Quality of Life
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10/26/2008
Los Angeles, CA is a megapolis filled with diversion. The weather is beautiful, but it is offset by the smog. It is filled with small ethnic neighborhoods so you can find almost any type of food you want. There is a variety of entertainment to enjoy, only limited by expendable income.
One of the major problems is that the city is so spread out it takes hours to go anywhere. Finding a job close to home or a house close to work is a problem. The average person travels more than 10 miles in heavy traffic to work. I travel 25 miles each way on some of the most congested freeways in America. It is estimated that Angelinos on the average spend more than 500 hours on the road each year waiting in traffic. That is certainly true in my case. I spend anywhere from 2-3 hours in traffic per day which consumes quality time. This puts average people on edge. The citizens are stressed and not very friendly. They are pushy in stores, traffic, and generally in every avenue of life.
Politically it is extremely liberal with little tolerance for the opinions of others.
Housing is extremely expensive. Median priced home is over $400,000 for an average size of 1,400 sq. ft. I sold a 2,000 sq. ft. 1987 townhome in Denver, CO for $151,00 and bought an 1,800 sq. ft. 1954 ranch style home in LA for $400,000. The property taxes are 7 times what they were in Denver. The city wastes taxpayers' dollars on mismanagement and city services are only good in neighborhoods where people have lobbying clout. Bureaucracy has more excuses than hours in the day as to why they can't do their job. Emergency rooms have become so overcrowded over the past 10 years, that a number of hospitals have closed.
Salaries are good, but the cost of auto insurance is double that of other surrounding cities and states. $1500 vs $500 for a single car w/no accidents or tickets.
Many people like living here. It definitely depends on the location and income. Overall, I think it is a better lifestyle than many large urban areas, but it is not a place conducive to a simple life.
Leslie | Los Angeles, CA