Should I move to Sacramento??? (Los Angeles, Arden-Arcade: to rent, unemployment, school)

[ekulluke1]

I am A 26 year old musician who currently lives in Ft Lauderdale FL. I moved her from Portland Oregon about 6 years ago. I am currently in the fire academy and soon after that, Paramedic school.
I am looking for a city that has the all the beautiful changes of seasons without too much rain (hense why I no longer live in Oregon I love the outdoors but I also love the city. I love to listen to live music and want to pursue my musical career as well.

What is the music scene like there? Chances of becoming a firefighter? How are the people? Kind? Rude?

Being from Oregon, I have grown tired of the east coast and it's humidty. I have considered Austin TX as well (being the live music capital of the world and all) but California has always attracted me more.

Any help with helping me decide if Sacramento is good for me would be very appreciated. Thank you.

Luke.

[NewToCA]

Firefighter? You may have more difficulty getting time for sleep than finding work! Now getting paid, that might be a different story. The California budget issues will keep that in the air for awhile.

Weather and entertainment wise, you would probably like the place.

[Jimbo15]

The Sacramento region is entering its third season of drought. So there is expected to be a lot of fires this summer. So there is demand for firefighers.

That said the state and local government budgets are in shambles. Locally they are closing two firestations on a rotating basis in the city of Sacramento right now.

I suspect, you might have better luck finding work as a firefigher in Austin than Sacramento where the local economy seems stronger and the region is growing much faster.

[wburg]

Everyone is having tough times right now, the question is how long they will last. Firefighters and paramedics are definitely in demand, but money to pay them has come into short supply with all the budget weirdness lately.

Not sure if it is any indication, but something like 40 bands from Sacramento played at this year's SXSW in Austin. We aren't the music capital of the world by any means, but there is a healthy local scene and it seems to be growing. It's not hard to get shows in the Bay Area too, while still paying comparatively cheap Sacramento rents. The number of music venues in Sacramento is definitely on the upswing.

Sacramento is kind of friendly and laid back, definitely more real than the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Think of it kind of like a very flat, very hot Portland.

[x15]

Unemployment in Sacramento is 11.3% with unemployment up 5.1% in the past year.

Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA Economy at a Glance

Unemployment in Austin is 6.2% with unemployment down .4% from a comparable time last year.

Austin-Round Rock, TX Economy at a Glance

The people who post here regularly have learned from experience to be highly suspect of a lot of wburg's fact free arguments when he is shilling for midtown.

[wburg]

x15, I didn't even mention Midtown, although, now that you mention it, that's where most of the live music venues are. Jimbo15 already mentioned unemployment, I saw no need to repeat it, and commented about the music scene instead.

Some backup about Sacramento's SXSW participants:
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=932513
Turns out I underestimated the number. More like 50 Sacramento musicians went.

And heck, I shill for the whole city. Even the suburbs have their high points.

[x15]

In the context of a discussion of Sacramento vs Austin, its disingenuous to argue that everywhere people are facing tough times. Clearly things are going dramatically better in Austin than in Sacramento.

If this was a one time error that would be one thing. But there is a pattern here with you where you shade the facts in an effort to bolster both the region generally and especially when you have a chance to shill for midtown. It is this extremely provincial civic hucksterism that is so unbecoming and ultimately unpersuasive.

When the subject of midtown or Sacramento come up you really do sound like Cliff Claven bloviating about the Post Office. You make a lot of arguments based upon premises that are wrong and appear to be deliberately wrong in order to bolster your argument.

When people feel like they are being deliberated mislead, they tend to discount the viewpoints of the person they feel is trying to mislead them. With you, there definitely is a sense that you are intentionally trying to mislead.

[NewToCA]

OK, quick reminder of the rules here...topic, not each other.

[mattinsac]

I see x15's point. There is a pattern here. I too have seen wburg engage in a lot of this type of excessive civic boosterism that at times seems intentionally misleading. If no one calls him on it, he seems empowered to do more of it.

I understand you don't want flame wars, but what is the remedy here other than to call people on it when you feel that they are trying to bullsh*t the other people reading the forum?

[Shope]

I think Austin is a better fit for you at the moment. Stronger economy, better music scene, etc. I love Sacramento don't get me wrong but I think Austin is a better fit for you.