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Anyone in the Glendale/Burbank area comment?

Yes, you omitted the nexus between the local Armenians and the Russian mafia. Obviously, most Armenians are not "connected," but their community is a major gateway for this recent multicultural blight.
I know retailers who've been cold-called by Armenians wanting to "invest," that is, launder money.
I also wonder about the influx of Armenians into the banking system here. By and large, they're pleasant and competent. However, a few years ago, an Armenian teller at my bank was arrested as part of a ring of, you guessed it, Armenian Russian mafia types, who were stealing ATM PIN numbers at the teller window with a reprogrammed card scanner. The PINs were routed to a computer off-site, and then funds from compromised accounts were wire transferred to accounts elsewhere.
You're dead on regarding the Armenian youth gangs too. Combine a somewhat insular immigrant community, the multicultural ethnic pride insanity of our public schools, and the youth gangsta subculture (which always revolves around ethnicity), and you've got the only significant source of Caucasian youth gangs in L.A. County.
And they're a nice little farm team for the Russian mafia.
It's also my observation that in retail there is a different mentality that is common not only to Armenians, but other Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners as well; there is no appreciation of developing a good relationship with a retailer. There is no sense of finesse in negotiation. In fact, the approach to haggling is frequently obnoxious and crude. I've reached the conclusion that this is a byproduct of coming from authoritarian nations with controlled economies and/or confiscatory taxes, where the black market predominates. I believe that having this mindset 24/7, always looking for some corner to cut, can be corrosive to good character.
Certainly with previous immigrant groups there has been some degree of culture clash. However, in earlier days, the American Ideal with regard to immigration was the melting pot, not multiculturalism. While the impetus to assimilate is still strong, multicultural forces like our education system and the increasing number of non-English radio and TV stations provide obstacles to assimilation that immigrants and their children didn't face in the past. When we couple that with a confiscatory state and federal tax structure, and many of the "old ways" of the black market will still seem like the right way.
I'm still a fan of liberal (small "L"), legal immigration policy, but we could certainly do a better job of it.

Yes, you omitted the nexus between the local Armenians and the Russian mafia. Obviously, most Armenians are not "connected," but their community is a major gateway for this recent multicultural blight.

Ah. That wasn't a deliberate ommission, however thank you very much for bringing up that point. From talking to an occasional co-worker when I do work out there, it doesn't surprise me in the least.

I also wonder about the influx of Armenians into the banking system here. By and large, they're pleasant and competent. However, a few years ago, an Armenian teller at my bank was arrested as part of a ring of, you guessed it, Armenian Russian mafia types, who were stealing ATM PIN numbers at the teller window with a reprogrammed card scanner. The PINs were routed to a computer off-site, and then funds from compromised accounts were wire transferred to accounts elsewhere.

Thank you for relaying this info, I'll pass this along to friends/family in the area.

You're dead on regarding the Armenian youth gangs too. Combine a somewhat insular immigrant community, the multicultural ethnic pride insanity of our public schools, and the youth gangsta subculture (which always revolves around ethnicity), and you've got the only significant source of Caucasian youth gangs in L.A. County.

I was out there a few weeks ago when it was "National Memorial Rememberance Day" or something like that." I know the local high school(s) were on alert for violence. Also, I recall passing by the local "Armenian Center" on Glenoaks, all the men were gathering, dressed in black. My co worker then informed me that they have been protesting at the Weisenthal Center downtown, wondering why there was no tribute to the Armenian Holocost (along with other holocost victims) so many centuries ago.

It's also my observation that in retail there is a different mentality that is common not only to Armenians, but other Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners as well; there is no appreciation of developing a good relationship with a retailer. There is no sense of finesse in negotiation. In fact, the approach to haggling is frequently obnoxious and crude. I've reached the conclusion that this is a byproduct of coming from authoritarian nations with controlled economies and/or confiscatory taxes, where the black market predominates. I believe that having this mindset 24/7, always looking for some corner to cut, can be corrosive to good character.

I agree 100%. What galls me the most is not only the characteristic abruptness, crassness, and rudeness (from the authoritarian countries), but their sense of "entitlement." And unwillingmess to take personal responsibility for some of their well being. I might see the same person intermittantly over the course of 2-3 years (I go out there maybe twice a year)...and they will complain of the same thing. They are usually non-complaint to whatever we suggest to help their problem, or what the MD recommends. It's a waste and a burden on the health care system, from what I can see in my little corner of the picture.

But as those on this thread (and elsewhere) are very aware of, sadly this problem is not restricted to the Armenians in Glendale.

I'm still a fan of liberal (small "L"), legal immigration policy, but we could certainly do a better job of it.

BTTT. Thanks for your informative post.