The Quality of Life in Los Angeles: 2008 State of the County Report Update

The Quality of Life in Los Angeles: 2008 State of the County Report Update has been published by the Center for Community Research and Solutions at United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

This publication is an update to the annual Quality of Life in Los Angeles, inaugurated in 2007 and published by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. This update to the Quality of Life includes the same indicators of well being in the areas of education, economic status, health, and public safety. The index is updated with data from the year 2006-the most recent year data was available for all indicators together. The index score signifies where LA County is and how far it has to go to attain a good quality of life for its residents. For example, an overall score of 7.2 means that LA County is 72% of where it should be in meeting conditions that provide a good quality of life, and a score of 10 means that LA County is 100% where it should be in these indicators. Historical data are also included in the publication.

Selected Findings:

• The overall LA County Index has gone up since last year-rising from 7.31 to 7.52. Roughly translated, this means that LA County has gone up from 73% of where it should be to 75% in terms of attaining a good quality of life for its residents (pg. 4).
• The State of California's index held steady in 2006, at 8.05, down only slightly from 8.08 the year before (pg. 4).
• The rate of students enrolled in the free/reduced lunch programs has grown in LA County, from 61.3% in 2000 to 64.3% in 2006 (pg. 14).
• The child poverty rate has held relatively steady at about 22% over 2005 and 2006 (pg. 14).
• Median family income in LA County in 2006 was $57,000 (pg..8).
• The violent crime rate in LA County (measured in crimes per 100,000) in 2006 has been the lowest since 2000, declining about one third from the year 2000 (pg. 14).
• Despite the generally positive direction in the Quality of Life Index over recent years, current negative trends in housing, unemployment, crime and the economy could threaten the index in the near future. (p. 5)
  

LA Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by LA County Service Planning Area

LA Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by LA County has been published by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California.

This publication examines the diversity of language found in LA County. It includes demographics (race/ethnicity, place of origin, languages spoken at home), a look at limited English proficiency and the barriers faced by those with limited English skills, policy recommendations and more. Languages spoken are broken down by SPAs (service planning areas).

Selected Findings:

• More than one third (36%) of LA County residents were born outside the US.
• About one quarter of LA County seniors (ages 65 and older) are limited English proficient, (meaning they cannot speak the language 'very well', or experience difficulty in communicating in English).
• More than half of LA County residents speak a language other than English at home.
• 2.5 million LA County residents are considered limited English proficient
• Out of all the service planning areas (or SPAs), SPA 4 (Metro LA) has the highest percentage of residents born outside the US at about half (51%); SPA 1 (Antelope Valley) has the lowest percentage of residents born outside the US at 15%.