For many decades, respectable people were loathe to travel east of Robertson Blvd. It was the great divide between respectable and dangerous society. East of Robertson, particularly south of 18th Street, you get gangs and crime and violence. West of Robertson, you have Beverlywood and Century City. The lawns and homes are kept up nicely. There’s much less crime.
You don’t have to worry as much about parking your car overnight west of Robertson. There are fewer break-ins. The streets are safer.
Most of the big shuls, including all of the Modern Orthodox shuls in the hood are west of Robertson.
After living east of Robertson for the past 14 years, I’m now staying west of Robertson and the air is great. It seems cleaner! The homes and yards are nicer. The people are nicer. You don’t find the nasty ghetto west of Robertson.
I was walking Robertson Blvd tonight, coming home from the library. And it felt great to be on the safe side, the nice side, the respectable side of the great divide.
I looked in at the parking lot at YULA today and all the cars but one were nice. They were new and clean and some were luxury cars.
I want to belong to the respectable set. Now I just have to live a respectable life and hold down a respectable job and bingo! I’m there.
