Los Angeles 'is a Third World city'

by Amy Judd | April 25, 2008 at 09:10 am

3424 views | 2 Recommendations | 15 comments

Los Angeles is on its way to becoming a 'third world city' with immigrants making up half of its workforce, says a new study by the Migration Policy Institute released today.
Of all immigrants in LA, a third have not graduated high school, and 60 per cent do not speak English fluently.

It said this left immigrants ill-equipped to fill California's fastest-growing occupations, such as computer software engineering and nursing. The organisation added that as the so-called baby boomers reach retirement age, a similar pattern will spread across the US.

Ernesto Cortes Jr, of the Industrial Areas Foundation, a think-tank that specialises on social change, claimed Los Angeles was at a crossroads.

"The question is are we going to be a 21st century city with shared prosperity, or a Third World city with an elite group on top and most on near poverty wages?" he said.

The US Census Bureau last year predicted that by 2050, minorities will account for half of all residents across America.

It registered the largest numerical increases in minority residents in metropolitan Los Angeles, Riverside, in California, Dallas, Houston and New York.

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okayIdidit.

at 18:21 on April 25th, 2008

Took this photo of downtown LA from the inside of my car just off the Harbor Freeway.

okayIdidit. has contributed a photo to this story.

lgal3824

at 19:19 on April 25th, 2008

I live in Los Angeles and I do not think it is "On The Way" to becoming a third world city. It ALREADY is one. There is trash everywhere, graffiti, poor and hungry people begging in the streets. The crime has increased tenfold. I am afraid to go out at night. There are crowds everywhere!

The immigrants left thier countries to make a better life for themselves and they are ruining it. No one speaks english at the store, the gas station or restaurants. The call it "The Concrete Jungle" jokingly. This is not funny! This is my home.

There are over 20 thousand illegal immigrants in our county jails. They are killing our citizens. This has to stop.

Enough said...

link

at 23:35 on April 25th, 2008

Oh... Where is the hell is John Galt?

Starmaniack77

at 01:02 on April 26th, 2008

L.A. IS a great city, great in culture, and uniqueness. It is, however, an exact example of what the article says it to be.

Starmaniack77 has contributed a photo to this story.

svosicka

at 01:21 on April 26th, 2008

Pay money to see if you can see through the smog. A view of downtown Los Angeles from Griffith Park Observatory (in the hills near the Hollywood sign)

svosicka has contributed a photo to this story.

verou

at 07:42 on April 26th, 2008

Honestly I think that the Telegraph is not a good source of news. It raises issues in a really naive way, showing just one side of the increasing immigration rates without offering examples of integration. Anyhow I like crowd powered medias and therefore here's my picture.

verou has contributed a photo to this story.

americancaesar

at 15:44 on April 26th, 2008

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities on earth, and the most that can be said about cultural assimilation is that it's a "Third World" city? Check in on New York in 1910 -- would anyone reserve the same criticism for it back then?

I think a lot of isolationist Angelenos need to adjust -- quickly -- to what reality is dictating. Besides, where else in the U.S. can you get such good Oaxacan food?

miss patricia

at 16:16 on April 26th, 2008

i must agree with americanceasar. this city is an example of globalization. there are people from all walks of life living in this glorious city. yes, it's polluted and dirty and a lot of people here don't speak english. in spite of those things this is a city of creativity and a city of the future. the immigrants who flock to the us are not "killing our citizens" as one commenter put it. we are killing ourselves by continuing to allow our government to destroy the economies of these other countries preventing people there from getting living wages and proper work and forcing them to seek a better life here in the states.

los angeles is far from perfect, but the idea of calling the city third world solely based on the numbers of immigrants seems far fetched. have they looked into the insane number of homeless on our streets? they aren't there because a couple thousand latinos crossed over illegally. they're there because there is unaffordable housing, unemployment is up state wide, there are no medical benefits for those who have nothing. these are contributing factors to a third world state. the idea that the 1/3 of the immigrant population that has not finished high school contributes in some way to the third world-ness of this city, seems like a stretch. how many white and black americans have not? in what ways does their non-completion of high school help make l.a. more third world? we need to invest in education in the state of california. it all boils down to providing the basics for growing minds. if we can educate the population, provide money for college to fill the jobs of the future (i.t., nursing) with well qualified candidates. there and only there will be begin to fix the problems at home.

Amy Judd

at 16:26 on April 26th, 2008

Thank you for your perspective - interesting points.

kidtrip

at 17:29 on April 27th, 2008

Taken from the Getty Museum.

kidtrip has contributed a photo to this story.

jenlund70

at 17:20 on May 1st, 2008

I love LA with a big red heart. I don't think it's on it's way to becoming a third world city, on the contrary, I think it is a rather diverse and beautiful place.. There is a certain appreciation only those of us from here could actually have, I guess.

I take offense on behalf of our immigrant community that they are in some way to blame or the reason we are fast becoming this supposed third world city, because many don't speak English? That sounds very racist. It's that very thinking that would devalue any city for the same reasons.

If anyone knows anything about our smog and our geography, you'd know about the offshore and onshore winds that trap air (good or bad), making it look worse than it is. Much of the poor air quality actually comes from inland farms valleys and gets pushed into our basin. Sure, our cars do not help, but in this day in age (and years into emissions control), we don't have many sources right here in Los Angeles that are to cause for the smog.

Anyways, I love L.A. If you don't like it, well there's the door and don't let it hit you on the way out.

.Freshie Face.

at 20:26 on May 2nd, 2008

LA is one of the biggest & lovely city for those Immagrates,which look for needs & news opportunities to Trying to make come true their dream. As well,to being in better conditions & help their families as what they can do for succes.

.Freshie Face. has contributed a photo to this story.

.Freshie Face.

at 20:45 on May 2nd, 2008

there's trash everywhere.. because people like YOU are too lazzy to pick it up their own trash!!

One day.. God wont do it!.. but hopely!
the US citizen will need help for America!!!
as continent & not like US (if you ask where is America or for americans they say US.. augh!.. what bad! but who cares?) better know as American in general... If there's anothe war.. or something from the mother nature US citizen would running away from their country! as the movie
"The Day After Tomorrow".

I know.. is not funny see grafitti everywhere.. whats that for?
I mean.. Is Art & is pretty amazing how they mix all that kind of letters,colors,draws.. etc..
But is not funny & isnt fair people drawing you own private propery...! ,,new constructions,or even signs and posters. }:
It Is not not!!!!!

the violence.. well..
no Comments about it..
if LA is dangerous..
Could you imagine others countries as Central America, South American, Mexico?
pff..

We cannot do nothing about it..
the only things is educate kids,children as possible the prents can.
Some people make the violence as the only resourse they have to get food,clothes....
or maybe drugs!

In order .. there are many discussions to disscuss about but the major fact is that immigration is growing not like comparation of the rates of the recent years, but it stills to do so.

.Freshie Face. has contributed a photo to this story.

ADP (not verified)

at 21:01 on October 1st, 2008

Wakkeeeee upppp.

they aren't there because a couple thousand latinos crossed over illegally. they're there because there is unaffordable housing, unemployment is up state wide, there are no medical benefits for those who have nothing. these are contributing factors to a third world state. the idea that the 1/3 of the immigrant population that has not finished high school contributes in some way to the third world-ness of this city, seems like a stretch. how many white and black americans have not? in what ways does their non-completion of high school help make l.a. more third world? we need to invest in education in the state of california. it all boils down to providing the basics for growing minds. if we can educate the population, provide money for college to fill the jobs of the future (i.t., nursing) with well qualified candidates. there and only there will be begin to fix the problems at home

As if these things come from nowhere. Where is this wealth coming from? With the private property being destroyed, combined with the productive workforce these people are pushing out of the area, it seems unlikely that this imaginary wealth will ever be able to make up for the losses achieved in such a short period of time in California. I am sorry, did your people have any of these things, miss Patricia, in the places that they so rapidly fled from to invade another nation? I find it strange when people demand or request such luxuries particularly when their own people have established no precedent of being capable of sustaining or creating them in a competitive global market for such resources. WAKE UP, Americans. I will let the fucking mexicans have California. They want their culture and society(i.e. multiculturalism, all cultures preserved) they can fu*king have it. I am even generous enough to give blacks New Mexico and Arizona. Then the problem is solved. It sounds crazy huh, racist huh? The economy is going down my friends. Desperate times call for desperate measures. We will see how fast your little illusions and ideals are shattered if things ever do escalate to this point. You thought Bush was a fascist? Next year, your fu*king neighbor is gonna look like fu*kin' Goebbels. It may not surprise you so much then, particularly when your own mind begins to cross those invisible boundaries.

Helen WL (not verified)

at 20:00 on November 26th, 2008

I lived in LA for 20 years, and immigrated (legally I might add) to New Zealand in 2007.

In Los Angeles, I could not find steady work in my chosen profession of floral design, although I lived a stone's throw from a handful of floral shops and was always called to come in and help for holidays, when well trained and fast workers were needed to meet increased demand. The rest of the year, the regular floral positions were held by and large by illegal immigrants. This is a well known fact about the floral industry in LA. I do not blame the illegal immigrants. I hold responsible the SHOP OWNERS who hired them continuously, year after year. In LA, a floral shop owner expected to drive one or two SUV's, dine like a celebrity, vacation well, and own a half million dollar home. This life of privilege was earned on the backs of the illegals who worked for less than minimum wage (usually about $6 an hour), with no benefits, no bonuses, no paid sick days and no medical care whatsoever. If one couldn't work, they'd send in their sister or brother. It didn't matter to the owner if they didn't speak English - they trained well and would eventually get the job done and the profit for the owner was doubled. If they are hurt on the job, which happens in floral as you are working with knives and choppers all day, a responsible owner takes the illegal to an emergency care facility and pays for treatment on the spot. An irresponsible one sends the worker home. It was totally up to the owner's discretion as to handling workplace injury. No illegal with a job would ever complain about any behavior of an owner. Instead, they ingratiate themselves as much as possible in a sort of master/slave relationship. We are definitely talking third world here.

The upshot is that while educated white English speaking American born workers would try for these jobs, and wait for these jobs, they inevitably won't get them - legal workers expect a salary starting at $10 an hour for designing arrangements that would fetch upwards of $150 - you have to be able to make at least 3 an hour. $10 is not a living wage in LA, but it was acceptable if you could get it. Usually you couldn't, and you never even thought about medical benefits, sick day pay, or anything other than a straight hourly wage. Mind you, I am talking about upscale establishments situated for example in the Hotel Bel Age, in Beverly Hills, and on Melrose Avenue. The difference between the privileged atmosphere of an upscale floral shop in Los Angeles, and the way the workers are treated, illegal or legal, is sickening. And the availability of cheap illegal labor, and the shop owner's total exploitation of this labor source brought the entire industry down, down, down, so that a living wage could not be found on a continuous basis by a legal, trained laborer. Then the shop owner began to think he couldn't run the shop unless he had cheap illegal labor working with no benefits whatsoever. How would he pay for his mortgage? Club memberships? New car? Boat? His own medical care as a private business owner? No shop owner had ever been raided or prosecuted for working illegals up to the time I left the country in 2007. I can name at least 7 individual owners with their name in big letters on the door of the business, who are breaking the law today, and will continue to do so unless they are forcibly stopped. Think working in floral design is just a menial job? In some cities in the mid-west, where there is not so much illegal labor, being a floral designer is a respectable job where you work with your hands and help run a small business, and enough money is made that you can have a medical program and once a year vacation. I should be able to have that choice in all of America, not just where illegal immigrants haven't made inroads.

THIS is the mechanics of why LA is a third world city. By the way, I am a liberal and am very comfortable working in my beautiful adopted country that has socialized medicine. But I do not believe that illegals have a "right" to medical care, schooling, education or work, and I don't think that their children should be given these things if the parents came illegally. When this is allowed, it tears down the fabric of the economy because of basic greed, and the American laborer is the one that suffers the most. I can't tell you how happy I am that I am no longer a part of that system.

In New Zealand, far left by American standards, illegals are not tolerated and jobs must be offered to residents and citizens here before anyone can be brought in the country to do it.