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Some of this is ancedotal from a coworker who has a friend who works in a "support role" in silicon valley. That being something like the guy who keeps the AC g

Some of this is ancedotal from a coworker who has a friend who works in a "support role" in silicon valley. That being something like the guy who keeps the AC going, janitor or working in a FAANG coffee shop. While there is some transportation, the issue is, some of this friends in this role, have to take a 1-2 hour commute (using public transit) since they have been priced out that far.

oh_sigh 5y ago
Why don't they just get a job that is a 10 minute commute? Even poor businesses in America want their AC running sometimes.
- Baeocystin 5y ago
  That's what a lot of them do. I live in Gilroy, and my neighbor is an HVAC guy that moved from San Jose to Gilroy, and only services as far north as Morgan Hill. He has more work than he'd ever be able to fill, but now has the work/life balance to actually see his kids, too. The neighbor one more house down is a welder, same deal. The family at the end of the street, another trade, another SF/SJ escapee. Hell, I work in tech directly, and am pleased to say that 90% of my clients are within a 20 minute drive. I don't earn a FAANG salary, but I don't need to, either, and I am 100% certain (and I say this non-judgmentally, just a statement of fact) that I actually enjoy my daily life more than many of my former compatriots.
- romwell 5y ago
  Because poor people often live together with our poor people and rely on each other, and the question of "why don't you, your partner, your parents who help you look after your children, and everyone else don't just get a job in the same area that won't pay much less than what all of you are getting now?" has many answers. One is that minimum wage falling way, way below living wage ensures that the employers can always pay lower for even low-paying jobs. Another is that perverse zoning laws often don't allow people to work where they live.

oh_sigh 5y ago

Why don't they just get a job that is a 10 minute commute? Even poor businesses in America want their AC running sometimes.

Baeocystin 5y ago
That's what a lot of them do. I live in Gilroy, and my neighbor is an HVAC guy that moved from San Jose to Gilroy, and only services as far north as Morgan Hill. He has more work than he'd ever be able to fill, but now has the work/life balance to actually see his kids, too. The neighbor one more house down is a welder, same deal. The family at the end of the street, another trade, another SF/SJ escapee. Hell, I work in tech directly, and am pleased to say that 90% of my clients are within a 20 minute drive. I don't earn a FAANG salary, but I don't need to, either, and I am 100% certain (and I say this non-judgmentally, just a statement of fact) that I actually enjoy my daily life more than many of my former compatriots.
romwell 5y ago
Because poor people often live together with our poor people and rely on each other, and the question of "why don't you, your partner, your parents who help you look after your children, and everyone else don't just get a job in the same area that won't pay much less than what all of you are getting now?" has many answers. One is that minimum wage falling way, way below living wage ensures that the employers can always pay lower for even low-paying jobs. Another is that perverse zoning laws often don't allow people to work where they live.