Q: East LA.  East Hollywood.  What’s the difference?

A: East Los Angeles is located east of Downtown Los Angeles, and is an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.  East Hollywood is located in the east side of Hollywood, a community within the city of Los Angeles.  We like both places a lot.

Q: You guys are on the “East Side” right?

A: No, E-Ho is located in central Los Angeles, just north of Downtown LA and west of the Los Angeles River.  Although there is some debate about this, we share the opinion that our friends who live east of the LA River live on the true “East Side.” 

Q: Do you ever feel like your physical safety is in danger in East Hollywood?

A: Sometimes.  We also feel like our spiritual safety is in danger in Beverly Hills.  A running theme throughout the Bible is that security is found in God, not location.

Q: How dangerous is it in E-Ho?

A: E-Ho has its fair share of crime, drugs and gangs, and yet it is nothing like other more notorious neighborhoods of Los Angeles.  We know of some drive-by shootings that have happened on and near our block since we moved in, but we know people in other parts of LA who experience shootings nearly every night.  As Jesus-followers we feel the question is not so much, “Is our neighborhood too dangerous?” but “Will we live dangerous lives for Jesus Christ to address the issues of sin and injustice around us?”

Q: What is it like to raise children in East Hollywood?

A: Really cool!  We like that our kids are getting exposed to multiple cultures, foods, languages and worldviews!  The warmth and hospitality toward children in these cultures is refreshing.  Parenting is fun and hard in the city.  A lot of attractions are within close reach.  Yet kids also are bombarded with quick and easy access to a lot of wicked influences.  Although we face unique issues in our own urban village, we’re not sure all our parenting challenges are attributable to our neighborhood.  We think honest parents would agree it is challenging to raise kids anywhere.  

Q: What is “Silver Lake Adjacent”? 

A: This term (abbreviated SLA) is used by locals who think nothing good can come from East Hollywood.  SLA is what real estate agents started calling East Hollywood and other communities bordering the Silver Lake community.  For some strange reason they think Silver Lake is a “nicer” place to live.  Whatever.  East Hollywood is really cool.  Don’t be ashamed to call it what it is!  For some East Hollywood pride, check out www.easthollywood.net.