The B-Side: Machete: A True Story

A New Yorker in Los Angeles

There are certain economic indicators that can tell you at a glance what kind of neighborhood you’ve found yourself in. I call these “street level indicators”, because it’s less about the size of the homes; some people go into serious debt to build McMansions in middle class neighborhoods, often breaking the law and taking their homes to the literal edge of their property line.

No, these are usually the kinds of stores and restaurants you find on the street. For instance, if the mall has an Apple Store in it, you’re in a pretty good neighborhood. If the mall has no air conditioning and the only restaurant in the food court is Chinese to go, run. (For one thing, it means you’re in San Bernardino.)

Whole Foods and Trader Joes mean you’re in safe harbor. Dollar Tree and a 99-cent supermarket mean you’re in for choppy weather. The swing vote is Starbucks, which is in every neighborhood and is either the crappiest coffee shop in town or the nicest.

My neighborhood has it all, and you can driv…