going to build the first micro-housing project and there is already a long waiting list. Tiny units that will be around $250k which would be amazing. Pasadena is a very expensive city to live in. I'm hoping to see more projects like that all over the state. You can't expect middle incomes to be able to buy million dollar properties.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

One thing to remember in L.A. is that it's huge. Not just the population, but in size. It just spreads out for what seems like forever. If you fly in, you won't believe your eyes. I live near New York City, and that is miniscule in comparison.

I remember looking it up once, and Los Angeles County is something like a dozen times the land area of all five boroughs (i.e. counties) of New York City together.