Tales of the DVK

So my gym is opening on the edge of Torrance and Lawndale. By "the edge" I mean our side of the street is Torrance and if you cross the street you are in Lawndale. I once had a car accident (not my fault!) in one of the nearby intersections and had to wait for Torrance and Lawndale to argue over who should take the report based on which lane of traffic the accident occurred in... but that's a story for another time... anyway, you get the idea, we're right on the edge.

As I sign people up for their memberships and as I overhear other people singing up I have noticed a frequent inquiry, said with a blatant tone of disgust: "Are you guys signing up a lot of people from Lawndale?"

That's the point when I smile and inform them that I live in Lawndale.

I've lived in The South Bay all my life. Born in Torrance, spent a little time in El Segundo, A few years in Redondo Beach, a few years in Torrance, a few more years in Redondo, and I've spent the past year in Lawndale. 

Let me tell you about the problems I had in Redondo Beach: constant loud parties, my car's battery stolen twice, motorhomes parked up and down the street and a subsequent lack of parking, neighbors who threatened me, graffiti,  drug dealers living in the building next-door, and on 3 different occasions I interrupted someone from stealing my neighbor's truck.

I have never once had a problem while living in Lawndale and have never once had to call the sheriffs, whereas I had the RBPD on speed-dial.

Granted, there are some undeniably dumpy areas of Lawndale, but the same can be said for any given city. South and West Torrance are nice, but have you ever been to the PO area of Torrance? Through further discussion with concerned individuals I often discover that the people who are so concerned about Lawndale haven't spent any noteworthy amount of time in the city, other than to drive by once and a while and gossip amongst themselves about how they are soooo glad they live in Torrance or Redondo. I guess some people will take an ego trip any way they can get it.

So tell me, have you been to Lawndale? Is it such a bad place? Why or why not?