This thread is innaccurate. You can't compare today's LOW homicide rate with the high ones of the past. Keep things in perspective.
Just like all over the country, the homicide rate in L.A. has plummetted over the last decade and a half. The number of homicides in 2007 was the lowest since 1970. The total in 2008 was even less (304). The current pace in 2009 is again around 300 (or less). Now compare that to the 1,000+ homicides in L.A. in 1991!!!!
She's right.
Overall, the crime rate is going down year by year. Plus people aren't thinking on a per capita basis, where you have these many murders in a city of 4 million + and in a county of 10 million + people which is definitely a drop in a bucket.
You cannot compare the murder rate of today to the gang wars of the 80's and early 90's. Back then the city of L.A. had yearly homicides that would range in the thousands and on top of that the city was smaller back then and some of the violence even spilled out into the good areas (remember that gang shooting in Westwood anybody)? So you had a good reason to be afraid back then.
A lot of you are getting your panties in a bunch over a city that's getting safer year by year. Los Angeles, is actually one of the safest big cities in the country despite it's gang capital of the world moniker, and I'm glad for that.
You'd have better reason to be afraid if you lived in Philly or Detroit. Much smaller than L.A. with a high ass crime rate. Not dissing those cities, but that's just what it is.