Life at Williams, ca

[EX-bayareagirl]

I came to Williams from Vacaville in order to vacate the more liberal tax and spend policies of bay area government. In that respect my move was successful. I choose Williams for its geographical location, Easy freeway access in all directions, and at that time its undervalued real estate. At first we were welcomed, and I was invited to serve on the planning commission. During that time I discovered the fastest way to kill a towns potential is through its political structure and in that regard Williams will always fail you.
The Williams Government lacks the ablility to address modern concerns, including infrastructure, long term plan, the in- ablility to obtain State and Federal Funding Programs, they don't even have an after school bus to bring the children home, and they don't seem to care. They have been progressively warned about their infrastructure (sewage), they have wasted thousands of dollars to investigate the obvious, and they have been "cute" about it, by separating the water portion from the sewage: they can hide the profits made from water, and disclose only losses on sewage. That way the city employees can profit from higher wages, and justify the billing increase to the local residents. I saw this coming: the outcome was inevitable, so I sold all my property within city limits, and moved far outside the sphere of influence, with my own well and septic.
As for future development: The farmers were reluctant at first to sell, but when the price was right they jumped in. Unfortunately those proposed developments were paid for with options which have expired and gone away. leaving the farmers left to farm. We have taken a giant step backwards, while most cities in Ca took advantage of the huge upside in REal Estate to fund their infrastructures; Williams in a joint effort with Colusa County chose to fight growth: that resulted in the cutting in pay and hours of County Employees. The word has gotten out to developers that we are indecisive, we lack incentive money, and the hidden costs can't be calculated, so they have gone away. That includes Walmart or anyone else who may have potentially thought about retail for our area. To top this off, they voted to raise the sales tax and hotel tax within the City limits and the various local agencies, have discovered new ways to circumvent Jarvis 13 and they are finding new and creative ways to assess our properties. Unfortunatley: the conclusion is : its a bad investment. For better potential: look at Live Oak, Marysville Or Even Gridley, lots of new commercial, they didn't miss the boat... growing....

[sfackerell]

I was born at Beal AFB and we moved to Williams when i was about eight. we lived way the hell out in a big house on hill road. i went thru most of my school years in Williams. I remember when the middle school was built. we had bus service to and from school. the city was growing well and then it just stopped. my father owned a plumbing business and did very well. about the time that the old vips turned to dennys, is when i started working there and around town. i wonder if the top hat resturant is still there. I guess now iam glad i left when i did. from what you say, it really has gone down hill. i do really miss alsups pizza parlor. wonder if she is still there, i grew up with her son. she made the best pizza in california. I will probably visit Williams again someday.

[Zapparulez]

I've lived in NorCal all my life pretty much. I have always heard horror stories of Williams. Official Population 6000, Unofficial population 25000. I enjoy stopping in Dunnigan for my "pit stop" when travelling back home. I live in Sacramento and I grew up near Redding.

I like rural living, but I could think of better places to live. Williams to me is the Bakersfield of the north. I am also a strong proponent of legal immigration so that town just rubs me the wrong way. This is probably not true, but I heard they close the schools during harvest season since there aren't enough kids around to keep it open. A local news station here in Sacramento ran that story a few years ago. I found it hard to believe, but knowing this state it's probably true. My take is that only the trully liberally minded can stand living there. Just make sure you leave your American flags behind...or the "hard working folk" might get a little upset.

Bill and Kathy's is not closed! I was just there a few weekends ago. The sign is still there as is the restaurant. It was quite busy too.

[Zapparulez]

Originally Posted by EX-bayareagirl

I came to Williams from Vacaville in order to vacate the more liberal tax and spend policies of bay area government. In that respect my move was successful. I choose Williams for its geographical location, Easy freeway access in all directions, and at that time its undervalued real estate. At first we were welcomed, and I was invited to serve on the planning commission. During that time I discovered the fastest way to kill a towns potential is through its political structure and in that regard Williams will always fail you.
The Williams Government lacks the ablility to address modern concerns, including infrastructure, long term plan, the in- ablility to obtain State and Federal Funding Programs, they don't even have an after school bus to bring the children home, and they don't seem to care. They have been progressively warned about their infrastructure (sewage), they have wasted thousands of dollars to investigate the obvious, and they have been "cute" about it, by separating the water portion from the sewage: they can hide the profits made from water, and disclose only losses on sewage. That way the city employees can profit from higher wages, and justify the billing increase to the local residents. I saw this coming: the outcome was inevitable, so I sold all my property within city limits, and moved far outside the sphere of influence, with my own well and septic.
As for future development: The farmers were reluctant at first to sell, but when the price was right they jumped in. Unfortunately those proposed developments were paid for with options which have expired and gone away. leaving the farmers left to farm. We have taken a giant step backwards, while most cities in Ca took advantage of the huge upside in REal Estate to fund their infrastructures; Williams in a joint effort with Colusa County chose to fight growth: that resulted in the cutting in pay and hours of County Employees. The word has gotten out to developers that we are indecisive, we lack incentive money, and the hidden costs can't be calculated, so they have gone away. That includes Walmart or anyone else who may have potentially thought about retail for our area. To top this off, they voted to raise the sales tax and hotel tax within the City limits and the various local agencies, have discovered new ways to circumvent Jarvis 13 and they are finding new and creative ways to assess our properties. Unfortunatley: the conclusion is : its a bad investment. For better potential: look at Live Oak, Marysville Or Even Gridley, lots of new commercial, they didn't miss the boat... growing....

Wow. Worse than even I could imagine.