Posted on 03/17/2005 3:59:11 PM PST by BurbankKarl
The talk in Los Angeles is the talk of getting out In fact, a third of the residents surveyed said they want to move away, up more than 20 percent from 2003. The mood here in the South Bay, however, is slightly rosier.
Fed up with traffic, crime and skyrocketing housing prices, a growing number of Los Angeles County residents say they plan to move away within five years, according to a survey released Wednesday.
Although the mood in the South Bay area was slightly rosier, the report by the Public Policy Institute of California calls the county's 10 million residents "stunningly unhappy with some key indicators of quality of life and paints a picture of growing concern for any chance of long-term recovery."
"I spend all my money on rent," said San Pedro resident Janelle Anderson. "And now with gas prices going up, I'd love to find a cheaper place to live. But it's not that easy to leave your job and family."
The number of residents who plan to leave the county almost doubled in two years. A similar survey in 2003 found that 17 percent of residents did not see themselves staying in the county. The number is now 33 percent.
In fact, more people in the city of Los Angeles say they plan to leave than the 26 percent who voted in the recent mayoral election, said Mark Baldassare, the survey's director.
"It seems they plan to vote with their feet," he said.
For Torrance resident Gary Webb, it's the unrelenting traffic that makes him ponder leaving.
"It seems like I'm always in my car," he said. "And it keeps getting worse. I can't go anywhere without getting stuck in traffic."
The third annual survey found traffic, lack of affordable housing and low-performing public schools as reasons for the bleak outlook -- 74 percent of the 2,000 participants said congestion on freeways and main roads was a major problem. Another 64 percent said a lack of affordable housing was a big problem in the county. Both those figures have significantly increased from two years ago, when 67 percent cited traffic woes and 54 percent mentioned housing.
"So many dimensions of people are more negative today," Baldassare said. "The way they rate housing problems, the way they view race relations, and increasing negativity were certainly important things we noted."
In all, 58 percent believe race relations were not so good, compared to 53 percent in 2003. Different races also had varied outlooks. Only 21 percent of blacks -- compared to 50 percent of all residents -- say police in their community treat all racial and ethnic groups fairly most of the time.
But there were some silver linings in the survey. For instance, most residents expect race relations to improve.
"There are areas that have optimism," Baldassare said. "Most people believe race and ethnic relations will improve. And we're seeing improvements in the economy and the general belief that the quality of life is still good."
Dowell Myers, a professor of urban planning and demographics at USC, suggested that the survey include a question about whether people planned to move. He said he was a little surprised at the results, but he also cautioned about reading too much into them.
"It's a little higher than I would expect," he said. "It's not clear people are going to act different. People complain about traffic, but don't leave."
But if people do follow up on their plans to move, it could spell trouble in the future.
"The danger is people will still keep coming, but the ones you want to keep might go away because they've got other choices," he said. "You might be keeping the wrong kinds of people. Middle-class taxpayers might get up and go. That's the key. Who are the ones leaving?"
The survey divided the county into four parts. The area that includes the South Bay -- which stretches from Long Beach to Malibu -- was more optimistic about many trends. While generally unhappy with traffic, two-thirds of the area's residents said things were going well. They also gave the highest rating to the economy (40 percent) and expressed strong approval of local parks (68 percent).
"Some of the optimism in the region reflects the fact that people have good air quality, good job opportunities," Baldassare said. "Many people are in good economic shape compared to other parts of the county."
"Welcome to Texas. Here's your horse and your gun."
It is Art Bell's show...just a different host during the weekdays... Very different topics each night...
http://www.coasttocoastam.com
I hear Wyoming, Montana, and New Mexico are nice this time of year. Perhaps they should go there.
Texas has rattlesnakes and it's really hot. Californians should not come here - they'll get eaten by the snakes or melt in the sun.
I visited Oregon for the first time last year, it's beautiful there and just as expensive in some places but very affordable in the older or slightly out of town areas. Being as I missed the opportunity to buy a home here about 4 years ago I may pull up stakes and start over in Oregon.
NoNONONONo, you California people need to stay in California, other wise you spread your disease to the rest of the country. The real USA doesn't like what California is doing, don't like Californians and would prefer that you don't infiltrate the decent people of the USA. Look at what has happened in Colorado, Aspen Just a bunch of Jerks there and forcing their politically correct stupidity on the normal folk, same happening in Sante Fe. There are many more places where Californians have moved and tried to install their stupidness in the new communities they moved to. They seem to move to other areas and try to enforce the stupidness that they left California for.
We had a nice place on Belvedere and left 12 years ago;
never looked back...best move on our part....
No. They will take the problems with them and entusiastically install them in their new communities. They cannot understand the sources of the problems which they flee. They like the cheap real estate and the lower crime rates but they fêl that they are in Rubeland and elect the people and demand the measures that will "civilize" their new hometown/homestate.That will turn on the monster Hoover that will suck in the welfare class and the illegals and all that accompanies them.
I'm sure the government will be able to put the squeeze on the remaining achievers to take care of all the illegals that will take their place.
Moved out 2004. Bye bye OC!
Sometimes in the summer...the mosquitoes sound like hummingbirds..they are so big. Not to mention they bite right through thorn-proof pants...and carry West Nile virus. Geesh I hate those things...We lost Aunt Norf last summer to a whole flock of them.
And during the winter...it get's colder than Hillary's heart, and bleaker than Johnny Heinz Kerry's Senate record.
So whatever you do...don't come here.
LOL, I'm with you! Why don't all the whiney losers just friggin' leave! Just leave!
That's what happened to Colorado with the last wave of California refugees!
Belvedere - The highest rent district - I lived in Sausalito - Great view, lousy neighbors!
My wife and I lived in the (low) Hollywood Hills when we were renting (in a very cool but decrepit 1920s Spanish-style with a view to the ocean on a clear day). After looking in Silverlake, Pasadena, Burbank, Northridge and elsewhere, we decided to try Sherman Oaks. Found something nice at a good price very quickly and then were amazed at just how nice the area was and, more to your point, just how convenient it was. I can be in Santa Monica in under 30 minutes (assuming no traffic), in Hollywood in 15. BH is a straight shot over Beverly Glen. My daily commute to Glendale is under a half hour each way, and my wife's (to Burbank) can be done in under 15. Now we rarely go over the hill except to see friends.
Have you left yet? I contend we're gonna be alright, albeit with continuing struggle. We'll be better off after the non-hackers split. If they would.
I just got back from a trip to visit friends in Phoenix.
How any sane person can live in a city that is unbearably hot 8 months of the year is beyond me.
If people are willing to move to Phoenix to escape LA, then LA must be REALLY REALLY bad!
Oh, wait a second I live in LA and it is REALLY REALLY bad but I'm a little psycho so I fit in real nice.
LOL! Well put.
I like North Carolina just fine, thanks. Think I'll stick around a while.
Well, now... Isn't that the God's truth!!!
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