SOCAL AND THE LIVIN' IS EZ
For most of last week, L was in SoCal. Tonight I picked her up at the airport (why does ANYONE pick up arrivals on the Arrivals level at O'Hare?). She had a few gifts for me. I always like to grab a local paper when I am away from home. Knowing this, L was kind enough to grab both the Saturday Los Angeles Times (a Tribune newspaper--keeping buying LA, we have Cub salaries to pay) and the Saturday Long Beach paper.
Here is why I like the local papers. They cover stories you would never hear otherwise. Towit, the L.A. Tribune (no link to protest their ignorant registration policy) reports that people are moving into the San Bernadino National Forest campground to live because rents in the area have become too high. They pay between $370 and $450 a month for a spot with electricity. This is between a third and half of the $1000 a month average for rents in the area. Rents are expected to increase by 8% to 10% annually in the area. At that rate, we'll need a Teddy Roosevelt type national forest boom to keep up with the housing demand.
Some of the people profiled in the story are pretty amazing. The proprietor of the campground and her husband signed a 30 year lease for the concession with the Federal government three years ago. However, he slipped from a crane while trimming trees and died. Now she is trying to keep the campground afloat.
Another resident is a computer technician from Harrisburg, PA transferred to LA. Upon arrival, she and her husband realized they could not afford an apartment. I guess she forgot to negotiate a COLA in her transfer. Turns out that the Inland Empire is even more expensive than H'burg!
Ever wonder where the guys who keep the Tilt-A-Whirl, Zipper, and other dangerous carnie rides going live? Well, in SoCal, they live in this campground. They make between $250 and $450 a week before taxes. $250 a week is about $13,000 per year (before taxes). Think about THAT next time you decide to ride the carnie rides. At $13,000 a year, that carnie had better be pretty self motivated to ensure YOUR safety.
Finally (among the interesting people), is a lady who is a wintertime waitress at a resort in the area. She got a 1975 Ford RV from the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (!) and makes about $75 a week. When money is short, she moves the RV to a cheaper campground. In any case, the camper has neither lights nor electricity, although it does have propane for cooking and heat. The lack of electricty does help keep her costs down.
I really don't know where to start with this story. In the beginning they say something clever like, "the setting is Ansel Adams, but the life is John Steinbeck." That is about right, except it is 2004, not 1934. Will all of these people get kicked out when affluent Angelinos who want to camp complain about the carnie camp in the "bunkhouse?" How do cities like LA and San Francisco expect to continue to thrive if they are turned into wealthy ghettos? How will they buy groceries without people able to afford to live close enough to the job to make $7 an hour worthwhile? Ditto restaurants, retail shopping, etc. I don't think New York-style rent control is sensible, but it does seem like where land is extremely limited (like the valleys around LA, or San Francisco), you need to build some stability into the housing market. I am open to suggestions. However, do not bother with "don't move to a sh*thole like LA." No kidding. That answer is fish in a barrel.
For most of last week, L was in SoCal. Tonight I picked her up at the airport (why does ANYONE pick up arrivals on the Arrivals level at O'Hare?). She had a few gifts for me. I always like to grab a local paper when I am away from home. Knowing this, L was kind enough to grab both the Saturday Los Angeles Times (a Tribune newspaper--keeping buying LA, we have Cub salaries to pay) and the Saturday Long Beach paper.
Here is why I like the local papers. They cover stories you would never hear otherwise. Towit, the L.A. Tribune (no link to protest their ignorant registration policy) reports that people are moving into the San Bernadino National Forest campground to live because rents in the area have become too high. They pay between $370 and $450 a month for a spot with electricity. This is between a third and half of the $1000 a month average for rents in the area. Rents are expected to increase by 8% to 10% annually in the area. At that rate, we'll need a Teddy Roosevelt type national forest boom to keep up with the housing demand.
Some of the people profiled in the story are pretty amazing. The proprietor of the campground and her husband signed a 30 year lease for the concession with the Federal government three years ago. However, he slipped from a crane while trimming trees and died. Now she is trying to keep the campground afloat.
Another resident is a computer technician from Harrisburg, PA transferred to LA. Upon arrival, she and her husband realized they could not afford an apartment. I guess she forgot to negotiate a COLA in her transfer. Turns out that the Inland Empire is even more expensive than H'burg!
Ever wonder where the guys who keep the Tilt-A-Whirl, Zipper, and other dangerous carnie rides going live? Well, in SoCal, they live in this campground. They make between $250 and $450 a week before taxes. $250 a week is about $13,000 per year (before taxes). Think about THAT next time you decide to ride the carnie rides. At $13,000 a year, that carnie had better be pretty self motivated to ensure YOUR safety.
Finally (among the interesting people), is a lady who is a wintertime waitress at a resort in the area. She got a 1975 Ford RV from the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (!) and makes about $75 a week. When money is short, she moves the RV to a cheaper campground. In any case, the camper has neither lights nor electricity, although it does have propane for cooking and heat. The lack of electricty does help keep her costs down.
I really don't know where to start with this story. In the beginning they say something clever like, "the setting is Ansel Adams, but the life is John Steinbeck." That is about right, except it is 2004, not 1934. Will all of these people get kicked out when affluent Angelinos who want to camp complain about the carnie camp in the "bunkhouse?" How do cities like LA and San Francisco expect to continue to thrive if they are turned into wealthy ghettos? How will they buy groceries without people able to afford to live close enough to the job to make $7 an hour worthwhile? Ditto restaurants, retail shopping, etc. I don't think New York-style rent control is sensible, but it does seem like where land is extremely limited (like the valleys around LA, or San Francisco), you need to build some stability into the housing market. I am open to suggestions. However, do not bother with "don't move to a sh*thole like LA." No kidding. That answer is fish in a barrel.
posted by David at 10:42 PM
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