LYT's Weblog

One of the things you have to do before relocating is to contact the local police department and ask them of the nature of the neighborhood. A ex-girlfriend of mine 10 years ago was able to do that and they assisted her in providing the recent statistics... Also, talk to folks who are part of that neighborhood such as a committee of some kind that represents their neighborhood...

Also, distinctive signs should give you an idea of what that area is all about like:

THE BAD:
- graffitti
- adult book stores
- more than one liquor store...
etc...

THE GOOD:
- more than one police station
- a community of mostly families and elderly folks
- a lot of schools and churches around the area.
- an aggressive Neighborhood Patrol
etc...

These are what I watch out for everytime I relocate.

I'd prefer a Hispanic neighborhood. I miss the tamale mobile that would roll our old place every other morning.

we may be moving to a "good" place by all those criteria - an certainly absence of the threat of crime or likely neighbourhood noise is generally good - however, I wouldn't like to have just rich folk around - it feels a bit creepy - and its the one thing I worry about re the house we are (hopefully) moving to...

17th and Main isn't bad. For the most part, it's smack in the middle of a lot of industrial/retail lots. I wouldn't go much further west on 17th than that, as that heads you into the poorer neighborhoods where there's more likely to be gang issues.

There's a shopping center a couple miles up 17th to the East, at 17th and Tustin, and they have a fantastic hot dog place I have to tell you about--Jerry's Fire Roasted Dogs. OMG!

You would be in worse territory going toward Santa Ana College, or the Courthouse district, if you ask me. Some areas of Santa Ana are quite nice, so don't let anyone write it all off as a dump, or gang territory.

I used to live in Orange, right in the barrio by Chapman University. We would get graffiti painted on our fence, but other than that, the gangs really don't do a whole helluva lot to pester the locals.

I worked in Orange, at Main and the 22 Fwy, and I often banked at the WaMu on 17th and Main. It is a predominantly Hispanic area, but most of the people are just doing what you're doing--trying to make it, living their lives, not harming anyone.

But asking the police for incident reports couldn't hurt.

Aw, all this talk about potentially bad neighborhoods. I say, it's the neighborhoods who should be concerned about LYT moving in!

Glad to see you have some options and insight to the area already.

Peggy - Are you referring to the Jerry's at 17th & Tustin? Because that place is awesome. Although there might be a second Jerry's down 17th. I heard a rumor they are a chain.

THEY HAVE JALEPENO DOGS! Yummy!

Julie,

Yes, I'm talking about Jerry's. They weren't a chain the last time I talked to the owner, but he opened this one in hopes he could build a chain. He deserves it, too--damn good food!

For those of you who haven't been--they have an open wood-fire grill on which your food is cooked. You can get burgers and a variety of dogs/brats, and they make homemade fries AND homemade chips.

Luke
Do I gather this is all part of a move which will end up with you having a salary and health insurance again ? -

Luke, did you get the place? Because I've got a sweet room up the road. . . .

offpat - yes.

rebecca - I'll know tomorrow.

Well, you know where to find me, yes? Or would renting a room from me get you fired all over again?