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Is my perception off or is California looking more sh*tty these days?


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2023 Nov 13, 6:32am   3,976 views  55 comments

by Goran_K   ➕follow (4)   💰tip   ignore  

I know it's bad form to generalize a state as large as California, but let me preface my thread title.

I try to avoid going back to California for any reason but because I still have family in the state, I am sometimes forced to visit the Bay Area. But there will be gaps of like 2-3 years between visits.

So in October, I land in SFO to visit my sister. My sister and her kids are still in the Burlingame area. Before I take my rental car down south, I visit a friend for dinner in SF. As I'm driving into the city on 80 and about to exit into SOMA, I begin to notice things are looking a little shabbier than I remember. We meet at a place near Market Street, and I begin to notice something weird. There are literally no retail stores open on the block. Literally all "for lease signs" and most windows are boarded up. The streets are also extremely empty. it's eerie to see. Of course you see a few buses, the odd cracked out homeless person stumbling around, but general foot traffic seems very low compared to what I remembered of SF long ago. Especially during dinner time.

Now my friend is a bit "liberal", so I try not to get too deep into political discussions. Also, I don't keep up with California politics much anymore, except whenever Gavin Newsom tries to insert himself onto national TV with some ridiculous proclamation (like banning all gas powered cars by 2035). But I had to ask him, "Why does it seem every business is closed in downtown and where is everyone?"

He replies, "Well, in the middle of the week it's basically quiet, wait until the weekend it gets very crowded."

I kinda gave him a puzzled look, "It's quiet and empty in the middle of the WORK week in a major city?" I told him it's not like that in Houston, Dallas, or Austin (I currently reside in Texas). The middle of downtown SF just seems extremely sad. Empty, closed down businesses, and lots of cracked out homeless people just laying down in the cold streets. This looks worse than some third world countries I've visited in my life.

He kinda laughs, and says it's "different" in SF, and then changes the subject.

My question to y'all who still live near a major California city, or the Bay Area, have you guys noticed a change over the past 5+ years? I swear my mind must be playing tricks on me because SF wasn't this bad in my memory.

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41   fdhfoiehfeoi   2023 Nov 15, 8:29am  

In honor of Winnie the Pooh visiting our city streets:


42   Goran_K   2023 Nov 15, 9:11am  

NuttBoxer says


Goran_K says


Also if California is just full of fraud, how did Republicans flip 4+ seats from blue to red last election which helped Republicans get the House? Why wouldn't Newsom just fraudulently prevent those flipped seats?


I would refer you back to my time tested saying, there are no Republicans or Democrats, only scum.. err politicians. Did those four seats improve the situation in California for the average citizen in any meaningful way?



I don't think anyone here actually likes politicians or thinks that they do meaningful work for the people (though I did make a lot of money during the Trump days, like doubled my net worth).

But that's besides the point. If what you're saying is true, that BLUE somehow rigs the elections in California, then why would they let RED take 4 seats, especially with how razor thin house control was in 2022? Doesn't make sense.

Just admit that California conservatives are literally outnumbered 3 to 1, then it starts to make sense. California is the deepest blue state in the country.
44   Goran_K   2023 Nov 15, 9:14am  

Goran_K says

California is the deepest blue state in the country.


He will do even better and more effective. Wealth tax coming for people who sell homes over $1,000,000 in value (New Jersey already has something like this in place), and flat "exit tax". These will be reality very soon.
45   RC2006   2023 Nov 15, 11:16am  

I'm kind of surprised there isn't some sort of daconian exit fine of some sort already for people and companies.
46   Ceffer   2023 Nov 15, 2:45pm  

RC2006 says

I'm kind of surprised there isn't some sort of daconian exit fine of some sort already for people and companies.

I think there are in some forms. I think Cali pensioners now have to continue to pay Cali taxes, even if they move residence, but I'm not sure about that.
47   RWSGFY   2023 Nov 15, 3:42pm  

Ceffer says

RC2006 says


I'm kind of surprised there isn't some sort of daconian exit fine of some sort already for people and companies.

I think there are in some forms. I think Cali pensioners now have to continue to pay Cali taxes, even if they move residence, but I'm not sure about that.


It's bullshit. As in not true.
48   DOGEWontAmountToShit   2023 Nov 15, 5:09pm  

Ceffer says

I think there are in some forms. I think Cali pensioners now have to continue to pay Cali taxes, even if they move residence, but I'm not sure about that.


No. That hasn't been true since Congress passed a law in the 90s that outlawed it.
49   fdhfoiehfeoi   2023 Nov 15, 5:29pm  

Goran_K says

Just admit that California conservatives are literally outnumbered 3 to 1, then it starts to make sense. California is the deepest blue state in the country.


Where I lived last in East San Diego county, it was the opposite. They want company men, no wildcards. That's why most of the Dem's voted to censure Tlaib. Examine the politics of those four seats, I bet they play ball.
50   DOGEWontAmountToShit   2023 Nov 15, 5:31pm  

PumpingRedheads says

Ceffer says


I think there are in some forms. I think Cali pensioners now have to continue to pay Cali taxes, even if they move residence, but I'm not sure about that.


No. That hasn't been true since Congress passed a law in the 90s that outlawed it.

Didn't stop Cali from trying anyway. A lot of court cases came about.
51   Goran_K   2023 Nov 16, 6:36am  

RC2006 says

I'm kind of surprised there isn't some sort of daconian exit fine of some sort already for people and companies.


It's coming. That $32 billion dollar deficit is already causing problems with the special interest groups in the state. Wait until it hits triple digits.
52   Goran_K   2023 Nov 16, 6:40am  

Ceffer says


RC2006 says


I'm kind of surprised there isn't some sort of daconian exit fine of some sort already for people and companies.

I think there are in some forms. I think Cali pensioners now have to continue to pay Cali taxes, even if they move residence, but I'm not sure about that.


No taxation without representation!

But exit taxes don't have the same constitutional barriers. New Jersey is already doing an exit tax "light" as the state withholds either 8.97% of the profit or 2% gross of ANY home sale when you leave the state, but it's more of a prepayment of "owed" taxes and whatever is remaining after you've paid your New Jersey cut, you should get refunded during the next tax year.

I believe Los Angeles is already experimenting with a tax percentage cut of any home sale over $5,000,000.

California will eventually do it for the whole state, mark my words.

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