Considering Redding, CA (Sacramento, Chico: to rent, hotel, private schools)

[greatbasinguide]

weekly tourist rentals,, no permanent housing for the houseboats,

[star13]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

weekly tourist rentals,, no permanent housing for the houseboats,

Thanks for letting me know!! Too bad... I thought it would be interesting to rent a houseboat.

[kettlepot]

The local Redding newspaper is the Redding Record Searchlight.

In an earlier post you mentioned that you used to work for city government and were wondering about the political situation in Redding. Redding municipal politicians don't have staff the way big cities back east do. Redding has a City Manager form of government. Being a member of the city council is essentially a volunteer position. However, if you were looking for a traditional civil service job you would be competing with every other Reddingite who is looking for the safety and steady income of government work.

Some political history: California has 58 counties; Redding is located in Shasta County. In 1964 Shasta County had the 3rd highest percentage of registered Democrats in the state. In 2004, it had become the 5th most Republican county in the state. This probably occurred because of two things, an influx of southern Californians from the late 70's to the early 90's, and the demise of the logging industry at the hands of the environmentalists. That probably turned a lot of blue-collar Union Democrats and their families into Republicans.

[star13]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

The local Redding newspaper is the Redding Record Searchlight.

In an earlier post you mentioned that you used to work for city government and were wondering about the political situation in Redding. Redding municipal politicians don't have staff the way big cities back east do. Redding has a City Manager form of government. Being a member of the city council is essentially a volunteer position. However, if you were looking for a traditional civil service job you would be competing with every other Reddingite who is looking for the safety and steady income of government work.

Some political history: California has 58 counties; Redding is located in Shasta County. In 1964 Shasta County had the 3rd highest percentage of registered Democrats in the state. In 2004, it had become the 5th most Republican county in the state. This probably occurred because of two things, an influx of southern Californians from the late 70's to the early 90's, and the demise of the logging industry at the hands of the environmentalists. That probably turned a lot of blue-collar Union Democrats and their families into Republicans.

Thanks!! I will check the paper out on-line.

This is very interesting... I'm surprised to hear that representatives don't have any staff. I will definitely still be looking into a gov't job since a great deal of my background is working in politics/gov't.

The political climate change is quite recent!! Whether or not the area is Dem. or Rep., I am concerned with wanting to live in an area where a majority of the people are willing to be open-minded and respectful of diversity (of opinions, of race, of religion, etc.).

[Woof]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

The local Redding newspaper is the Redding Record Searchlight.

Yes, my bad. I had been looking at the Santa Cruz newspaper a bit earlier.

I find craigslist to be a bit more straightforward for finding apartments than newspaper classifieds, you don't have to deal with devious realtors and their deceptive ads as much .... for example you see the price right away, and it's the actual rent, not some sneaky introductory offer if you have the right credit rating or whatever.

[notmeofficer]

The record searchlight (hearst publication) is a pitiful excuse for a newspaper so I wouldnt expect to glean much feom it.. pretty much old news from the wire service....

One thing you will find.. news is different up here,,, they still broadcast a car accident as big news.. perhaps thats refreshing and reflective of the non events that occur here

For boat rentals Bridge Bay resorts is the largest... there is also Silverthorn, Holiday Harbor and a couple of others...( I like Silverthorn,, probably because its next door)
Lake Shasta has 375 miles or so of shoreline..( dont forget to visit Shasta Caverns,, on the lake) with about 14 boat launch ramps of various sizes... the lake can get busy in the summer or holidays with scores of kids coming here from many different colleges renting houseboats.. if you come during a period when it isnt too hot (early June) then exploring off the houseboat around the lake can be spectacular,,, there are hidden waterfalls that havent dried up yet and nature worth seeing.. we have mountain lions and bear.. I rarely see them,, just evidence they have been around...

I belong to MADD.. and Im writing a paper for California MADD on boating under the influence in Shasta Country, detailing our campaign to reduce it for the upcoming year... college aged kids certainly stress our resources on the lake,,, as do the idiots from "down below",,, the lake is patrolled by Shasta County Sheriff. but you will rarely see a deputy.. there is too much area to patrol .... they may have up to 4 deputies on the lake off season and 10 during peak times.. they usually spend most of their time addressing the college "party barges"

There are huge professional bass tournaments. an occasional wake boarding competition... there is even have a low profile christmas boat parade (Ive only seen some lame pictures of it)

There are other lakes that are closeby.. Whiskeytown ... 30 minutes by car(no houseboats) federal land,,, and Claire Engle 90 minutes by car... (Trinity county),,, less crowded.. farther from Redding.. has houseboats

House rentals here are fairly reasonable...
there are "better" neighborhoods so if you are looking on the net ask some of us locals for guidance... northeast redding has many new houses and nice neighborhoods.. downtown Redding has older homes.. sometimes very quaint... west Redding has some older neighborhoods.. but expensive...
south Redding... I would probably avoid.. some older neighborhoods that are struggling.. but its California.. so you can find a dump right next to a mansion...

My wife is a teacher here(science AP),, having taught in the Bay Area and L.A. she has a pretty good perspective on California education and schools.. Redding schools will not help your child be brillant.. but they can provide basic education.. private schools do exist here... as do charter schools (another nice way of saying,, we cant make it as a regular school because we cant meet state standards.. so we'll call ourselves a charter school... mediocrity I think).
The good ol boy syndrome also filters thru education here, as with other job prospects, and the most qualified candidates are not necessarily hired over someone who knows someone... be prepared for that.. if you arent a local its hard to break in.. and that means in all aspects of government jobs...

[star13]

So are there any other local papers that would offer decent classified listings?
As for the schools... I don't have any kids or expect to have kids anytime soon. So, I'm not too worried from that perspective, but another option that I've considered is teaching again. I was certified in IL, so I would need to get certified for CA if I decided to do that. What is the pay like for teachers in Redding?
As for the "good ole' boys network"... it exists absolutely everywhere, so I can't let that daunt me.
I am planning on taking a trip out to Redding sometime this Spring when I can get away from work. I'd like to see the city and get a feel for it before I make my final decision.
I also thought that renting a houseboat may be a great temporary option if I do decide to move because it would give me the freedom to be in the area while I house/apartment hunt.
Notmeofficer.... You also mentioned in an earlier post that your wife and you are vegans, but that the healthfood options are limited. Are there any health food stores in Redding that offer organic products and food?

[dusesean1986]

I think you will really enjoy Redding alot! With that said, don't know the listings friend. The local newspaper is a good place to look, and I'm not sure of teaching in the area.

[notmeofficer]

Originally Posted by star13

So are there any other local papers that would offer decent classified listings?

Craigslist


As for the schools... I don't have any kids or expect to have kids anytime soon. So, I'm not too worried from that perspective, but another option that I've considered is teaching again. I was certified in IL, so I would need to get certified for CA if I decided to do that. What is the pay like for teachers in Redding?

Depends on where you can get a job... in one of my previous posts I detailed about my wife.. a teacher here.. one of 750 plus certificated teachers in the county on the sub list looking for work... there are teaching jobs.. but not really here in this county... National University and Simpson College are pumping out teachers like pennies.. most of them have to go to population centers to get jobs (ghetto schools). The pay here is less than other more populated centers...3/5 of other school districts.. but you dont have 40 scream'in ghetto fools robbing each other either/// ok so Im a little bias


As for the "good ole' boys network"... it exists absolutely everywhere, so I can't let that daunt me.

Wait until you experience it here... it will make you laugh.. or cry..

I am planning on taking a trip out to Redding sometime this Spring when I can get away from work. I'd like to see the city and get a feel for it before I make my final decision.

Great idea.. fly into the airport (nice and easy) rent a car.. easy drive to the city... use any of the hotels on Hilltop Dr and you will be downtown on the eastside of the city (the newer side) Holiday Inn, Red Lion, Hampton Suites.. easy distance to ood and everything else..
Go to the Sundial Bridg.. take a walk on the river trial..look at the nature center... visit Shasta dam.. take a look at Shasta College.. Simpson Unversity... The McConnel Foundation ( the real movers and shakers here with old money)

I also thought that renting a houseboat may be a great temporary option if I do decide to move because it would give me the freedom to be in the area while I house/apartment hunt.


Some nice ones on Hilltop Dr south of Lake Blvd.. overlook the city.. easy access to everywhere.. newer..clean.. overlook sundial bridge and the river trail bike and running path.. thats where I would try for an apartment

Notmeofficer.... You also mentioned in an earlier post that your wife and you are vegans, but that the healthfood options are limited. Are there any health food stores in Redding that offer organic products and food?

Orchard Nutrition on Athens Ave.. is about your only choice for health food with a limited organic veggie supply..they have a good supply of other organic stuff (but they sell meat so we dont frequent them..just use them for special order stuff) there is a store in Mount Shasta thats slightly better... this isnt like other parts of Cali where health food is a regular part of life..but you wont starve if you go to Orchard
theres a Jamba Juice here.. you can get some organic stuff.. soymilk mixed greens peanut butter etc from Costco
We make out own tofu, bread etc... so we dont depend on the stores...we do bulk delivery of most foods off the net
We do have an EXCELLENT full service the real deal flour mill that does fresh organic flours (Moores).. they have lundberg rice, pastas, herbs etc...
There is usually an excellent farmers market.. some growers are organic.. goes most of the year.. its been running three or four years and gets better each year.. I think its at city hall now... ( see the city hall/ sculpture garden underway/fountain.. and youll get an idea where the city council thinks the city should go... lots of pop.. but without the money.. yet)

We summer garden with veggies that can take the heat... tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers, melons.. the lettuces dont do well, way too hot,so we have to buy those or make sprouts. Winter gardening is hard...even with a cold frame its too wet usually although this year has been unusually dry up until now.. but its Redding wait 24 hrs.. the weather will change..


hope this helps

cam

[bell8411]

I rent here in Redding, a nice townhome right in the middle of town, for $775. I've just been looking at homes for rent and you can get a decent 3/2 for anywhere from 1000-1200. As far as the coffee shops go, it seems there's one of every corner and your share of Starbuck's too. I like Redding, it's become a bit more like larger towns in California, but I like that. Houses are definately affordable compared to the rest of California, but there isn't much of a job market to support it.