FED LEO here - may transfer to LA - Pros and Cons?

[caption]

Hi all,

I referenced this in an earlier thread, but I thought I might throw this out here for further comments.

I'm a Fed LEO (as the title says) that works for a small agency that requires its agents to change positions or locations every few years. I may have the opportunity to move to the LA office for two or three years. Move to and from will be funded

Any time I mention I might like to move to LA for work, I'm met with a chorus of "Don't do it. It's too liberal. It's too expensive. You'll hate it" or similar comments.


So, here are the negatives I've heard.

-LA is expensive (but probably not much more expensive than Northern Virginia, where I've already lived.)

-Traffic is bad. (It's bad in Northern Virginia as well.)

-The urban sprawl is soul sucking. (Yes, it's bad, but every time I visit I see the mountains surrounding LA and think about hiking in them. There's skiing -at least some years- and it might be fun to explore the desert.)

-The gun laws and lack of gun ranges (You got me here. I won't be shooting as much USPSA when I'm there, and I guess I have to store my high-cap magazines for my personal weapons somewhere else and buy some 10 rounders. But concealed carry laws don't effect me.)

The flip side...

-Most of our openings are in the big cities (NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, SF, Houston, etc.) So it's not like I'm turning down a very livable idyllic college town in the moutains for LA.

--Someone always mentions Houston. Sure, Houston has the NASA-inspired COLA, but talk about soul-sucking urban sprawl. At least LA has some neighborhoods that you can walk, right? Houston is flat with miles and miles of housing that looks the same. While the gun laws are relaxed, it's not the shooters paradise you might expect. A friend has to drive a ways to shoot at a public range. Hunting options are poor since most of the land is private and leased.

--I'd be closer to the in-laws. Happy wife, happy life.

--I like the outdoors - hiking, whitewater kayaking, trail running, etc. If you can get out of LA, from what I can tell there's a lot to do.

--It's only for two or three years. Wife will be working, so we can technically 'afford' it.

I'd be working downtown most days. A buddy lived in Pasadena and said the commute was manageable.

Talk me out of it, or into it.

Thanks.

[oath-keeper]

You could always leave to the Sierras or the desert for week end. I'm 3 hours from LA, I won't go there for any reason. My 4 year old will never see Disneyland...

[Garand1911]

If you can do Pasadena, or near there then do it. Pasadena is nice and has decent nightlife. But it gets hot there in the summer, no ocean breeze. The commute to downtown LA isn't too far, maybe take the train into union station.
You are up against the mtns, maybe 30 min from angeles shooting range.

[Euphoria526]

Agreed. Find a spot right outside of LA proper and you'll be good. If your going to be visiting and going downtown often, Pasadena is awesome. So is Burbank. Very suburban like atmosphere and very neighbor oriented and friendly.

[Steponmytoes]

I believe quality of life exceeds other major cities. Its expensive here but not New York / SF expensive. Commute can be bad but not boston, chicago, new york bad (Just avoid west los angeles). Weather beats all those places for sure. Last thing, food is a big thing for me and L.A. has some amazing food. Overall lots to do and see. A big downside is the restrictive gun laws but you will probably have access to stuff that we can't... So yea you could do a lot worse than L.A.

[CBR_rider]

So, here are the negatives I've heard.

-LA is expensive (but probably not much more expensive than Northern Virginia, where I've already lived.)

I hate LA and personally wouldn't take a job there due to traffic, smog, too many people, and cost of living. I can't afford to live in any of the "nice" areas near the actual city itself.

-Traffic is bad. (It's bad in Northern Virginia as well.)

See above

-The urban sprawl is soul sucking. (Yes, it's bad, but every time I visit I see the mountains surrounding LA and think about hiking in them. There's skiing -at least some years- and it might be fun to explore the desert.)

I don't care much for hot, dry mountain areas. If I was moving to California and had a choice of large, urban areas to live in I would choose somewhere around San Francisco or San Diego.

-The gun laws and lack of gun ranges (You got me here. I won't be shooting as much USPSA when I'm there, and I guess I have to store my high-cap magazines for my personal weapons somewhere else and buy some 10 rounders. But concealed carry laws don't effect me.)

Depends on where you live. There are many parts of the state where you can shoot out in the woods or desert without any issues.

The flip side...

-Most of our openings are in the big cities (NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, SF, Houston, etc.) So it's not like I'm turning down a very livable idyllic college town in the moutains for LA.

Again, I would personally take a SF position over LA but I'm not the one moving (nor do I even know if that is an option for you). Have you visited LA area much?

--Someone always mentions Houston. Sure, Houston has the NASA-inspired COLA, but talk about soul-sucking urban sprawl. At least LA has some neighborhoods that you can walk, right? Houston is flat with miles and miles of housing that looks the same. While the gun laws are relaxed, it's not the shooters paradise you might expect. A friend has to drive a ways to shoot at a public range. Hunting options are poor since most of the land is private and leased.

You think the city of LA is much different????? There are certainly some different neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs can have their own feel; but LA itself blows (again, in my opinion).

--I'd be closer to the in-laws. Happy wife, happy life.

Good point; but how far with traffic are they?

--I like the outdoors - hiking, whitewater kayaking, trail running, etc. If you can get out of LA, from what I can tell there's a lot to do.

If I were forced to live in LA I would be headed down to San Diego area frequently to get out on the water or up the Central Coast if I wanted to do ocean activities. As far as mountains go; I prefer the Sierra Nevada Mountains from about Kings Canyon National Park and North from there.

--It's only for two or three years. Wife will be working, so we can technically 'afford' it.

I'd be working downtown most days. A buddy lived in Pasadena and said the commute was manageable.

Talk me out of it, or into it.

If it will make the wife happy, you want a change of scenery, can afford to live somewhere decent, and can deal with working in one of the cesspools of California (again, my opinion of LA itself and much of the surrounding urban sprawl) because it gets you closer to some outdoor activities you enjoy go ahead. Long as you have spent some time out here in the LA area and know what you are getting into go ahead and make sure to see all the California highlights while you are living out here: Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm during first responder appreciation days, go up and down our (mostly) beautiful coast, do some Tuna fishing, spend some time on Coronado Island (one of my favorite places around San Diego), eat at Roscoe's in Long Beach, Hollywood, and then definitely head North and spend time in the better parts of the state (aside from San Diego!).

In bold

[mexicangunlover]

why would you have to store your hi cap mags and only us peasants cant have them.

[the-right-way]

Well one thing on the pro side is that you will be really busy. I understand lots of crime happens in the area.

If you work in a field that deals with illegal immigration I believe that LA is a sanctuary city so you will be playing catch and release.

Good luck and stay safe.

[WyattandDoc]

Hi all,

I referenced this in an earlier thread, but I thought I might throw this out here for further comments.

I'm a Fed LEO (as the title says) that works for a small agency that requires its agents to change positions or locations every few years. I may have the opportunity to move to the LA office for two or three years. Move to and from will be funded

Any time I mention I might like to move to LA for work, I'm met with a chorus of "Don't do it. It's too liberal. It's too expensive. You'll hate it" or similar comments.


So, here are the negatives I've heard.

-LA is expensive (but probably not much more expensive than Northern Virginia, where I've already lived.)

-Traffic is bad. (It's bad in Northern Virginia as well.)

-The urban sprawl is soul sucking. (Yes, it's bad, but every time I visit I see the mountains surrounding LA and think about hiking in them. There's skiing -at least some years- and it might be fun to explore the desert.)

-The gun laws and lack of gun ranges (You got me here. I won't be shooting as much USPSA when I'm there, and I guess I have to store my high-cap magazines for my personal weapons somewhere else and buy some 10 rounders. But concealed carry laws don't effect me.)

The flip side...

-Most of our openings are in the big cities (NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, SF, Houston, etc.) So it's not like I'm turning down a very livable idyllic college town in the moutains for LA.

--Someone always mentions Houston. Sure, Houston has the NASA-inspired COLA, but talk about soul-sucking urban sprawl. At least LA has some neighborhoods that you can walk, right? Houston is flat with miles and miles of housing that looks the same. While the gun laws are relaxed, it's not the shooters paradise you might expect. A friend has to drive a ways to shoot at a public range. Hunting options are poor since most of the land is private and leased.

--I'd be closer to the in-laws. Happy wife, happy life.

--I like the outdoors - hiking, whitewater kayaking, trail running, etc. If you can get out of LA, from what I can tell there's a lot to do.

--It's only for two or three years. Wife will be working, so we can technically 'afford' it.

I'd be working downtown most days. A buddy lived in Pasadena and said the commute was manageable.

Talk me out of it, or into it.

Thanks.

Whoever said what's highlighted is absolutely correct.

[PTLaro]

If it is only for 2-3 years and it sounds like it is similar to Northern Virginia issues, then you should be fine. SoCal definitely has the great weather and from LA you could visit San Diego or go to Mountains all very easy to get to. So if you haven't lived in Cali before this might be a good time. I have lived in SoCal all my life and I love the State it's just the politicians that are running it and some of the laws that I have a problem with.

Be safe especially in LA

I have to say this because the native SoCals say "When you do leave, take two people with you".

[CaptMike]

There some ok areas around LA. Some parts of pasadena are nice. La Cresenta is about 20 min from downtown and nice. Some parts of the san gabriel valley are nice. If you want ri live close to downtown, silverlake is decent but expensive. Politics definitely suck but we are close to everything and the weather is pretty great.

[Eirerogue]

Take HOUSTON! No State tax, housing is way less and lots to do.LA housing will be a squeeze and suburbs mean long commutes.

[hey_scooter]

Every 2-3 years? You sure you're GS?

[fmxmyway]

GS-10 at the minimum. The name is Bond....James Bond. LA is nice dude, expensive and a bunch of libs but youll never be bored and the weather is indeed nice. Welcome to the party!

[FenixHaus]

-LA is expensive. Don't live downtown or in the city of Los Angeles. There are plenty of towns just 20 - 30 minutes away with affordable housing and low crime. Pasadena, Alhambra, West Covina, Long beach, Downey, Whittier. ..


-Traffic is bad. It really isn't that bad depending on what day and time you're in the road.

-The urban sprawl is soul sucking. Everything is within an hour or 2. Mountains, beaches, rivers, lakes. There's even hiking trails IN the city. LA has lots to do.

-The gun laws and lack of gun ranges. We have plenty of indoor ranges nearby and plenty within an hour. Competition shooting nearby too. Mag caps don't apply to you. Hunting available about an hour away.

Private message me if you have questions. I'm not a fan of the hipsters and I'd like to get the hell out of California when I retire but i'm happy here right now.