[quote author="zovall" date=1244066585]I'm no expert on N. Tustin but I didn't realize there was so much ethnic diversity there. There is also plenty of good Korean BBQ, Pho, and Japanese food in Irvine. Along with Indian, Persian, Chinese, Mexican, Greek restaurants etc. The "best" of anything will probably be where the large ethnic shopping/restauants are.. perhaps Rowland Heights, or Pioneer or K-Town. The city of Irvine also has a <a href="http://www.ci.irvine.ca.us/globalvillage/">Global Village</a> festival each year. I'm not convinced N. Tustin has more cultural diversity compared to Irvine.</blockquote>
I didn't say that Tustin had more cultural diversity, in fact what I was implying is that it has about the same. There are also Greek, Persian, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, and even a good Thai restaurants there. Plus it has an old town that actually looks like an old town and serves as business/historical/city center compared to Irvine's "old town".
<blockquote>Are you implying that the schools in N. Tustin are better than those in Irvine? One measure of how 'good' a school is in comparison to another school, is the API and the IUSD <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/api-schools-school-2423656-base-percent">does extremely well</a> here compared to other districts in Orange County.</blockquote>
Again, I didn't imply that. However while we are throwing API numbers around, Foothill high scored an 834. While not as great as Irvine it is still a respectable score nonetheless, and it has been increasing for the last three years. Combine that with the new science center and all the other money they are doling out over there, in the next five years I would bet Foothill will be within 20 points of Northwood. But alas, my point was overlooked, and no one has ever solidly defended this point ever, is that it is 99% dependent on the parent on how well they do, not some stupid test score. Using test scores as decision for where your kid goes to school means you are codependent upon that in thinking it will be the reason why your kid will do well. It's not, it is the parent's responsibility. It sounds like the ultimate cop out... oh well I did the best I could as a parent, I sent them to the best schools, I dunno why they are screw up. For example, if CK raises his daughter in Irvine or N. Tustin she will do just as well in school as she would at either, and in fact maybe even better since the competition is not as strong. She will score the same test scores, the same SATs, and go to the same college as should would at either school. Why? Because what little I do know of CK is that he seems like a great parent, and his daughter will do well regardless of whether the school she goes to has an API score of 910 or 810 or even 710. Scores don't mean squat if you are an awful parent.
<blockquote>Yes, this is a loaded question and from the article it still isn't clear to me what is meant by better neighborhoods: a place where things are within walking distance? offering lots of amenities and programs? fostering a sense of community?
When I read the heading, I thought about well planned neighborhoods. I think that Irvine does have well planned neighborhoods with pockets parks, retail, schools located pretty close to the residents. thank you bk!
It isn't just Irvine neighbors that keep to themselves. This happens in all cities here. There are some neighborhoods in OC where everyone shuts down the street to have a neighborhood BBQ on Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and where everyone (not just one or two homes on the street) decorates their home with lights during Christmas, etc. Those are treasured neighborhoods and are unfortunately not the norm anymore. Are there any neighborhoods like this in Irvine? in N. Tustin?</blockquote></blockquote>
It's probably pretty much the same in both places, neither one is better or worse for it. Plus, it is all in how you want to go about it, but personally I like knowing who my neighbors are and how we can look out for each other.
<blockquote>Are you comparing a mass produced tract stucco home in Irvine (and most everywhere in the county) with a custom? home in N. Tustin?
bk has mentioned several times that architects and planners from all over the world travel to Irvine to study the newest floorplans.</blockquote>
Not just custom homes, but even some of the tract homes in N. Tustin. The quality of the materials is higher overall, they have good bones. Yes there are even crappy stucco boxes in N. Tustin. There are some good floor plans in Irvine, most of them designed by BK, but he didn't put them together and the quality just isn't there. Sorry, but it's just not. The whole built to last is truly marketing propaganda, and many of the homes will be dated and worn down in years to come, much sooner than they think.
<blockquote>My Mello Roos are paying for your park?! Damn it! Well, I guess I'm glad I take advantage of Peter's Canyon too
All the marketing collateral I've seen over the last 15 years has gone on and on about how much open space there is in Irvine. Is it all a lie?
There are <a href="http://www.ci.irvine.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=13673">plenty of parks and open space</a> in Irvine. Do other cities have more?</blockquote>
Quantity vs quality vs usability. Irvine may have more open space but how much of it do you have access to and even if you could would you and would it be usable? And, yes, I love going to the parks that are being paid for by people who have to pay mello roos. At least I said thanks.
<blockquote>I like the wide streets and the high speed limits on them. If it weren't for that, it would take so much longer than it already does to get around.</blockquote>
Again, another moot point. Tustin has Newport, Red Hill, 17th St, Irvine/4th, etc. Once again it is the same, neither is better. I will say that many of the high lying root trees planted in Irvine will eventually make things not so smooth. I hope they save for that one day, so much for great planning, instead of having to slap a special assessment on everyone to pay for that fix.
<blockquote>What is meant by progressive government? The article states "96 percent of Irvine residents said they were pleased or very pleased with the community and the services we provide to them" and that parks, streets, sidewalks, and trees are constantly maintained. ???</blockquote>
That isn't just government responsibility, but also HOAs. Plus, they have a nice coffer of cash with the mello roos, so you should have those things. I'm too lazy to look for it, but I am sure Tustin residents are just as happy with their government officials. Tustin looks just as nicely maintained to me as Irvine.
<blockquote>The article mentions Broadcom, Conexant, St. John Knits, O'Neill, Claim Jumper, Taco Bell, Edwards Lifesciences, and Standard Pacific. Does N. Tustin have a bunch of corporations and jobs?</blockquote>
Tustin has lots of corporate jobs. Plus it is an easy drive to all those locations from N. Tustin. Personally that is one of the benefits to N. Tustin to me.
<blockquote>No, never in Irvine. Does N. Tustin have its own transit system?
Point 9 has to do with the iShuttle or whatever system. I've never met anyone who has used that system and I work right in the area it serves.</blockquote>
Who cares, everyone so far has conceded that Irvine is car dependent and that the article is falsely trying to say that Irvine is public transportation friendly. Which it is not. Again they are really about the same.
<blockquote>So the crime stats are fudged to make Irvine look safer than other cities? Irvine pwns the FBI? Go Bren! or go Agran! Or is it Bragran?!
<em>In 2007, Irvine had a total of 143 incidents of murder, rape, robbery, and assault. Costa Mesa, with half as many residents, had almost twice as many violent crimes. Huntington Beach with the same size population had 2? times as many. Garden Grove, with three-quarters of Irvine?s population, had more than four times as many violent crimes.</em></blockquote>
I didn't see any stats for N. Tustin in there, and even if you could it would skewed by the stats in parts of 92705 that are no where near N. Tustin. Yes, Irvine is safe, and yes bk has said they skew their numbers to make it look better. Either way it is safe and so is N. Tustin.
My whole point wasn't to say that one is better than the other, but it was to show there are quality neighborhoods throughout OC that have many of the same benefits, some with larger lots. I get tired of the droning on and on about how special Irvine is and why everyone pays a premium to live there, when really it isn't all that special. It bugs me because it comes off as very snobbish, and some people are just down right ignorant about cities other than Irvine. I'm not saying that you come across that way, but some people do. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut and brag about Irvine, because I really don't want the snobby ones to be my neighbor anyway. It really is a turn off to me about Irvine when people think that it is so special. Yes, it is a great city with many great benefits to it, but really there is more to OC than just Irvine.
