The truth about living in Downtown Los Angeles

[@spookiidookii]

love this, insightful honest review. Thank you!!

[@mariam12]

I'm sorry Justin. Hopefully things get better. Glad to see you uploading again 💛

[@mrxman581]

Dude, do you not take the LA Metro? Little Tokyo has a new station in a great location. You can get to Santa Monica in 45 minutes. It's just a one seat ride. You can get to Olvera Street, Historic Broadway, Bunker Hill, Exposition Park, LA Live, and bypass all the sketchy areas of DTLA. If you grew up in Compton, I don't understand your fear of moving around using the Metro. It's improved noticeably since the Regional Connector stations opened, including the Little Tokyo station. You're friendscan use the E line to visit you from Santa Monica. I grew up in East LA and feel safe using the LA Metro. Was at the Hollywood Bowl a few weeks ago and took the Metro home at 10 pm. In fact, it was standing room only when I got on the train at Hollywood and Highland. Yes, it helps to be street smart, but it seems you have that.

[@markhernden9472]

That's so true about feeling like you don't have to be looking over your shoulder in Tokyo. The same would apply to other Asian mega cities like Seoul. I wonder how long a vending machine would last on a street corner in downtown L.A.

[@JustinKeanu]

Not even a day

[@mrxman581]

It depends on the street corner and what you define as DTLA.

[@hiphophistorycanada]

Great fkn share, Thank u!

[@DarkMerchant2222]

I would typically go to DTLA at least twice a week, to eat, walk around, and just enjoy. I am definitely a city boi, but there’s just so much crime. The unease of knowing something may happen randomly is unsettling, I’ve had my fair share of incidents in downtown. I always wanted to live in DTLA but after experiencing it for my whole life I decided against it. I wanted to experience the city with my wife as a new couple but it’s not safe enough for her. I live 10 minutes away from DTLA by the 10W freeway, that’s been my portal to the city and we decided to keep it that way. Nice video! Enjoy the time you have left there and definitely move to a safer place. And Little Tokyo is an amazing place, but yeah the city is just in pockets.

[@mrxman581]

Use the LA Metro. It's continually improving. And the South Park area of DTLA is where a lot of new residential housing has been built, but the LA Metro is not as close. The Pico station would be the closest.

[@PresenceofthePhoenix]

4:18 is motivating to make changes for the better 🔥

[@jdandyfilms]

As someone who grew up in LA I totally know what you mean. Especially with your point about visiting Tokyo. I miss how safe it felt there

[@mrxman581]

It feels safe to me, but I'm not in DTLA after 11 pm or so either. Mostly because I use the LA Metro when I visit DTLA and LA Metro stops service around midnight. I've noticed more people using the LA Metro over the last year. There are also more security and transit ambassadors now.

[@ashcaldwell2828]

I'm considering moving to DTLA and this is very helpful :) thank you for sharing!

[@mrxman581]

Look into how the LA Metro works along with the Metro Micro service works and the DASH buses. Many people don't know about many of the public transit options available, and they are hell cheap, too. Good luck.

[@trap_wagon]

I'd be careful about loosely recommending the Beach Cities neighborhoods to anyone because the cost to live there is gonna be a whole lot. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, may still be pricey but I know that it's more likely to be more affordable than those neighborhoods but the flaw is that it can be far depending on where people wanna live by.

[@alwaysZonqd]

Downtown anywhere always got me feeling like I gotta stay on point 24/7. One reason I carry my .40 with me everywhere. Get you a lil something to keep you safer too, especially in LA. Miss playing Ball with you Justin, glad you still making videos

[@JustinKeanu]

Yo we played basketball together?? What’s your name??

[@alwaysZonqd]

@@JustinKeanuits Zach, we played park district ball, my mom works at Mac.

[@JustinKeanu]

@@alwaysZonqd oh word!? Zach R?? Good to hear from you bro hope you’re doing well!

[@alwaysZonqd]

@@JustinKeanuyessir! im doing great, hope the same for you!

[@gianniclaud]

New subscriber here. I used to live on 1st and hope back in 2014 when DTLA was back on the rise. It's sad to see what has become of the city since then, I'm so grateful after seeing your video for making feel better about my decision to leave the area. I was just like you, I loved being in little tokyo with all of the great Japanese food and culture, and I loved being in a central location that allowed me to go to Pasadena or Hollywood or even Santa Monica with just a train ride. But after seeing the rise in crime, I'm good. I'm so glad I'm not there anymore and hoping things get better for major metropolitan areas in the US, but it seems like there's a general decline across the board. Thanks for the video!

[@mrxman581]

That was mainly due to Covid for almost 4 years, but things have already improved, at least on the LA Metro.

[@gianniclaud]

@@mrxman581 I was just in dtla last night and it’s worse.

[@nabi5864]

The Zombies outside roaming the streets is totally out of control

[@noeonoohno4219]

Your friends could take the metro direct to little Tokyo on the yellow line. It’s kinda awesome. I don’t think it’s that dangerous to walk outside of little Tokyo tho.

[@mrxman581]

Agreed. It's officially called the E line. And I've taken it several times from East LA to Santa Monica. One seat ride is great. I usually grab a sandwich at Bay Cities, a great Italian deli on Lincoln.

[@omgstoptakingnames]

I grew up in LA and downtown has always been a dumpster lol

[@gabrielspianohouse6583]

Los Angeles is a place where people go to get famous. I didn't really see a lot of homeless people.

[@jdgx95]

dude thank you for this video ive been considering moving to little tokyo myself i love that area and the city atmosphere being surrounded by people but every video i find about it is either people going on about restaurants or breaking down statistics and numbers not about the actual experience of living there

[@gabrielspianohouse6583]

I would move to L.A than anywhere in the world.

[@memoirmystery]

Check code is riding the expo line to Santa Monica and long boarding to Venice. Only if you’re willing to risk your life though 😂

[@mrxman581]

The LA Metro is safe enough, especially the E line to Santa Monica. It's safer than driving a car in many ways, too.

[@TheYoungMuTe]

Ive found decent night life walking in little tokyo & arts district. Downtown like skidrow & fashion district is a no from me tho. Homie got mugged a few months ago

[@gabrielspianohouse6583]

California is very underrated.

[@byronoden2715]

Take the train to avoid the traffic.

[@GersLastBite]

What options are you thinking for out of country? :o

[@JustinKeanu]

There is a big hint if you scroll through my Instagram 👀

[@halusyn]

You seem cool, I'm also Justin, it's nice to meet you.

[@oliviafitzgerald3413]

Hahahahahaha no one wants to sit in an hour and a half of traffic. I’m guilty

[@mopes2713]

If you can afford to live in Downtown LA and pay those insane prices, then you might as well live in a much nicer place like Pasadena or San Diego for example, Probably more or less the same price wise.

[@mrxman581]

Very different energy in those cities. Much more suburb living. Might be safer, but more boring in some ways. Maybe get a place within walking distance to a Metro station would be good.

[@gabrielspianohouse6583]

California is still the most populated state, and people go to Cali to get famous. California has more opportunities for famous people than how is it thaf the most popular state in America is seen differently? I hardly ever saw homeless tbh.

[@quinnjohnson4690]

long time downtowner here. my mother and friends also think I'm crazy because I like living down. dtown you either love it or hate it. living downtown isnt for everyone. That was true before the pandemic, but especially after. dtown is definitely more intense and violent now. that being said. at its peak, dtown is great if you love high energy urban areas, want lots of stuff to do. you also don't need a car. I love southbay and the beaches but I wouldn't want to live there. I'm not interested in the quiet surban life to each his own

[@sbsk2526]

What part/s of DTLA do you feel is the safest?

[@Yureidocs]

love the videos im out in OC if you'd be down to collab !

[@Basta11]

Pacific Beach San Diego might be for you.

[@HeyitsVic7x]

You must live only 15miles aways if trafficis 1.5hrs away lol ill link up with you you for rammen

[@michaellaw5876]

I went to Dover Street Market and Juice Store to buy some designer clothes for my sister. No offense but the thought of Skid row, the largest homeless camp, in California being just blocks away from a fashion district is kinda unsettling. Good thing they both had security. I've had friends who lived in K-Town who couldn't live a day without Korean food decide to move cuz there was too much crime they had to put up with. Days ago I saw on the news how Little Tokyo has stores deciding to close because rent is increasing as well as crime. Like adding insult to injury by those elected and sworn to protect and help us.

[@mrxman581]

The issue in Little Tokyo isn't crime. It's the beginning of gentrification. That's why historic businesses can not afford the higher rent. That indicates that Little Tokyo is as popular as always.

[@JoshuaThomasGray]

yo i need a ramen date

[@Sobie28]

You suggest Miami over LA?

[@gabrielspianohouse6583]

L.A is better than Miami

[@duskshadow25]

I actually work for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for almost 2 years already, so I drive around to all of their school sites and work on their network. I worked on Royball Learning Center (a big high school), which is actually really close to Little Tokyo and China town. Don't get me wrong, I like the job and people I work with, but the driving and environment of Downtown LA is just horrible. There were days where they had to shut school down early because there were shooting 2 blocks down the streets. Food is expensive, parking is always a pain in the ass, and it's just so unsanitary too with homeless people everywhere asking for money. The pollution in the air has always been bad too. Most people work their whole life and can never afford to buy a house because of the outrageous prices. I would never buy a house in LA even if I have the money, because I would rather just go live somewhere else for 1/3 of the price and twice as big space for a house purchase, better retirement, cheaper cost on food and gas, and cleaner air. Justin, if you're a big fan of ramen, I recommend you taking the opportunity to visit Japan. Maybe even try to live there for few months and see how you like it. The food there is 10 times better than back in the state, and it's just way cleaner too because it's not processed food.

[@austinduran3557]

culture? lol

[@JustinKeanu]

Mexican Filipino

[@austinduran3557]

@@JustinKeanu it’s hard af to find a job around here in the ie I’d imagine it’d be easier in those areas

[@austinduran3557]

@@JustinKeanu 1hr drive Venice? Fuck • seems like it’d have the best of both worlds

[@reggiesmith5909]

The beaches along California are crap

[@JustinKeanu]

Not all of them

[@jjsimps9273]

La Jolla beach, San Diego California?????

[@JustinKeanu]

@@jjsimps9273 all of Big Sur too is absolutely beautiful

[@Tone213x]

8 months lemme check u out, Ngl u make make me laugh, U don’t know about nun, ur in a dangerous area that doesn’t gaf about u, go n tell , btw where u from, where u grew up at , ok let’s see what u know

[@betsylopez1638]

He’s not in a dangerous area, tbh he’s in a good spot, it’s just sometimes the city is overwhelming. I work in DTLA but I wouldn’t want to live there. Living there can make u get used to it so you can’t enjoy as much as if you just go to DTLA to shop, walk around etc.

[@JustinKeanu]

@betsylopez1638 didn’t enjoy getting a gun pointed at me, seeing a guy with a sword, people tweaking out on the side walk and watching a break in the apartment right below me. Little Tokyo is great for a dinner. But living downtown is not ideal. Police helicopters every 5 minutes and you’re constantly looking over your shoulder.

[@JustinKeanu]

I’m from Compton. I don’t take pride in living in conditions where crime and drugs are rampant. Sound like you are the one that knows nothing.