Born and raised in LA. Have lived in a variety of places but have always returned. Now, in all honesty, I cannot imagine living elsewhere. LA and SoCal in general is my home.
I wish I could say the same. Also born and raised but left about 2 years ago. I felt like I never really identified or belonged in Los Angeles. Unfortunately the cost of living is so high that returning is pretty much out of the picture for me. If it wasn't then I would definitely consider it.
To paraphrase a comedian I don't remember the name of: "I always dreamed of owning a million dollar home. I just didn't think it'd be a two bedroom fixer upper"
As someone who has lived in the LA area for decades, I absolutely agree with everything on this list. Our utilities are actually very high here, but SO many people have switched to solar, it changes the average. Before getting solar on our current house 5 years ago, our electricity bill was almost $500 a month. I just paid our end of year balance, it was $700. For the year. Anyone who lives in Southern California and doesn’t have solar is just throwing money away. It’s a great way to offset the ‘sunshine tax’.
@@tleeg74 it was around $25k, but over a 30 year loan, even with interest would be about $1,000 a year. So, it’s still cheaper to do solar than the regular electric bill.
Lived in L. A. from 2002 - 2012. I saw famous people everyday lol- worked for TSA at LAX, so yeah. I lived in Hawthorne. I had a studio with no stove or oven and it cost me more than a full one bedroom costs me now in Ohio. Two doors down from my apartment, a neighbor was murdered. You could see the blood leaking from under the door. There was a lot of cool stuff in L. A. The museums I did really love. The highway I hated. The thing that surprised me most was that I missed the seasons. Grew up in Philly and just thought I'd love having nice sunny weather all year. I didn't. Now you could not pay me to live there again and I'm glad I left when I did.
We sold our parent's 7500 sqft LOT in Pacific Palisades for $3.5M last year. That's just the dirt! They paid $32,000 in 1963. Yes. Real Estate prices in L.A. are ASTRONOMICAL!
OK. Some parts of LA are not in a good way. But what wasn't mentioned were the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena-Burbank-Glendale area, Inland Empire, Orange County, desert communities, etc. The LA area is huge, and every area has its own set of personalities. Plus you're hearing about LA from a South Bay kid. Talk to people from other parts, you'll get different opinions. But to most of us here, it's home, and we're ok with that. We love LA.
Im from LA. This dude is accurate but let me just say this, depending on how much money you got and how social you are, you will have a wildly different experience. Homelessness is everywhere, literally everywhere. Things are expensive, can get real seedy and sleazy, gangs are still a thing but since it is neither the 80s nor the movies it is much more lowkey, as long as you mind your own business and keep to yourself you should be good. I dont know if it is just me but you will meet a lot of strong personalities, a bunch of big egos, and a bunch of characters. If youre young, full of life and have the money, maybe LA is the perfect place to be, but if youre lowkey, struggling to make ends meet, and dont really enjoy that fast paced fakeness then maybe LA isnt for you. Just my 2 cents, take it with a grain of salt. Lord knows if I had the money, I would probably enjoy a month or two here and then head to the Midwest. Cant own guns here. I guess try the food, Im latino so yeah the tacos are good but are good tacos/good in general really worth the homelessness and corruption?
Hi bro am from Mississippi and heading to California I been working saving money i should have close to ten thousand dollars and am a dancer am good at working hands on type of person am 29 look 21 I really won't to meet a female and build with her then build my self...Mississippi is a safe place but there's no intertanment here jobs suck
I grew up in the Madison, Wisconsin area and relocated to the LA area for my job. Once I got there, I thought I would never leave. All my coworkers would sit in the cafeteria during lunch every day, and I would be outside, even in February. But I totally understand the Matrix reference. After a few years, I found myself wanting a cloudy day once in a while (and no, June Gloom doesn’t count). It was like each day was a copy of a copy of a copy. The turning point was when a coworker decided to relocate to our office in Madison. She wasn’t a SoCal native; she grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon. She missed those “crisp October nights” and that just clicked for me. After nearly seven years, I also returned to Wisconsin. Sure, I miss the beautiful LA weather during the dark winter months, but definitely not the traffic and cost of living.
Grew up in Venice during the late '50s an '60s and later Santa Monica. The guys at South Bay's Rick Surfboards built me a sky-blue Lifeguard board in '75 and paddled off Santa Monica all summer long. Loved the shell shops at Redondo Pier as a kid. Nothing but great memories.
Love LA. Most people that hate it never been and don’t understand how amazing the city is. You have so much to do, eat and see within a short distance. It has its cons but I love those pros a lot more. Most places I’ve seen celebrities while living there was oddly the Valley.
When I lived in LA I ran into celebrities so often it became boring. This was even before I worked at a well known guild, heck, I had famous people in my cashier line working at a hardware store (high end of course). I lived in the West Hollywood and beverlywood neighborhoods so it may have been a location thing. It wasn't just me, my friends and neighbors would often come home with stories of different sightings
I’m born and raised in L.A. as well and a local government employee fortunate enough to live in the Culver City area. I’m retiring in a few years and planning my exit as I’m feeling the financial squeeze with my modest government income. I really appreciate the info these Briggs vids give me as I decide where I’m going to be able to afford to live once I’m at retirement age. Thanks brother. As I remember you were Army(?) but Semper Fi anyway. 👍🏾
LA has vastly improved …. Don’t let the comments and videos fool you … there’s still some bad areas like south side LA but every city has its bad areas …. Everything now is all hipsterish.. you can Find many ways to make money here ..
I have lived in the LA area most of my life and I am 66. Every thing you said is true and even the town I live in Long Beach has some really bad areas but also has some very wealthy areas. Plus if you move here it is easy to get stuck. I can't really afford to live here on my retirement but I can't afford to move either.
Native Angeleno here. What Jimmy doesn't mention is LA COUNTY extends to the high desert and the Valleys where it can get HOT. 105/110 and the DRY heat. So the weather in LA proper can be mild but the valleys - no.
I'm really happy that I moved out of the LA area to another state. Back in the 1970s Torrance was at its best, but the problems of Downtown LA kept growing toward Torrance, making the area slowly grow worse. Getting from point A to point B became a traffic nightmare and the growing homeless problem found its way into Torrance. You know it's getting bad when seeing a homeless person take a dump on the sidewalks becomes a common sight. I used to take the Blue & Red Lines to go to downtown LA, but the number of drugged and crazy people per made that too scary. The weather was about the only thing the Government wasn't able to screw up.
@@adg7147 Thank you for being stupid enough to want to stay. As a result of continued overpopulation in the LA area, I was able to sell my house for a lot more than what it was really worth.
I did a double-take when you mentioned Catherine Morris and Jeff! They are AMAZING energetic people and the hippie kitchen is an oasis in Skid Row I had the privelege of volunteering with Catherine and Jeff at the Catholic Worker back in 2005 and lived with them in the LA Catholic Worker house for 4 months. Love your videos.
I really enjoy you and your site. I don't watch tv and I am pretty much home bound. I am not homeless however, I don't get to travel as much as I'd like to. I look forward to your videos. They make it easier to look at the 4 walls of my apt. Thanks, Briggs! Here's your attaboy!!! 👵😂🤓
CA will always be my home. Even though career politicians have ruined our beautiful state and it’s expensive to live here, I’ll never leave. Been to the east coast and Midwest & I’m good off cold winters and tornadoes.
I'm born and raised in LA and as a kid when we drove past Skid Row my dad use to tell me that I would end up there if I didn't go to school. Over the years I have always had a fascination with Skid Row. I use to go there and hang out in my high school years. I still go once a month and take clothes to the homeless. Not everyone is a druggie and there are good people in Skid Row.
I will say this- I have lived in NYC and am from Boston. My husband is from the DC area. WE KNOW TRAFFIC. Guys- the traffic on 95 in Boston is WAY worse than ANY traffic in LA. Hands down. The traffic is not that bad in LA and the people who say it is, probably haven't ever lived anywhere else OR are coming from Iowa. Is it a walk in the park? not even a little- but traffic happens in cities!!!!
No. Sorry. I've lived in Boston for 2 years ('07-'08) and D.C. for about a year. And I grew up in L.A. I'm 62. L.A. traffic is WAY worse than I ever saw in Boston, or any other city I've been to (and I've been to many, including NY). S.F. comes in a close second. "Rush Hour" in L.A. starts at 5:00am and ends around midnight on weekdays, 3:00am Fri, & Sat. Boston is a walk in the park in comparison. The only thing about Boston that's worse is the byzantine streets to navigate. At least L.A. is basically a grid, with a myriad of alternate routes.
@@funnlivinit I was born in Boston and lived there for more than 3 years, my friend. And I’m 41. The big dig. The numerous tunnels. One ways. Highways that actually have the same name but are different. Large potholes from 10 inches of snow that have eroded the pavement so constant detours happen. Snow clearance issues that backs up route 6 for a week. Yeah- sorry… imo Boston traffic is worse. And DC traffic is even worse…
I agree 100 percent! Was in Boston for a weekend a few months ago, and the city planning was absolute shit! Streets would end out of nowhere, too many tolls, couldn't even see the lanes. Everyone had road rage, worse than LA 😂. For reference, I am an LA native.
Born and raised in LA. I don't disagree with anything you mentioned. However, I will say that the la metro system is slowly but surely expanding. In 2 years LAX will be connected by rail and as the decade goes on, more and more likes will open. It will still be years until it's usable by everyone. I certainly have my gripes with the city but I can't imagine myself living anywhere else.
Me too! And the beach. And Yosemite. And the giant Sequoias. And Knotts Berry Farm. And only being 3 hours from EVERYTHING. And the sunsets. And the history. And that things grow without rain! And friendly people. And hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. And Good Food! And Good Music! And, and and... People don't know how to enjoy anymore. Destroy is more their thing. I would love to live in Idaho. Such a gorgeous state but very pricey. Can't afford it or California and am stuck in racist Arizona. Ugh.
Skid Row is in a part of Downtown L.A. you'd have to go out of your way to get to. A lot of people who live in the nicest, walkable parts of downtown can go years without seeing Skid Row. This area was made worse when Reagan became governor in the 70s and decided to close down the state-run mental hospitals and they started dumping mentally ill patients in the area. It's just gotten worse over time as addicts from other states began migrating to L.A. because of the good weather. Thanks for showing the good and the bad; it seems that these days everybody just wants to talk about what's wrong here and ignore the overwhelmingly huge amount of what's absolutely AWESOME about L.A. ❤
I live near north county san diego , I avoid LA as much as I can, which means I never never go near that place. Please don't think that the entire state is like LA we have wonderful places to live and raise a family. Most of California is agriculture , 1/3 of the vegetables consumed in the US are grown in California. The area I live in is huge in avocados , oranges , and grapes, flowers , house plants , about 30-40 minuets from San Diego
As a tourist so without really realising it at the time, I walked through Skid Row in the middle of the night. I was shocked. But I don't want to diss LA, cause I absolutely loved it there.
Compton is not actually that bad neither is inner Long Beach. Lol, you must be green behind the ears if you are scared in these neighborhoods. As a 45 year old women I have met some of the nicest people in the bad neighborhoods you mentioned. PS, San Diego has a lot of marine layer which makes the weathet in LA a bit better.
It’s a dump. I grew up in So Cal in the 60s and 70s. I finally escaped the state in 2013 after retiring. LA and the surrounding area are just a nightmare to get around in if you’re driving. You have to know exactly how you’re going to get to where you’re going and how to get back because your Garmin might route you through a gang/crime infested area. If I can avoid ever going back, I’ll consider myself lucky.
Can not imagine why anyone would live there! Even if there is a lot to do there are other states, and cities that have a lot do as well. Get out and smell clean air.
It’s actually improved Compton is not that bad … since u left around 2013-2018 .. Those were the worse times .. now u got a bunch of hipsters moving in and making the place better
@@vernafairleigh7566 couldn't imagine living anywhere else! LA isn't perfect but it's my favorite city in the country by a country mile and I've been to most of the states.
I'm not a native like you, but I got here as fast as I could. It's a nearly 30 year love affair that shows no signs of stopping. I think that a person needs to grow up in a sh*thole red state like I did in order to appreciate what LA has to offer. My love (and gratitude because I'd probably be dead by now if I'd stayed in South Carolina) is unconditional. I'll take the good with the bad and the ugly. For better or for worse til death do us part. I love LA ❤️
I feel the same! I'm an L.A. native but I left for 14 years and made the move back in late 2021; it wasn't easy to make the move back as it isn't cheap to move, but i wanted to be back so badly that I MADE it work! I felt as though I was slowly dying and losing my soul where i was and i couldn't take it anymore. I belong in L.A. it's where i feel at home, where my heart belongs. And just like you, I'll take the good and the bad and the ugly all wrapped up in a little bow and I'll forever be intertwined with this place, I don't care what anyone says......... I LOVE L.A. as well!
I’ve always had this love for LA as a kid and I wanted to be an actor and share in that “joy” and be so involved with the various culture and lifestyles. I still Love LA and visit often but idk how I could afford it. Still in my late 30s I’m still dreaming… I have family there and they’ve made it work, so I’m like why can’t I. Everything I want and need is there!!
I lived in Southern California as a kid in the early sixties and even though I was young I loved it. Didn't return until 3 years ago for a vacation in LA. I know it has its major problems, but I still love it and if I had the money I would move back there, problems and all. But I could never afford it. We bought a condo, two bedroom and two bath on the water, 3 mi from the ocean and 5 minutes to our very upscale downtown with about 50 or 60 great restaurants, here in South Florida for $117,000 3 years ago. I can only imagine what that would have cost in southern california. I am one of those crazy LA people that just gets it and there is something in the air there, no not the smog lol, that just works for me. I know living there and just visiting are two different things, but I've known my entire life that it's really where I belong. I planned on moving there in the 1980s but moved to South Florida instead and have been here since. I don't hate South Florida but I find California much more desirable for my kind of personality. I admit to being a freak, I'm the kind of person that loves going to movie stars graves LOL and all the history of LA, and I'm really jealous of all the UA-camrs who live there and vlog it. Anyway, I love LA.
I live here and the grass is always greener on the other side. I understand that goes both ways but it has become progressively worse with crime in the past three years. I didn’t want to leave three years ago but now I’m ready to flee.
Awesome video Briggs. I'm an LA native myself, and I was just chatting with a friend who lives in Ukraine about why I want to move out of LA, but also about why it's awesome. This video sums it up quite nicely!
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs I like LA I'm not an expert what I don't like is the homeless stuff. Refresh spot was nasty with the shower the showers were also cold. I was in LA for a few months last year it's very nasty Skid row I was lucky I didn't get sick
As the Brit I always wanted to live in California because of the beautiful countryside it seems to have it all beaches mountains forests deserts over the past few years I've noticed things have gotten really bad for this state massive homelessness corrupt government massive tax if I do ever go there I think it will be just for a visit.
Many parts of California are still worth visiting. Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Mt Shasta, My Lassen, Sequoia National Park, Death Valley, the Lost Coast - lots of great places to go to! You can avoid the big cities and still see the amazing places the state has to offer!
Come in the first week of December. We typically have a minor heat wave leading to warm sunny days w/ crisp nights. Dizzylan starts their extended holiday hours at Thanksgiving (thru New Years) but there is typically a lull in attendance during that 1st week of December as everyone heads back home after visiting family over Thanksgiving but school is still in session so the queues are reasonably short. Also, we will usually have had our first rains by then, so there is snow in the mountains: anyone w/ a pickup truck can go to the mountains, fill the bed w/ snow, then drive to the beach [warm sunny days, remember?] and build snowmen on the sand. It's a pretty cool photo-op. But stay the heck away from (hel)L.A., nobody in their right mind wants to go there...
If you want to live in the "countryside" (what we call the burbs) you won't see any homeless people. There's no government corruption here that isn't everywhere else in the US. And despite the complaining, I know from people who've lived in other states our taxes aren't that bad. Definitely nothing like the UK. Don't listen to the conservative propaganda. The only true thing is housing prices are ridiculous.
Los Angeles isn't all bad. I live in San Diego and I love visiting LA, so much to do there and the food there is incredible thanks to the immigrant/diversity infused in the culture of the city.
I was born in SoCal in the late 50's. It was pretty awesome back then,beautiful,and good politics. In 1974 after surfing Malibu Point I ran into Paul Newman at the liquor store. He was buying a case of Heineken, while Joanne Woodward waited outside in his parked Porche. We used to see celebs all the time in Malibu, Alice Cooper, Steve McQueen, Ali McGraw, Ryan Oneil,Dean Martin,and Allen Sarlo. I left Cali 20 years ago,don't even want to go back.
Ran into Tiney Tim ( yea Tiney Tim ) in Hollywood in the mid 60's at a liquor store. Surfed Malibu in the 60's and 70's it was a little crowded. Went back in the mid 80's. I counted over 20 surfers on a small summer wave. Surfers were rude and territorial. Never went back.
I love LA. The weather and surrounding scenery is gorgeous. And the people for the most part are very chill and laid back. Yes they do have a crime and homeless problem, but so does Florida except Fox News covers it up.
Fun fact .... you will get a ticket in skid row if your dog craps and you don't pick it up. You , on the other hand, can just drop your pants and relieve yourself when ever you want. They do have crews clean up once in awhile. You can tell because all the tents will be gone for a day or two and there is a strong smell of disinfectant. I am in construction so I get to see a lot of what most people miss. California is not the place you want to be if there is a natural disaster. The big quake will shut down supply lines for months.
Love all the boomers and comments talking bout how bad it is of course it has its problems but to call it all a dump is insane obviously never been to Beverly hills, pacific palisades rancho, Palos Verdes, thousand oaks, south pasadena, Irvine, calbasas, glendale, malibu, Los feliz i could go on and on...so many great suburbs but keep listening to fox news it's all good
Literally every city in every state has bad neighborhoods and plenty of pros and cons. To just act like LA is just the worst of the worst and just has nice weather with no other positives is crazy.
If I was a movie star or just plan rich I would not live in any part of LA, I would go to a different state and buy a few hundred acers (with a small lake) and enjoy life on my Ranch !!!
As a 22 year old Angeleno residing in the San Fernando Valley, the weather here in the Valley isn't that great during summer since we hit 100 more often than DTLA. I have mixed feelings about The Valley, I love this place this because this is where I grew up but ppl here aren't friendly and tend to be fake. The car culture here is inescapable and you're seen as a weirdo if you don't have one and the placement of jobs makes it hard to survive on public transportation. I plan on leaving LA for San Francisco for a fresh new start and because it's the only place in California where car culture is close to non existent. Ps. The pros to LA Food trucks Music venues The beach The weather outside of the summer months. We got the best Mexican food
@@colinthomas867 Yes, 3 times in a span of one year and while it has a lot of problems, I see more positives than negatives to living there. San Francisco isn't for everyone but I know that Southern California isn't for me.
Per traffic: I recall a radio show in the morning...Mark and Brian? They had a segment called "Freeway Love Connection" where they would try to get callers to meet up during gridlock. Hilarious!
Yes, I actually have going kayaking in the morning down in Long Beach and driven up 395 to camp Whitney Portals campground in the mountains that afternoon, with a side trip into Death Valley before I headed home....and then went to see the ballet in LA the night I got back. The ability to do that, plus a job, kept me in the LA basin.... though, now that I'm retired and everyone else has already moved away, I'm looking at 'immigrating' up to Oregon in the near future.
My favorite Skid Row story - Skid Row Marathon! If you haven't watched that documentary, watch it, it's spectacular! The judge is still active, helping the homeless get active and off the street. I used to visit LA every year or so. It's a great place to visit and know I didn't have to live there.
When I lived in LA, the places I saw the most celebrities was at restaurants. If tourists want to see some, just make sure to go nice ones, like on Sunset (the west end), Santa Monica Blvd, or even on the western part of Melrose.
In recent times, Downtown Long Beach has been plagued with homeless encampments, car break-ins, deranged people with their heads in garbage cans, poop-stained sidewalls, and trash lining the sides of the freeways. They are building thousands of luxury high-rise apartments at $3500 a month at least. At night time I noticed that the lights in those buildings are not going on, so nobody has moved in. I wonder how long they expect these apartments to have even 25% occupancy.
I lived in Venice in 1966 as a kid. It was so much different then. Back then it was a great place to be a kid. I remember taking the tram with my mom going up to POP. We left the area in '72. I'm so grateful we got out when we did. Any more I avoid going in to LA as much as possible.
Really liked POP. The roller-coaster was kind of rickety but still fun. I think it cost an extra 25 cents to ride. Was in that area a few years ago and saw Ocean Blvd. Brought back memories.
Short version-unless you have a six figure job waiting for you, are willing to work twenty-hour days seven days a week to get into the entertainment industry, or you're somebody's arm candy-DON'T MOVE TO LA. Last time I was there was in December. There are third world s(YAY!)tholes with better roads than some parts of LA. A vet friend of mine felt safer in Falljuah at night in '04 than Skid Row in the daytime. And he was a 0331. The costs are insane, even by California standards. You can assume a 25%+ "big city" markup on EVERYTHING. The traffic is even worse. LA traffic is either bumper-to-bumper or full of people that WOULD mount machine guns on their car when they swerve in and out of traffic. The homeless are a plague and it's like watching a dog with rabies-it's not the dog's fault, but they're still a menace. Crime is bad. If you're even remotely vulnerable (female, older, not in good shape), public transit is actively dangerous. Most places, you don't go out by yourself when it gets dark. There's still some great things out there, but a lot of the interesting places I liked to go were gone because of the Crow Flu and just how expensive things are there. LA is pretty much a company town (entertainment) and if you piss off the wrong people, good luck trying to get ANY work in that company.
The issues with homelessness & Skid Row is what prevented me from taking a hotel reservation in Downtown L.A. during Anime Expo Weekend (a few weeks ago). If I'm not going to a convention at the L.A. Convention Center, or going to an L.A. Kings hockey game, I stay out of the downtown area.
I experienced something kind of funny in relation to celebrities the only time I ever went to LA, in 1989. Before I went I vowed that I would not look for celebrities because that seemed tacky. But I was walking on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and suddenly recognized a movie star. I did not remember his name. When I got back home I went to a video store and looked for his picture. It was Michael Caine. In spite of my determination not to look for stars or tell people I'd seen them, I did tell people I saw Michael Caine!
I grew up in Hawthorne, Ca. in the 60s and 70s. Griffith Park was named for its donor, Col. Griffith. I remember when Gov. Arnold repealed the $300 dmv fee for bringing in a vehicle from out of state. And killer museums. The Lakers and the Clippers use to play at Jack Kent Cooks Inglewood Forum. We called Venice Venus for a reason. There's been a skid row in L.A. as far back as my mother could recall, and she was born in L.A. in 1926.
I was an airline stew in the "60's and went to Griffith Park and hung out at Venice Beach. It was great then. I'm happy to have those memories. Thanks!
I had to live in LA, (Culver City), for 6 months in the early 1990's for a tech company. LA is nice, the weather is great, people are friendly and there are plenty of restaurants to suit your every mood. However, you're gonna need a vehicle of some sort. Because there is no "Downtown" or "Shopping Area" or quality public transport. People don't walk in LA, they drive or driven by someone else. I live in San Francisco where you don't need a vehicle to get around the Bay Area. Maybe today things have changed ?? IDK if public transport has stepped up with busses and trains, but you're gonna need a vehicle to get around. You need to go grocery shopping ?? You need a vehicle. Going on a date ?? Vehicle. Going to the beach ?? Vehicle. Have a dog ?? Going to the dog park ?? Vehicle. All this adds to your budget. New vehicle, figure an extra $500 a month in payments, taxes, gasoline, DMV fees ... etc. Hey, LA is needed, but I don't want to live there. You have to WANT to live in LA. Unfortunately, wherever you go and you say that you're from California, they all think you are from LA and that you surf. BS !!! Trust me on this, don't move to Los Angeles.
Who goes to Skid Row? There's nothing near there, unless like you said, people get lost. How long has it been since you've lived here? Generally you are right, but places like Carson and Lawndale are getting nicer and safer, as people can't afford Torrance or Redondo. Things change. Heck, I remember when Culver City was a dump!
The crime rates are misleading especially today. It all depends on what cops decide to call it a crime or misdemeanor. They don't count for unanswered police requests. Also there's the new law that stealing under $999 is not serious. Many crimes go unreported. Weather: LA does get about 3 to 5 days in winter when temperatures drop to 40F or less. And gets several days in summer with 100F or more. Most of the year is between 60F and 80F, which is why people don't spend much on utilities (AC and heating) compared to other states. Keep in mind though that in suburbs like the "Valley" (San Fernando), Burbank, Pasadena, the weather can get about 10 degrees hotter or colder compared to downtown.
Also an LA native, things are not close you will have to drive or spend a hefty price for Uber/taxis. I once had a tourist as ask if he can walk to Hollywood blvd. form Santa Monica Pier. NO unless you are willing to walk 11 miles. I think skid row and the homelessness crisis has gotten worse, before 2010, homeless people would stay east of Los Angeles Street in skid Row, I grew up on the east side the LA river and had go through skid row to go to DTLA ( it's sad to say, I've been mugged and it wasn't even a homeless person ) my persona opinion: a few things people should know 1. if you are going out and dressed up (flashy clothes, expensive accessories) please uber to the door of your location or drive. unless you want to be walking target (its not always the homeless people) just thieves roaming the streets of LA. 2. if you want to walk around in any neighborhood,, dress casual, 3. always look at your surrounding ( sometimes a car will stop and people can just come out and take what they want) 4. put your phone away! if not in use. ( seen many people get their phone stolen within seconds they are left in awe) The Reality is that LA has crime and that isn't going away. Please staff and alert! nowadays "nicer" neighborhoods have been the target, it goes back to (Expensive accessories) and its mainly crimes that aren't from those neighbors. [I grew up in the east side in projects, witnessed my mother get mugged multiple times as a toddler in a scroller] these thieves just decided to stop mugging the poor people and now mugging people that have something worth muggins] I really enjoy your vids, I have been planning on leaving LA but Most of my family is here.
I hated living in Los Angeles (dirty, ugly, and a highly "uneducated" population), but I have to mention that the subway/light rail system in Los Angeles is quite extensive, efficient, and not known by many people. Give it a try, and you will be impressed.
The Metro trains will be the final nail in the city's coffin when they hook the Blue Line to the rest of the lines, and those South LA sorts have easy access to everyone.
Areas away from the beaches are not necessarily worse neighborhoods… see areas like Arcadia and San Marino. These areas are crazy expensive and safe….because of the crazy expensive housing market
There's really not much distinction between "Los Angeles" and the surrounding cities. It's munged in to one large metropolis with little change between the cities. Air pollution remains to be a problem with inversion layers capping pollution in to the Los Angeles Basin.The $11,000 entry level home my parents bought there just sold for over $750,000. I was born and raised there and I'm quite happy I left it when I graduated college.
My hometown I was born in Inglewood ca I lived there for 24 years I'm planning on moving back to Los Angeles California in 2028 los angeles is the biggest city in Southern California Los Angeles California was my town I'd be going to parties and other insane stuff the worst part of it is people from Georgia telling me are there any movie stars I'm like come on now this is ridiculous the public transportation in los angeles is not good at all plus you have to catch an Uber I'd rather take my car I've never liked Venice beach at all I've stepped on glass and got zapped so many times
He didn't put that in the video because it changes per neighborhood. There's the one Mobil Station in Beverly Hills that everyone uses for political purposes that was around 7.80, but just 2 blocks away there was a station selling for less than 5.50 at the same time
This makes me so sad, As you said there are homes going for millions of dollars and have a dozen bedrooms. That would be shelter for hundreds of homeless Not saying we’re I live is any better just feel like the answers are in front of us and no one is listening
Lived in the Arcadia area back in the 80's. Could see the writing on the wall even then. Illegals, homeless, a lot of transients and runaways/ " free spirit " types. When Briggs touches on traffic, he skips over the general overcrowding in the entire city and a lot of the County. Everywhere you think about going, tens of thousands of others have the same idea. Beaches, parks, sporting events, entertainment venues, all of it is crowded. Lines of people waiting to get in, parking the car that you absolutely need to get around is a nightmare. I tell people, L.A. is a great place to visit, but if you're thinking about moving there, better think real hard.
Born and raised in LA. Have lived in a variety of places but have always returned. Now, in all honesty, I cannot imagine living elsewhere. LA and SoCal in general is my home.
I wish I could say the same. Also born and raised but left about 2 years ago. I felt like I never really identified or belonged in Los Angeles. Unfortunately the cost of living is so high that returning is pretty much out of the picture for me. If it wasn't then I would definitely consider it.
Same here bro I have my business here can’t move probably retire somewhere else but for now Los Ángeles it is
That's how it is with hometowns
No matter how chitty they are you always want to come back sooner or later
To paraphrase a comedian I don't remember the name of: "I always dreamed of owning a million dollar home. I just didn't think it'd be a two bedroom fixer upper"
As someone who has lived in the LA area for decades, I absolutely agree with everything on this list. Our utilities are actually very high here, but SO many people have switched to solar, it changes the average. Before getting solar on our current house 5 years ago, our electricity bill was almost $500 a month. I just paid our end of year balance, it was $700. For the year. Anyone who lives in Southern California and doesn’t have solar is just throwing money away. It’s a great way to offset the ‘sunshine tax’.
Sure, but you have to own a home.
But didn't it cost around 20K to get the solar panels installed? That's what it cost my neighbor.
@@tleeg74 it was around $25k, but over a 30 year loan, even with interest would be about $1,000 a year. So, it’s still cheaper to do solar than the regular electric bill.
@@mr.donatz5202 you are absolutely right. Sorry, I should have been more specific.
@@tleeg74 It didn't cost me anywhere near that in LA at my home
Where else can you snow ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon? Yes, I have done it.
When my wife and I drove 18wheeler, I often said that I would rather drive in LA than NYC.
I had no problems driving 18 wheeler in NYC
@@1974geary I didn't say I had any problems, because I didn't. However, as I stated I would rather drive in LA traffic than NYC.
@@joemiles6917 I rather not drive in any of the cities
Lived in L. A. from 2002 - 2012. I saw famous people everyday lol- worked for TSA at LAX, so yeah. I lived in Hawthorne. I had a studio with no stove or oven and it cost me more than a full one bedroom costs me now in Ohio. Two doors down from my apartment, a neighbor was murdered. You could see the blood leaking from under the door. There was a lot of cool stuff in L. A. The museums I did really love. The highway I hated. The thing that surprised me most was that I missed the seasons. Grew up in Philly and just thought I'd love having nice sunny weather all year. I didn't. Now you could not pay me to live there again and I'm glad I left when I did.
We sold our parent's 7500 sqft LOT in Pacific Palisades for $3.5M last year. That's just the dirt! They paid $32,000 in 1963. Yes. Real Estate prices in L.A. are ASTRONOMICAL!
OK. Some parts of LA are not in a good way. But what wasn't mentioned were the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena-Burbank-Glendale area, Inland Empire, Orange County, desert communities, etc. The LA area is huge, and every area has its own set of personalities. Plus you're hearing about LA from a South Bay kid. Talk to people from other parts, you'll get different opinions. But to most of us here, it's home, and we're ok with that. We love LA.
Yes, we do, I love LA!
SF Valley native. I love my city.
Bro you just named all of Southern California. As an OC native we definitely do not consider ourselves “LA area”
@@noahmcdaniel4920 your definitely a part of la
@@narutouchiha5464 definitely not. That’s like saying everyone in the state of New York is part of NYC area.
Im from LA. This dude is accurate but let me just say this, depending on how much money you got and how social you are, you will have a wildly different experience. Homelessness is everywhere, literally everywhere. Things are expensive, can get real seedy and sleazy, gangs are still a thing but since it is neither the 80s nor the movies it is much more lowkey, as long as you mind your own business and keep to yourself you should be good. I dont know if it is just me but you will meet a lot of strong personalities, a bunch of big egos, and a bunch of characters. If youre young, full of life and have the money, maybe LA is the perfect place to be, but if youre lowkey, struggling to make ends meet, and dont really enjoy that fast paced fakeness then maybe LA isnt for you. Just my 2 cents, take it with a grain of salt. Lord knows if I had the money, I would probably enjoy a month or two here and then head to the Midwest. Cant own guns here. I guess try the food, Im latino so yeah the tacos are good but are good tacos/good in general really worth the homelessness and corruption?
Thank you!
I 100% agree with you. I became jaded with everything, then moved. I haven’t lived there for almost 10 years now.
Hi bro am from Mississippi and heading to California I been working saving money i should have close to ten thousand dollars and am a dancer am good at working hands on type of person am 29 look 21 I really won't to meet a female and build with her then build my self...Mississippi is a safe place but there's no intertanment here jobs suck
I'll rather sleep in my car and go to work every day to save until I can get what I won't. I have no kids, no girlfriend, just me
Born and raised in L A., I love it here, just wish it wasn't so goddamn expensive to live here.
I grew up in the Madison, Wisconsin area and relocated to the LA area for my job. Once I got there, I thought I would never leave. All my coworkers would sit in the cafeteria during lunch every day, and I would be outside, even in February.
But I totally understand the Matrix reference. After a few years, I found myself wanting a cloudy day once in a while (and no, June Gloom doesn’t count). It was like each day was a copy of a copy of a copy.
The turning point was when a coworker decided to relocate to our office in Madison. She wasn’t a SoCal native; she grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon. She missed those “crisp October nights” and that just clicked for me. After nearly seven years, I also returned to Wisconsin.
Sure, I miss the beautiful LA weather during the dark winter months, but definitely not the traffic and cost of living.
I live in North Torrance by el Camino & Gardena and I think it’s rather safe and nice. My neighborhood is so quiet and green
Grew up around there too. His description of it wasn't so accurate
I live in North Torrance as well. His description of El Camino Village and Gardena is definitely not accurate. It makes him sound somewhat snobby.
@@everardoduran that was my impression too! Sounds like he came from pv haha
Grew up in Venice during the late '50s an '60s and later Santa Monica. The guys at South Bay's Rick Surfboards built me a sky-blue Lifeguard board in '75 and paddled off Santa Monica all summer long. Loved the shell shops at Redondo Pier as a kid. Nothing but great memories.
Love LA. Most people that hate it never been and don’t understand how amazing the city is. You have so much to do, eat and see within a short distance. It has its cons but I love those pros a lot more. Most places I’ve seen celebrities while living there was oddly the Valley.
When I lived in LA I ran into celebrities so often it became boring. This was even before I worked at a well known guild, heck, I had famous people in my cashier line working at a hardware store (high end of course). I lived in the West Hollywood and beverlywood neighborhoods so it may have been a location thing. It wasn't just me, my friends and neighbors would often come home with stories of different sightings
I’m born and raised in L.A. as well and a local government employee fortunate enough to live in the Culver City area. I’m retiring in a few years and planning my exit as I’m feeling the financial squeeze with my modest government income. I really appreciate the info these Briggs vids give me as I decide where I’m going to be able to afford to live once I’m at retirement age. Thanks brother. As I remember you were Army(?) but Semper Fi anyway. 👍🏾
Where are you going to head to?
The boonies. Wherever that maybe.
LA has vastly improved …. Don’t let the comments and videos fool you … there’s still some bad areas like south side LA but every city has its bad areas …. Everything now is all hipsterish.. you can Find many ways to make money here ..
I have lived in the LA area most of my life and I am 66. Every thing you said is true and even the town I live in Long Beach has some really bad areas but also has some very wealthy areas. Plus if you move here it is easy to get stuck. I can't really afford to live here on my retirement but I can't afford to move either.
Native Angeleno here. What Jimmy doesn't mention is LA COUNTY extends to the high desert and the Valleys where it can get HOT. 105/110 and the DRY heat. So the weather in LA proper can be mild but the valleys - no.
Moving to LA from SF in September can't wait!
Good luck
I'm really happy that I moved out of the LA area to another state. Back in the 1970s Torrance was at its best, but the problems of Downtown LA kept growing toward Torrance, making the area slowly grow worse. Getting from point A to point B became a traffic nightmare and the growing homeless problem found its way into Torrance. You know it's getting bad when seeing a homeless person take a dump on the sidewalks becomes a common sight. I used to take the Blue & Red Lines to go to downtown LA, but the number of drugged and crazy people per made that too scary. The weather was about the only thing the Government wasn't able to screw up.
Thank you for easing our traffic. Another drop in the bucket.
Torrance is getting worse but your making it sound terrible, its still very nice
@@adg7147 Thank you for being stupid enough to want to stay. As a result of continued overpopulation in the LA area, I was able to sell my house for a lot more than what it was really worth.
@@matthewmarkey9422 Right now Torrance is tolerable, but the dark clouds form LA are moving in.
Torrance is not part of LA
I did a double-take when you mentioned Catherine Morris and Jeff! They are AMAZING energetic people and the hippie kitchen is an oasis in Skid Row I had the privelege of volunteering with Catherine and Jeff at the Catholic Worker back in 2005 and lived with them in the LA Catholic Worker house for 4 months. Love your videos.
I really enjoy you and your site. I don't watch tv and I am pretty much home bound. I am not homeless however, I don't get to travel as much as I'd like to. I look forward to your videos. They make it easier to look at the 4 walls of my apt. Thanks, Briggs! Here's your attaboy!!! 👵😂🤓
Way to go Grammy. I "travel" watching places on here, too.
I grew up in LA in the late 70s through the 80s. I left in 1988 and never looked back. Under current management it’s unlivable in my opinion.
La verne, and claremont, which are on the east most side of La county are some of the safest places in LA, for the record.
CA will always be my home. Even though career politicians have ruined our beautiful state and it’s expensive to live here, I’ll never leave. Been to the east coast and Midwest & I’m good off cold winters and tornadoes.
And mosquitoes in the south
I'm born and raised in LA and as a kid when we drove past Skid Row my dad use to tell me that I would end up there if I didn't go to school. Over the years I have always had a fascination with Skid Row. I use to go there and hang out in my high school years. I still go once a month and take clothes to the homeless. Not everyone is a druggie and there are good people in Skid Row.
I will say this- I have lived in NYC and am from Boston. My husband is from the DC area. WE KNOW TRAFFIC. Guys- the traffic on 95 in Boston is WAY worse than ANY traffic in LA. Hands down. The traffic is not that bad in LA and the people who say it is, probably haven't ever lived anywhere else OR are coming from Iowa. Is it a walk in the park? not even a little- but traffic happens in cities!!!!
Exactly… DC traffic is the worst in the country by far
No. Sorry. I've lived in Boston for 2 years ('07-'08) and D.C. for about a year. And I grew up in L.A. I'm 62. L.A. traffic is WAY worse than I ever saw in Boston, or any other city I've been to (and I've been to many, including NY). S.F. comes in a close second. "Rush Hour" in L.A. starts at 5:00am and ends around midnight on weekdays, 3:00am Fri, & Sat. Boston is a walk in the park in comparison. The only thing about Boston that's worse is the byzantine streets to navigate. At least L.A. is basically a grid, with a myriad of alternate routes.
@@funnlivinit I was born in Boston and lived there for more than 3 years, my friend. And I’m 41. The big dig. The numerous tunnels. One ways. Highways that actually have the same name but are different. Large potholes from 10 inches of snow that have eroded the pavement so constant detours happen. Snow clearance issues that backs up route 6 for a week. Yeah- sorry… imo Boston traffic is worse.
And DC traffic is even worse…
I agree 100 percent! Was in Boston for a weekend a few months ago, and the city planning was absolute shit! Streets would end out of nowhere, too many tolls, couldn't even see the lanes. Everyone had road rage, worse than LA 😂. For reference, I am an LA native.
Facts. Went to LA thinking ima dread traffic to volunteering to take friends back and forth to lax
Born and raised in LA. I don't disagree with anything you mentioned. However, I will say that the la metro system is slowly but surely expanding. In 2 years LAX will be connected by rail and as the decade goes on, more and more likes will open.
It will still be years until it's usable by everyone.
I certainly have my gripes with the city but I can't imagine myself living anywhere else.
I grew up in Boyle Heights and now live in Idaho. The only thing I miss is Disneyland and Olvera St.
Me too! And the beach. And Yosemite. And the giant Sequoias. And Knotts Berry Farm. And only being 3 hours from EVERYTHING. And the sunsets. And the history. And that things grow without rain! And friendly people. And hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. And Good Food! And Good Music! And, and and... People don't know how to enjoy anymore. Destroy is more their thing. I would love to live in Idaho. Such a gorgeous state but very pricey. Can't afford it or California and am stuck in racist Arizona. Ugh.
Skid Row is in a part of Downtown L.A. you'd have to go out of your way to get to. A lot of people who live in the nicest, walkable parts of downtown can go years without seeing Skid Row. This area was made worse when Reagan became governor in the 70s and decided to close down the state-run mental hospitals and they started dumping mentally ill patients in the area. It's just gotten worse over time as addicts from other states began migrating to L.A. because of the good weather. Thanks for showing the good and the bad; it seems that these days everybody just wants to talk about what's wrong here and ignore the overwhelmingly huge amount of what's absolutely AWESOME about L.A. ❤
San Diego does have a better weather. It's the middle of July and today the high was 75.
What I love about Cali is we have many lively people and places to visit beaches one day mountains next day if you wanted to
I live near north county san diego , I avoid LA as much as I can, which means I never never go near that place. Please don't think that the entire state is like LA we have wonderful places to live and raise a family. Most of California is agriculture , 1/3 of the vegetables consumed in the US are grown in California. The area I live in is huge in avocados , oranges , and grapes, flowers , house plants , about 30-40 minuets from San Diego
As a tourist so without really realising it at the time, I walked through Skid Row in the middle of the night. I was shocked. But I don't want to diss LA, cause I absolutely loved it there.
LA loves u back🙂 Thank u for not just judging our city by a small percentage of it.
Compton is not actually that bad neither is inner Long Beach. Lol, you must be green behind the ears if you are scared in these neighborhoods. As a 45 year old women I have met some of the nicest people in the bad neighborhoods you mentioned. PS, San Diego has a lot of marine layer which makes the weathet in LA a bit better.
I just got back from a week in L.A. I thought it was very nice.
It’s a dump. I grew up in So Cal in the 60s and 70s. I finally escaped the state in 2013 after retiring. LA and the surrounding area are just a nightmare to get around in if you’re driving. You have to know exactly how you’re going to get to where you’re going and how to get back because your Garmin might route you through a gang/crime infested area. If I can avoid ever going back, I’ll consider myself lucky.
Can not imagine why anyone would live there! Even if there is a lot to do there are other states, and cities that have a lot do as well. Get out and smell clean air.
@@vernafairleigh7566 It is actually wonderful if you know the city/state. Glad everyone is so ungrateful, maybe I can afford to go back someday.
It’s actually improved Compton is not that bad … since u left around 2013-2018 ..
Those were the worse times .. now u got a bunch of hipsters moving in and making the place better
@@Insane22sz Interesting. I haven't seen it in years. Thanks!
@@vernafairleigh7566 couldn't imagine living anywhere else! LA isn't perfect but it's my favorite city in the country by a country mile and I've been to most of the states.
I'm not a native like you, but I got here as fast as I could. It's a nearly 30 year love affair that shows no signs of stopping. I think that a person needs to grow up in a sh*thole red state like I did in order to appreciate what LA has to offer. My love (and gratitude because I'd probably be dead by now if I'd stayed in South Carolina) is unconditional. I'll take the good with the bad and the ugly. For better or for worse til death do us part. I love LA ❤️
I'm with you! Although I am a native from LA. I love and miss LA.
@@pameladeleone135 ❤
I feel the same! I'm an L.A. native but I left for 14 years and made the move back in late 2021; it wasn't easy to make the move back as it isn't cheap to move, but i wanted to be back so badly that I MADE it work! I felt as though I was slowly dying and losing my soul where i was and i couldn't take it anymore. I belong in L.A. it's where i feel at home, where my heart belongs. And just like you, I'll take the good and the bad and the ugly all wrapped up in a little bow and I'll forever be intertwined with this place, I don't care what anyone says......... I LOVE L.A. as well!
I’ve always had this love for LA as a kid and I wanted to be an actor and share in that “joy” and be so involved with the various culture and lifestyles. I still Love LA and visit often but idk how I could afford it. Still in my late 30s I’m still dreaming… I have family there and they’ve made it work, so I’m like why can’t I. Everything I want and need is there!!
I lived in Southern California as a kid in the early sixties and even though I was young I loved it. Didn't return until 3 years ago for a vacation in LA. I know it has its major problems, but I still love it and if I had the money I would move back there, problems and all. But I could never afford it. We bought a condo, two bedroom and two bath on the water, 3 mi from the ocean and 5 minutes to our very upscale downtown with about 50 or 60 great restaurants, here in South Florida for $117,000 3 years ago. I can only imagine what that would have cost in southern california. I am one of those crazy LA people that just gets it and there is something in the air there, no not the smog lol, that just works for me. I know living there and just visiting are two different things, but I've known my entire life that it's really where I belong. I planned on moving there in the 1980s but moved to South Florida instead and have been here since. I don't hate South Florida but I find California much more desirable for my kind of personality. I admit to being a freak, I'm the kind of person that loves going to movie stars graves LOL and all the history of LA, and I'm really jealous of all the UA-camrs who live there and vlog it. Anyway, I love LA.
I live here and the grass is always greener on the other side. I understand that goes both ways but it has become progressively worse with crime in the past three years. I didn’t want to leave three years ago but now I’m ready to flee.
@@danielmoore62 and you should move if you can. No sense being miserable.
Awesome video Briggs. I'm an LA native myself, and I was just chatting with a friend who lives in Ukraine about why I want to move out of LA, but also about why it's awesome. This video sums it up quite nicely!
Thanks for sharing!
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs I like LA I'm not an expert what I don't like is the homeless stuff. Refresh spot was nasty with the shower the showers were also cold. I was in LA for a few months last year it's very nasty Skid row I was lucky I didn't get sick
As the Brit I always wanted to live in California because of the beautiful countryside it seems to have it all beaches mountains forests deserts over the past few years I've noticed things have gotten really bad for this state massive homelessness corrupt government massive tax if I do ever go there I think it will be just for a visit.
Many parts of California are still worth visiting. Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Mt Shasta, My Lassen, Sequoia National Park, Death Valley, the Lost Coast - lots of great places to go to! You can avoid the big cities and still see the amazing places the state has to offer!
Come in the first week of December. We typically have a minor heat wave leading to warm sunny days w/ crisp nights. Dizzylan starts their extended holiday hours at Thanksgiving (thru New Years) but there is typically a lull in attendance during that 1st week of December as everyone heads back home after visiting family over Thanksgiving but school is still in session so the queues are reasonably short. Also, we will usually have had our first rains by then, so there is snow in the mountains: anyone w/ a pickup truck can go to the mountains, fill the bed w/ snow, then drive to the beach [warm sunny days, remember?] and build snowmen on the sand. It's a pretty cool photo-op. But stay the heck away from (hel)L.A., nobody in their right mind wants to go there...
Yep just visit
why come here then? Save your money and go somewhere else. There is already 40 million residents in the state.
If you want to live in the "countryside" (what we call the burbs) you won't see any homeless people. There's no government corruption here that isn't everywhere else in the US. And despite the complaining, I know from people who've lived in other states our taxes aren't that bad. Definitely nothing like the UK. Don't listen to the conservative propaganda. The only true thing is housing prices are ridiculous.
Los Angeles isn't all bad. I live in San Diego and I love visiting LA, so much to do there and the food there is incredible thanks to the immigrant/diversity infused in the culture of the city.
I live here. The violence and crime has really gotten out of hand
I realize I'm a broken record amongst the comments. But it's really very true
At least half the crimes aren't reported. The numbers do not do it justice
I live in Compton, fucking trust me it's getting worse after years of being cool. Watts is fucking bad tho
Close to the beach you get homeless. I just moved from long Beach and I currently sitting at work in signal hill
I was born in SoCal in the late 50's. It was pretty awesome back then,beautiful,and good politics. In 1974 after surfing Malibu Point I ran into Paul Newman at the liquor store. He was buying a case of Heineken, while Joanne Woodward waited outside in his parked Porche. We used to see celebs all the time in Malibu, Alice Cooper, Steve McQueen, Ali McGraw, Ryan Oneil,Dean Martin,and Allen Sarlo. I left Cali 20 years ago,don't even want to go back.
Paul newman at the liquor store sounds cool asf lol
LA was great until 2001. then? after. pure crap.
Ran into Tiney Tim ( yea Tiney Tim ) in Hollywood in the mid 60's at a liquor store. Surfed Malibu in the 60's and 70's it was a little crowded. Went back in the mid 80's. I counted over 20 surfers on a small summer wave. Surfers were rude and territorial. Never went back.
1:19 the rest of the country is hotter than LA during the summer, and much colder than LA in the winter.
I love LA. The weather and surrounding scenery is gorgeous. And the people for the most part are very chill and laid back. Yes they do have a crime and homeless problem, but so does Florida except Fox News covers it up.
Fun fact .... you will get a ticket in skid row if your dog craps and you don't pick it up. You , on the other hand, can just drop your pants and relieve yourself when ever you want. They do have crews clean up once in awhile. You can tell because all the tents will be gone for a day or two and there is a strong smell of disinfectant. I am in construction so I get to see a lot of what most people miss. California is not the place you want to be if there is a natural disaster. The big quake will shut down supply lines for months.
Excellent video Briggs. You been knocking them out of the park
It is the Los Angeles Angels, it hasn't been the California angels for decades!
Love all the boomers and comments talking bout how bad it is of course it has its problems but to call it all a dump is insane obviously never been to Beverly hills, pacific palisades rancho, Palos Verdes, thousand oaks, south pasadena, Irvine, calbasas, glendale, malibu, Los feliz i could go on and on...so many great suburbs but keep listening to fox news it's all good
Literally every city in every state has bad neighborhoods and plenty of pros and cons. To just act like LA is just the worst of the worst and just has nice weather with no other positives is crazy.
If I was a movie star or just plan rich I would not live in any part of LA, I would go to a different state and buy a few hundred acers (with a small lake) and enjoy life on my Ranch !!!
Loved this video on LA
Please do one on Atlantic City I heard it’s not doing too well
Spent one night in LA and saw Jay Leno driving a car from 1930 on the Hwy
Ventura has perfect cool breezes and sun. 68-72 degrees mostly all year.
As a 22 year old Angeleno residing in the San Fernando Valley, the weather here in the Valley isn't that great during summer since we hit 100 more often than DTLA. I have mixed feelings about The Valley, I love this place this because this is where I grew up but ppl here aren't friendly and tend to be fake. The car culture here is inescapable and you're seen as a weirdo if you don't have one and the placement of jobs makes it hard to survive on public transportation. I plan on leaving LA for San Francisco for a fresh new start and because it's the only place in California where car culture is close to non existent.
Ps. The pros to LA
Food trucks
Music venues
The beach
The weather outside of the summer months.
We got the best Mexican food
You think the valley is bad so you are moving to San Francisco?
Have you been there lately?
@@colinthomas867 Yes, 3 times in a span of one year and while it has a lot of problems, I see more positives than negatives to living there. San Francisco isn't for everyone but I know that Southern California isn't for me.
Per traffic: I recall a radio show in the morning...Mark and Brian? They had a segment called "Freeway Love Connection" where they would try to get callers to meet up during gridlock. Hilarious!
Cell phones killed flirting between cars.
Yes, I actually have going kayaking in the morning down in Long Beach and driven up 395 to camp Whitney Portals campground in the mountains that afternoon, with a side trip into Death Valley before I headed home....and then went to see the ballet in LA the night I got back. The ability to do that, plus a job, kept me in the LA basin.... though, now that I'm retired and everyone else has already moved away, I'm looking at 'immigrating' up to Oregon in the near future.
I’ve lived in nice areas of LA for the past 20 years and I’m ready to go.
How you gonna ignore the SGV area, there's some cool hiking trails around their too and somewhat lower costs for housing on avg.
The weather is the best selling point in LA especially if you're rich.
My favorite Skid Row story - Skid Row Marathon! If you haven't watched that documentary, watch it, it's spectacular! The judge is still active, helping the homeless get active and off the street. I used to visit LA every year or so. It's a great place to visit and know I didn't have to live there.
When I lived in LA, the places I saw the most celebrities was at restaurants. If tourists want to see some, just make sure to go nice ones, like on Sunset (the west end), Santa Monica Blvd, or even on the western part of Melrose.
I don’t like the traffic whenever I use to go to LA driving from San Diego
The traffic would defeat me, whatever other merits LA may have. Thank you for the video!
I miss Southern California of the 70's and 80's. The 1992 recession and the end of the Cold War killed it.
Wow man I bet it was a paradise in the 70s
It was really paradise in the 60's
In recent times, Downtown Long Beach has been plagued with homeless encampments, car break-ins, deranged people with their heads in garbage cans, poop-stained sidewalls, and trash lining the sides of the freeways. They are building thousands of luxury high-rise apartments at $3500 a month at least. At night time I noticed that the lights in those buildings are not going on, so nobody has moved in. I wonder how long they expect these apartments to have even 25% occupancy.
I lived in Venice in 1966 as a kid. It was so much different then. Back then it was a great place to be a kid. I remember taking the tram with my mom going up to POP. We left the area in '72. I'm so grateful we got out when we did. Any more I avoid going in to LA as much as possible.
Really liked POP. The roller-coaster was kind of rickety but still fun. I think it cost an extra 25 cents to ride. Was in that area a few years ago and saw Ocean Blvd. Brought back memories.
There are nice areas in central LA and many in the valley. Also Central LA is really cool and K-town is great.
I have spent at least a few years living in a majority of the cities listed and I must say that you're insight is pretty much spot on
I hope we keep loosing population! I’m tired of traffic and high rent
For every person that leaves, a new person moves in.
Not true, the total population is decreasing.
Short version-unless you have a six figure job waiting for you, are willing to work twenty-hour days seven days a week to get into the entertainment industry, or you're somebody's arm candy-DON'T MOVE TO LA.
Last time I was there was in December. There are third world s(YAY!)tholes with better roads than some parts of LA. A vet friend of mine felt safer in Falljuah at night in '04 than Skid Row in the daytime. And he was a 0331.
The costs are insane, even by California standards. You can assume a 25%+ "big city" markup on EVERYTHING.
The traffic is even worse. LA traffic is either bumper-to-bumper or full of people that WOULD mount machine guns on their car when they swerve in and out of traffic.
The homeless are a plague and it's like watching a dog with rabies-it's not the dog's fault, but they're still a menace.
Crime is bad. If you're even remotely vulnerable (female, older, not in good shape), public transit is actively dangerous. Most places, you don't go out by yourself when it gets dark.
There's still some great things out there, but a lot of the interesting places I liked to go were gone because of the Crow Flu and just how expensive things are there.
LA is pretty much a company town (entertainment) and if you piss off the wrong people, good luck trying to get ANY work in that company.
The issues with homelessness & Skid Row is what prevented me from taking a hotel reservation in Downtown L.A. during Anime Expo Weekend (a few weeks ago). If I'm not going to a convention at the L.A. Convention Center, or going to an L.A. Kings hockey game, I stay out of the downtown area.
Skid Row isn't all that close to the convention center. I've stayed downtown plenty of times no problem.
I experienced something kind of funny in relation to celebrities the only time I ever went to LA, in 1989. Before I went I vowed that I would not look for celebrities because that seemed tacky. But I was walking on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and suddenly recognized a movie star. I did not remember his name. When I got back home I went to a video store and looked for his picture. It was Michael Caine. In spite of my determination not to look for stars or tell people I'd seen them, I did tell people I saw Michael Caine!
Loved the video Briggs, well done.
Glad you enjoyed it
I grew up in Hawthorne, Ca. in the 60s and 70s. Griffith Park was named for its donor, Col. Griffith.
I remember when Gov. Arnold repealed the $300 dmv fee for bringing in a vehicle from out of state. And killer museums.
The Lakers and the Clippers use to play at Jack Kent Cooks Inglewood Forum.
We called Venice Venus for a reason.
There's been a skid row in L.A. as far back as my mother could recall, and she was born in L.A. in 1926.
I was an airline stew in the "60's and went to Griffith Park and hung out at Venice Beach. It was great then. I'm happy to have those memories. Thanks!
@@b.a.d.2086 good times!
I had to live in LA, (Culver City), for 6 months in the early 1990's for a tech company. LA is nice, the weather is great, people are friendly and there are plenty of restaurants to suit your every mood. However, you're gonna need a vehicle of some sort. Because there is no "Downtown" or "Shopping Area" or quality public transport. People don't walk in LA, they drive or driven by someone else. I live in San Francisco where you don't need a vehicle to get around the Bay Area. Maybe today things have changed ?? IDK if public transport has stepped up with busses and trains, but you're gonna need a vehicle to get around. You need to go grocery shopping ?? You need a vehicle. Going on a date ?? Vehicle. Going to the beach ?? Vehicle. Have a dog ?? Going to the dog park ?? Vehicle. All this adds to your budget. New vehicle, figure an extra $500 a month in payments, taxes, gasoline, DMV fees ... etc. Hey, LA is needed, but I don't want to live there. You have to WANT to live in LA. Unfortunately, wherever you go and you say that you're from California, they all think you are from LA and that you surf. BS !!! Trust me on this, don't move to Los Angeles.
I LIKE YOUR NARRATION 😊👌
Thank you! 😃
Used to be the homeless problem was mostly in skid row and Venice. Now it’s bad everywhere from LA to San Diego.
Who goes to Skid Row? There's nothing near there, unless like you said, people get lost.
How long has it been since you've lived here? Generally you are right, but places like Carson and Lawndale are getting nicer and safer, as people can't afford Torrance or Redondo. Things change. Heck, I remember when Culver City was a dump!
culver city still feels like a dump to me!
@@sarahbaartmansrevenge lol.
The crime rates are misleading especially today. It all depends on what cops decide to call it a crime or misdemeanor. They don't count for unanswered police requests. Also there's the new law that stealing under $999 is not serious. Many crimes go unreported.
Weather: LA does get about 3 to 5 days in winter when temperatures drop to 40F or less. And gets several days in summer with 100F or more. Most of the year is between 60F and 80F, which is why people don't spend much on utilities (AC and heating) compared to other states. Keep in mind though that in suburbs like the "Valley" (San Fernando), Burbank, Pasadena, the weather can get about 10 degrees hotter or colder compared to downtown.
LOL WHen you show the ZILLOW map of Hawthorne home prices. I was like. Hey Prairie and Rosecrans. I live off EL Segundo and Prarie. HAHA
Also an LA native, things are not close you will have to drive or spend a hefty price for Uber/taxis. I once had a tourist as ask if he can walk to Hollywood blvd. form Santa Monica Pier. NO unless you are willing to walk 11 miles.
I think skid row and the homelessness crisis has gotten worse,
before 2010, homeless people would stay east of Los Angeles Street in skid Row,
I grew up on the east side the LA river and had go through skid row to go to DTLA
( it's sad to say, I've been mugged and it wasn't even a homeless person )
my persona opinion: a few things people should know
1. if you are going out and dressed up (flashy clothes, expensive accessories) please uber to the door of your location or drive. unless you want to be walking target (its not always the homeless people) just thieves roaming the streets of LA.
2. if you want to walk around in any neighborhood,, dress casual,
3. always look at your surrounding ( sometimes a car will stop and people can just come out and take what they want)
4. put your phone away! if not in use. ( seen many people get their phone stolen within seconds they are left in awe)
The Reality is that LA has crime and that isn't going away. Please staff and alert!
nowadays "nicer" neighborhoods have been the target, it goes back to
(Expensive accessories) and its mainly crimes that aren't from those neighbors.
[I grew up in the east side in projects, witnessed my mother get mugged multiple times as a toddler in a scroller] these thieves just decided to stop mugging the poor people and now mugging people that have something worth muggins]
I really enjoy your vids, I have been planning on leaving LA but Most of my family is here.
I hated living in Los Angeles (dirty, ugly, and a highly "uneducated" population), but I have to mention that the subway/light rail system in Los Angeles is quite extensive, efficient, and not known by many people. Give it a try, and you will be impressed.
Highly Uneducated population?
The Metro trains will be the final nail in the city's coffin when they hook the Blue Line to the rest of the lines, and those South LA sorts have easy access to everyone.
Yep I still wanna move to LA after watching this video 😂
Areas away from the beaches are not necessarily worse neighborhoods… see areas like Arcadia and San Marino. These areas are crazy expensive and safe….because of the crazy expensive housing market
L.A. has really changed since I lived there in the 80s before I joined the Army.
There's really not much distinction between "Los Angeles" and the surrounding cities. It's munged in to one large metropolis with little change between the cities. Air pollution remains to be a problem with inversion layers capping pollution in to the Los Angeles Basin.The $11,000 entry level home my parents bought there just sold for over $750,000. I was born and raised there and I'm quite happy I left it when I graduated college.
My hometown I was born in Inglewood ca I lived there for 24 years I'm planning on moving back to Los Angeles California in 2028 los angeles is the biggest city in Southern California Los Angeles California was my town I'd be going to parties and other insane stuff the worst part of it is people from Georgia telling me are there any movie stars I'm like come on now this is ridiculous the public transportation in los angeles is not good at all plus you have to catch an Uber I'd rather take my car I've never liked Venice beach at all I've stepped on glass and got zapped so many times
Just moved from el segundo to lomita and……
You’re right.
Another great video, don't forget about the highest gas taxes/prices. $6.67 per gallon this weekend; down from a high of 7.33
He didn't put that in the video because it changes per neighborhood. There's the one Mobil Station in Beverly Hills that everyone uses for political purposes that was around 7.80, but just 2 blocks away there was a station selling for less than 5.50 at the same time
This makes me so sad, As you said there are homes going for millions of dollars and have a dozen bedrooms. That would be shelter for hundreds of homeless Not saying we’re I live is any better just feel like the answers are in front of us and no one is listening
It's not a housing issue. It's a meth issue.
Another great video, thanks.
I lived in Hollywood and would see big movie stars all the time
south bay has the best weather.
LA Native from Long Beach as well. I left in Apr 2022. For Europe. Good luck
These last two videos have been great! I’m glad we are moving past rural town videos
Woah careful with #1. Over 100 degrees is common in summer… and summer is long
The weather’s great.
Sure, not enough rain leading to water shortages. Awesome.
Lived in the Arcadia area back in the 80's. Could see the writing on the wall even then. Illegals, homeless, a lot of transients and runaways/ " free spirit " types. When Briggs touches on traffic, he skips over the general overcrowding in the entire city and a lot of the County. Everywhere you think about going, tens of thousands of others have the same idea. Beaches, parks, sporting events, entertainment venues, all of it is crowded. Lines of people waiting to get in, parking the car that you absolutely need to get around is a nightmare.
I tell people, L.A. is a great place to visit, but if you're thinking about moving there, better think real hard.