Why California Has So Many Problems

Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster

References

[davinlarson]

The countless tiny local governments are also partly why California’s public transportation is so bad. Facebook tried to get the Bay Area to reactivate an unused rail line near their offices. They gave up when they found out that *27* different government entities would have to be involved.

[WillpowerCinema]

California is like one giant country club...you're either in the club...or you work to cater to those in the club

[dasfinalgaming]

"California is America's America" ooohh boy I can hear Texans screeching at that statement lol

[sipofsunkist]

Fun fact. That little star on the California flag, is actually Texas! Believe it or not, California and Texas used to be homies, we helped each other so much they gave Texas a little spot on their flag. Its sad there seems to be such a rivalry between us for lack of a better word now.

We still love you Cali! We may not show it as much as we used to, and we may disagree pretty often, but we very much still love you! <3

-A random texan

[enmass]

Thank you for mentioning the NIMBY's. They are one of the biggest problems faced by my state today. This "i got mine" attitude is killing California's ability to provide affordable housing to the point where californian-born americans are being priced out.

[Bayplaces]

Having worked in Homeless Services in California, it's really hard seeing people I know in stock footage of 'homeless people in California'

[ZombieGirl]

I go to San Jose state university, in San Jose in Silicon Valley. I’ve grown up here my whole life. At school I learned from a professor whose on the board of supervisors for Santa Clara county that while tech averages $200, 000+ a year, outside of that, we have an average of $30, 000 a year. Also San Jose may have a million residents, but it swells to 3 million during the day because people come from 2-3 hours away to work in San Jose

[YFolermira]

I anticipate a housing market downturn due to the numerous individuals who purchased homes above the asking price, even with favorable interest rates. Despite the low rates, many are now at risk because they lack equity. If housing prices continue to decline, they may face difficulties selling or even risk foreclosure if they can no longer afford the property. This scenario is likely to impact a substantial number of people, particularly with the anticipated surge in layoffs and the rapid increase in the cost of living.

[trickvro]

People: "Somebody has to get the homeless off the streets!"
Government: "Okay, we'll build a shelter."
People: not like that! We'll sue you!"

Infuriating.

[Default]

Fun fact: prior to the completion of the transcontinental railroad, it was actually faster to get to San Francisco from Guangzhou than from NYC.

[Donnerbalken]

The moment i realized Cali was a lot more glamour than truth was when i dated a girl from Cali, and how she told me how programmers earning six figures month were commuting via airplane from Texas, New Mexico and Oregon. As a European, that is just uttely inconceivable for me. It's like travelling from Berlin to London for a normal job, each day.

[asherjackvaglica]

this video made me emotional. I'm a Californian who moved to the East Coast for school and have never been able to articulate what felt so completely different about the two places despite being a part of the same country. this has explained so much for me. i feel such a mix of pride and confusion and disappointment and love after watching this video. thank you for this! you put it all better than any news site I have been able to find. and thank you for the references and links. I honestly feel enlightened and conflicted.

[WinterGamesYT]

clifornians: "houses are so expensive!!! why doesnt the state do anything??"
california: "we'll build a condo building then"
californians: "NO YOU DONT!"

[aleclevy-obrien]

My grandfather built a house in Atherton for his family in the 60s. It sold for 12x the cost of building and buying the original lot in 2015. We discovered recently that Steph Curry purchased the home through an alias and sold it soon after that multi level housing project was axed for 35% more than he purchased it for. Atherton CA is absolutely unreal.

[jeremykossen]

I'm a native multi-generational Californian who moved to Nevada, but -- believe it or not -- I'm moving back. Despite all its issues. That being said, this video is the BEST explanation on why California has so many problems, particularly when it comes to homelessness. I say this because the producer focuses on the history of California and most importantly, the specific policies that inhibit from solving any major problems, like housing and cost-of-living.

Notably, I don't see any polarized left/right political agenda in the making of this video. Based solely on watching this video, I don't even know if the producer is left or right.

If California wants to rise again -- and I think it can -- we need to move beyond ideology and focus on facts and data . And implementing practical, workable solutions based on facts and data irrespective of ideology. There are solutions! Other countries and cities around the world have identified, developed and implemented solutions that move beyond ideology and focus on utility and workability.

Thanks for putting together this video!

[paulyearley]

I lived in Sacramento for some years in my 30s, and during that time, the cost of housing DOUBLED, while my pay went up by like $2/hr (over 7 years).

Housing is a shitshow there. I'm now back in the rural Western New York town that I left in the first place, and my mortgage is cheaper than renting a room anywhere in CA.

The combination of a housing shortage and a complete lack of local-level will to do anything about it is infuriating. NIMBY is way out of control and causes the problems that need to be solved.

[zestylemn]

"change the character of the community", one of those nice euphemisms that boils down to "keep those poors away from me".

[haveaday]

Yeah, when you drive to California across the deserts and mountains, you start to get a true perspective of just how isolated most of California actually is from the rest of the country.

[garrettrains]

Great video! As a Californian who moved away about 6 years ago, I am always looking to return. Unfortunately, as the years go by, moving back feels increasingly impossible...such a shame. I love California! Maybe I should just move on...

[steveb]

"Mexifornia" by Victor Davis Hanson is a great book.