Before the 90s tech boom San Jose was like a big  version of Salinas which is further south.  Downtown was boarded up and there were lots of vagrants and you&#x27;d normally avoid places like the greyhound depot.<p>Yes, it was affordable but there were also few good jobs.  Salinas is affordable and San Jose has moved up a bit and the downtown is cleaner a bit, but it&#x27;s still a vast network of suburbia that says it has a downtown.<p>The poor &quot;thrived&quot; in san Jose as much as they now &quot;thrive&quot; in Salinas.