How conservative and/or diverse is SD? (Los Angeles, San Diego: appointed, public schools)

[chifamily]

Hello,

I hear various, and repeated posts, that refer to San Diego as being quite conservative (or at least military like) and then others that liken SD to the rest of a more liberal California in terms of diversity. What is the true face of San Diego? Are we talking a diverse group of right wing republicans? A liberal group of mainstreamers? Diversity and liberalism are two distinct terms of course, but as a native Californian (northern, that is) who has also lived in Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, and Kansas City, I can say that the two go hand in hand.

My husband and I are thinking of relocating to the San Diego area (an area I really don't know, even though I lived in California as a child in the Bay Area and again for over a year as an adult in LA). We are a mixed couple with 3 small children, independent voters with a lean to the left (not too far though), we like to live in communities that are close to things to do. He will be working in the POWAY area.

So we're looking for a community that is:

* Safe.

* Is not too far from the beach (close enough for a day's drive to the beach).

* Diverse (not overly so, just a good presence of various minority groups).

* Has excellent public schools (a good, accessible charter school, in a safe community would run a close second.)

* Is close to a major university or museums, culture activities, etc.

* Relatively affordable - I realize this is a tough one in California, but we'd like to stay around $2000 a month for our first year there.

* Not too conservative (or military like, or whatever).

* Did I mention, safe? READ - gang/drug free (or close to it - believe it or not, contrary to previous posts in the SD forum, there are American communities, such as mine just outside of KC, that are basically gang and drug free, while still being upper middle class - are there some drugs, somewhere, yes, of course, but you'd never know it, that's the most important thing).

Is it absolutely just crazy (ridiculous, are-you-out-of-your-mind silly..) to consider southern Orange County?? And yes, I know that's conservative as well, but we'd be close to LA and the range of diverse communities there. BTW my husband will work 2nd or 3rd shift, so won't be traveling in normal commute times.

Thanks in advance for all positive, relevant input!!

ChiFamily in KC

[sav858]

I don't really see how diverse and liberalism go hand in hand after growing up in the Bay Area. Yeah you have a bunch of different cultures and ethnicities, which is diversity in that sense. But it's not that diverse in viewpoints, values, thought, etc... I found more diversity in those respects in San Diego than I do in the Bay Area b/c it's heavily democratic there everywhere, you have more of a mix here. The Bay Area is way more liberal than San Diego is conservative, the city itself is pretty moderate overall.

I'm an independent that leans left, not too far either, and I prefer the politics here over the Bay. It's less in your face and judgmental overall, the politics can get annoying up there after a while. Even though I do like some of the progressiveness of the Bay Area and get frustrated with how cheap taxpayers are here, I appreciate the fiscal restraint SD shows compared to the tax and spend mentality up north. I think people here hold the govt more accountable than they do in the Bay Area.

The city itself is very moderate, the Northern suburbs, especially inland, are fairly white and conservative. Poway is very safe and has great schools but is pretty white and on the conservative side.

University City has good schools and is safe. Right next door to UCSD, close to the beach, near more diverse areas of SD, close to cultural amenities, and it's not that conservative if at all. UC will probably fit you better than Poway or inland North County and the farther south you go the worse the schools get.

[chifamily]

Sav - thanks for the response.

As for San Fran, of course it always depends on if you're speaking of the city itself or the Bay Area as a whole, plus my Bay Area of the 1970s and early 80s is but a shadow of its Silicon Valley current self - ya know? Judging by my parents old friends who still live in the area - the Bay Area might be more diverse than you know, its just that the people who don't get in your face, don't get in your face, and you don't always hear their side of things. - But that's another topic for another forum...

[sav858]

Originally Posted by chifamily

Sav - thanks for the response.

As for San Fran, of course it always depends on if you're speaking of the city itself or the Bay Area as a whole, plus my Bay Area of the 1970s and early 80s is but a shadow of its Silicon Valley current self - ya know? Judging by my parents old friends who still live in the area - the Bay Area might be more diverse than you know, its just that the people who don't get in your face, don't get in your face, and you don't always hear their side of things. - But that's another topic for another forum...

I'm talking about the whole Bay Area in general but most of the in your face crap is in SF and Berkeley and more on the western side of the Bay Area, the more liberal a specific area is the more hardcore and in your face it will be. But many other parts of the Bay Area like the East Bay and South Bay are more moderate it seems. Parts of Eastern Contra Costa County seem straight up redneck. I grew up in Central Contra Costa County that used to have republican representatives but now it's all democrats, the Bay Area has become more liberal throughout my years it seems. Even though most of my friends are democrats, some are republicans. And all of my step dad's family is republican. It's just a different vibe I get down here, people aren't into politics as much down here or at least as vocal about it. The Bay Area will attract people from elsewhere for it's liberalness, San Diego does not attract people for it's conservatism b/c it's not even that strong here.

[MisterMark]

Originally Posted by sav858

The Bay Area will attract people from elsewhere for it's liberalness, San Diego does not attract people for it's conservatism b/c it's not even that strong here.

True. I remember several years ago talking with a guy who called himself a "conservative Republican". He moved to San Diego but was really disappointed that it wasn't the hardcore right-wing place he thought it would be.

If anything, it's only becoming more moderate/liberal as time goes by, not more conservative.

[NYSD1995]

San Diego is simultaneously conservative and liberal. Generally speaking the city is liberal and the county is conservative.

Just remember this is the county that brought you Duncan Hunter and Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

[kcda]

My sister took my niece to UC Berkeley for a campus visit and said the largest club on campus was the "Republican Club". Somehow I found that hard to believe.

[MisterMark]

Originally Posted by kcda

My sister took my niece to UC Berkeley for a campus visit and said the largest club on campus was the "Republican Club". Somehow I found that hard to believe.

Oh, I can believe that. When you're in the minority - particularly if you feel like there's discrimination toward your group - you're a lot more likely to organize than if you're in the majority.