I’ve lived on 4th between Pico and Ocean Park for 20 years but avoid that section of Pico like the plague. Only go there for the car wash and Josey’s.
When I used to go to SMC I would go to the subway across the street from the campus(Dont know if its still there) and then walk down to the 99 cent store down the street on Stewart..never went down there at night..when I had night classes at the Art and Entertainment Academy(Graphic Design classes) on Stewart and Olympic, I would just stay on the campus til I got picked up..lots of gang activity always happening on Pico near the campus