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I grew up in California, went to Berkeley, and worked in there for years, but I couldn't stand the backwardness of California's homeowner cabal anymore and move

I grew up in California, went to Berkeley, and worked in there for years, but I couldn't stand the backwardness of California's homeowner cabal anymore and moved out of state. In my new state, there's no rent control, no NIMBYism, and homes and neighborhoods are beautiful and affordable. Sure, there's more room to grow here, fewer people, and a smaller economy, so it's not a completely fair comparison, but take a moment and look on a satellite map at how much land in the bay area is completely undeveloped, most of it on hillsides. I'll move back if California ever embraces progress and growth (not going to happen in my lifetime). Regarding remote work, I've been working remotely here at satellite offices of bay area companies for 7 years at 3 different companies and it has sucked. You're treated like a second class citizen by employees at the mother ship, and the conference call technology (webex) is abominable -- half duplex, compression artifacts, and good luck understanding what an engineer with a heavy asian accent is saying while he's 12 feet from the microphone across all of the garbage technology that delivers his voice to your ear. The only way it would work is if everyone would wear a headset, and whether it's conscious or not, employees at the mother ship would much rather keep you, the remote office guy, in the twilight and not jeopardize their jobs. Never again for me if I can help it. And FWIW, if you are in favor of price controls (minimum wage, rent control) the Commanding Heights documentary is an excellent retort (starting at minute 50): https://youtu.be/w9ms2WOZi74?t=50m6s https://youtu.be/w9ms2WOZi74?t=50m6s

abalone 10y ago
> Sure, there's more room to grow here, fewer people, and a smaller economy, so it's not a completely fair comparison, but take a moment and look on a satellite map at how much land in the bay area is completely undeveloped, most of it on hillsides. To say it's not a fair comparison is putting it rather lightly. Those are the three biggest factors that influence pricing. Your entire premise is that Bay Area rents are high because of an excess of "completely undeveloped land". That defies credulity and is far from evident from satellite imagery.
true_religion 10y ago
Where are you living now? In DC its a lot better. Lots of people work remotely, or handle contract jobs, so there isn't a whole lot of politicking because the roles are pretty much set---hardly anyone gets fired unless its a cost-cutting measure from the owning conglomerate which politics doesn't help with, and contractors know they don't offer any loyalty to their companies.
kafkaesq 10y ago
But take a moment and look on a satellite map at how much land in the bay area is completely undeveloped, most of it on hillsides. Because... unlike certain other parts in the U.S. (or California, even) people in the Bay Area recognize the value of maintaining at least a few tiny shards of open, undeveloped space -- and have, over decades and generations, fought hard to preserve these spaces? It's not NIMBYism -- it's common sense, and basic ecological awareness.

abalone 10y ago

> Sure, there's more room to grow here, fewer people, and a smaller economy, so it's not a completely fair comparison, but take a moment and look on a satellite map at how much land in the bay area is completely undeveloped, most of it on hillsides. To say it's not a fair comparison is putting it rather lightly. Those are the three biggest factors that influence pricing. Your entire premise is that Bay Area rents are high because of an excess of "completely undeveloped land". That defies credulity and is far from evident from satellite imagery.

true_religion 10y ago

Where are you living now? In DC its a lot better. Lots of people work remotely, or handle contract jobs, so there isn't a whole lot of politicking because the roles are pretty much set---hardly anyone gets fired unless its a cost-cutting measure from the owning conglomerate which politics doesn't help with, and contractors know they don't offer any loyalty to their companies.

kafkaesq 10y ago

But take a moment and look on a satellite map at how much land in the bay area is completely undeveloped, most of it on hillsides. Because... unlike certain other parts in the U.S. (or California, even) people in the Bay Area recognize the value of maintaining at least a few tiny shards of open, undeveloped space -- and have, over decades and generations, fought hard to preserve these spaces? It's not NIMBYism -- it's common sense, and basic ecological awareness.