Nope, they are all liable, including those down state and in the Central Valley.
It’s just that SoCal is much ‘newer’ so the equipment is not as old, and SoCal is more desert-like clime, so less stuff to burn. And utilities in SoCal have been cutting power on windy days as a preventive measure for years. PG&E has always had the authority to do so, but only started this year.
But, local video seems to indicate that Tuesday night’s ‘Getty’ fire started when a branch broke off from a nearby tree, snapping a power line. The line at that spot is owned by LA Department of Water and Power, a city-owned utility (essentially, government agency).
Today’s ‘Easy’ fire near the Reagan Library started as a brush fire. Not sure Edison is responsble. But obviously, they cut power to all of that zone.
We had an opportunity to move to San Fran ( when housing prices were still pretty low and it was a lovely clean and vibrant city) we didn’t. Another opportunity came up a few years later. We didn’t. Looking back, I am so glad we never moved to CA, the weather is great. That’s about the only positive thing I can say.
The infrastructure, perspectives and frequent fires ( among other issues) makes it a resounding no. And the aquifer is running out of water.
Who can work without power? What’s the point of being unable to get homeowners insurance? Who wants to worry about losing everything?
I am hoping for the best for all who live there. But even my high schooler has lost interest in going to college in CA. When young people don’t want to move to CA, you know the state has lost it’s luster. Very sad.
Come to Silicon Valley, there are lots of young people everywhere. Several young techies just joined my gym from outside the state. Personally, if less people move here, I’d be fine with it.
BTW, San Francisco is unaffected by the fires and not only is the weather great, but also all UC campuses are in the USNWR Top 100, except UC Merced, which is #104. Really, the weather is the only positive? Even so, wearing shorts and flip flops almost the enitre year is perfect for me.
I heard this morning on the news that the NorCal fire(s) are 60% contained and that all but 6,000 (of a 186,000) residents are back home.
If I could maintain our lifestyle in CA I’d definitely live there. Pretty sure it would not be in San Francisco, but there are many places that would fit the bill. My son certainly feels like its an awesome place to be right now. Ah, to be young and tech in the peninsula!!!
My family and I went to a beach just south of Santa Cruz back on a Sunday, in late September IIRC, where the beach was nearly empty. We walked our puppy along the shore and the experience was just beautiful and peaceful. I have a video of it on my phone. I’d love to buy a retirement house in that neighborhood above the beach!
Yep, the point is there are other beaches. I live very close to one myself. And there are many tech areas in the US. Silicon Valley and CA isn’t the lure it used to be except maybe those who are unwilling to move elsewhere. Wishing Californians the best in all the major areas. I think the numbers of people moving say it all. Wonder if the recent fires will impact the numbers who move out of CA.
We love it here too. But I don’t expect my kids to come back after college. Unless you want to work in tech, it’s just too expensive. Even if you do, then there are other options like Austin or Seattle. Fortunately we bought our house 15 years ago at 60% less than current prices.
If we were moving to the US nowadays and has a free choice of location (which is how we chose Silicon Valley originally) then I think we’d pick Seattle instead.
CA has nearly 40 Million residents. I have no problem with low, zero or negative population growth. Those other areas of the country receiving our CA “refugees” will soon enough have their own growth issues as well.
If folks are moving out because of the fires, then I’d say the other areas around the country have their issues with mother nature as well. While the last few years, we’ve had problems with wildfires up north in Napa, Sonoma, this year, and Paradise last year, hurricanes and tornadoes come every year, sometimes in bunches. No NorEasters here either.
Locally, I see a whole lot of construction (Facebook, Stanford, Google, hotels, apartments, etc.), so I personally can’t see the slow growth from where I live.
Also, there was another thread on here started by Cardinal Fang where CA has approved a law to make building ADU’s easier to get approved and built. So, that may solve some of the affordability problem with children, grandparents, extended family, etc. moving into the backyard.
I’ve been to many beaches around the country, in fact, that’s like my standard vacation, I still like ours here in CA the best.
Capitola is definitely beautiful, but crowded. I may move there someday, so I’m not telling.
Amazing big beach, white sand, with literally no one there on the beach on a beautiful Sunday. Almost zero commerical/retail, which my family didn’t like, but I loved.
Capitola has restaurants and shops, which has its appeal. And the multicolored buildings are fun. Remote can be… well… too remote for many. The little beach at Santa Cruz is also cute, but the area is a bit funky.
@sushiritto Does your beach start with H? I would move to CA if the housing isn’t so horrendous and the taxes are not so high. Every place got its own issue. The question would be which you can live with. I just got back from NYC. I couldn’t believe how many smokers there were. Walking around in Manhattan, I found myself constantly holding my breath not to breathe in some one’s smoke. I don’t think I managed to walk a block free of smoke.
A friend of mine posted pictures on facebook of her family sitting around the table with candlelight. Very romantic. They were without power for 48 hours.
We lived in Oakland from 1980 - 1986 and absolutely loved it. Were out of the country (Our house was not in the fire zone) for the big fire of 1991. Wildfires are worse now, but nothing new. That fire in 1991 wiped out (checks Google…) “2,843 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units. The economic loss from the fire was estimated at $1.5 billion”
We visited the old neighborhood 2 years ago and it still looked like a great place to live, but due to high cost is out of the question for us now.
@lookingforward I would think the reason New Housing Starts come in economic stats is because when economy does well people build houses and vice versa. The strength of the economy is showing through build. Not the way around. That may need to be revised if there’s an evidence the correlation between build and economic strength changes.
And disasters boost GDP, for example if you burn down a load of houses then rebuild them, because GDP is a measure of annual economic activity not cumulative economic value.
Hence the reason it’s silly to say Jeff Bezos is richer than Albania (measured as the total GDP of a small country), it’s comparing cumulative wealth to annual production.
