Christian Science Monitor picks on Jerry Brown over his house? (San Francisco: how much, houses)

[18Montclair]

I don't get what their angle is in this article.

The title is ridiculous: Jerry Brown stresses his frugality (but doesn't mention his $1.8 million house)

Jerry Brown is all about frugality on the California campaign trail except when it comes to his rarely mentioned custom-designed, $1.8 million house in one of the San Francisco Bay area's most prestigious neighborhoods

Jerry Brown's house in the Oakland Hills.

I like the last sentence tho...

Clifford said Brown is the only governor who built up a multibillion rainy day fund, vetoed excessive raises for public employees and signed $5 billion in personal income tax cuts into law.

Jerry Brown stresses his frugality (but doesn't mention his $1.8 million house) - CSMonitor.com

[lmk1707]

I don't understand either; particularly since $1.8 million is 1/50th the amount Meg Whitman has spent on her campaign to date, and she plans to spend $60 million more. Jerry Brown's house is chump change in comparison.

I think it may be an attempt to counteract Brown's message of being easy to relate to with his spendthrift ways - i.e., he may buy cheap suits and fly Southwest like you, but his mansion is nothing like your house. It's a bit of a stretch, though. Brown's frugality in other areas is still very much atypical for a politician, plus I think people can relate to the idea of splurging in one area of your life while being frugal in others (e.g., living in a one bedroom but having a nice car, going only on "staycations" but having a nice house, etc.)

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by lmk1707

. . .he may buy cheap suits and fly Southwest like you, but his mansion is nothing like your house . . .

It is a nice house in a nice neighborhood in an expensive area (with many homes more expensive nearby) but hardly a 12-bedroom, 12-bath mansion sitting on 20 acres with guest quarters, stables etc.

[UPT Oakland]

1.8 Million really is not that much considering how much money he has and this being California. Some of U.C. Berkley's professors have more expensive houses than this. What should he do? Sell it and move into a 400K house in a middle class are to prove a point?

[sonarrat]

Actually they bought it for $2.7 million.. that's just what it's worth now.

[ssmaster]

csm is a national magazine.it is easy to forget that the average home in the US is around $175,000.

in most of the country $1.8 million is a lot of money for a house. while in the bay area it gets you a very nice house but nothing spectacular.

[mayorhaggar]

A small 2 bedroom house in Marin can go for around a million bucks.

I'll be very annoyed with California if the people here allow a GOP troll like Meg Whitman to buy the election, fortunately I'll be moving back East in a few months though.

[DeusEx]

Originally Posted by UPT Oakland

1.8 Million really is not that much considering how much money he has and this being California. Some of U.C. Berkley's professors have more expensive houses than this. What should he do? Sell it and move into a 400K house in a middle class are to prove a point?

Yeah, Berkeley professors probably get paid considerably more than Brown does. And 1.8 mil's nothing in the bay area. Rediculous, CSMonitor.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

Yeah, Berkeley professors probably get paid considerably more than Brown does. And 1.8 mil's nothing in the bay area. Rediculous, CSMonitor.

1.8 mil, nothing?? "Rediculous." Maybe if you have a $500K+ income. Many of us will live our whole lives and not even make that much money total, let alone have it to blow on a luxury house.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

1.8 mil, nothing?? "Rediculous." Maybe if you have a $500K+ income. Many of us will live our whole lives and not even make that much money total, let alone have it to blow on a luxury house.

Well, perhaps 'commonplace' is a better term. According to the Census Bureau, 20% of all Bay Area homes are valued at $1,000,000+ which is twice as high as the next metro(LA).