California’s demography is at odds with the old California Dream
Covid extremism was certainly a cause. I left California for Texas because of the almost hysterical reaction. (Arresting a surfer on an empty beach. Filling skateparks with sand. Keeping schools closed long after much of the red states had opened.)<p>Prop 47 was another issue. Crime, especially in the Bay Area because much more significant.<p>Then housing — not much needs to be said there.<p>And taxes. And gas prices. For those attempting to start a business such as a restaurant, the permitting process is insane. Can take a year. In my suburban Texas county permits take about two weeks.<p>And car registration. My 2017 Audi cost over $750 for the 2020 registration. In Texas? $74.50.<p>I didn’t live in San Francisco (was in Mountain View,) but the school board there lost their ever-loving minds. Renaming George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Muir, Robert Louis Stevenson, and others because of “wokeness.” Not to mention the anti-Asian initiatives to degrade admission standards to the selective schools.<p>Then there’s the anti-lead propaganda being used to close Reid-Hillview airport so Santa Clara County can get ultra rich selling the land to developers while simultaneously protecting Coyote Valley as open space, despite it being literally nothing but farmland — instead of using that land for housing. Supervisor Cindy Chavez is one of the most corrupt politicians in the area with multiple conflicts of interests with area non-profits.<p>I am sure California is better off without my tax dollars and my politics. I am certain not a single person was sad to see me leave.<p>Fun fact, my household move to Texas from California cost about $18k for the moving company. If I were doing the same trip I’m reverse, it would have cost $5000. The exodus was real.<p>Things I miss: Palo Alto Airport, the weather, flying my airplane to Half Moon Bay. Heading over to Mariposa-Yosemite. Hoping down to LA to eat at Carney’s. And despite Silicon Valley being a relatively unfriendly place, there are some really nice people mixed in with the Tesla bros and startup douches.<p>Edit: grammar