"I grew up in Queens, lived in Manhattan for 16 years and moved to Dallas a year ago (cause someone paid me.) I've been to SF more times than I can count over the last 10 years for computer related work and conference, etc. You couldn't pay me to live there."
Wait, so I could pay you to live in Dallas, but I couldn't pay you to live in SF ?
California's rules, regulations, tone and general outlook on most things irk me, and even more so SF as the epicenter of such things in California. So, no, I don't think one could pay me to live in San Francisco.
It doesn't need to be said here but I'll go ahead and say it anyway - Texas has no state income tax. Sure, they have no mass transit to speak of, but then again, in truth, they don't need it. (Outside of the philosophical view that all metropoli need mass transit, which I agree with.)
Edit: the fact that SF, a city with arguably a third the population of NYC has rents more than NYC is exactly the kind of "thing" that irks me about SF. It's the kind of social dysfunction that's intolerable - for me.
Another is the Bay Bridge. When standing in Marin north of the Golden Gate, there are a number of plaques describing the building of the GGB. A picturesque view with the BB in the background. Guess what? It turns out the GGB was built ahead of schedule and under budget - with no computers! I don't even need to go into the failings of the BB. You get my point.
Ahh I see, you hate regulation, taxes, and don't think a city the size of Dallas really needs mass transit in practice. So this isn't really about San Francisco at all. The only thing that really surprises me now is that you speak highly of New York.
I could describe how much more "social dysfunction" there is in Texas than California at length but I sense its going to be an uphill battle. Suffice it to say that my friends just got back from Austin where they witnessed a "mock shooting" at the university in support of the new open carry gun laws. When your legislators spend time expanding gun rights after repeated mass shootings, you're looking at social dysfunction. These same legislators also found the time to carefully craft anti-abortion legislation recently in an attempt to force all abortion clinics to close until the Supreme Court can overturn the decision. Meanwhile they don't seem to mind all the fake clinics being set up which use tax money and tax benefits to confuse and lie to desperate women who are under extreme stress already. You can have your 0% income tax rate "paradise" and try to remember that Texas has among the highest property tax rates in the country to make up for it.
> You can have your 0% income tax rate "paradise" and try to remember that Texas has among the highest property tax rates in the country to make up for it.
Coming from NY, those property taxes don't really make me even flinch. When you combine lower cost of living, lower real estate and no income tax higher property tax doesn't even move the needle.
Yeah Dallas is really the epitome of good urban planning and land use compared to San Francisco. Lets go get in our cars and drive thirty minutes to Chili's so we can have a real cultural experience </sarcasm>
Texas pretty much defines sprawl in my mind. San Francisco could be more dense but it certainly isn't sprawling.
Wait, so I could pay you to live in Dallas, but I couldn't pay you to live in SF ?