What Sets Ventura County Apart? (Los Angeles, Oxnard: living in, shop, trendy)

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

So there is a difference.

In the areas as a whole there are some small differences, largely the result differences in demographics. My claim is not that there are absolutely no differences, just that in terms of community the areas are pretty similar. This assertion was in response to the other poster who suggested that things dramatically change when you get into Ventura County.

Anyhow communities develop organically, government policy is extremely efficient at shaping communities. Both the LA County and Ventura County side of the Conejo Valley are similar, not because of county or city policy, but rather how this area developed historically.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

To me Ox/Ven are nothing like LA. Who's to say if your observation holds more water than mine? No one.

I didn't say they were "like LA", rather I said they were more like LA than the Conejo Valley.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

I own both a business and two properties. I'm affected by both the city and the county.

There are things that are dealt with at the county and city level, but most things are dedicated by the state government so there is little change from county to county. The only area where there is a noticeably difference is the area that you keep mentioning, namely zoning and planning, but these issues are primarily only relevant to someone developing commercial property, the vast majority of businesses are just going to rent existing structures in a way that is consistent with their current zoning.

For me, which city to setup business was largely irrelevant, I was instead looking for the right place. I had a small bias against LA city because it has the highest business taxes.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

Moreover, it may not matter to you, but to me it matters to which county I pay my taxes.

No it doesn't matter to me, the counties are just collecting the money, it doesn't go directly into their coffers.

But this is just the issue, in California the counties don't have a lot of power. Power is very centralized in the state government.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by user_id

In the areas as a whole there are some small differences, largely the result differences in demographics. My claim is not that there are absolutely no differences, just that in terms of community the areas are pretty similar. This assertion was in response to the other poster who suggested that things dramatically change when you get into Ventura County.

Anyhow communities develop organically, government policy is extremely efficient at shaping communities. Both the LA County and Ventura County side of the Conejo Valley are similar, not because of county or city policy, but rather how this area developed historically.


I didn't say they were "like LA", rather I said they were more like LA than the Conejo Valley.




There are things that are dealt with at the county and city level, but most things are dedicated by the state government so there is little change from county to county. The only area where there is a noticeably difference is the area that you keep mentioning, namely zoning and planning, but these issues are primarily only relevant to someone developing commercial property, the vast majority of businesses are just going to rent existing structures in a way that is consistent with their current zoning.

For me, which city to setup business was largely irrelevant, I was instead looking for the right place. I had a small bias against LA city because it has the highest business taxes.


No it doesn't matter to me, the counties are just collecting the money, it doesn't go directly into their coffers.

But this is just the issue, in California the counties don't have a lot of power. Power is very centralized in the state government.

Don't agree with most of this. It could be argued that Ox/Ven are more like Santa Barbara than the Conejo Valley, too. Arguing the point on that level is annoying and doesn't say much other than that subjectively speaking, the differences are open to each persons interpretation. Big deal.

I don't agree that counties have little control vis-a-vis the State government. Yes, counties are agents of the State, but the whole point of the counties is to provide local control and decision-making where state funding/jurisdiction is at play. If the counties are irrelevant, why do we elect county supervisors?

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

It could be argued that Ox/Ven are more like Santa Barbara than the Conejo Valley, too.

I think they are more like Santa Barbara, but I also think Santa Barbara is more like LA than the Conejo Valley

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

Arguing the point on that level is annoying and doesn't say much other than that subjectively speaking

Except of course that I gave some concrete reasons for my assertion.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

If the counties are irrelevant, why do we elect county supervisors?

Largely tradition, in the past power was not as centralized in the state government, that occurred over many decades, for example by the passing of prop 13.

Also, I didn't say counties have no power, rather I said they don't have much. Counties in California are not powerful enough to create dramatic differences, their hands are largely tied. Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark, etc are what they are today, not because some county/city bureaucrats, but rather the areas history. The Conejo Valley demonstrates very clearly that its community develop and history that matter, the Conejo Valley is largely the same on both the LA and VC side.

But I know, some believe in the magically bureaucrat that is able to shape the world for the greater good.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by user_id

I think they are more like Santa Barbara, but I also think Santa Barbara is more like LA than the Conejo Valley


Except of course that I gave some concrete reasons for my assertion.


Largely tradition, in the past power was not as centralized in the state government, that occurred over many decades, for example by the passing of prop 13.

Also, I didn't say counties have no power, rather I said they don't have much. Counties in California are not powerful enough to create dramatic differences, their hands are largely tied. Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark, etc are what they are today, not because some county/city bureaucrats, but rather the areas history. The Conejo Valley demonstrates very clearly that its community develop and history that matter, the Conejo Valley is largely the same on both the LA and VC side.

But I know, some believe in the magically bureaucrat that is able to shape the world for the greater good.

Seems to me you have kind of a two-dimensional view of things. That's fine. You have a right to your perceptions, but it doesn't make your perceptions any more correct or incorrect than anyone else's. Anyway, I think the spirit of the OP in starting this thread was to get an interesting mix of views, and not for us dissect each other ad nauseum.

So in returning to the spirit of the OP (as I perceived it), one of the biggest things that sets VC apart for me and gives me encouragement to stick around for a while longer is S.O.A.R.

[Cyanna]

Someon else who feels that Ventura County is significantly different than L.A. and Orange Counties...

http://www.vccf.org/civicalliance/ALC42C.pdf

[user_id]

Yes, clearly VCCF is a unbiased source on the matter.

[DowntownVentura]

Originally Posted by user_id

Yes, clearly VCCF is a unbiased source on the matter.

Don't worry user_id, everyone here on the Ventura County forum prides your opinion over and above everybody else's.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by DowntownVentura

Don't worry user_id, everyone here on the Ventura County forum prides your opinion over and above everybody else's.

People should reply on reason not opinion, but I suppose its difficult for some.

[Cyanna]

This is a really nice article, written by a Los Angeles transplant to Ventura County.

Welcome to the Ventura River and Ojai Valley Community: One Man's Retreat from the City to the Country

[user_id]

The article is much more about Ojai, then Ventura County in general. Ojai is a unique city, not like the others in Ventura County, and much of what he says doesn't apply to other cities in Ventura county.

The Conejo Valley, which of course is half Ventura County, is the LA areas Silicon Valley. There are numerous established and start-up tech companies here. Some major companies have their headquarters here as well.

No matter how hard you try, there is no way to paint a general picture of Ventura County. Despite its small size, its very diverse.