Leave LA?: Is The Math Good For LA?
Yesterday I talked about my experience in Waterloo, Iowa and my possible interest in leaving Los Angeles to move there.Many of you had very interesting things to say and I got just as many "don't let the door hit your ass on the way outs" as I expected as well as just as many "Mayor Sam please don't leaves."
So I figured the next step in this process was to do some research in comparing my current home to my potential future home.
Lets start with cost of living. According to Salary.com, the cost of living in Waterloo, Iowa is 49.6% lower than Los Angeles. However employers in Waterloo typically pay 18.7% less than employers in Los Angeles. Still you net enough to be equivalent of getting a 30% raise in pay. Sounds pretty good to me.
Now lets take a look at housing. I found two relatively comparable homes in the North Hollywood area and in Waterloo.
North Hollywood/Toluca Lake
2400 sq ft
8100 sq ft lot
3 Bed, 2.5 Bath
$925,000
Estimated Payment:
$4,918 Per Month
Waterloo
2400 sq ft
13,300 sq ft lot
3 Bed, 2.5 Bath
$254,900
Estimated Payment:
$1,234 Per Month
Source: Realtor.com
Let's take a look at crime. While Waterloo has more rapes and larceny per 1000 residents than Los Angeles, the crime rate otherwise is far lower. You're 12 times more likely to be murdered and about three times as likely to have your car stolen in LA than Waterloo.
Now lets take a look at weather. This is one place LA definitely has an advantage. In Waterloo, the warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. That's relatively close to the same stat for North Hollywood of 88.9 degrees Farenheit. Average rainfall in Waterloo is 33.15 inches while North Hollywood typically gets 17.49 inches of rain annually. Here's the kicker though - the coldest month in NoHo is January with an average low of 42 degrees. Waterloo typically sees cold days in January hit a low of 6.3 degrees. Brrrrr!!!
Stay tuned.
Labels: leave la?
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 9/25/2007 12:56:00 AM
27 Comments:
I consulted the Oracle about your dilemma. She said that "The river follows the path of least resistance." She also said,
"Watch out for that door, it will hit you in the ass."
Oh Mayor Sam, I could go on and on.
Check out how corrupt the local government is. You will find it just as bad as here. Well almost...
What is there to DO? Seriously, how long before you are bored out of your mind? The cities (or should I say towns) are so small and everybody knows everybody. This sounds great in theory, but not so when you just want to disappear for a weekend.
I don't know if anyone can relate unless they've lived in a small town.
What kind of food was there besides fried food and American diners? When you live here, you really take advantage of the Mexican, Chinese, French, Korean BBQ, Thai, Cuban and even Argentina has restaurants here. You would miss the hell out of that. Even if they have them, it's not so good getting Chinese food made American-style.
What is the diversity like? Do you really want to be surrounded by all whites? In the small towns I've experienced, it's blacks and whites. That's it. Nothing else. And they hate each other. It's horrible.
Cold sounds good until you're living in it and around March, the snow turns black and everyone around you is cranky as can be. Driving in the car, the road rage is worse than here because everyone is tired of the weather. The snow is pretty on Christmas Day, but after that people get tired of it really quickly.
Church socials are about the only thing happening on the weekends. Maybe a fish fry at the local Amvets or a horse shoe tournament at the nearest VFW. Bowling is the number one activity outside of watching movies. That's it.
People are more racist than you can possibly imagine when you leave L.A. You only think it's bad here and on this blog with all the Mexican haters, it sounds horrendous, but it's not really reflective of 80% of the average citizen here.
Not only are they racist, but they're small minded. They hate gays, blacks, asians, mexicans, any new technology, women in charge and any new idea that wasn't like that when they were growing up and "they're okay now". Or so they think. They're caught in traps.
You think that real estate looks good, but there won't be the salary to pay for the house, which never increases in value and eventually you don't make enough money to pay for it and it gets foreclosed on. When you want to move back here, it will be impossible to get back in the market.
Forget environmentalism. They hate it and believe it impedes big corporations and burdens them with pesky laws on air quality and groundwater.
The same people are sitting on the same bar stools wearing the same hats who were sitting there in 1980. Only problem now is there is not hair under that baseball hat. The women have all been recycled. You always end up dating your best friends old lady. It's just a big rotation. It sucks.
I don't know about the salary ranges, but good luck finding a real good job. Know what we out-of-staters have going for us here? We have solid work ethics. Native Californians will skip work at the drop of a hat to go to the beach or go to an audition. I know very few people who really good jobs in small midwestern states.
As someone who moved away from a small town in the midwest, I am speaking from experience and I've only touched on a small portion of the problems. There are many, many more but this post has gotten long enough.
Stay here.
I'd find out why they're raping and beating each other up at such high rates. Do they get drunk on Saturday night? Is it a blue collar town?
Are there "townies" and college kids, with the townies being pretty rough?
Something sounds fishy. The house in Iowa looks nicer than the million- dollar one story in NoHo, though.
http://www.waterloochamber.org/
Telemundo reassigns mayor's girlfriend
Robert Durell / LAT
Mirthala Salinas, a former fill-in anchor on KVEA-TV Channel 52, is being sent to Riverside as a general assignment reporter.
Dunno, Sam. Poster has a pretty scary scene about recycled women and balding men hiding their bare pates under grungy 27-year old hats. (Kind of sounds like Zuma Dogg, but worse, if that's possible.) Is that why they have to break up the monotony by raping the recycled women and beating up what competition exists for them? On the plus side, sounds easy to meet women, no need for internet dating. Especially if you still have hair.
Dunno, last time I went to Wisconsin worst thing was everyone smiling too much and pushing cheese on me. You know, the Cheeseheads. At least they do something for kicks there. What do they do in Waterloo? Besides eat bad Chinese food, play poker at the VFW and curse the black snow?
I don't buy that every small town is racist, though. Actually, with costs so cheap, and less stress, there isn't the feeling of "they're taking our jobs" or trashing our streets stuff. Even the worst public schools are like our better ones.
How is the traffic there? Does the Waterloo Council allow the developer to conduct its own EIR as currently done here in Los Angeles?
Currently, the ITE numbers used to predict the generated car trips do not apply in Los Angeles or anywhere in CA.
Fewer migrants mean more benefits
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-krikorian24sep24,0,2610312.story?
As immigration enforcement takes hold, jobs begin to open up to less-skilled Americans.
By Mark Krikorian
September 24, 2007
Immigration hawks have been on a winning streak lately. An unprecedented surge of public outrage at the prospect of amnesty for illegal immigrants led to the defeat in June of the Senate immigration bill and the probable end of President Bush's dream for comprehensive immigration reform. And that was merely the latest in a series of victories for supporters of tighter controls, including the Real ID Act of 2005, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, proliferating enforcement efforts at the state and local levels and a new package of modest but meaningful enforcement measures announced last month by the Department of Homeland Security.
What of the results? Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told The Times that "there will be some unhappy consequences for the economy out of doing this." While the enforcement climate is still too new to show results in government data one way or the other, Chertoff's prediction doesn't appear to be playing out. On the contrary, there is extensive anecdotal evidence that enforcement is actually having its desired effects: More illegal aliens are going home, leading to improved conditions for American workers and communities.
The first consequence of stepped-up enforcement is attrition of the illegal population -- a steady decrease in the total number of illegal aliens as more people give up and go home. Attrition is the real alternative to amnesty, and we're seeing it work.
The Arizona Republic ran a story last month explaining how migrants were leaving the state in anticipation of tough new immigration rules. Public radio station WBUR in Boston reported that "in the midst of the debate about immigrants coming to America, something unusual is happening in Massachusetts: Brazilian immigrants are quietly packing up and leaving." And the Chicago Tribune, reporting on the Pennsylvania town at the forefront of the resistance to illegal immigration, has written that "over the summer, when Hazleton officials created the nation's first ordinance aimed at driving away undocumented residents, thousands of people apparently packed up and left."
Far from having "unhappy consequences," these developments are improving the economic bargaining power of less-skilled American workers. The Rocky Mountain News reported that in Greeley, Colo., "the line of applicants hoping to fill jobs vacated by undocumented workers taken away by immigration agents at the Swift & Co. meat-processing plant . . . was out the door." New England Cable News reported that only after a raid on a plant making leather goods for the military in New Bedford, Mass., were Americans and legal immigrants able to get hired. As one new employee said of the raid: "In a way, you know, it's sad, and then in a way it's good because at least it gives people that were not employed for so many years . . . a break to be able to work and support their families."
When illegal aliens were removed from a Crider Poultry plant in Stillmore, Ga., the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Wall Street Journal documented the benefits to local workers. The plant raised wages significantly, began offering free shuttles from nearby towns and provided free rooms in a company-owned dormitory. For the first time, Crider sought applicants from the state unemployment office and began hiring probationers and men from a local homeless mission. And, as the Journal noted, "for the first time since significant numbers of Latinos began arriving in Stillmore in the late 1990s, the plant's processing lines were made up predominantly of African Americans."
Better enforcement doesn't result only in economic improvements. While there is an ongoing scholarly debate about the overall crime rates of immigrants versus the native-born, there's no doubt that tougher enforcement has had a notable effect on gang activity. In an upcoming study, my Center for Immigration Studies reports that using immigration law against gangs has helped bring about a 39% drop in gang activity in the Washington suburb of Fairfax County, and Dallas police report a 20% drop in the murder rate as a result of the same initiative.
Of course, the consequence of uncontrolled immigration that most ordinary Americans see is what political scientist Peter Skerry calls "social disorder." Hazleton offers a good example: While cleaning graffiti from her building, a local locksmith told the Tribune that "about the same time the ordinance passed, the whole tone of the street changed. Virtually overnight, it was a totally different place."
As recent enforcement victories are sustained and expanded, we can begin to document the benefits in other areas: less stress on hospital emergency rooms, less-crowded classrooms, slower growth in government social spending. But the results we've seen so far are clear: We can get illegal aliens to return home, and doing so will improve conditions in American communities. Why didn't we start doing this a long time ago?
Don't make too strong a case or everyone here will follow you to Iowa, and then it won't be the bucolic paradise it appears to you to be now. We export our troubles very well.
We all know people leading nice lives in places like Waterloo, but we're here for other reasons than just looking for a "nice life." If it's all just about comparative prices and salaries and crime rates, why are any of us here?
How much will a stinky van cost in Iowa?
How about gas, coffee and breakfast rolls?
How many minutes can one get on TV when addressing the city council?
If one wears a smelly old ski cap and comes in half shaven and rants and raves and does the jig and does it all in a sing-song way, will they be tolerated or institutionalized immediately?
Please, these are serious questions that I need answereda before I have my home (er, van) towed to Iowa.
Be skeptical of crime statistics. You should really only be concerned about stats related to the specific locations that you will likely visit. Yet, most statistics are given for an overall region. That includes, of course, the worst crime areas and and best crime areas. So, if you live around the worst crime areas then you'll be effected by the worst of the crime, as the stats indicate. Conversely, for the better areas. This point of consideration may be obvious, but I think it is well worth stating and re-examining.
Is Waterloo a small, hick town? If so, you may reconsider Waterloo and look at a different town. Ask your readers for recommendations.
Hate to skip to the nitty gritty, but LA is all about the entertainment, eateries, and social aspects. That's where your biggest detailed assessment and impact observations should be held.
Do a comparative with Vancouver, Wa. Colder weather, but still no Mid West conformity attitudes. 2 hrs from Seattle, near the coast and across the river from Portland.
Sweet
I think the answer is to have a small condo in both places, and wait until you can semi-retire. That's what I'm going to do. AFter all, you do have friends and families here like I do. It's just the feeling of being trapped here by the likes of Mayor Villar that grates. Having an escape hatch would be good. All my friends who have left are extremely happy.
To answer some of the questions Waterloo is not really a hick town. There are hick towns in Iowa for sure, but Waterloo is not one of them. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls area is home to a major university, University of Northern Iowa. Waterloo reminds me of Pasadena in a lot of ways. Except it has a beautiful river flowing through it.
I'm not really sure why they have more rapes, maybe because of the college kids.
And I don't know anything yet about their clowncil.
That looks awesome.
But who really cares?
Make a decision. Stick with it. Be a man for goodness sake.
11:34pm,
LMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAO!!!!
Oh my goodness...to quote Metallica, "You know it's sad, but tru-uuue!"
BUT, there is something to be said for both scenarios.
The cold weather and boredom IS the big problem with almost anywhere between NYC and CA...but we all know the problems with LA/Southern Cali at this point.
If someone can actually be happy in the midwest, I say more power to them...it IS a better life!
How many pork tenderloin sammiches can you eat at once? For me, an Iowa diner's blue plate special might be the big draw. I see Waterloo is pretty close to Iowa City and there's your entertainment and cultural enrichment. Sorry, but I realy don't dig the local climate and crazy weather; totally unpredictable with high humidity or snow and tornadoes. I also don't dig the obsessive gossip in some small midwestern towns. I don't need a neighbors I don't really love telling me they heard I had too many pork tenderloin sammiches Tuesday night at the bowling alley coffee shop.
Beaches, deserts, mountains, and "RED ENCLAVES OF REASON". Can't leave, maybe I'll move to Boyle Heights
Good morning my lord Mayor (winces after getting flu shot, pulls shirt back on and motions to Mayor Sam to follow as he walks out of infirmary):
May I make a suggestion to you? If you are THAT enamoured with Waterloo then purchase a vacation home there. I, if you will, have a residence in Hawaii that I commute home to on occasion. I also live aboard in the Marina, have a loft downtown and a compound in the Palisades, as well as a compound in the Hollywood hills, a home in the Valley, a cottage in the hills of El Sereno that my mum occupies, a home in the hills of San Pedro and a smart townhome on Navy Street in Venice. And then there is the family estate in England, the summer house in the Caymans and various other places ‘round the globe that belong to family and friends, savvy? It’s nice to move around, but there is no place like the Pearl (who is currently in Miami) to lay one’s head for a man’s heart is with his ship and his ship is his home.
(Smiles and puts arm around Mayor Sam) I can guarantee you this, sirrah, that no matter where you go you will always want to be here for here is where we all wanted to be and now here we are. We come from the Land of Oz, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Ireland and Great Britan, New Zealand (tips hat to Matt Dowd), Turks and Caicos with an emphasis on the words “came from”. But now we are here. (Sighs) Even if the goings on are unpleasant and we are looking at either the imposition of a personal income tax or an increase in the sales tax for the City only, it’s still a wonderful place to be. Why? (Whispers) Because when you go to places like Waterloo or Devon or Belfast or Georgetown or Christchurch you realize how lucky you are to be there until you start to miss being here, savvy? And of course if you go, you might not ever be able to afford to come back.
(Slaps Mayor Sam on back with the arm that did not get the flu shot and grins) Hope this was helpful to you.
Last I heard, Vancouver was still in Canada, not Washington State. Maybe one reason it's so nice and clean. But ironically, as we're getting tougher on illegals, they're moving to Canada and taking their problems with them. Canadians aren't used to it, and with their extensive free health care and social services, even a few hundred illegals in a town are stirring up consternation. Nothing against the illegals as people, but no infrastructure can handle the volumes we've had without problems.
Looks like there are more rapists and thieves in Waterloo, Iowa than here in L.A, those damn Mexican illegal aliens, and the midget mechista Mayor are now screwing things up in Waterloo, Iowa. Deport the illegal aliens of Waterloo immediately and take Reyes and Huziar with you they are the scum of world.
Patca said .........
It's just the feeling of being trapped here by the likes of Mayor Villar that grates.
********************
Patca you speak with so much wisdom, I also feel trapped by the midget Mexican Mayor. Every night as I try to sleep I have visions of the mayor chasing a naked Mirthala Salinas.
As I try and open my garage to leave for work, I also feel trapped by the Mayor as he takes control of my garage door remote control. At work I feel trapped at my desk as the mayor stands guard at the imaginary door of my blue carpet-lined cubicle. Even as I try to exit the faux marble bathroom-stall, I also feel trapped by the mayor as he presses his weight on the outside of the bathroom stall door. At the Arco-AmPm gas station there is the damn mayor keeping me trapped in my Toyota, damn that mayor let me out of my car to buy the expensive gasoline of which you funds your Mecha movement.
Patca, I am glad there are others who understand the evil and madness which is Mayor V, who has us trapped here in Los Angeles. That damn mayor must be stopped he has me trapped everywhere I go. Mayor Sam, I might also move to Iowa to escape Mayor V. and find intelligent, fair and honest people like us.
Dude, someone's going to have to tie you down and force you to watch the 14 Deming points as interpreted in convoluded and rambling detail by zuma dogg, and then videos of same. The stuff he tells Huizee at end of his post, will save his career and solve his staff turnover problem. At the very least, it will fill your head with a terror far worse than anything Villar the midget Mexican Mayor can be inflicting on your tortured soul.
This should be required reading and viewing for anyone filing suit against the city, from Tennie Pierce to Mutt's mate Matt.
I was referring to Vancouver,Washington, just across/north of Portland, on the southern border of Washington on the Columbia River.
another thing about Iowa vs Ca, if you want, you can drive north to Santa Barbara in a couple hrs or south to San Diego, both beautiful cities, drive in Iowa, for a couple hrs, you still have Iowa, or if you cross the border, another state that looks identical. Plus, the women here are a good collection of everywhere, where in Iowa, there have all been on Jerry Springer.
I really like this comment from above:
"Not only are they racist, but they're small minded. They hate gays, blacks, asians, mexicans, any new technology, women in charge and any new idea that wasn't like that when they were growing up and "they're okay now". Or so they think. They're caught in traps."
As a Mid-West transplant to LA, I find that statement to be completely untrue and lame.
Move, go to the Mid-West and unwind. Your quality of life will improve greatly. Seriously. Good luck!
I grew up in Waterloo and now live in Orange County. One thing that I have learned is that your sterotypes of midwest people is almost as offensive as racist comments.
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