Article "How making $300,000 in San Francisco can still mean you're living paycheck-to-paycheck"
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
No one is breaking anybody’s arm to live there, so can’t say I care much.
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mythbuster1
Guest
Oppressive taxation most certainly is a social justice issue, as are laws that drive up the cost of living.
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Peeps
Guest
Our city in Northern Illinois has the 4th highest property taxes of any state in the U.S., so we know all about high taxes.
I personally don’t believe that high taxes are a social justice issue–it depends on what the taxes are used for.
In the Scandinavian countries, taxes are extremely high, but these countries consistently earn “Best Places to Live” and “Happiest People on Earth” ratings --because the taxes are used to pay for things like free health care for everyone, and other social programs that everyone, not just the poor, get to participate in, like educational, competitive sports, and recreational opportunities.
Of course, the work ethic in these countries is very strong, and it would be unthinkable to accept a “handout” I’ve heard that EVERYONE works at something.
I realize that I am hearing about the Scandinavian countries from media rather than from residents, so it might be less happy in real life than in the reports.
Anyway, in OUR city, a large percentage of our property taxes funds public schools, which would be great…IF the public schools produced well-educated people. But they don’t. Last year, only 17& of our students achieved the MINIMUM competency scores in reading on the standardized tests! That means that essentially, 83% of our students are essentially illiterate when they graduate from our public schools!
That’s a waste of our tax monies, IMO! And to me, this is when high taxes become a social justice issue. When our tax monies are wasted, that’s not right. We could have used those tax monies to improve our lives, invest in something worthwhile, donate more to charitable causes and our churches, GET OUT OF DEBT, etc.
When it comes to living in San Francisco, that’s never going to happen for me–the place was never built correctly after the 1906 earthquake–much of it sits on garbage, and eventually, it will fall again when the fault lines shift.
But my daughter says that San Francisco is her favorite city in the entire world (and she’s lived in many places around the world!). She would gladly live there in a one-small-room efficiency apartment and live a very simple lifestyle in order to enjoy the amenities of a city that she finds exciting and personally-fulfilling.
Different strokes! People are moving out of our city in Northern Illinois by the thousands, but my husband and I still hang in there. We are planning on moving out when we retire, and have a lot in a small town–but still in Illinois. We must be nuts.
I personally don’t believe that high taxes are a social justice issue–it depends on what the taxes are used for.
In the Scandinavian countries, taxes are extremely high, but these countries consistently earn “Best Places to Live” and “Happiest People on Earth” ratings --because the taxes are used to pay for things like free health care for everyone, and other social programs that everyone, not just the poor, get to participate in, like educational, competitive sports, and recreational opportunities.
Of course, the work ethic in these countries is very strong, and it would be unthinkable to accept a “handout” I’ve heard that EVERYONE works at something.
I realize that I am hearing about the Scandinavian countries from media rather than from residents, so it might be less happy in real life than in the reports.
Anyway, in OUR city, a large percentage of our property taxes funds public schools, which would be great…IF the public schools produced well-educated people. But they don’t. Last year, only 17& of our students achieved the MINIMUM competency scores in reading on the standardized tests! That means that essentially, 83% of our students are essentially illiterate when they graduate from our public schools!
That’s a waste of our tax monies, IMO! And to me, this is when high taxes become a social justice issue. When our tax monies are wasted, that’s not right. We could have used those tax monies to improve our lives, invest in something worthwhile, donate more to charitable causes and our churches, GET OUT OF DEBT, etc.
When it comes to living in San Francisco, that’s never going to happen for me–the place was never built correctly after the 1906 earthquake–much of it sits on garbage, and eventually, it will fall again when the fault lines shift.
But my daughter says that San Francisco is her favorite city in the entire world (and she’s lived in many places around the world!). She would gladly live there in a one-small-room efficiency apartment and live a very simple lifestyle in order to enjoy the amenities of a city that she finds exciting and personally-fulfilling.
Different strokes! People are moving out of our city in Northern Illinois by the thousands, but my husband and I still hang in there. We are planning on moving out when we retire, and have a lot in a small town–but still in Illinois. We must be nuts.
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ProdglArchitect
Guest
Stuff like this is why I’m glad i live in Texas 
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SeekSalvation
Guest
Oddly enough, people are leaving San Francisco. This is why California recently past a ballot harvesting law which allows parties to pay money or give a marijuana joints to homeless or illegal people in exchange for their signatures on a prefilled out ballot. Anything to maintain power!
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
I love San Francisco (apart from naked homeless people wandering around, etc.). My mom lived and worked there for a few years many decades ago and enjoyed her time there, and I’ve enjoyed it when I visit.
But no way am I paying the amount they want for rent or worse yet a mortgage in an area that’s geographically very unstable AND grossly overpriced. If I did live there it would be as a temporary assignment. I would not want to put all my money into some asset that could get destroyed in a natural disaster tomorrow. The area is overbuilt on top of being overpopulated. Eventually something is going to happen to end this. Same applies to Seattle and some other west coast cities.
But no way am I paying the amount they want for rent or worse yet a mortgage in an area that’s geographically very unstable AND grossly overpriced. If I did live there it would be as a temporary assignment. I would not want to put all my money into some asset that could get destroyed in a natural disaster tomorrow. The area is overbuilt on top of being overpopulated. Eventually something is going to happen to end this. Same applies to Seattle and some other west coast cities.
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SeekSalvation
Guest
Today’s San Francisco is not the same of yesterdays. You need a poop map on hand just to get around:
Tis_Bearself
Patron
I’m sure it was full of poop in the 60s and 70s when all the hippies were running around too. My first visit there was in the 70s so I saw some stuff first hand, including seeing my very first ever openly gay person. It pretty much did look like the opening scenes of “Tales from the City” movie (that series was running in the paper while we were there).
The only reason it’s a big news story now is that the cost of living there has risen to astronomical. When we visited we stayed in the Mission because an elderly distant relative lived there and allowed us to be her house guests for a week. It was a slightly dilapidated working-class area in those days, one that an 80-year-old lady like our relative could afford to live in, in a house that her husband had bought years ago on a postal worker’s salary. Now that lady’s former house (she’s long since deceased of course) is assessed at a few million dollars. It’s just stupid.
The only reason it’s a big news story now is that the cost of living there has risen to astronomical. When we visited we stayed in the Mission because an elderly distant relative lived there and allowed us to be her house guests for a week. It was a slightly dilapidated working-class area in those days, one that an 80-year-old lady like our relative could afford to live in, in a house that her husband had bought years ago on a postal worker’s salary. Now that lady’s former house (she’s long since deceased of course) is assessed at a few million dollars. It’s just stupid.
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ProdglArchitect
Guest
There’s no way that’s legal…
Then again, it is California we’re talking about here…
Then again, it is California we’re talking about here…
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Sarcelle
Guest
True
I also love San Francisco. I’d pick it over New York City any day to visit. No way am I going to live there.
However I do have family there so maybe I can be roommates with my cousins to keep costs down.
I also love San Francisco. I’d pick it over New York City any day to visit. No way am I going to live there.
However I do have family there so maybe I can be roommates with my cousins to keep costs down.
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Angel_Gabriel
Guest
This is sad…SF has such beautiful architecture and weather…I’d LOVE to live either there or San Diego…but, well cost of living…my family would be in a box on the salary we have right now lol!
I was out in CA about 20 yrs ago…Sacramento but we drove down to SF for a day trip…it was pretty fun. Sad to see what it’s become though.
I was out in CA about 20 yrs ago…Sacramento but we drove down to SF for a day trip…it was pretty fun. Sad to see what it’s become though.
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babochka
Guest
Those of us who call this area home care very much.
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Theo520
Guest
That all depends. If you have a fixed income and are hit with every increasing property taxes, you are forced to move or may lose your home. Such taxes also hurt prices when you do feel forced to sell.
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Theo520
Guest
Yes, their Gov did legalize ballot harvesting which was reputed to have helped flip many GOP congressional districts blue from red.
I believe the law allows paid operatives to go collect ballots but not to also pay/bribe the voter, so payments of cash or pot would be illegal if it could be documented.
I hate making this a legal practice since it is open to abuse by the party with the money to pay harvesters.
This is a biased view on the practice in CA
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Sarcelle
Guest
You don’t care but some of us who have family and friends there do care.
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DisorientingSneeze
Guest
Californians fleeing their state are driving up the property values here to the extent that my family cannot ever leave this house. We wouldn’t be able to afford our own house if we had to buy it today. Californians don’t know they’re not supposed to pay that much. They think they are getting a deal.Stuff like this is why I’m glad i live in Texas
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ProdglArchitect
Guest
Man… every time I think California’s insanity can’t surprise me further, they go and stoop to a new low. I also heard this morning that they’re now forcing colleges to provide abortion drugs to students…
I pity the souls of these leaders at their judgment. Hopefully they repent of these evils before they die…
On the other hand, if you could relocate you could probably make a hefty profit on your property by taking advantage of the situation.
I pity the souls of these leaders at their judgment. Hopefully they repent of these evils before they die…
I’m in the HEB area of DFW, so we don’t get as many of the California refugees around here. I know it’s bad in Austin and the Plano area…
On the other hand, if you could relocate you could probably make a hefty profit on your property by taking advantage of the situation.
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po18guy
Well-known member
As well as a complete lack of action in the case of the city’s drug-addicted - now homeless population, human filth on the sidewalks, laxity in drug treatment, incarceration for violent criminals etc. etc. etc.
Seattle is working as hard as it can to follow the San Francisco model. When one of the three primary Seattle TV channels produces a one hour program entitled “Seattle is Dying” you know that the city’s neo-socialist policies and programs are counter-productive.
Seattle is working as hard as it can to follow the San Francisco model. When one of the three primary Seattle TV channels produces a one hour program entitled “Seattle is Dying” you know that the city’s neo-socialist policies and programs are counter-productive.
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DisorientingSneeze
Guest
I’m in Houston. It’s sort of a prosperity trap. The (formerly) low cost of living and availability of jobs keep us here. Moving out further is an option, but the jobs won’t be as plentiful.
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