Van Nuys: Has It Changed at All?

Video by Dr Jedly

Living in Van Nuys my entire life, change is noticeable. Whether it be gradual or sudden, the slightest change to my family’s neighborhood is recognized. While the lives of many have changed exponentially due to COVID, Van Nuys still seems the same, to me.

As general as it may seem, it’s home to me. From Ventura Blvd. to the Sepulveda Basin, its significance in my upbringing and day-to-day life can’t be matched.

Growing up, I didn’t give much thought to some neighborhoods being nicer and safer. Learning that came from real-world experience. On walks, I’d see people tagging walls with spray paint, acting aggressively, even witnessing someone brandish a pistol just blocks from my house.

Sadly, it’s not uncommon to become desensitized to these kinds of headlines.

Some friends have referred to my area as a ghetto — I didn’t know how to feel about it. Admitting its downside(s), I never meant to bring my neighborhood down, nor bash it. I do have a sense of pride, and I can appreciate what makes it different from status-quo-orientated towns such as Burbank.

Spending time in more orderly towns such as Burbank, I began to acclimate with the neighborhoods less-accustomed to the struggles of Van Nuys. However, I came to realize that the flaws of my hometown actually gave it something Burbank missed, character. My neighborhood isn’t perfect, not even close, but it’s home, and I am proud of the factors that make it, different.

An oddly relaxing video, cruising through areas all familiar to me.

Our lives are different because of COVID, but Van Nuys seems eerily similar to me. I can still walk down to the nearest taco stand or go for a walk at Balboa Park. There’s still a sense of togetherness, even though many of us here are standoffish in public. That sense of community doesn’t always need to be spread or shared, it’s felt. COVID hasn’t changed that — nothing ever will.