San Pedro

Thanks S.P. Veteran. I think I wet myself. I want to go to Iraq too.

Ah, yes. Paradise indeed. It was a quite week around here considering there were no murders. In addition to the crimes reported below, there were 26 narcotics related arrests, 22 driving under the influence, 11 arrests for prostitution, 7 arrests for driving without a license, and a partridge in a pair tree.

Kinda makes me all nostalgic for being back in Iraq.

A window into a week in the typical life of San Pedro:

1. Rape – 500 block of W. 15th St
2. Shots fired - medical marijuana business on 4th and Gaffey.
3. Robbery - 7-Eleven, 1700 block of W. 25th Street. A man in his late teens entered the store, hit the clerk with a belt, took unspecified merchandise and fled in a green, four-door vehicle driven by a male accomplice.
4. Theft from Vehicle - 400 block of W. Oliver St.
5. Burglary (The unlawful entry of a home to commit a felony ) - 100 block of Myler.
6. Theft - 300 block of N Western Ave.
7. Violent Robbery at 200 block of N Western Ave.
8. Theft From Vehicle - 200 block of N Wycliff Ave.
9. Theft From Vehicle - 400 block of W Oliver St.
10. Theft - 500 block of S Gaffey St
11. Aggravated Assault - 500 block of W 8th St
12. Burglary - 300 block of W 10th St
13. Grand Theft Auto - 1300 block of S Centre St
14. Theft From Vehicle - 1200 block of S Seaside Av
15. Theft From Vehicle - 800 block of W 9th St Bottom of Form
16. Theft From Vehicle - 700 block of W 9th St
17. Theft - 1200 block S Gaffey St
18. Theft From Vehicle - 500 block of W 15th St
19. Theft - 400 block of W 17th St
20. Violent Robbery at 17th and Gaffey
21. Theft From Vehicle - 5700 block of Crescent Park E
22. Vehicle - 300 block of W 33rd St
23. Burglary - 500 block of W 37th St
24. Theft From Vehicle - 600 block of W 40th St
25. Theft From Vehicle - 3200 block of S Walker Av
26. Theft From Vehicle - 1300 block of W 27th Dr
27. Grand Theft Auto - 2600 block of Dolphin Av
28. Grand Theft Auto - 1000 block of W 24th St
29. Theft From Vehicle - 1300 block of W 20th St
30. Theft From Vehicle - 15th and Leland
31. Theft - 1000 W 15th St
32. Burglary - 1600 block of W 11th St
33. Theft 1600 block of W 25th St
34. Theft From Vehicle - 1700 Vallecito Dr
35. Burglary - 1900 block of Vallecito Dr
36. Burglary - 2900 block of Anchovy Av
37. Theft From Vehicle - 2000 block of W 35th St
38. Burglary - 700 block of Bynner Dr

Nobody has mentioned the tiny neighborhood markets. I used to ride to the one at 16th and Centre when I was a kid and it's still there.

I wanted to point out that detailed information about school performance is available on this site too -- including specific data on the performance of magnet programs. Just click the tab above that says "schools" to learn more.

Woah, I had to chime in here about the magnet school at South Shores. Personal opinions aside, there are lots of websites to check out the school stats, and to the person who said the school was mediocre, and only middling by LAUSD standards, I beg to differ. Check the facts. South Shores Magnet scores higher in math, science and language arts than most California schools, let along the ones in L.A. One site said South Shores is has moved up from 9/10 to 10/10 in overall performance rating. Mediocre? I don't think so.

Yes, there are several lower performing schools in Pedro, but still enough good ones to provide choice. Like any city, unless you are going to a magnet or charter school, home schools vary depending on which part of town you live.

Again, tarring all of Pedro with one brush just isn't going to fly.

Six months ago I decided to walk every street in San Pedro. I wanted to see everything the city had to offer me; good, bad and in between. I started on the north end at Five Points and have snaked my way east and west, heading south to Cabrillo Beach. I've taken thousands of pictures and I'm only 2/3 of the way through.

I named my project San Pedro: Block by Block because I knew I would have to walk it in chunks over a period of time. As I hit the pavement, the prejudices I had began to crumble. I was walking streets I hadn't even driven before. I saw beautiful houses in yucky areas and yucky houses in beautiful areas. I've seen things on the streets that made me laugh and some that have made me angry. Soon San Pedro: Block by Block was morphing from a title into a philosophy. If you're thinking about moving here, you have to take San Pedro on a block by block basis. Yup, you're gonna have to work for it, but it's worth it.

If you want to know what it's like to live here, I can only describe it like this: Living in San Pedro is like living in an eternal family reunion. Mostly everyone knows eachother, and if they don't know you, they at least know your business. Some people you like, some make you crazy and some you wouldn't mind if you never saw again. There's good food, games, music and the occasional madness all with the prettiest backdrop you've ever seen. And we do it all in our matching San Pedro t-shirts.

To "I Live In Torrance" You don't live in SP, you don't know anything about us because you don't live here. You don't have the knowledge or authority to comment about us. Stay in your litte boring white suburban enclave. We don't want your kind here.

Hey SP Veteran:
Okay, Sherlock, you guessed a connection but got it wrong. Pedro Mom and I do know each other - she saw my post after hers and called me up to let me know she was posting. After that we were hooked on the board for about two days and that's why our comments were so similar. We would read what others said, compare notes, get outraged, then bash away on our computers. Who cares who writes up here, anyway - everyone's entitled to their opinion. One person going on and on, or lots of people chiming in. Everyone can have their say, and that's the way it goes here.

Pedro Mom told me she's over it all now, so I'll pass Avril's invitation on. They do live in the same part of town. I'm near the PV border up by Park Western.

Oh, you quirky San Pedrans! I hear a lot of artists live down there. Maybe this is just performance piece, like those big groups of people who start dancing in the supermarkets or Grand Central Station....

There is only one Rick Arellano and he would never pretend to be someone else. There is no one else I would rather be. I am pretty amazing.

SP Veteran (who doesn't even use his real name) I live near 13th and Palos Verdes Streets - yes, right in the old part of town. I don't know where any of the other people live but I'm wondering how you came up with an idea like that? Perhaps you do this yourself? I've never actually posted anywhere before and found that anonymity provides people with a brazenness they wouldn't have otherwise.

I do think that posters on the board should have to use their names, like those who write opinion letters to the Times. I think people would be more civilized. Pedro Mom, if you do check back in, I have coffee at Sacred Grounds on a regular basis. Come by, and if you see an older lady with a woven red tam, that's me. SP Veteran - you're welcome too!

Pedro Mom;

You, Pat, Avril, Rick and House Hunting have lost credibility on this board.

Methinks the lady doth protest too much - some of these are the same person Pedro Mom, Pat, Avril, Rick.

Dear I Heart L.A.:
The farthest part of San Pedro may be within walking distance but it would take a few hours. South Shores is a several very hilly miles from downtown. I'm not sure what your point was, but there are plenty of people who live a lot closer to downtown who are not near any whizzing bullets.

My son went to South Shores and I know several parents who's kids have or still go there and the school has a 9/10 rating by LAUSD standards (sorry, that's all we have to go on in L.A.) - it goes up every year and is now just a few points below a 900 API score. The school also offers a full range of creative arts, including band, dance, theatre, visual arts; something that is sadly being stripped from other LAUSD schools due to the budget crunch. South Shores has an active PTO, involved parents, and a no-nonsense principal. I wouldn't dismiss the locale as 'academically irrelevant'. Kids who attend inner city schools around the country certainly are affected by the surrounding environment - gang activity, drug sales, fear of walking to school, this is often discussed as a challenge for students. South Shores is in a beautiful residential neighborhood with the clean sea air, and when I drove my son there every day I marveled at how beautiful the view was - 360 degrees of ocean. For parents who can't afford private school, this and Park Western Magnet are good choices. Taper, on the north end of town is also good, from what I hear, with similar parent participation and a nice campus.

San Pedro High used to be a good school and it has deteriorated markedly in the last decade. Hopefully the school choice program will breathe new life back into it - and there are magnet and charter schools for middle and high school. There will be a new campus near Point Fermin for the Marine Sciences Magnet, among others.

It's all about making choices in an economically mixed area. Some of the challenges we face here in Pedro.

I am so glad to see everyone jumping on the board with their point of view, and relieved that someone coming here to check out San Pedro, will get a fuller picture of life in this city - in all its diversity. So I humbly rescind my opinion that the board should be wiped clean. Leave everything up - the good, the bad, and the opinionated!

And geez, how many times do I have to defend my right to say that my life here is good? I never said it was 'blissful' or that it was 'paved with gold streets' or that 'children frolicked in the streets without fear'- that was someone trying to make a point and putting words in my mouth. Avril said kids play in the streets, and in some parts of town, that's true - Check out areas east of Gaffey in the old part of town during the afternoons and weekends sometime, and the streets are full of skateboarders, kids on bikes, kids playing street football. Would I let my kids play in the streets? No way. But I didn't let them play in the streets when I lived in a much nicer neighborhood in Santa Monica either.

What is emerging here is that, as Valen said in an earlier post, this is a whole city, with bad areas, transitional areas, middle class areas, and wealthy areas. My life here is comfortable, and as good as advertised, because I'm used to city living and just as others have posted here, I know how to tailor my life to focus on the interesting and safe things available here, and avoid getting into areas where there are obvious problems. I'm also not Pedro-centric either - I shop, dine, and go to events in town, but also all over the South Bay and Los Angeles.

I can leave this board now feeling a bit better. I only got on here when I saw the rash of really horrible things being said about Pedro and wanted to give my two cents. Both cents were genuine, I assure you. All of you have filled in the blanks on their version of how to navigate the Pedro experience, and I appreciate hearing so many voices.

Hey, I'm the one who was talking about Trumps - Avril, poor thing, was taking responsibility for something she didn't even do - that's a small town for you!

Trumps is in RPV (Rancho Palos Verdes for y'all), down the road from South Shores (where I do not live, unfortunately, because some of those houses are dreamy), but it does raise one of those SP insider things. We border RPV and that border changed a while back to incorporate some of SP's residential areas. It's true that for some, there is desire not to have Pedro as a mailing address. Our love/hate relationship with this place! Pedro or PV, depends on what side of the street you're on in some areas.

Some interesting info, and stats (from the L.A. Times above) that people might like to know:

San Pedro is classified as a large 'neighborhood' compared to others in the metropolitan area. It has among the highest number of high-school and college graduates in metropolitan Los Angeles, and our income is also among the highest. Highest number of veterans (due to our past as a navy base), and an almost equal ethnic mix of European and Mexican/Central/South American immigrants, most who have roots here for many generations due to the once-robust fishing industry. This is where StarKist Tuna started.

Once a Navy shipyard and base, the military still houses many of its officers in upscale compounds around the city.

San Pedro has the only post office in the United States run solely by volunteers, in the Weymouth Corners area. The other post office, on the waterfront, is a historic building and inside is a large example of mural painted with WPA artists in the 30's.

This is a Port town, where many community members work for one of the largest employers in SoCal, many blue collar jobs, often for six figure salaries.

We have a working Red Car trolley, one of a few restored or re-created from the days when Los Angeles had a network of trolley cars. It runs along the waterfront, and will eventually take visitors to Cabrillo Beach.

The cruise industry here is active, with ships docking most days; recently the Port renovated part of the Cruise Center waterfront and added a $14M fountain similar to the one at the Bellagio Hotel in Los Vegas, that is choreographed to music.

Though still blighted in some older parcels, San Pedro has undergone a noticeable change in downtown development, with a group of investors renovating historic buildings into condos, and creating new highrises. Although sales have been slow due to the economic downturn, these investors have organized and begun to show their muscle to help the community see more economic benefits from the wealth brought in by the Port's shipping interests. Despite our large size and the influence of the Port, we still only hold one seat on Los Angeles City Council We do not get our share of the economic pie down here, but it's improving. We still have a long way to go.

We face the Pacific on two coasts. Parts of San Pedro have the only east-facing coast in Southern California. The southern exposure provides views of Catalina Island, and is the main migratory route for whales. Hundreds are seen every year. We have a large recreational marina, two beaches, one is inside the breakwater and looks pretty but the water is not clean. The outer facing beach is rated A+ and provides a hidden oasis for locals.

I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce, in case you were wondering. I just want people to understand how diverse and complex, and yes, interesting, this 'neighborhood' is.

To “San Pedro Isn’t For Everyone”

Finally, a voice of reason. I’ve been lurking on this board for a couple of months. I’ve lived in San Pedro all of my life, with the exception of time I spent in the armed forces.

San Pedro is a nice place to live – if you stay out of certain areas. There is plenty of good along with plenty of bad. I love going to the Korean Bell, Point Fermin, and the Marine Mammal Center to look at the sea lions. All are family friendly and educational places. My children love riding on the old trolley near the water front.

Do I let my kids walk around without supervision? Of course not. But, what I don’t like about San Pedro, I can usually find something to negate that within 10 or 15 miles of here. This is NOT rural America where kids can walk around freely.

Are the schools top-notch? No. But, there are a couple of private schools that provide a good alternative to LAUSD that are not very expensive (i.e.: Mary Star).

Is there crime? Uh huh. I’ve had my car stolen recently, but that’s part of living in an eclectic area.

Is there racism? Yes. We live in LA and I see racism of all sorts – against Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Croatians, Italians (and other Caucasian groups). But it’s not pervasive.

Are their gangs? Yep. But they generally keep to themselves – and with the exception of graffiti, I rarely see any.

Is there culture? Are you kidding me? How about spending a date night with your loved one at Shakespeare by the Sea – fantastic! Or going to one of the many ethnic events in town, like the annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture at Point Fermin, or the Croatian Street Festival on Ninth.

Property values? Well, with the exception of the huge housing bubble during the first part of this decade, few will get rich buying a house here. But, over the long term, housing values generally rise steadily and keep pace with the rest of LA. Again, it’s all about location. I doubt there will be a spike in property values because of the port renovation efforts, the Disney cruise terminal, etc. I think the biggest opportunity that was missed is when San Pedro declined Disney’s offer to purchase and rehabilitate Ports O’ Call.

San Pedro is beautiful, seedy, middle-class, poor, haughty, dangerous, all at once.

To those of you who ask that this board be pulled down and started over: This board would have no value at all if only your vision of San Pedro were allowed to be expressed. Whether or not you like the opinions of others, their vision of SP is as how they see it. To deny that SP has its share of problems is simplistic and naive.

I grew up in the upper middle class suburbs of a major eastern city, one that was considered very safe. My parents always warned me of the dangers of the city, and they were complacent about their chosen , 'statistically' low crime area, with nice homes, manicured lawns. Crime happened where 'other people' lived.

When I was in high school a teenage rapist targeted our area and picked off several girls my age who, as they usually did, walked to school. One night, I was going to practice and this guy confronted me. There was no-one around, no one outside, no-one on the streets. Totally deserted as it usually was. I won't go into details but I survived unharmed. By my own wits, and not because I was helped by anyone, or I protected by the 'cone of safety' in my suburban neighborhood.

The point is, when people seek out areas they think are 'safe', it's an illusion, and too often they let their guard down as a result. You read stories every day about runners disappearing in 'safe' areas, children being abducted,violence behind closed doors in seemingly 'nice' neighborhoods.

I've seen the comments from the people who think San Pedro is not safe, but as a long-time urban dweller, I feel safer here because I am in touch with all that a community is, and the potential for mis-behavior is a reality, no matter where you live. It's human nature, and we can't escape it.

Living in a city where everything is out in the open helps me to gauge how to work to make it better, to become more involved, know my neighbors, foster inter-dependence. Pedro has one great strength, and it's been said here often: the people. Say what you will about the 'gritty' downtown areas, but there is more public-mindedness here than the quiet suburb where my parents still live. Their life is not for me.

A thought about San Pedro schools:

We’ve all heard about embattled San Pedro High that needs to be taken over by the state. Putting that catastrophe aside momentarily:

According to the LA Times, San Pedro schools score just about in the middle of performance when compared to other LAUSD schools. The highest performing schools being in the Hollywood Hills West and Westwood neighborhoods, and the lowest scoring being in the Vermont Square and the Chesterfield Square areas (formerly known as South Central). Personally, San Pedro schools don’t seem all that special – mediocre, yes, but not especially good. The South Shores/CSUDH Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School (sponsored by that bastion of higher education - CSU Dominguez Hills) does have a higher than average score for LAUSD – it’s just average for the state. Call it a great school? Hardly. Although I’m sure seeing all of the shimmering and shiny sea mammals is very nice, it’s not academically relevant.

Please, a little bit of moderation would go a long way to convince people not familiar with SP of your particular argument.

By the way, Pat – what is “far from downtown?” 3-4 miles? I betcha a stray bullet from a gangbangers gat could travel that distance. Think about it – the best part of SP is within walking distance to the worst part of SP.

I saw a guy with a large tattoo on his neck last night after work at the Albertsons on 25th Street. The tattoo was inked in beautiful Old English calligraphy that read “RSP.” Can anyone translate that for me? I bring it up because this upstanding citizen was accompanying a 4 or 5 year old little boy who had a faux tattoo on his neck that read the same thing. Just like daddy.

And sorry, Bob, I didn't mean to represent Trumps as being in Pedro, just that it is close by, as are a lot of beautiful areas on the peninsula. And for the record, my life here has been just as one would expect in an urban neighborhood of a big city. I am watchful, careful, but all in all, each day is a good one and I wouldn't live anywhere else. For those who don't have the same experience, I say empower yourself and do what you need to do. There's an interesting cultural mix here, that I appreciate. Kids do play in the street, people walk their dogs and baby strollers, and if my neighbors see a stranger lurking around my house, they will actually come out and nicely ask if they can do anything to help!

Hi Bob:
House Hunting criticized someone who posted earlier for making what she called not-so vague comments about where Former San Pedro Parent might now be living after he went on and on about what a cancerous cesspool SP is (nice!). And yet, she herself said there were gang members at the gas station where they fueled up. Unless they made gang signs in her direction, showed a gun, or declared their allegiance to a particular gang, she made an assumption herself. You take a guess as to what these individuals looked like and tell me it wasn't a racist comment. Hence my story about a friend who got scared when she saw the teens coming down my street in their baggy pants, etc. The choice is up to each of us what we say when we make comments on this public forum, and with it, comes a certain responsibility. She very well could have dissuaded many people from visiting this area and that is a shame.

Her second response was really vicious and one can't help wonder what she hoped to gain from 'winning' her argument. Points made here from other posters were valid and often San Pedrans don't speak up when faced with assumptions that just don't represent this city as a whole. Would you have been happy had her comments about San Pedro had been left up on the board with no balancing responses?

I was once House Hunting in San Pedro and I too was shocked at the blight. After careful analysis, I bought a fixer upper in South Shores for a Mil. I soon discovered that the views and investment potential attracted me to the area but the people make me want to stay. There is something special about the people. I know the taste of Boones Farm and have also enjoyed a fine Bordeaux. I have lived in Redondo/Hermosa Beach and laughed as the millionaires played in the street with their children. We can all agree that there are better cities to raise your children, but to insult an entire city population? Having lived where the Bordeaux runs freely, you remind me why I left. San Pedro residents don't speak like you. Your lack of manners and arrogant attitude is so foreign to us that we lashed out in anger. You don't belong here. You are a mean and rude person and I am glad your visit was brief. Have fun in your retirement community. Remember San Pedro when you're sitting there wondering if you're still alive. One last thing, the Disney Cruise terminal is going to raise property values through the roof and those gangbangers you saw? Meet YOUR new neighbors dear.

This conversation is hilarious! If you believe the hype, San Pedrans love a good dust-up. Maybe House Hunting could match up with Pedro Mom on Jerry Springer.

This is one of the most misunderstood places in the South Bay. Someone needs to create a photo essay of San Pedro with everything included - the good, the bad, and the sublime - it's time this community stepped out of the shadows and revealed all that she is. Then again, we wouldn't be able to smirk when it comes to opinionated blowhards who think they can come down here, pronounce us all gang-banging yokels who drink cheap wine - I liked that swipe the best! You go, House Hunter!

Or we could just agree to disagree, shake hands, and move on. 78,999 other people living here would appreciate it.

The House Hunting lady saw what she saw. We all know that Pedro has bad areas and that a visitor here can get the wrong impression. We hope she finds a nice place to live. We're used to this. And it makes absolutely no difference to the long time residents, what others think. Really. The people who come here are usually pleasantly surprised, given the reputation Pedro has, and those are the ones who come back to visit, live, or educate others about all that we have here.

Oh, wow. Some passionate opinions here.

I was just going to write I’ve lived here for the past 6 years and that I love the Pacific Diner and leave it at that.

I didn’t realize that the Trump National Golf Club was in San Pedro. Someone outta let the folks in RPV and the Donald know! Sounds to me that someone is upset their zip code is SP rather than PV (Hi Pat).

Avril – I missed where the house hunting lady indicated the ethnicity of the gang members she saw (or their gender, for that matter). That’s a pretty big assumption you made (and tinged with….). Really? Is this what this website is going to devolve to?

House Hunter – You made your (very long) point. Move it along to the O.C., you wouldn’t like it here nor would you feel welcome. Not sure you’ll be happy anywhere if all you see is the negative.

Former Pedro Parent – I started looking up those crime “facts” you wrote about, but got bored. As far as I can tell, the number of gangs, sex offenders, and murders in SP are accurate (and easily verifiable), but where did you get the other stats??? Never mind. It just doesn’t add up and I really don’t care.

Wow, House Hunting, you must feel a little embarrassed by the responses from residents, to strike back with such vehemence. If you expected the people who live here to simply ignore your comments, or to provide context to what you said, you don't know San Pedro (but we've already cleared this up). No one was as mean or vicious as you were in presenting their side. This is called civil discourse.

Many people here have said, quite eloquently, that your experience here is not indicative of the majority of those who live here, and since you checked back (I suppose everyone loves a platform) to find the responses, your vehemence and anger speak volumes about your purpose in responding. You went from sort of mean to downright vicious. And I do hope people who read these will take it in the spirit it was intended.

It was not enough for you to simply lash out - you made fun of, and exaggerated the positive things people said here (try to find the terms you said other people used in their posts), to make your point. Just sad.

I have no doubt you will check back - you seem intent on turning this into a shouting match no matter how long you have flog the subject. I hope the moderators on this post pull the whole thing down and start fresh. This is not productive information for people who are truly interested in learning about San Pedro.

I want to point out something important: San Pedro is classified as a 'neighborhood' by the Times, but it is, in fact, an entire city, one with a long history and independent character that was absorbed into metro L.A. area years ago for political and financial reasons. But it still has all the features of a city in typical ways, complete with an older downtown, disadvantaged areas with public housing, commercial areas, urban residential areas, and suburban residential areas. Real-estate values vary by area (as they would in any city).

Any one opinion about San Pedro is simply that, and it depends on where someone lives. For every taste and income level, there is a neighborhood within the borders of San Pedro that has something to offer. Don't let anyone on this board tell you differently.

But no matter where you live in San Pedro, or your income level, we do share one thing in common, and that is access to the ocean, by view, by walk, by bike ride, by beach blanket, by ship watching, by sound, and experience. Yes, there is light from the Port, but look to the south, to the vast open Pacific, and the night sky is darker and more full of stars than you'll see anywhere in Los Angeles. No amount of money can buy this inland.

To cast San Pedro as an oasis of glistening gold paved streets, where children happily frolic in the neighborhood without fear is simply dishonest, or at very best, coming from those who are blinded by their desire to protect a poor investment choice in the home they purchased. In my opinion, San Pedro was simply not that great. There are far better places to live. Although, I completely understand why people want to hype-up a community to protect their investment, unfortunately it provides skewed and inaccurate information.

To suggest that I cannot make a judgment on a locale by visiting is absurd. People who purchase homes first visit the community before shelling out 20%. That’s what potential homeowners do. It’s not realistic for most people to live in a community for many years to obtain a “realistic view” prior to buying. And by “realistic view,” I mean a view that is compatible with a zealot who cannot understand why someone wouldn’t want to live in a slum.

I was generous in my earlier description of San Pedro. However, since ‘Pedro Mom’ thinks that my comments should be viewed with skepticism because of the short time I spent there, I will be more specific. Here’s what we saw: Gang members and graffiti, questionable “massage parlors” (i.e.: houses of ill repute), a truly unattractive thoroughfare, a housing project with undesirables loitering in front of it, a police stand-off of some sort, several half-way houses, a dirty port... I can go on and on, but I don’t think it will matter much.

That was my “realistic view” of San Pedro in the very short time I visited while house hunting. I can only imagine what else would have been available for me to “realistically view” had we decided to live there! I didn’t have any preconceived notions driving into San Pedro and did so with a completely open mind (otherwise we wouldn’t have wasted our time). So, I visited an area that looked promising and was utterly disappointed with what I saw. In my previous post, I simply made points about my personal experience while looking for a home to purchase. We are not going to pay $XXX thousand for a piece of property that is located in an area that we’re not comfortable in. It’s a personal decision as well as a sound financial decision.

Some who have posted on this board may think that is perfectly acceptable to live in a community with the elements I’ve described. I do not.

Good luck on promoting your town.

“It’s difficult to understand the enjoyment of a fine Bordeaux when you’ve only ever swilled from the bottle of Boone’s Farm.”

Several years ago I worked for a large corporation in Beverly Hills. The CEO lived in San Pedro, and drove up every day. I thought it was strange for someone who could afford to live anywhere to make this long drive. I knew nothing about San Pedro back then, and when I asked him, he just said, “I love it there. Something about it gets into your bones and you can’t leave.” I just assumed that because he’d been a Navy man in his past it was peculiar to him. Then a few years later I came down to San Pedro myself and after a few visits I began to understand what he meant. Unlike the person who drove through with a real-estate agent, I took my time visiting this area before deciding to buy my first home. My first time at the Lighthouse Café, where the ocean curves around the end of the Peninsula, the lighthouse visible at the end of a lovely residential street. The friendly waitress took my order and then asked me if I was new in town. Where else in L.A. would this happen? Since then I’ve had nothing but great experiences here as a resident. A week doesn’t go by where someone doesn’t say to me, “San Pedro is a unique and special place to live.” In all the years living elsewhere I never had that same sense of belonging. My neighbors all watch out for each other and kids play in the streets.

My final comment is to the house-hunting person who drove through here and wrote a very long, negative opinion of our town, then chastised someone for ‘overt’ racial comments. You opened the door so let me close by saying that when I first moved here a friend from the Westside saw three teenagers coming down my street in low pants, slicked back hair. She was visibly distressed. They got up to us and one of them said, “See you on Friday, Miss Avril!” He cuts my lawn for spending money. You made a racial profile of the men in the gas station. Funny how we judge others before really examining our own biases.

One of the impediments about San Pedro is that we are at the end of the freeway on a peninsula. People who don't live here have a limited idea of this town, (and a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions). The downtown, grittier areas are the first thing you see when you come off the 110 Frwy. But San Pedro has many nice middle class areas with Spanish architecture, and some really beautiful parts--, you just have to venture further in, and spend some real time here to understand why people love it so much.

And to that lady who came through house-hunting, I wonder why her real estate agent didn't show her South Shores or some of the other ocean-side neighborhoods near PV. Perhaps these multi-million dollar homes were out of her price range. Drive a little further down the road and you can lunch at Donald Trumps opulent golf club. Natural beauty is everywhere here, you just need to be open to looking for it.

I think the school referred to in an earlier post is South Shores Performing & Visual Arts Magnet. Great school! It does have a great view of the Pacific and is in an expensive neighborhood far from downtown. Some of the schools aren't the best, but there are enough good ones, just like you'd find in most areas served by LAUSD.

I think the people who don't see San Pedro as their kind of town will move on, and that's ok. There are plenty of people left who marvel at how amazing this town is and feel a bit like those celebrities who have all kinds of sensationalist stuff written about them in the tabloids. You just have to turn ignore it and know what you know in your own life.

And p.s. - the Harbor entrance to San Pedro with the bridge twinkling in blue at night, and the $15M fountain in front of the cruise ships dancing to music is a much nicer way to begin your San Pedro experience. The Gaffey bridge is a bit sad, yes, but no graffiti (if there is, it gets cleaned up ASAP). Funny how one's memory of a place in a few hour trip can be a bit skewed.

This is frustrating! My life and daily experiences are as described, and it's amazing that someone could come on here and say they are just not true. Sorry if you think it's not possible to have a 'blissful' life here. Let me assure you, House Hunting, that everything I said earlier is accurate, and is not skewed in any way to make a point.

It would be helpful if these posts could provide people with a realistic view of what living in a certain community is about. "Living", being the operative word! House Hunting drove through here one day and her comments should be viewed accordingly.

And, House Hunting could have been a little more cognizant of how cavalierly she denigrated a place she spent a few hours in. Thousands of families live here, this is their home! Let's see how you feel when you settle in your new neighborhood and someone devalues your investment.

And I am in a multi-racial family. One of the great assets living here.

We recently relocated from out-of-state because of my husband’s work. His company has provided us a real estate agency to work worth.

Before moving, we looked on this board for possible neighborhoods to purchase a home in. Despite some of the comments on this board, we were excited to look at San Pedro this past weekend.

I agree with ‘Cassandra Keyse.’ No place can be as blissful and harmonious as ‘Current SP Resident’ or ‘Pedro Mom’ says, or as bad as ‘Former Pedro Parent’ describes. The truth is somewhere in between.

As we entered San Pedro from the freeway, I was disappointed. The town has an awesome natural “entrance” that could have been used. Instead we were greeted with a run-down, graffiti laden bridge.

First we looked at downtown, where new lofts have been completed. The building was very nice. We couldn’t get over the “grittiness” of the surrounding area, though. Several homeless people mingling around, and (again) lots of graffiti in the area. Our real estate agent then took us to an area called Vista Del Oro. Most of the homes were adequate, but not quite up to par with what we hoped. We then headed to the White Point area. Getting to the area was interesting. Part of Gaffey was blocked off by LAPD because of some “activity.” Lots of police cars, a helicopter, yellow crime tape, etc. It looked like something out of a movie! Had we not seen other parts first, perhaps we would have considered White Point. I can’t help to think that the rest of San Pedro negatively impacts values at White Point. We looked at several other neighborhoods – the most promising seemed to be around Averill Park.

Later that night, we decided to venture into San Pedro without the agent. We had a good meal at the Whale and Ale and then drove back up to Averill Park. There is blinding light pollution from the harbor at night that can be seen from both Vista Del Oro and Averill Park. It’s hard to describe that amount of amber-hue that comes in from the port.

We did wind up in some very undesirable places – including a particularly dangerous looking area around 2nd street. Finally, we fueled up around Gaffey and 1st and headed back to our corporate apartment. There was a car full of gang-member at the gas station, probably not an area we would choose to live in.

The bottom line: There were a couple of decent pockets in San Pedro, but they were small and were enveloped by unsavory environs. From our POV, it’s not worth the investment to live in San Pedro – the negatives outweigh the positives. This coming weekend we’ll look in Seal Beach and see what’s in that town.

As a side note, being a multi-racial family, I was encouraged that I didn’t read any racially derogatory comments on this board. Until, that is, ‘Current SP Resident’ posted his/her not-so-vague racist comment, “I bet I can guess the ethnic make-up of your refuge, too,” in response to…whatever. Racism against any group is still racism and is not nice.

Cassandra:
I agree with you about pseudonyms - and about taking comments here with a grain of salt. I'm contributing because there was no balance in recent posts to some of the really negative things being said by a very few people about San Pedro. This is a public medium with the potential to be read by thousands. We need balance. Over the years there have been a lot of misconceptions about Pedro and we need to set the record straight.

To that point, I must take exception to your comment about people not getting out of San Pedro, or being free-loaders. These are generalizations and given the number of beautiful homes and neighborhoods in this area, anyone coming here would see that can't be true of the majority of people who choose to live here. I don't know anyone in SP who is a freeloader - I just know hard working people of every economic level. According to the L.A. stats, there are 78,000 people living here (not 22,00 as I erroneously said earlier) and like any city, you will find social-economic strata across the board, with corresponding types of people, and yes, no city this size is filled only with fabulous, worldly, wealthy folks.

San Pedro needs people who are committed to making this community better and in the past few years there has been a definite shift in empowerment here and the community is on a upswing as a whole, despite the faltering economy. The billion dollar waterfront plan was just passed and this will continue to improve our outlook. San Pedro High has been neglected of late, so now something is being done, and this will change.

As for people not getting out - yes, there are generations of families living here and that, in my opinion, is what makes this small area of a huge metropolis like Los Angeles unique and special. L.A. is a transient city, and finding this kind of social network is rare. I am a relatively new resident (my husband's family came here in the '60's) and have found the small-town atmosphere to be welcoming, supportive, and refreshing. San Pedro has been a step-child of L.A. for too long, with billions of dollars of revenue going north to support a major city instead of in our coffers, as it does in Long Beach.

If you look at the posts for other neighborhoods in L.A. you will not find the passionate opinions (pro and con) anywhere else. This should tell you something - and hopefully all who read these, too. I have never experienced the kind of loyalty to a city community in Southern California that I see here. And we fight the good fight every day to live in a place that needs commitment to thrive and succeed. This to me, is the American spirit at work.

I love Pedro. My family still lives there and it will always be the place I think of as "home." But after moving out of LA to go to college, I would never be able to move back.

Despite what people say, San Pedro is a wonderful place to grow up, but I find it sad that no one ever leaves. There is a huge world out there that is free of the "locals only" mantra and free-loading attitude that San Pedro residents possess.

I think that every comment should be taken with a grain of salt because as with any comment field, it's usually those with polarized views on the topic who choose to express their opinions. And also, if you are going to give your opinion and do hope to be taken seriously, don't use a pseudonym.

Hello Former SP Resident:
Glad you left. We think of San Pedro as L.A.'s greatest little secret and people like you are better off in an enclave where you feel safe. Talk about denial! I bet I can guess the ethnic make-up of your refuge, too. As for raising kids who are self-sufficient and responsible - guess what - it's about working for the community good, being involved in your schools, volunteering to help keep the neighborhoods clean, and safe, setting an example of good citizenship, and your kids will grow up just fine.

And for those who happen to read Former's trash-talk cloaked in 'data and facts', just remember, he thinks pretty much every place has gone to the dogs, so he's probably talking about your Los Angeles neighborhood too.

One more thing: I don't know, nor does anyone I know, have any connection to or knowledge of any of the people on that list you felt obliged to put up - you should be ashamed of yourself using their memory to make a point.

I hope those who are reading some of these posts see a few bad apples (and grumpy, mis-informed people) for what they are and come down to see our town for yourselves. If you like maritime history, huge ships gliding in and out at the end of the village street, a great, sheltered town beach rated A+ (not the port beach, for those who will be quick to dispute) with dolphins and whale watching, a beautiful marine aquarium, artists lofts, and galleries everywhere.

This is REAL life in San Pedro: Today my 6 year old and I went to Hawai'i Day at Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium five minutes from our house, and saw 5-time Grammy winner Daniel Ho in concert with world class Hula dancers, fresh leis for everyone ($1.00 admission to the Aquarium) then we went downtown to the Warner Annex and watched a shadow puppet show - this venue has world-class musical acts from around the world. Strudel afterwards on 7th Street at Mishi's Strudel, rated by the L.A. Times as one of the top 10 best cafes in Los Angeles. We are regulars and they greet us like family (as do all the downtown businesses). Next week is First Thursday (every month) downtown, with galleries, restaurants, and shops open to a lively street atmosphere.

This section of comments has lost its usefulness, unfortunately, for someone who really wants to know San Pedro. The only thing you learn here now is that some very angry people feel necessary to spew out venomous comments that have no real bearing on San Pedro as a whole. Please keep in mind that there are a small number of these comments in a town of 22,00 people.

Take the so called dispassionate facts and figures commentary from 'Former Pedro Parent' - who obviously had a bad personal experience living here and this could be true of any number of people in an urban area. It's upsetting to allow this kind of personal vendetta on a board where people might actually believe what someone says as fact. What an insult to those of us who live here in beautifully groomed, great family neighborhoods with absolutely NO problems. A subsequent post showed his 'facts and figures' to be misleading and yet it remains on the board with the damage done.

Former Parent's comment denigrating our judgement living here with kids is insulting and ridiculous to boot. My daughter attends a top rated school overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Whales and dolphins are often visible during migration periods. What other school in Southern California can make this claim? We have some of the most beautiful, upscale neighborhoods and breathtaking views anywhere in the L.A. area. Downtown has undergone a huge investment with new shops, private security, modern, sophisticated condos and urban living. San Pedro deserves to be seen and appreciated for all that it is. Urban, yes, and not for those who want to live in Simi Valley.

And to the person who made the negative pronouncement about the older neighborhoods east of Gaffey - I actually live here so I can speak with authority about the area surrounding our home. We include teachers, executives, small business owners, office workers, and your assessment is a sweeping generalization that just isn't accurate. While parts of the area are working class and yes, struggling, for the most part we are neither economically disadvantaged, nor are we overrun by undesirables. We are, in fact, surrounded by homes that are well cared for, with tended gardens, caring neighbors, sea views, beaches, parks, and a real community spirit.

to Barbara, I agree about Okla City and I live in Oklahoma. Tulsa is much better in every way than OK City. Please don't think all people in OK are like the ones you've encountered.

Moved from San Pedro (lived there 17 years) five years ago to Ok. City, Ok. -- thinking it would be less expensive. Well, the jokes on me. My car insurance went up, groceries are as/or more expensive, utilities are higher (air- conditioning and heating), restaurants are terrible and over-priced, they do not stop for people who need to cross the street, handicap facilities are not always available, the people are out of shape and fat (riding electric scooters -- provided by medicare or government (i.e. taxpayers), the physicians are not as thorough and quite honestly don't seem to care, for the most part buildings are empty and have been for years, there is half finished construction everywhere, the people are terrible drivers at best, they are not friendly (contrary to popular belief), you don't go out in the summer because it is too hot -- you don't go out in winter because it is too cold or you'll kill yourself falling on the ice or hydroplane in your car, ( oh yes, the businesses and schools close down if there is a snowstorm -- your electricity goes out), most of the people do not appear to care about exposure to other cultures and learning new things, the high school dropout rate is beyond high, the access to items you might be shopping for is very limited or not even available -- that said -- I can't wait to move back to San Pedro! Appreciate the weather, the diversity, the mountains, desert, oceans, and just being lucky enough to be in California -- you have everything and more right at your feet. Before I leave -- you might be interested to know that with all the problems with the LAPD people complain about -- we have EMS employees here fighting (literally) with policer officers, poorly trained police officers (if you can find one) in general, and Judges releasing convicted dangerous criminals and repeated rapists from jail on a regular basis, abuse of children and/or the death of children in the care of the State is on the front page of the newspapers every day -- I understand the coroner is now currently being charged with rape (he took the place of another individual dismissed last year) and other inappropriate behavior. Just take me back to California -- I'll never complain about the freeways and overcrowding again!

While many people will agree to disagree, the reality of San Pedro is this... If you live between 1st Street and 22nd Street, and between Harbor Blvd and Gaffey you live within the middle to Lower income part of town. With that being said, you also live involuntarily with Persons with Psychological issues, Drug Addicts, Abandoned Child, Battered Women, Drunks and the inescapable Homeless.

Yes all cities have these things, but so few cities have them so close to one and another as well as squeezing several thousand residents within that same area.

When you have a councilwoman who is only interested in an area as this because she received kickbacks from the programs which are contained within. This has to make you think.... really what the hell is going on here?

My spouse tells me it was completely different when they were growing up. That may be the case, but it sure has turned into an ugly town. Do yourself a favor, if you can... leave! This town may have charm, but so does a rabid dog from afar.

Good to visit for a short period of time, bad to stay for too long.

And for those who are so proud to live here.... consider this.... Most of the LA Gov't employee's refuse to live here, ever wonder why that is??

I am a facts and data person, too. I don't know where "Former Pedro Mom" got her information because all data that San Pedro has is classified under the LA Police department "Harbor Division". Under that classification, it shares crime data with Wilmington, Harbor City and Terminal Island..several other cities as well as several more miles and thousands more included in population. The information she provided is quite skewed. San Pedro Mom wanted to give data as her "2 cents", but...she omitted a considerable amount of information.

I have lived San Pedro over a year, I live on 7th in the downtown area with all the new lofts and such. I have never been raped, robbed or had a car stolen. Just MY "2 cents".

I’m a facts-and-data type of person. Putting emotions aside, I make decisions based on sound information. While not a pessimist, I don’t see things through the haze of rose- tinted glasses, either.

Below is some data on SP, a relatively small area - only 12 square miles.

There are 6 active gangs in SP (not including cliques within these gangs), each has a unique loyalty that makes up part of SP and should be a clue as to what’s to follow.

Currently, there are 78 registered sex offenders that live in SP.

This past year there were:
56 reported cases of violent crimes, including vicious rapes, terrifying robberies, horrific assaults and murders.
68 reported cases of children and spouses who were beaten up by someone they once loved and trusted.
344 reported cases of cars being stolen and other types of burglary – property stolen after your hard work to earn them.

All of this within the confines of a mere 12 square miles that is known as SP. Extraordinary.

Someone on this board indicated that they’ve never known anyone who has been a victim of crime in SP. Statistically that is remarkable considering all of the reported crime that occurs within 12 square miles. How many residents know any of these people who were murdered within the past couple of years in SP:

Geissler Alfaro
David Medina
Daniel Castro
Ginie Samoya
Francisco Esparza
Gilbert Rodriguez
Lauri Leih Gilbert and baby
Miguel Osuna
Francisco Aguirre
Mario Sepulveda
Laterian Tasby
Jesus Valencia
Carlos Clavel
Christopher Davenport
Angel Montiel
Vernie Martello

Real estate data shows that families with financial means to purchase AND upgrade homes in SP have shrunk in the past 3 years, not increased. It appears that these types of families are not coming back to SP, but are fleeing. Trends indicate no urban renewal in SP in the foreseeable future, especially in traditional neighborhoods with single family houses.

These are some of the reasons why we decided to move out of SP after starting a family – it’s just not worth the risk to knowingly place our children in harms’ way. Some have said that you’ll find crime in any city, and I cannot argue that point. For us, it is about the ratio and degree of crime that we are willing to accept (or not).

Some parents are willing to raise children in a neighborhood like SP – I guess that’s a judgment call. We moved away from SP and into an area that will not tolerate the amount of crime that the majority of SP residents tolerate. We decided to live in an area where parents hold children accountable for their actions; where school is an extension of learning at home (as opposed to LAUSD standards); where neighbors truly look after one another, and where there are no gangs. Yes, these areas still exist, you just have to have the wherewithal to find them and move.

There are 1 or 2 jewels in SP, although you have to reach down into San Pedro’s rancid-filled cancerous bowels to find them.

I'd like to add something here - the many passionate opinions expressed here are exactly what makes San Pedro so unique and this loyalty should be the biggest clue as to the value of living here. It's a city within a city, yet still maintains the small town sensibility created before it was annexed by Los Angeles.

Every neighborhood in San Pedro is different, and the good ones far outnumber the small, older area of gritty ones. The poorer the neighborhood, the more transitional and susceptible it is to urban crime, and that's nothing new. Thank goodness for people who have started coming back in, renovating the beautiful Victorian homes on Vinegar Hill and other core neighborhoods. Complainers need not apply. Our waterfront areas and city center are undergoing major changes, so the surrounding gritty areas are shrinking every year - I've seen worse graffiti in many other cities around the nation. People don't let it stay here, that's what matters. To tell people that San Pedro is a lousy place to live, is like telling people to avoid Los Angeles because certain parts of it have crime.

Most of San Pedro is made up of beautiful, safe neighborhoods, and people need to know this. 'Little Man' is telling us less about Pedro and more about who his family associates with, because no-one I know has or ever known anyone who has been assaulted, robbed, or, God-forbid, shot! Let's keep some perspective on these comments, please, and let the real Pedro shine through!

My parents moved my brother and I to San Pedro from Northern Ireland in 1987. We grew up there and were educated in American culture by our kind old landlord, John. He was like a grandfather to us. We went to school at Mary Star and found other kids who were like us... immigrants. My best friend was Korean. My classmates were Yugoslavian, Mexican, African- American, Italian and everything in between. It was a great place to grow up. We eventually moved to Ventura County, but I still consider San Pedro one of my hometowns. I try to get back whenever I can and i still have a faint notion that i might just end up going back.

Fascinating to read the comments here about our town, San Pedro. It is a city within a city, and yes, there are some poorer areas (as in any city), but this is a unique and vibrant place to be, and to raise a family. Having lived in a variety of wealthier, westside neighborhoods, I can appreciate the differences: Los Angeles can be an anonymous, self-centered place to live, where friendships are a challenge to make and maintain over the great that make up the southland sprawl. But here in this hilly seaside town, are true, old-fashioned neighborhoods, communities of involved and active members, connections to be made every day at the grocery store, the coffee shops, our unique mom-and-pop stores, and family-owned restaurants. Here you see children playing in the streets, multi-generational families with histories tied to the land and ocean in this area; hard-working trades people and college-educated professionals mix with ease. It is also a culturally mixed community, something America strives to be, and it represents a wide variety of attitudes, ethnicities, economic, and educational differences.

What San Pedro is not, is a class-exclusive, economically or culturally segregated enclave where residents can go about their business and ignore the challenges of living in a real city; where they can disconnect in the privacy of their manicured properties. In San Pedro, people feel pride in belonging to neighborhoods with a sense of history and connections to others, where they get involved in civic affairs because here, one person can and does make a difference.

And it is on the ocean! Our town beach is hidden from tourists, we see porpoises and whales, and hear the bouys and the cries of gulls and sea lions. This is no poor man's PV (have you seen some of our beautiful seaside neighborhoods?) - this is San Pedro, unique in its own right - a choice for urban dwellers who want to have a taste of what a city was like 100 years ago when the shopkeepers knew your name and gave treats to your kids. I have a choice, and could live anywhere in Los Angeles. I chose, as many thousands do, generation after generation, to live here in San Pedro.

Just a handful of comments here and I find somebody from grade school! That's a small town for you.

I felt like an alien growing up not-Croatian and not-Mexican in San Pedro, but I learned how to make mostaccioli and grill swordfish. School field trips were on retired trawlers out at sea. Our play forts were WWII navy bunkers. We kept our eyes open for rattlesnakes while rollerskating at Friendship Park. Raw bacon served as bait for catching crawdads at Averill Park. We were the cause of the aforementioned night racket and helicopters breaking up parties, and cops with a sense of humor would roust us from the beaches at night singing "The Party's Oooooover..." Friends with more money could teach you a lesson about generosity and friends with less could teach you about pride.

People seemed to be there for generations, doing the same jobs, and not seeing much point in the rest of the world. There was an appealing stability to that, but in a way it was like the LaBrea Tar Pits (another field trip destination).

As soon as I could I left, but there is always a San Pedro hoodie from the surf shop hanging by my door.

I moved away from San Pedro 3 years ago this month to Santa Barbara County. The fact that I'm sitting here reading about San Pedro after having "escaped" sais something about this wonderful part of Los Angeles.

When I was packing, I couldn't wait to get away from the bad air, the sirens, the dirt on Gaffey Street...the homeless. Bigger and better things awaited me. I was on my way to paradise...the central coast.

While I was not far off...the central coast is just about one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived in, I do make a point of going back to San Pedro whenever I'm in LA.

And how it changes each time. The wonderful volunteers on the neighborhood councils, people who dedicate hours of their lives trying to keep San Pedro beautiful, have really made a difference. North Gaffey looks great! Also, driving up to South Gaffey from the freeway, the entrance to San Pedro has taken on a nice fresh look.

Its the people who love and believe in San Pedro that make it what it is...and that is different from any other neighborhood in LA. There is something about Pedro...that stays with you even after you leave. A sense of true community. You have to experience it to know what I'm writing about...but Pedro has a persona all its own that is very different...unique for such a large population. It has a small town feel, yet its not a small town.

To the NC members...keep up the great work, you are truly changing the face of your community into something that will endure. Thank you!

I bought a townhome on Grand Ave and Seventh. I have lived in San Pedro for a year and have had no problems. I walk at night downtown, shop, wine taste and walk my dog and I am female. Sure, sometimes you see a obvious knuklehead from time to time but, it's Los Angeles, not Mayberry. Most of the people are nice and say hello when I walk down the street. This city is a mix people and if a all white neighborhood is a decision quantifier for moving to San Pedro or not as a basis for safety, then the naysayers will not agree with me.

If you want a boring suburb that will stay boring forever without any possible better future, the valley is full of places to move to. San Pedro needs more positive people with vision to make it the diamond it should and will be. As a matter of fact, a new park is opening today!

Just moved in to a crappy apartment on 10th St near the water. It's scary. I got robbed on the street the second night I was there. Everyone I've talked to in the neighborhood is packing heat, and now I'm considering it too, though I've never owned a gun before. In the morning when I come outside, I'm pleasantly surprised to see my car still there.
But hey, the rent is cheap!

I moved away from San Pedro many years ago but it will always be home to me. My mither still lives there up by the YMCA. We grew up in the projects on 2nd & Beacon and boy those were the days. Going swimming down by the museum. Exploring Ports o Call Village. The Boys Club. High school football games at Daniels Field. I attended Barton Hill, Dana Jr. High, and San Pedro High all in the late 70's and early 80's. What great fun. It wasnt the best of times in those days but it sure was fun. Pedro rocks

first trip here in 59 turned me on to Pedro..had to go to mac.. im from midwest. came back here after my daughter turned 2..still loved the place.. but now must leave so that my daughter will not get shot down like so many of her and her sisters friends have been..new police station????where are they when the shooting starts????

Too bad some of the other people who took the time to write had such bad experiences. My take is that, like any place, there is good and bad. The area east of Gaffey can look, feel, and be a little rough. That said, we have some very good friends who live in that neighborhood and have had no troubles. (And by the way, if anyone wants to say that Gaffey is among the ugliest streets anywhere, they'll get no argument from me.)

The farther west of Gaffey you go, the better the neighborhoods -- and the views. Yes, there is some noise and yes, there seem to be a lot of sirens. But San Pedro has something a lot of neighborhoods don't seem to have, which is a sense of community. I have witnessed incredible commitment to community improvement, especially the Bridge To Breakwater project (long running). I've also seen great turnout for neighborhood watch meetings, the kind of turnout the cops tell us would be the envy of other communities served by the LAPD.

Downtown is slowly coming around, with a great wine shop, deli, gelato shop, British-themed tavern, a number of new loft developments, and the renovated Warner Grand theater. There are also a number of very good restaurants. Farther west on 8th Street is a great jazz venue -- Alva's -- which comes alive only on weekends, and has been praised by every single act I've seen there as unique in LA.

I walk everywhere in town, including at night, and have never had any real problems. Are there gangs? I wouldn't doubt it. Are there goofball kids? Absolutely. Are there peaceful, lovely neighborhoods? Yes. Is there a great mix of people? Yes.

What San Pedro has is a mix of small-town feeling that is, I believe, unique in this area, combined with a world-class port, some absolutely incredible views, one of the nicest parks I've ever seen (Averill Park) that is only one of many in this town and a real commitment to helping make and keep this town a better place.

If you want absolute safety, absolute peace and quiet, top-notch schools, etc. etc. then LA probably isn't for you. Beverly Hills, Malibu, etc. But for great housing with great views, a real mix of people and neighborhood feeling, all at what remain relatively reasonable prices, it's Pedro.

Purchased a house in SP about 5 years ago on the "nice" side of town (i.e. west of Gaffey), had a baby and started to raise her in our cute little Craftsman home.

When the police wouldn't let us drive into our alleyway because of the dead body located there as a result of a gang shooting, we decided to politely move out of SP – and Los Angeles for that matter.

Honestly, we tried to stick with it, even after I couldn’t park in my garage because of the drunken gentleman who was passed out in front of the driveway - twice.

I did, however, become a skilled painter. A lesson we learned early on was to keep a good supply of paint handy so that you can keep up with the Jones’ during the weekly graffiti cleanup. Seems that in LA, there is an acceptable amount of blight.

Aside from the gangs, dirty neighborhoods, ghetto-type people, lawless animal-like teenagers of disinterested parents, dead bodies, homeless vagrants urinating wherever they please (i.e. on the wall of the public library), local crackheads, housing projects, incessant noise of the infamous ghetto birds circling above (police helicopters), the many halfway houses, dinner punctuated with gunfire, LAUSD, and ubiquitous graffiti, it was fine.

One reason I’d briefly go back to SP is the Omelet and Waffle Shop (but only with wearing good quality body armor). Great Saturday morning breakfasts! Other than that, it’s pretty much a cesspool.

I have lived in San Pedro for about 12 years now. I am amazed at how many people here never leave home once they become adults. They lay around their parents houses doing absolutely nothing when they are not running around with their gang friends. They bring a girlfriend or boyfriend home, start their own families and sign up for public assistance. Their houses go into disrepair and they really do not care. Some areas of San Pedro are turning into slums. Its sad as there is so much potential in this unique little area.

I lived in San Pedro 20 years ago and still go back to visit. I was always amazed at the small-town feel of this community in one of the world's largest cities. If you go walking in Pt. Fermin, people always say "hello." If you are on a small cross street at stop sign wondering how you will ever get across Gaffey, you will soon have all four lanes of traffic come to a stop and motion you across. If you get a beer in Bessie Walker's Cafe, you sometimes get in a John Prine singalong, talk with the mayor, or get in a discussion about old Volvo 122s. What a wonderful place!

It was the first place i moved to after arriving from the u.k.

I would love to say it made me feel welcome and was a home from home.

It was not.

I saw a man hit by a car and no one stopped - that was my first day, and one of the best

Sorry to be down on it, but hey it was down on me

I lived in San Pedro all through the 1980's. I suffered with a derelict person camping in my back yard. My vegetable garden and fruit trees were picked clean before I could get home from work and have any for myself after toiling to raise healthy food. Every small animal that managed to get out was missing (presumably eaten). My landlord constantly raised the rent. The gangs rampaged the streets shooting up houses and beating the heck out of incoming immigrants. I was afraid to go out at night.

My kids were trained to walk on the side of the road that had parked cars in case a drive by happened, they would be able to hit the ground and have a little cover.

I went shopping at the Safeway one time and a sick person slid onto the floor to take a picture up my dress. Another time a gang of 6 full grown men followed me out of the Safeway to my car to steal my groceries and purse. Imagine their surprise when I turned around with a loaded gun and asked which one was first?

Oh yeah. The views are lovely in San Pedro. But it is a hard place to live.

I forgot to add, i played baseball for Bob Moulton as a Barton Hill Cougar, football at the Boys Club for Nick Trani, they were legendary coaches because they molded boys into men, as a teenager going to the dances at the Yogoslav hall, crusing on Pacific Ave as a car member of the Chessman, going to the movies at the drive-in, visiting my extended family ie cousins, aunts and uncles and alot of friends yea friends that i may not have seen for many years, but i know we are friends for life. yea im an old Pedro dog and Pirate for life. there is soooo much more that can said.

If you love contrast, you'll love San Pedro: a community with both a small town and big city feel, where fishingboats and sailboats bob alongside container and cruise ships of the great Port of Los Angeles. Against a backdrop of concrete and bougainvilla, community neighborliness competes with big city noise and traffic. If you live here, you must accept the noise: helicopters, sirens, car alarms (frequently set off by the over loud motorcycles), barking dogs, weekend partying, and the folks who'll use their garages for anything but cars. And, how many leaf blowers does it take to maintain yards the sizes of postage stamps?
But, should you manage to garner enough peace and quiet to read, there's a fun and friendly library, the wonderful and historic William's Book Store, and delightful Little Fish Theatre. Marvellous views of the ocean and the hills abound. There's lots of talent: check out the First Thursday Art Walks, and Angels Gate. Visit nature in Peck and Friendship Parks, and Point Fermin. Or take a sweet evening stroll by the dancing fountain in the romantic harbor lights. Salt water taffy and other surprises can be had found at Ports o Call: tourists treats can even be found in the drugstores. At night, bask in the glow of the humungous yellow LIQUOR sign, or and the big lit-up, red chicken bucket; visible even in the thickest fog! By day, enjoy the roses, ducks, wedding parties, and great city-ocean views from Averill Park! With the right vision, (and laws and law enforcement structured to represent a community instead of the city of L.A.) San Pedro, city of color and contradictions, could be as charming as San Francisco!

I was born in San Pedro some 54 years ago (I grew up in Compton). I've lived in Colorado Springs, CO for over 20 years now, and it's also a nice place to live. But I ALWAYS come back to "Pedro" whenever I'm in town. I'll always have fond memories of San Pedro, it was so much nicer than Compton. Going to Cabrillo Beach, hanging out at Peck Park, and working during summer at "Fort Mac" are things you just can't do everywhere in Southern Calif.

I grew up in Pedro, went to Dana and SPHS and was in the class of W48 of just over a hundred. I entered the Coast Guard there and married there.

Coming from a protected society in Annapolis Md in the mid 1940s, I was introduced to many ethnic cultures.

Some were harsh, some molded my character and made me who I am today.

Pedro was good school for entering the world of people and the many sided cultures.

It changed my racial prejudicial views so that I married the grestest Latino woman I have ever known and have stayed in that marriage for 50 years.

Landmarks? I was all over that town, walking and biking in those days and later busing everywhere. Cabrillo Beach was my home in high school.

Pedro holds more memories, than Ventura, Mesa Arizona or now Littleton Colorado, good and bad, for me.

Thanks for the lessons Pedro.

Bob Garrison

Does anyone else know where you can be one block from an ATM, book store, coffee shop, two great restaurants, an Italian market, some art galleries, and a liquor store? Downtown SP is the only place I know in LA where you can do that, that I know in the LA area. I hear there are dangerous people that live in SP -- so totally unlike Downtown? ;). I appreciate the community too. Croatian longshoremen are much more authentic than yuppies.

San Pedro has the same East Coast ambience of a NYC or Baltimore neighborhood. If I couldn't live in Santa Monica or Pasadena, I'd definitely go back to San Pedro; and it's more affordable with a great commute to LA Central.

PS: I'm not in CA any more. I built my home in Mexico.

Heavy concentration of alcoholics and addicts. The kind of place where some of the people have never even been out of state and the mentality that goes with it. If it ain't San Pedro, it don't exist to them. Old Town 6th Ave looks charming at first but most shops remain closed most of the time, not that they offer much anyhow, and the food at the restaurants is sub par. Worst air quality w/ LA Port and geographical layout. All in all a nice view of Catalina from Pt. Fermin, but that's about it.

I grew up in San Pedro as a child into adulthood, left pedro in the mid 70's. parents,siblings, cousins burried at Green Hills, yea i have a lot of very fond memories of San Pedro, i think i walked every street, played ball at block field, avirell park, peck park. went swimming at all the public pools and in the summer went fishing for bonita of 22nd street. went to barton hill elem. school, dana junior high school and sphs. Loved every moment, it was as close as Mayberry as one could have lived. I dont live there anymore, but i still LOVE SAN PEDRO!

I love san pedro because I found my love there. It's such a hidden treasure after you drove throuhg the vincent thomas bridge and landed the the end of 25th street. Away from the smog and city noise, you walked to the beach without encountering a soul, in a hot summer night, with the ocean breeze whispering in your face, the moon above you, holding hands with your lover, all you hear is the waves pounding on the cliffs. It's like walking into a secret garden. Only one thing I don't like about San Pedro is the schools aren't no good by any standard. I'm in real estate business and lots of parents shy away because of the poor quality school system. That's why they say san pedro is poorman's P.V.

San Pedro is home. Pure and simple. Even though I don't live there any more, it is still, and always be where my heart lies. South Shores was a new development when we moved there in 1959. South Shores elementary was where I met friends that I still communicate with. Dana Jr. High brought new friends and experiences. SPHS, what can I say, I'm a Pirate for life!
It will always be home.

Kathy O'Haggarty Stanfield
SPHS Class of W '68

San Pedro is the last bastion of affordable housing close to the waterfront. It hosts the greatest mixture of classes, ranging from the elite in South Shores to the incoming immigrants on 1st and Pacific. What other town would have public housing adjacent to the waterfront? Some might think its bad planning, but I believe its what makes San Pedro home. Its the last downtown that's not cluttered with chain restaurants like Chili's and Islands, so that it can host gems like Nico's and the Brew Co.

The potential for San Pedro is tremendous. Too bad that its shackled to the City of Los Angeles.

Bring back the drive-in movie theater!!!

I bought my house for almost a million dollars. Instead of crying about the economy I made smart improvements to insure my "investment". In so doing, I found a new appreciation for San Pedro. Sure there are tough people here but I grew up in East L.A. and will bring the hammer down if the need arises. I used to live in Redondo and laughed as the millionaires played in the street with their kids for lack of a yard!..I have a yard, cool nieghbors and an awesome ocean view.

I see nothing wrong with crafters hawking their wares in downtown Pedro. Crafts are cooler than art now anyway. Always were now that I think of it.

I don't how long the previous poster expects to live, but in my lifetime I expect to see downtown Pedro get to be a lot more like West Washington, er, Abbott Kinney, in Venice.

While other communities may have scenic views of ocean or cityscape, San Pedro has that and more. It overlooks a working harbor that is always changing with the comings and goings of cruise and cargo ships, tugs, and private watercraft. Watch huge cranes unload shipping containers and muse about what they might contain, our consumer society, and the nation's trade deficit. Buy a scanner radio and listen to tugs communicating with arriving ships. Try to guess the nationality of the arriving captain based on his accented english. Watch a prominent cruise ship like the Queen Mary 2 come into port for a day and wonder who's on board, what they will see in L.A. on their day ashore, and what you would pick to show them from an Angeleno's perspective.

For me, San Pedro is mostly about views and reflection.

San Pedro is at the end of a narrow strip of LA freeway and with the port as its economic hub and its simultaneous nemesis, the town is insulated from typical LA life. Some would say backwater because the generations tend to stay here and settle - many of my children's friends went to school with kids whose grandparents attended the same school. Pride of place is stronger here than anywhere else I've lived. Jobs have been plentiful and lucrative (till lately) with the strong union contracts for longshoring. You don't need a lot of education to pull down a good paying job so people buy lots of toys and don't require cultural outlets unless it involves beer and blues or rock.

I deplore the lack of competitive fine food restaurants. We have plenty of cafes, ethnic and steakhouses but the best food is prepared in home kitchens. There are many good LA artists in residence in strorefronts and homes but they tend to stay underground while the wannabes and crafters take over the visible arts district commercial sites and open their doors for First Thursday events. The port keeps its eye on the major prize - shipping commerce - and grants lip service to change for downtown. But downtown was ruined in the late 70s and won't come back in my lifetime judging by the lack of progress beyond planning to plan and more planning. Still, it is spectacularly beautiful along the coast and the "lost in time" atmosphere suits a poet's soul so here I'll stay.