Not for everyone - 11/4/2018

This review is about SoCal in general. This is not a dream place! I grew up in the bay area in the 80s. The bay area changed too much so I moved to SoCal. At first it is ok but there are a lot of negatives. First, there is no climate. It is basically sunny 265 days and the more inland you get the hotter it is. Winter for the most part is wimpy. The weather cycle is unpredictable because you will have a recurring cold winter once every 4 years other times it'll be 85 degrees on Christmas day. A lot of the inland cities around LA are much like Sacramento as far as heat. Places like riverside and inland empire are basically hell. This whole LA basin is the beginning of the desert. Once you travel about 30 miles away from the coast it is the beginning of what they call the low desert, then the high desert.. this type of climate eventually dumps into the desert of Vegas and Arizona. The people are friendlier in the beginning, more than the bay area but don't let that fool you. It feels very plastic. All they want to do is smoke pot and hang out at the beach. There is massive apathy here, it is amazing how any work gets done. Gov is highly political. There is obviously segregation. Rich whites live in the coastal areas or in the Hollywood area or Santa Monica. It looks small on the map but the area is huge and the only way to get around is taking the train to work. After a few years the weather really gets to you because you crave for a real winter and a chance to wear a jacket. lol. Sometimes what will happen is you'll get two weeks of a real Cali winter around Christmas and then by mid Jan it'll be 85 degrees again. So it will never fall below 65 degrees during the day. The days will always be sunny but the nights might dip to 40s in the winter occasionally. What I hate is there is no seriousness in SoCal. Even the beach gets boring! When I was in San Jose, I used to go to Santa Cruz all the time with friends. Now I live 10 minutes from the beach and I visit the beach less than I did when I lived in San Jose. Funny how it work that way because when it is right in your front yard, unless you surf, the beach is just like.. oh it's the beach.. big deal. The other thing is living this close to the border means all sorts of colds and viruses come across. In San jose, I used to get sick maybe once a year and sometimes only once every two years. Here they have all these colds and viruses no one has ever heard of coming from Mexico. Expect to be sick at least 2-3 times a year. Hep is big with the homeless here. All the homeless crash the beaches making it not friendly at night. You have critters everywhere like lizards, rats, mice, mosquitoes, etc. All these creatures love the desert type weather.

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40 years ago maybe.. - 9/24/2018

A tangle of squabbling 3rd world minorities, along with a healthy helping of hoards and hoards of homeless, crumbling infrastructure, parched landscapes, along with Chinese "investors", (air b/b speculators), squeezing middle class out of the housing market, all makes for an unsavory recipe. 100 miles of faceless strip malls in every direction. An impending sense of doom and alienation hangs over like a pall.

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Crowded and overrated - 7/7/2018

Lived there for 27 years. I just left LA for Lancaster, Ca. I worked in downtown and commuted from Boyle Heights. It was a 10 min drive without traffic (hardly ever seen that) but of course with traffic it was 30 mins normally. The rents keep increasing, the utilities grew along with it. There's always traffic everywhere you go. The homeless population is growing and the mayor does nothing. Everyone wants to be in LA but you have no idea what it is til your there. I miss only family other than that, Lancaster is peaceful and growing.

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Unreal - 6/14/2018

Homeless living in streets. They protect illegals. Drugs needles and sewage in street. No money in public employee unions retirement account. Wtf you idiots keep voting traitors into office?

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HELL ON EARTH - 6/2/2018

KALIFORNIA. A CESSPOOL. HELL ON EARTH. LA IS THE CITY OF DEMONS AND LOST SOULS AND FAILED PEOPLE. THE MOST SHALLOW, GREEDY, SUPERFICIAL, FAKE, MATERIALISTIC, EVIL, RUDE, ANGRY, HOPELESS, RACIST, IGNORANT, BACKSTABBING, GREEDY, FAKE, WANNABE, POSER, CORRUPT, PEOPLE ON EARTH. PERIOD.

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Better then most - 4/1/2018

Crowds and traffic are not as bad as most major cities. Weather is great as well was entertainment options. Cost of living is medium- high compared with other major metro areas

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LA LA Land - 12/22/2017

I grew up in LA in both the Redondo Beach and Eagle Rock Area. After moving out of state for college, I moved back and now live in North Hollywood. Hopefully not for long.... Pros: LA has some of the best food, night life, and attractions in the US-if not the world. The biggest acts always come to town. The beaches are nice. It's an opportunity to meet/ hang out with people from all over the world. Cons: Literally, we have the worst traffic in the US! We spend 40 hours more a year than the average american in our car. A FULL WEEK. Google it if you don't believe me. Parking is almost always terrible and the public transportation is inadequate. The Real Estate prices are crazy here. The middle class is getting shafted! The Median home price is $500 K + for LA county, 2 X + the national average, even though we don't make anywhere close to twice the median income (only $5K more a year). If you need constant sunshine and you don't mind rude, shallow people, traffic, and crazy home prices, go ahead and stay. There is a lot to do here. As for me, I'm getting out while I still can.

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Crowded, Expensive and Full of Criminals! - 7/22/2017

I've lived here all my life and in the last twenty years L.A. has turned into an expensive slum. There are a few decent pockets, but who can afford them?.... My father used to tell me how nice Los Angeles was in the 1930's and I thought the 60's and 70's were rough, but they were nothing compared to now. It's getting to be just like in the movie "Bladerunner." This is my home, but I can hardly recognized it anymore. Welcome to L.A. the world's most expensive Third World Country!

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Overrated, hell, and seems to only get worse - 10/11/2016

I've lived in the LA area all my life (grew up in west la/santa monica and live in orange county now) and I can't wait to move out of here. Unless you're extremely wealthy, it's not the hype that everyone talks about Pros: Lots of job opportunities Restaurants Lots of things to do Cons: Weather - I like cool overcast weather and 4 distinct seasons so I guess i'm biased but still, i can't understand the fascination with the weather here. From May - mid October it's incredibly hot and uncomfortable unless you're near the beach. It's hardly even cools down in fall and even when it does, it can still be sunny and 80 degrees during the winter. Also it's nice to have sunny days but when it's 95 percent of the year and there is an ongoing drought it's not that great. Traffic - the city and surrounding areas are extremely overcrowded and just keep getting worse. New neighborhoods keep popping up and traffic keeps getting worse despite the large freeways. Cost of living - even in the less expensive and lower class areas the cost of living is ridiculous and about the same or more then expensive areas in many other cities Also, the city and surrounding areas have zero respect for historical buildings are culture. Landmarks are often torn down to build more fancy apartments or houses. The whole area is based on greed.

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Corruption & Crowding..... - 5/3/2016

Los Angeles has changed DRASTICALLY in just the last 10 years. There's lots of small, inner-city corruption of municipalities now. Lots of it. Very large outside money conglomerates are buying up all the rent-controlled apartments & evicting long-time tenants who thought they were protected under "rent control" ordinances. These big money guys, don't care who they kick out on the street & they've found a loophole & are exploiting it to the hilt. In some cases, they renovate units, doubling the number & then are renting them out for outrageous rates on Air B & B. Lots of corruption swirling around marijuana dispensaries too. Power hungry City Councilmen are destroying the low income communities, they are professing to help. Lots of underhanded dirty tricks in local government. It's a shark tank here. All kinds of new improvement projects have begun in downtown. The city has some VERY amazing Grant writers & thieves working for the city and installing corrupt parks all over the place. They get State grants, steal the properties from residents via eminent domain and then hire all their buddies to do the park construction work. Lots and lots of materials are stolen & used on their other construction jobs. Pure profit. Pure evil. Whenever you hear about how some agency suddenly wants to "help" the disenfranchised, low income, under-represented, blah, blah - RUN for the hills. The freeways are parking lots. Gridlock for hours. The condensation of people is ridiculous here. Long lines everywhere. Lots of illegal immigrants - which gets annoying after a while. I was a liberal, but that's changing. I believe my experience. Societal issues are making life a nightmare here & I'm looking to sell my house & move. Unless you're rich, don't even bother coming here now. The elite's are squeezing the little people, horribly. The water is an issue. Black water in Gardena, a petroleum plant is on the verge of blowing up in Torrance, the port of LA is a filthy, Escape from New York landscape. Uh... unless you can insulate yourself with wealth by living in a ridiculously expensive place with high walls, think again about coming to LA. Homelessness is sad and really out of control. The cities do nothing to help them, either - but have the cops run them off from everywhere. Drought is always terrible. And this one sounds bizarre - but it's true. There's lots of geoengineering here. Most afternoons, very high altitude jets make multiple passes and spray chemicals that leave contrails that widen out into wispy clouds. I've been watching it for months & have lots of pictures. You can google "seeding the clouds" - there was a recent article in the Los Angeles Times. Geoenginneringwatch.org is another unbelievable website everyone who's thinking of moving here should take a look at. These government goons have to try to get it to rain here, it's past critical. Scary what they're manipulating, though. There are cameras on top of almost every signal light - going in all four directions on all the signals in LA county. Big Brother on steroids. I'm not kidding. All of this stuff, makes it oppressive for a thinking person. If you're a superficial person who thinks you're going to be rich & famous & network yourself to the top here - Come on down. Hollywood is waiting for you. Dive in. The water's great. What's left of it. By 2025 they're projecting the populations going to double. I don't know how that will be possible. Heading for pure misery, for sure. Stay where you're at...

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Development an Gentrification - 1/19/2016

We just had a huge rent hike in Los Angeles where a studio apartment averages $1,200.+ hundred dollars. I just saw one that was $1600. It's ridiculous. Gentrification is happening in all of the affordable areas and is displacing a lot of families. Especial 'limited income' households, single people and people of color. It's seems the higher paid few are taking over the cities. They bring their dogs too. They crap on the street and leave their dander to annoy those with asthma conditions. As long as they have their income, Starbucks and outdoor cafes they seem to be happy. They are not friendly yet are moving into the neighborhood. Cost of living went up. Seems as though Los Angeles is becoming New York. Food costs more however, COL (Cost of Living) Allowance hasn't matched it. They are squeezing the people out and developing former African American landmarks/neighborhoods to accommodate the rich. This isn't fair. I've seen two bedroom apartments go for as much as $4000-6000 thousand dollars but the average is 1900-2500 hundred. If you're on a limited income, you are up sh*t creek without a paddle. There are many newly homeless people here.

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Nothing New to Report - 8/19/2015

Los Angeles is still under major construction and will be for years to come. Nothing new to report.

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Tired of California - 8/17/2015

Moved here 30 years ago for the weather. Can't wait to get away from the crazy rules and regulations and liberal view point - not to mention the cost of living. Last one out close the door - seem accurate to me.

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Studio City Dental Center - 7/28/2015

Dr. Kouyoumdjian received his Doctoral of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California. He has received several professional awards and regularly attends training sessions to stay up-to-date on the latest cosmetic dentistry. The whole staff at Studio City Dental Center strives to make patients feel comfortable and have a pleasant experience. They offer solutions to various teeth problems includes effective dental veneers in Studio City & more.

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Los Angeles-Stayed too long - 5/15/2015

I moved here twice. Once in 1978-81 from Chicago. I was 23 the first time and it was magic. Had a chance to play on an album with some great studio guys, met the Beach Boys a couple of times, Brian and Carl Wilson. Played at the Improv and Dennis Wilson and Christine McVie came in just as we were about to get up and play. Back then it was busy, but it was a bit more relaxed. Apartments were somewhat affordable, and the Universal Amphitheater had no roof but was an open air concert venue. I was a kid, had dreams, but was totally unprepared for what I fell in to. But at 23 who really knows anything about anything. Moved back here in 1986 for a job, and fast forward to 2015. The place is too crowded, too expensive 80% of the population rents here because homes are out of reach. Apartment owners know this so apartment rentals have gone sky high with more luxury apartments going up all the time. This crap about the weather, the surf, sand and mountains is all well and good if you can find time and the money to play after you've worked 10 hours just to keep pace with the cost of living. This town is for young people. I am 60, though I think the lifestyle and the weather have kept me young minded and young looking, it really was time to get out of this town about 10 years ago before it got to this stage of insufferable. If you are looking for community, friendly neighbors, and warm amd fuzzy, you'll get hit over the head with a ton of bricks. The transportation sucks, and if you want to get from the valley to the West side, give yourself about 45minutes to an hour to go 16 miles. Don't get me wrong. If you aren't making enough money, no place is going to seem too friendly. It just takes a whole lot more of it here, and it's getting worse. If you want something affordable, you'll have to move to the Antelope Valley or Santa Clarita which are areas with druggies and meth labs all over the place. You will have to be at the top of your game, whether you're a doctor, lawyer, webmaster, SEO, etc. If you are an actor or musician, stand in line, and have your chops together before you get here. The level of musicianship especially for the studio is second to none. It's a great pleasure to watch, but if you want to compete on that level, you will have to be an extremely high level musician. I met my wife here and that's one of the best things about the place I can say happened to me. We took a reality check and it's time to get out. I make low 6 figures/year, and we're barely making it. But I have learned a ton of stuff about myself here, and if you have want your buttons pushed, this is the place to come. BTW, the chicks look great, but that's about it. THey look great for the sake of looking great, and that's about as deep as it goes.

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education - 1/27/2015

I live in a suburb of Los Angeles, Woodland Hills. I am constantly reading about how bad the educational system is, yet the people writing these posts have poor grammar themselves. For example, they might say: "Me and my family want to move to Bakersfield." No! "I want to..." and you always put others first. Should be: "My family and I want to move to Bakersfield." Come on people! Education first, then everything else can follow!

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Why I want to leave Ca - 1/24/2015

The cost of living has skyrocketed in the last five years. It is good if you have a large extended family because they are the only ones who can fit 2-3 families in one house to meet the high rentals here. A single apt with no bedroom starts at 950,00 a month. I rented a house in Van Nuys for 14 years and saw my rental increased to 1,000.00 a month from 650.00 even though I maintained my property in excellent condition and never was late with my rent. Van Nuys is rent control, but over the years my rent was increased. I have dogs and coudn't bear to part with them. I am now ready to retire. Although the climate is wonderful traffic is insane for the most part you are judged by what you drive and how you dress. My neighbors with the large extended family and anchor baby moms coming and going calling the fire department because they decided to build a fire in the back yard draining sewage onto my lawn had to call the sanitation department. Throwing trash in front of my house-not containing their dogs and they would go after the mailman who ultimately refused to deliver mail there. This large extended family ethnic group has taken over Los Angeles and had marched down town and brazenly burned our American Flag and hoisted their flag up in the air with absolutely no consequences I try to be open minded and fair-but enough already

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Looking to possibly Relocate - 1/8/2015

I've been living in the North Hollywood/Toluca Lake area for a while. It's a nice part of LA, being close to Burbank, Universal City, and close to the freeways. However I feel like I'm getting a little burned out on LA and looking to possibly relocate soon.

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Los Angeles public transit sucks - 12/23/2014

Everyone knows that LA's traffic sucks. That's because the city grew too fast for it's freeway system. The freeway was not designed to support so many people. By the time it had grown, it was too late (costly) to fix it. This is also evidenced by our poor public transit system. The train makes a couple of T's and L's across this massive city, but from there, you'll have to get on the bus. Buses have to deal with LA traffic and have to make round-about routes, so you could be waiting for hours if you are trying to get to the other side of town. But the weather is great! haha

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Changing Climate - 11/18/2014

Los Angeles is facing an ongoing severe drought that is becoming chronic (circa 2014). There are more windy, dusty days. The winter weather is lovely and mild and becoming a bit warmer. The summers are quite hot unless you live near the beach areas.

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