Dennis RomeroLos Angeles has the reputation of being a relatively unfriendly if not downright mean big city.
See also: L.A. Is a Top 10 “Unfriendly” City?
Sure, we have more than our share of jerks, some of whom work outside of the entertainment industry. But data shows time and again that we're actually a fairly charitable bunch.
Take PayPal's latest report, for example:
Los Angeles makes the payment service's top 5 list of America's most charitable cities for 2013.
We rank fourth, behind New York, San Francisco and Houston, PayPal said in a statement to the Weekly.
We beat out Chicago. Of course, given that L.A. is America's second-largest metropolis and one of the world's wealthiest regions, we could always do better. No?
PayPal says it looked at the charitable donations made through its service from residents in the 100 most populous cities to come up with its ranking.
Though figures through December were still preliminary, it looks like America was in more of a giving mood in 2013:
Credit: R.E./LA Weekly Flickr pool
Donations overall increased about 12.5 percent compared to 2012, the service says. That's double the increase over the previous year. And it's a sure sign the economy is recovering.
About $415 billion in total donations were made in United States in 2013, $633.8 million through PayPal, it says.
You like giving online, because that mode of donation increased 21 percent in 2013, the service says.
Feel good? Good.
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