category_filter.js

app.filter('selectedCategories', function(){
  return function(items, cats){
    if(!cats){
      return items;
    }

    var choices = cats.reduce(function(p,cat){
      if (cat.checked){
        p.push(cat.catName);
      }
      return p;
    },[]);

    if (items) {
      return !choices.length ? items :items.filter(function(item){
         return item.catName.filter(function(cat){
           return choices.indexOf(cat) >-1;
         }).length;
      });
    }
  };
});

app.controller('MainCtrl', function ($http, $scope) {
  var vm = this
  
  $http.get(foo).success(function(data) {
    $scope.categories = data.map(function(cat) {
      return {catName: cat.name}
    });
  });
  
  $http.get(bar).success(function(data) {
    vm.listToMatch = data;
  })
  
});

//example usage in template
//...
  <div ng-repeat="item in categories" style="float: left; padding: 10px;">
    <b><input type="checkbox" ng-model="item.checked" ng-change="save(item)" />{{item.neighborhoods_name}}</b>
  </div>
  <div>
    <ul>
      <li ng-repeat="item in vm.listToMatch | selectedCategories: categories">
        //only show item.catName if matches a category in selectedCategories 
        <p>{{item.catName}}</p>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </div>
//...