Violent crime. Rampant terrorism. Massive illiterate population. Lack of rule of law. I would say that LA has many simularities to third world cities.
Have you ever been to a third world city?
I lived in LA. It’s a tough town, but it’s got nothing on the third world.
Still, it’s amusing to draw the connection.
There are small towns in the CA Central Valley that are mostly illegal and do appear to be like the third world. Unpaved roads, scrawy dogs, no English to be found, the whole bit.