I’m looking for a new zip code. That’s right. Life in the 90016 has been dandy, but I’m on the hunt.

A few years ago, I though my moving to Historic West Adams would make a difference. I had always heard that if well educated folks moved to — let’s call them — gentrifying areas — that it would make a difference.

But I seem alone in my call for better services. 90016 gets red-lined. One of my neighbors has an apartment in another zip code to get a break on her car insurance. Getting services is a major nightmare. Just Sunday, I was told point blank by a technician at SBC/PacBell that my phone/DLS service was not going to improve — even though it’s $100 per month. If I lived north of Wilshire Boulevard or north of Sunset Boulevard, then I could be guaranteed uninterrupted service, he said. Without constant complaints to the public utilities commission, he said, I’ll be lucky to get regular phone service.

You’ve got to be kidding! I recently came to a crossroads. Would my time be better spent rallying for services for which I fork over a bevy of taxes and fees for — or would my time be better spent getting to a place where they already have those services.

This is an on-going debate among some of my neighbors. Despite my best efforts, however, I was unable to rally much help from those around me who are getting short changed as well. A lot of times I get, ‘well it’s always been this way.’ To that, I say, ‘No way.’

One of the most told stories in my family was about a fire on Rapp Road in Albany. The city firefighters wouldn’t come because they said it was unincorporated area. The county wouldn’t come because they claimed the fire was in a city area.

I say, get out before it burns down.

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