Whether you’re keen on about American suburbs or not, keep in mind the name Westchester. If you some day end up in California, remember to visit it, because this anonymous neighborhood of the South Bay Region of Los Angeles County is the emblem of an entire country, of its culture and the way of life of its people. It will be enough to spend just one afternoon there – perhaps a nice, sunny afternoon in mid August – to have the impression of being sucked in your home TV, in an episode of Desperate Housewives or on the set of The Truman Show.
A 1989 Los Angeles Times article described Westchester as a “raw suburb, created willy-nilly in the 1940s”. Official numbers about the population of the area are updated 13 years ago but, judging in person, you could swear that not much has changed from that time: a small neighborhood of 40 thousand people – especially rich with the elderly and war veterans (that Wikipedia defines as “better educated compared to the greater city’s citizens”) – who live in small, wooden houses with well-groomed lawns and the stars and stripes flag in show. The houses are painted pure white and they stand out perfectly against the electric blue sky, a colour met only in California, so vivid that it fills your stomach with expectations. Before you even realize, it turns into sadness, because under such a sky beautiful things could happen, but instead you find yourself watching the Mexicans mow the lawns and delivery boys unload cases of beer to bars. Beverly Hills and Hollywood are just a half-hour car ride away, but it seems like light years from Westchester.
Considering that the viewpoints of people who lived there can surely give a better idea of the place compared to a mere visitor’s opinion, here is a memory found on the site of LA Times left by a veteran named Louis: “Grew up in Westchester from 1951 until I left for the Marine Corps in 1966. Parents stayed until they passed in 1998/2000. Loved it but the area outgrew itself. Went to Visitation and then to Westchester HS. Ron Dutton from Orville Wright Jr HS (Teacher) and I are still corresponding. What a life!”
Now, as a final test, do this: write “Westchester, Los Angeles” on Google Maps and see a street view. How could you disagree with him?
