Thanks to my father my family moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after WWII. There are many reasons for not bringing your family to Los Angeles. Most of them are poor arguments.
Metropolitan Los Angeles spreads across five counties. Traveling north to south it spreads across a distance of about 75 miles and from the beach to inland cities and towns and spreads east about 50 miles. Many people travel a distance of 30 to 35 miles just to go to work. For most people a car is necessary for the commute to work.
Homes are relatively expensive. Even with the downturn in housing prices for a home of 1700 to 2000 square feet will cost at least $350,000. Those least expensive homes are in lower income neighborhoods.
What makes the city desirable are the following features:
1. Total annual rainfall averages 16 inches. Snow is a rarity. Temperature today reached 87ºF/30ºC at my home (October 26, 2009). Winter temperatures drop below freezing at night for about a week every January. How far below freezing? One to three degrees.
2. The entertainment facilities are second to none. Live theater is in neighborhood venues, the Hollywood Bowl, L.A. Live, Staples Center, Disney Hall, comedy clubs, etc.
3. Medical facilities include UCLA, City of Hope, Cedars Sinai Hospital, etc.
4. Universities are too numerous to list but include UCLA, USC, California State University has four campuses.
5. Beaches include Santa Monica, Malibu, and Laguna.
6. Amusement parks include Universal City, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Magic Mountain.
7. The largest port in America and the entertainment industry brings lots of job opportunities.
8. There is also the zoo, museums, gardens, and wonderful shopping malls.
What’s wrong with this picture? The people are too liberal, many races and ethnic groups are intermixed throughout the city. West Hollywood is an internationally known gay and lesbian community. You may have to wait an hour and a half to be seated at Miceli’s and parking at the Beverly Center is always a challenge.
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