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From bucolic bliss to 'gated ghetto'
Los Angeles Times ^ | 30 March 2010 | Alana Semuels

Posted on 03/31/2010 1:12:13 PM PDT by Lorianne

Hemet - The gated community in Hemet doesn't seem like the best place for Eddie and Maria Lopez to raise their family anymore.

Vandals knocked out the streetlight in front of the Lopezes' five-bedroom home and then took advantage of the darkness to try to steal a van. Cars are parked four deep in the driveway next door, where a handful of men rent rooms. And up and down their block of handsome single-family homes are padlocked doors, orange "no trespassing signs" and broken front windows.

It wasn't what the Lopezes pictured when they agreed to pay $440,000 for their 5,000-square-foot house in 2006.

The 427-home Willowalk tract, built by developer D.R. Horton, featured eight distinct "villages" within its block walls. Along with spacious homes, Willowalk boasted four lakes, a community pool and clubhouse. Fanciful street names such as Pink Savory Way and Bee Balm Road added to the bucolic image.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: hemet; section8; thugculture
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1 posted on 03/31/2010 1:12:13 PM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

Sounds like the whole point of a gated community was lost somewhere.


2 posted on 03/31/2010 1:15:47 PM PDT by GeronL (There is only a "Happily ever after" for you if you're the one writing your own script)
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To: Lorianne

big houses, tiny lots. Far too close together.


3 posted on 03/31/2010 1:17:20 PM PDT by GeronL (There is only a "Happily ever after" for you if you're the one writing your own script)
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To: GeronL

That’s California for you. We grow tract houses, Just add water!!!


4 posted on 03/31/2010 1:22:54 PM PDT by Semperfiwife (My doctor is NOT a congressman. They have not healed anyone, but hurt plenty!)
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To: GeronL

Soon, gated communities will be used to keep people in. Or....they will have a gated community within a gated community, within a gated community.


5 posted on 03/31/2010 1:23:24 PM PDT by RC2 (Keep ACORN investigations going.)
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To: RC2

HOA’s within HOA’s within HOA’s

designed by Satan himself.


6 posted on 03/31/2010 1:26:30 PM PDT by GeronL (There is only a "Happily ever after" for you if you're the one writing your own script)
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To: Semperfiwife

lol.

water going to be harder and harder to find.


7 posted on 03/31/2010 1:27:03 PM PDT by GeronL (There is only a "Happily ever after" for you if you're the one writing your own script)
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To: GeronL

They would be better off building a fence around the whole city of Hemet. If you want to leave the city you should have to go to the police department and request a permit. If you’re not wanted by the law, you can leave. Hell......we’re getting there anyway....lets start with them.


8 posted on 03/31/2010 1:30:25 PM PDT by RC2 (Keep ACORN investigations going.)
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To: Lorianne

This article tries to blame builders, banks, and house owners, everyone except those who are committing the crimes described.

The source of the problem here is blatant: if anyone enters and is allowed to stay in this country illegally, whether here to decently work or to traffic in narcotics, how can we expect them to obey the rest of our laws, hmmm?

Hemet, which is under seige by illegal aliens and narco-gangs, needs the help of the FBI and Homeland Security. It is obvious from this article that whites are fleeing the carnage, and that for political reasons state and federal officials are doing zip to protect those who remain.

In this situation the police and city buildings are being attacked and citizens are threatened constantly. It must be straightened out and brought under control soon or, like a cancer, it will spread to other communities in southern California.

Michigan, I’m sure, can take care of itself.


9 posted on 03/31/2010 1:32:36 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NO Foreign Nationals as our President!!)
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To: Lorianne

Easy solution.

Just deport every illegal alien living as a tennant in that development.

Things will dramatically improve.

(This theory holds true for the whole stinking state of California. WTF is wrong with legal residents there?)


10 posted on 03/31/2010 1:33:44 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: GeronL

THEY bought the house for 400K....and she is a stay at home Mom...Where do they get the mortgage? Just curious.


11 posted on 03/31/2010 1:37:59 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (Ok, joke's over....Bring back Bush !)
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To: Lorianne

http://vodpod.com/watch/1758356-little-boxes-weeds-theme


12 posted on 03/31/2010 1:38:33 PM PDT by rednesss (fascism is the union,marriage,merger or fusion of corporate economic power with governmental power)
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To: Responsibility2nd
 




13 posted on 03/31/2010 1:38:42 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: Lorianne

Too much Twilight Zone stuff in there to list. Folks you gotta read the whole article. The jaw-dropper for me is the Section 8 people getting rent vouchers so they can now live in the five year old 4000-SF homes that have granite countertops.


14 posted on 03/31/2010 1:43:45 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten per cent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: jiggyboy
The jaw-dropper for me is the Section 8 people getting rent vouchers so they can now live in the five year old 4000-SF homes that have granite countertops.

The community was built for people with jobs who could afford the high end housing and would treat it with respect as owners with some pride in their own private property. Allowing Section 8 people into the development essentially violates the private property rights of the other home owners. It has made the place undesirable as a place to live and caused the property values to drop as a consequence. The U.S. government should be sued for financing the transformation of a gated community into a ghetto. It would not have happened without the government's involvement.

15 posted on 03/31/2010 1:55:00 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: All

That track is across the street from Walmart, there is always a bunch of ********** hanging out in front.

If we have to go to Walmart after dark we go to the one in Temecula rather than Hemet.

It is the same distance from our compound in the hills.


16 posted on 03/31/2010 1:59:16 PM PDT by troy McClure
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To: Responsibility2nd

“WTF is wrong with legal residents there?”

They’re outnumbered and probably outgunned?


17 posted on 03/31/2010 2:07:08 PM PDT by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Myrddin

We should have a Section 8 watch. You could put in a zip code or address to find the density of section 8 housing. Another option would impose crime rates on a section 8 housing map with an option to track crimes and section 8 housing density over time.


18 posted on 03/31/2010 2:08:24 PM PDT by businessprofessor
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To: Lorianne
Classic example of what the Austrian economists call "malinvestment." When money is made artificially cheap, entrepreneurs assume (because of low interest rates), that there are lots of savings available, i.e., people are exhibiting a preference for future consumption rather than present consumption. On the basis of this mistaken impression, they invest in things to provide future consumption. However, there really are no savings. The low interest rates are artificial. Eventually the roof falls in (or the bottom falls out), and the investments are seen to be unwanted.

You couldn't ask for a better example for an economics class.

19 posted on 03/31/2010 2:30:41 PM PDT by JoeFromSidney
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To: Myrddin

Allowing Section 8 people into the development essentially violates the private property rights of the other home owners.

You missed the obvious, the suburb was opened in 2006 at the height of the real estate boom. This couple obviously bought their house using CRA type financing. My guess is they have zero equity in the home and probably put nothing down to secure the mortgage. They should do as their neighbors did and vamoose. There is no point for them to stay.


20 posted on 03/31/2010 2:32:14 PM PDT by equalitybeforethelaw
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