Parts of the western San Fernando valley, which lies within LA proper, are not that dissimilar from SJ. And, when people say "LA", they really mean the LA area

Parts of the western San Fernando valley, which lies within LA proper, are not that dissimilar from SJ. And, when people say "LA", they really mean the LA area, which contains not only the city itself, but outlying/surrounded cities like Pasadena, Santa Monica, Compton, Long Beach, etc.