Why is California out of cash? (San Francisco, Oakland: rent, how much, to buy)

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by Charles

When I started college at CSUN in 1979, tuition was around $350/semester, books, fees, parking, etc were about another $150/semester. So for $1000/year (I lived at home and my dad charged me $300/month) I earned an engineering degree. The government and my current employer paid for my two masters degrees. I even received my salary while attending grad school full time and not working.

So, if I can do it....

So if everyone could get the government and employer to subsidize their education, than we could all go to graduate school?

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by lj111

it's not like there was much of a better choice.

I'm not very political... but Tom McClintock has a much better record on fiscal issues and I can only imagine the what if?

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Good points Majin,

Prop 13 benefits those that still live in the home at the time it passed, or family members that acquired those homes. I would say that the number today of said homeowners is not a significant amount to hurt the current budget situation. I know in the neighborhood that I grew up in most of the original owners are gone now, although some still remain as I am still friends with them.

Prop 13 benefits every property owner and it benefited tenants... several family members had their rent reduced after Prop 13 passed.

The single biggest protection is predictability in property taxes...

I bought my home at the peak of the market and pay about 8 times what the previous owner's paid... and Prop 13 is still beneficial in requiring 55% voter approval to build schools and 2/3 voter approval for other property taxes...

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Deezus

So if everyone could get the government and employer to subsidize their education, than we could all go to graduate school?

Yes.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

So you're telling me that if you were unemployed for lets say 3 months with absolutely no job prospects on the horizon, you wouldn't take any job available out there to get you by? We're not talking about making it a career, were talking about getting you fed and sheltered at night. At least until you find the job you're looking for.

I love how you call me an unsympathetic right winger when you sit here telling me that you are too damn good for low wage jobs (as a temporary solution to unemployment)... that they are for the riff raff of society and that you would never take part in such a petty position.

Typical liberal hypocrite...

If I was unemployed for 3 months I would be collecting unemployment until I found another job. Do you even know what a Liberal is? LOL you reactionists are funny, trying to turn Liberal into an insult. It's like trying to insult somebody by calling them rational. Hey you're rational. Anybody can be liberal anybody can be rational. You're defiantly not rational.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Houston3

"You obviously don't know many un-employed professionals because a jobless lawyer, doctor, or executive is not going to go work in the sun for chump change."

If they get hungry enough they will!

I guess you missed story on the ex-rich guy that now delivers pizza.

Delivering Pizza's, is not manual labor.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by shannonM

sorry to disagree with you cityboy!!! but illegals are NOT just over here doing the jobs that no one else wants. alot of them are working in the construction trade, hospitality industry, fast food restaurants, car washes and other jobs that typically belong to American Teenagers. if you travel to say the midwest you see teenagers working and doing the jobs that alot of illegals do here.

and to add my two cents to why CA is falling apart.....It's due to overspending. we also have too many state workers with entitlement issues. Illegals do cause a drain on us. and we are too worried about leading the way and being the example state for global warming. and also, not doing a thing to try to keep companies here in CA causing a burden on them instead and good companies are packing up and leaving our state.

Hey don't be sorry you make good points, but who do you blame for hiring them? If any illegals are working in hospitals it's doing the jobs that pay the least that most people would not want to do. I actually have never seen any "Illegals" working in the hospital. I work in a hospital.

Fast food etc, how do you know they are illegal? Latinos are the largest population here many are in poverty, just become some Mexicans work at fast food places does not mean they are illegals. It's just the numbers, Texas is the same way.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by f_m

Minimum wage is now $8/hr in CA. Not high, but not too bad for entry jobs. Most entry jobs are done by teenagers or young adults, at least in the midwest they are.

in california you can't live on that if you have other bills. It's almost impossible. That's $1280 a month Before taxes. The average 1 bedroom rents for that much.

[AllAboutEve]

Originally Posted by AnnieA

that is the best way to conquer. All the ones here illegally are breeding like rabbits and using the facilities that Americans that pay taxes use. And yes, I do feel threatened because illegal immigrants are being forced on me, jobs are disappearing and my country is falling apart. You need to grow up and get off your condescending high horse, please.

"Condescending high horse"? Is that what you call common decency? What do you call living like a Christian, having a moral compass, or (God forbid) having compassion? Is all that categoorzied under "condescending high horse" as well? I wonder.

No actually the best way to conquer is to slaughter a population, and make the remnants into slaves. I'm sure you are familiar with that strategy, it is what our country was founded on.

And if growing up means becoming bitter, hateful and afraid of anyone who is different (not pointing any fingers) than I would rather have the mind of a child.

Annie, I think you must really evaluate what you are saying. Because what you say and think, says more about you then it does about the people you fear. Move beyond the fear - the discrimination. Do you really want to die an old bitter woman who harvests such hatred and contempt? Is that how you want to be remembered? We are all human. And if you can't see that, I hope one day you will.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by City Boy

in california you can't live on that if you have other bills. It's almost impossible. That's $1280 a month Before taxes. The average 1 bedroom rents for that much.

Can't speak for other areas of the State...

Oakland has a Living Wage Ordinance. The ordinance requires employers to pay workers $10.39 an hour if they offer benefits and $11.95 an hour without benefits.

My least expensive rental is a two bedroom home for $725 per month... one bedroom apartments $675.

At the $11.95 per hour wage... my $675 a month apartment is a little more than 1/3 the $1912 per month income...

I agree, it's tight, but doable. The economics change dramatically when a couple earning close to $4000 a month on minimum wage shares a one bedroom unit.