LOS ANGELES: We Expected A Homeless Wasteland, But It Was Beautiful (Traffic SUCKS, Though)

[@bawbtherevelator6445]

I've lived in LA 77 of my nearly 84 years as a hopeless optimist. OTOH homelessnes is a bipartisn national disgrace. I was lucky to be bon in FDR's fibal terms. Since then it's a long, slow decline. WWII Vets had the GI Bill. After that NADA but lip service. I'm stupefyingly lucky to live in the house my dad bought in 1954. with daughter, husband, and Grandson..Your USA tour is brilliant and depressing. Thanks

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you. For the record, for me, LA wasn’t the horrible place so many people try to paint it. Aside from the horrendous traffic, I found the city quite beautiful.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I guess that depends on what Faux News stories you listen to.

[@dopeMike_]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip The homeless or I guess the new 1984 term is "people experiencing homelessness" don't usually go down to the beach until about 530 6pm. You'll notice the change as the suns about to set. But like you said LA and California in general is a naturally beautiful state. The west coast in general has natural beauty from Bellingham to San Diego.

[@Chris-sm3um]

Salute man

[@Metal0sopher]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip On your way to the Hollywood sign your navigation system tricked you. Had you stayed on Franklin, past 101, at the next light left on Beachwood Rd, a straight shot to the Hollywood sign.

[@davidgonzales2274]

Should go to the griffith park observattory and stand where james dean did in the fifties filming rebel without a cause.

[@Psychodermia]

13:00 - ME! 😂 I got to play at the Whisky, the Roxy and other cool bars back in the 90s! 👽✌️

[@dennisromero4757]

Welcome to SoCal, Typical Weather @ that time year, u did great by starting off early on a weekday. There is so much to see, so spread out , and traffic that it is imposable to see it all. But you picked great spots. Great Job Guys!

[@bertspeggly4428]

If you're homeless, what better place to be? Beautiful warm weather, and mostly kind and sympathetic people.

[@Calizen]

@@user-di3nw8gv9oI think what they meant by that is just normal everyday people won’t just come up and bother a homeless a person. Even though ironically LA is full of influencers and people trying to be famous they still won’t go as far as to harass homeless people

[@path1400]

I moved from Brooklyn, New York to San Diego 43 years ago. Now I live in 15 mile from Temecula ,CA in my own home. California has been good to me and mine.

[@shorebaby8959]

You were probably there after the massive clean-up of Venice Beach. German in Venice has kept good records on the homelessness issue in L.A. I am a New Yorker and loved my visits to L.A. The last visit in 2013, I saw a noticeable change in the city. So this has been happening over a period of time.

[@MrDEWaters]

I grew up in Los Angeles (the Valley) but I moved away to St. Louis in the eighties. My dad grew up on the same street as Marilyn Monroe in the 1940s (Archwood St. in Van Nuys). He said she used to do little dances on a raised area in the high school cafeteria and she hung around the football team a lot. My dad was friends with her first husband, Jim Dougherty, and he was told some things about her that have never been made public. (regarding her relationship with her foster family). My aunt showed me her high school yearbook with Marilyn's picture (Norma Jean Baker).

[@TypicallyWhat]

Long Beach is the 3rd largest city in Southern California. With almost 500,000 people… it would be the largest city in a lot of states. You need to visit Long Beach someday. It’s absolutely beautiful. The hidden gem of SoCal. Everyone thinks it’s ghetto like the 90’s still but it is not.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I will visit. Sounds awesome.

[@allsloppynojoe4011]

I left socal 2 years ago. Always avoided the LBC whenever possible. Whenever I passed thru it was a dump just like all the surrounding cities.

[@TypicallyWhat]

@@allsloppynojoe4011 As most large cities Long Beach has a rough area but it’s only a small part up near Compton… the remaining city is gorgeous. Downtown, east village, alamitos beach, bixby knolls, Belmont shore, Belmont heights, bluff park, rose park, zafaria, the circle, the marina, Belmont park, Alamitos heights, north and south Los Altos, el dorado park… etc.. are many of the nice areas in Long Beach. But sure.. judge the city by the small area you drove thru. And btw… the surrounding cities are not all bad either. Lakewood, Seal Beach, Signal Hill, Rossmoor, Hawaiian Gardens.. etc are all very nice cities surrounding Long Beach. So step off. You obviously have no idea what you are talking about like most residents of LA and OC proper. 🙄

[@napndash]

Lots of shootings in LB!

[@elbowdown1420]

I used to hang out in lb back in the 90s. The areas around shoreline drive was ok. Belmont shore was nice. Thats about it.

[@usmcmos0317]

Found one I hadn’t seen guys. Loved it. Personally I’d rather watch you just show me stuff and I stay here out of the traffic. LoL 😂 I remember it it’s been rough quiet a while. Great job guys thanks. Safe travels my friend. Keep filming I’ll keep watching

[@computron5824]

It's either a wasteland or paradise depending on who you listen to, but there is truth to both of those statements. CA economy is burning extremely hot at the very top, but the state has neglected housing and created this cost of living crisis. In Los Angeles, the median household income is $65k but the most recent median listing pushed $1million. You need an income of $200k+ for 30 years to afford that. This isn't going to end well.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You're right.

[@Chris-sm3um]

You camputured it right.

[@lauraslanesvanlifetravels]

The homelessness problem isn't on Venice Beach, it's along skid row and it is getting worse...we have the same issue in phoenix,az but you don't see it unless you go down south below the main part of the city along interstate 60 and some other spots south of the main downtown and of course, downtown has it too...grown exponentially in the last year due to rent increases and other reasons.

[@rafaeltorre1643]

There’s homeless everywhere in Venice. I go for a week every 3 months. You walk over people in downtown everywhere. It’s literally everywhere.

[@josephalfonsoamantia7028]

@@rafaeltorre1643 Homelessness is all over this country, not just Los Angeles. I was just there a few weeks ago. It's not as bad as you make it sound. If you hate it so much, then move. Laura' Lanes is correct stating that most of the homeless are on skid row. For being a city with over 12 million in the metropolitan area, I think the city is very clean.

[@Chris-sm3um]

Yes it’s bad

[@Jeymez]

Skid Row was always bad

[@keyup2626]

Dang that was really cool seeing you visit Marilyn Monroe’s Mausoleum, it sounds like we grew up idolizing a lot of the same people. Rodney Dangerfield has to been one of the funniest men to ever lived, he was absolutely one of my favorite comedians. Had a massive crush on Farrah Fawcett she was a lovely lady, I remember watching a series of videos on her last remaining months and the treatments she was taking. It was heartbreaking watching he go through such tough times. She handled herself with such grace. Kinda sad seeing so many people interned in one place, I grew up with and admired so much. You’ve got me yearning to go out to California this year, I have family just outside of LA and miss them so dearly. Loved seeing the Brady house, I’ve been out to LA so many times and never bothered checking those places out, I need to. I’d love to go to the Whiskey A GoGo some day.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

There is still more that I would like to see in LA. The city was beautiful, and not the horrible place you read about in the news. The weather was incredible. If it wasn’t so crowded, and the traffic so bad, it would be the perfect place.

[@keyup2626]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I agree so much with you that Cali is a wonderful place but the traffic just sucks lol. I find it a very friendly place to visit and enjoy every trip I take there.

[@bradleylove8606]

Caddyshack is one of my all time favorites too.

[@2percenter23]

I love Southern California ❤️ Beautiful weather, chill people , and many places to explore.

[@mikemiller4726]

I’m from Orange county. Just came across your videos. Said you were leaving LA to stay there. Just curious if you spent any time there. Real estate background if you research you will see many people from LA and SF with money have been moving to Orange county. They have some of the best beach’s in SoCal. Newport Beach actually has a couple of the wealthiest neighborhoods in all Southern California.

[@doogalloonni]

Nothing BUT respect, Rodney! RIP- Thanks for a million laughs.

[@robinrussell7965]

I parked in Venice once and walked to Santa Monica and back with my brother. Just gone all day long and didn't pay a penny for parking. It took me 10 minutes to find a spot though. You can survive without a car in LA with a bike and a bus or train. Not for the meek but neither is LA -- a beautiful city, once you park your car.

[@brklynz_finest6383]

LMAO 🤣 his wife is hysterical. Her dust !

[@haruspex54]

I got a kick out of that one, too. Nicole is adorable!

[@WhittyPics]

I would think there would be more crowds even the day or few days before the Super Bowl

[@davidgonzales2274]

In 1980 i use to work in hollywood a couple times a week and i drove up to the old "hollywood sign", it was 1/4 inch plywood, had termite damage and held up by 2/4's. I cohuld push it around, it had an old night light system and i took some ans sold them at the swap meet.

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

Great to see Ray Bradbury's grave. I especially admire his early horror stories - "The Emissary", "Skeleton", "And the Rock Cried Out", "The Veld", "Zero Hour" etc. etc. 🕷

[@Thuggysmurf]

You visited Venice Beach at a good time, shortly after they cleared the homeless encampments off the beach. I was there around the same time you were. If you traveled a few blocks up from the beach to Centennial Park (along Venice Blvd), that's where the major homeless encampment was at that time. Absolute filth. There is a KZbin channel called German in Venice who documented how bad the homeless situation was on the beach. LA was my hometown. Sad what happened there and how it scattered people who grew up together all over the country. Skid Row and lots of other areas are still a mess, but at least Santa Monica/Venice has cleaned up significantly over the past 18 months.

[@Joe-li2nk]

Never mind, Marilyn. Your own wife is quite lovely.

[@sadielampduo3762]

Thanks for this video 🎥

[@sundinfamforlife4129]

Venice Beach was bad last year with homelessness. If you're curious there's another KZbinr germaninvince I think he documented it. They cleaned it up though and it's not too bad anymore.

[@johnchiujr.3587]

Hello Joe! I love your videos and how you talk about the positives and negatives of each city. Is there any way to let us know the month and year you went to each place? Thanks and I look forward to more of your videos!

[@Jeymez]

last year in 2022

[@michellec.9852]

LA traffic is RIDICULOUS! I hope to never go back there. How people deal with that is beyond my comprehension. When I saw where the Oscars were held I was amazed. It’s in a mall. 😂. When we saw the Brady house there was a security vehicle in front watching the house.

[@WayneSummey]

Venice beach pushed out the hoards awhile ago.there are huge groups of homeless all over. Some are dysfunctional. 😮 But some are unwilling participants as they cannot afford a roof over their heads. Working homeless.

[@BigGator5]

Ray Bradbury and Rodney Dangerfield are the two graves I might be interested in visiting. However I am not the kind of person to visit anyone's grave that I didn't personally know.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I'm too big a fan of Marilyn Monroe and Farrah Fawcett to not visit their graves. These two women, along with Dawn Wells (she's buried in Reno, Nevada, and I will be visiting hers as well) were the most influential to me, ah, in "discovering" myself as a young man, lol.

[@BigGator5]

That's cool. You do what you gotta do.

[@CaptainHowdy1969]

L.A. is just 1 place I have no desire to see and experience the horrid traffic,congestion etc...the only part of Cali I care to see is northern Cali,the redwoods,lake Tahoe,susanville,Truckee,etc...

[@scottmaytham3578]

I often wonder what would the monthly mortgage payment's would be on a million dollar house.And property taxes, utilities,maintainence cost etc.And I sure don't miss Orlando traffic either.Sure miss the fine food in Orlando

[@donjuanseville3039]

I'VE BEEN 2 LOS ANGELES 1 TIME. STAYED 3 HOURS N RODE AROUND HOLLYWOOD N SOUTH CENTRAL LA.......THEN DROVE BACK 2 PHOENIX ARIZONA 2 FINISH MY VACATION 💯💯💯

[@wojapi7538]

🤡

[@tamedshrew235]

City did a clean out of homeless encampments prior to Super Bowl tourism.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Yeah, that's what I read afterwards. The city looked great while I was there!

[@colelinsley2135]

I grew up in California and I tell you what Venice Beach the Santa Monica Promenade used to be where everyone went everyday. I have not been back since but from what I seen it has nor changed much, There is a lot of Homeless in LA was when I was growing up as well. I just dont want to go back though i left that place behind and politically its noy my cup of tea either.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

🤣😂 oh the lights, yeah they will keep you sitting, sf they are faster, but there is just too many ppl on that island

[@davidholmes9643]

Venice and Sunset Boulevard was just the same when I visited 21 years ago . Hollywood was a dump 35 years ago with broken down cars on the road looks a lot better now.

[@Katz-cv4xm]

As you were driving into the Venice beach area, there were a number of RVs parked along the street. Each of those houses homeless people. Unscrupulous "Vanlords" buy cheap RVs (often inoperable), and tow them to an empty parking spot, then rent them out to homeless people. The homeless people dump their waste onto the sidewalk and street, and end up monopolizing the adjacent sidewalks, making the place a biohazard and not suitable for pedestrians. Every now and then the city tows away the RVs, but within a few days they come back. Also, if you had explored the alleys and some of the side streets a few blocks east of the beach, you would have seen many homeless people.

[@alwaysoutafterdark6136]

There are parts of LA and Orange County that are homeless wastelands. Go hit up Hollywood and Van Nuys at night. Look under freeway underpasses and for the parking lots that turn into campsites in the late night.

[@scottmaytham3578]

Do you remember that TV program, What's My Line? Just guessing I would have to say like a shop teacher or a vocational training instructor.Milatary trainer or some type profession like that prior to Lord Spoda!

[@prophetmargin7497]

I heard that the city of LA was giving away free one way bus tickets to the homeless during super bowl week, so the tourists coming in for the SB wouldn't encounter them. That's why you may not have been seeing many homeless in the Venice area, the week you were there!

[@jeaneallen4969]

Born and raised here, I have traveled to many states in the USA. I never want to live in any other place than Calif. I don't care if everybody left Cali I love L.A.

[@tplugnickel]

There used to be a walking trail right up to the sign

[@davidharris7235]

You guys have a tough life...lol. Did you miss Natalie Wood, Dean Martin and Heather O'Rourke at the cemetery?

[@alex1717io]

💙

[@nancyparker9986]

Oh Lord Spoda…..hope you are not too disappointed when the truth about Hollywood comes out !!!

[@nyanilius8008]

It seems like you were actually away from the encampment areas. I don't know what to tell you about LA other than it's where a massive number of people end up. Lots of people means probably every possible viewpoint and everything that comes with. I and pretty much every driver in California agree LA traffic is ridiculous. That place really did NOT adopt adequate public transportation and much of the land is actually for streets, roads, and parking lots instead of buildings and parks. If all you want to do is drive all day then LA is great? I'm biased I know. I hope you got to visit little Tokyo, it's one of only 3 japantown centers left in America after WWII. The other two are in the bay area

[@jnf1270]

You can't see LA in only a day. However I can assure you it's a lot nicer than Jackson, MS 🤣

[@elperinasoswa6772]

I been up in that hollywood sign. There some caves back there.

[@siansaksaajalampaanlatinaa]

These streets are like my own pockets. I live in Finland🇫🇮, but i have played GTA so many years😄😄😄

[@julianwahly3372]

What is so great about that view? When you were in billings I thougt that view you had there on that ridge was a 100 times more impressive than this. Hollywood is way overhyped IMHO.

[@stevemartin6792]

Her dust? Lol now that was good.

[@LesMorrisracing]

Marilyn Monroe , you can blame the Kennedy's on that. Terrible

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

Homelessness is a national problem and pretty much all large cities have a ghetto. But let's face it, would you want to be Homeless in Duluth or ice fishing in Bismarck? Or would you rather hang out on a beach on a nice sunny day?

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

Pretty sure they filmed Get Shorty at the Rainbow.

[@WalkingVibes4K]

Looks clean for now..nice tour

[@JJJBRICE]

The fellow you tuber Action Kid did a vid where he walked up the narrow and unpaved road to the hill just above the Hollywood sign where the commincation tower was . There were other people there . Those people could give mountain goats a run for their money .

[@jamaldavis7795]

i remember being a kid back in the 80s living in diamond bar California when los Angeles was pretty much a very beautiful live and awesome city to live in.. but now a days, it's nothing like that!!..i mean there is homeless bums just about everywhere you go, and let's not talk about downtown l.a, that's just a big shit hole 🕳️..I'm born and raised in l.a, but I will never go back to live there, visit?!, yes..

[@Kenna198]

Yes, it’s sad, I’d rather not say how I feel about the “homeless” You Tube would ban me

[@aaronunsfe]

Some of those bldgs were probably songle family homes back in the 60s and 70s.

[@Jeymez]

every house in California is over 500k these days, the homes along Hollywood Blvd and Malibu are $5 million. they used to be lower, but that was 10 years ago when Obama was President. houses were $350k, and that was for a good one.

[@dr.chingus7258]

Not to disparage ,but all that is just for tourists , locals don't bother,but I do enjoy your videos

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

🤣😂😅 I took the hike, half way!!! 🤣😂😅😂🤣 then to the zoo

[@mariaarroyos2925]

Really...it's dirty, graffitti all over, and homeless epidemic is depressing.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

Seriously, why would you expect a homeless wasteland? SoCal is HUGE! Vastly populated but also very wealthy. All kinds of people there from billionaires to poverty.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Because Los Angeles has more homeless than any other city in the United States.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Although unverified, the word is that Chicago has the highest per capita. In all fairness, we all have bias and expectations so I shouldn'tbe so harsh. I apologize. Glad you were pleasantly surprised. I am enjoying your videos. Thank you for highlighting blight in this country. Your documentation helps everyone understand poverty throughout the country and hopefully inspires compassion. Best wishes.

[@warrenscarlett9302]

👍

[@pattieharris517]

Appreciate all the effort taken to show us the Hollywood sign!🫵🏽💪🏽😍

[@clarkgriswold5903]

What GPS do you guys use?

[@dopeMike_]

The Michigan hand

[@vbboyd]

You don't like living in traffic all of the time, then try living in Austin, Texas you will see first hand what living in traffic is all about.

[@shorebaby8959]

Or, NYC.

[@lillysf1819]

You can hike closer to the Hollywood sign.

[@dopeMike_]

yea i was wondering why they were so far away from it. You can literally park down the hill from the sign.

[@carloseduardoaguilar5099]

aw man you missed Natalie Wood at that cemetery, too.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

No homeless ppl are in downtown by the capital. Some in hollywood

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

Yeah the best way is to get a hotel, then walk LA, or scooter LA

[@xKarma_411]

homelessness & traffic is a problem no question about it but neither is ghost towns and dead cities that many governors are responsible for while simultaneously portraying california as being a “wasteland state”. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sconni666]

It’s the Rainbow Bar and Grill. But whatever.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Is that the road where James Dean and Sam Kinison were killed?

[@JJJBRICE]

i am suprised from my limited knowledge of women that LS wifey would allow him to have those female icons posters on the wall anywhere , unless he has them in a special room that is locked . I think even Ms. Monroe and Ms. Fawcett would feel the same way if they were still living , even if the poster had an image of a plain jane type lady .

[@triciab7750]

Venice Beach is not beautiful...go to Cystal Cove...south newport

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Now you tell me, Tricia! I'm in San Francisco now. I liked Venice Beach. It has a delightful tackiness to it that is beautiful in it's own way. :)

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I’m a big fan of Bettie Paige. Classic pinup.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Me too!

[@pstan5899]

you have to drive downtown to see homeless,,,

[@tasossaros8375]

🆗️👍

[@elperinasoswa6772]

I miss Venice beach

[@americanenglishcourse4076]

you can marilyn

[@triciab7750]

be careful

[@jameslaumand3686]

JAMES GARNER

[@michaelhoran407]

Apalling place. Zero rail transportation. They need to be confined to it.

[@MELONenSURPRISE]

Hahaha 😂dude spare your woman of all the girls you had crush on ...

[@davidgonzales2274]

Actually the most fussy people in la are the ones who are new to the area, people who been here a long time can hang here, get a little dirty, and not exspect someone to catter to them.

[@rwdriver300]

Hit Skid Row then report back… you guys were in Hollywood lol

[@bobmanfre5083]

18:30. I had a thing for Alice.

[@BigGator5]

Los Angeles isn't the epicenter of California's rot. You'll have to go to San Francisco for that. Portland, Oregon is even worse. Seattle, Washington is just as bad, but they just elected GOP leadership. They haven't been there long enough to have made an impact yet, so we're giving them a break. I would personally advise NOT going to any of these cities. If you insist, please listen to me. The stores are almost picked clean, so braking into vehicles has becoming a bigger deal these days. Don't leave anything in your car that you don't want to lose.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Lol, you just listed the order of places we are visiting next. We’re in San Francisco right now. Portland is next, then Seattle. And yes, I’m going to all the hellish places in those cities. 😬

[@BigGator5]

Just be careful and super vigilant. Be praying for you two.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@BigGator5 We will. We’re actually going to stay out in the suburbs of these 3 cities. To be honest, I’m more nervous about visiting St Louis and Baltimore next month.

[@james8884]

Lol you have no clue what you're talking about.

[@BigGator5]

James 888 ...Tell that to Chesa Boudin.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

🤣😂😅 thank god you got your wife, girls will ask for money in exchange for money randomly

[@elperinasoswa6772]

Not as nice as it use to be

[@davidgonzales2274]

I guess your wife was not excited about you oggiling abovee betty pages tomestone, you wife could really go-go at the whisky.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

🤣😂 SF 2 million ppl on a small island

[@americanenglishcourse4076]

go downtown then you will see the homelssssssss!!!!

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

Ppl go there for stereotypes

[@robertmerrick2389]

You keep talking about them women & your wife will bury you next!

[@JohnGotts]

From Michigan homelessness looks like a cost of living issue, plaguing states run by Democrats and Republicans equally. The reason why we don't have homeless encampments here is that means death due to the cold. It used to be if you fell on hard times you could at least rent a room for a few hundred bucks a month anywhere in the US. But I see rents in places like Idaho, Texas, Florida, and Utah in the multiple thousands of dollars per month for a basic place. Similar story in Democratic run states near the coast. When the most basic accomodation cannot be had for less than $1,000 people of poor means have nowhere to go but the street. And they live in places where they won't actually die in the cold of winter or the heat of summer. In the US that means California, Oregon, and Washington. All the other 47 states' homeless problem has to be borne by these three states with year round temperate climates.

[@ChildofGod3973]

Hey Joe with all that money you blow on alcohol and other things your next project should be to😊😊😊😊😊😊 see how many homeless shelters you can build nationwide you should get millions of subscribers for that project the Holy Bible clearly states poor people we will have with us always so help do something about homelessness I'm sure alot of your subscribers will help you out with that project😊😊😊😊😊

[@abcderghijk]

Ha, ha, ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,haha,ha,ha,ha,ha.. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! That's what think?? It's a waste land...I lived there 25 years.. Although in Orange County...

[@parttimehuman]

You seem stable.