Which state is safer? Texas or California? The Golden State and the Lone Star State both have their share of crime. Since the early 2020 pandemic, crime in the Golden State has surged while Texas has suffered more natural disasters. Politicians in both states are divided over various issues including new voting regulations and abortion restrictions. Vaccine policies and lockdown policies have also been controversial. In the wake of the deadly COVID virus, both states have seen an increase in crime. The combined death rate is about 20 percent higher in Texas than in California.
A large part of the problem with California is the high housing costs. One third of renters in the state cannot afford it. Other issues include brutal drivers, inability to run a business, and a political climate that makes it difficult to get a good job. The salary-to-cost-of-living ratio in California is also a huge issue. In addition, a large percentage of California’s population is expected to move to Texas by 2050.
Although both states have high crime rates, they have lower violent crime rates and overall, they are both safer than California. Both states have lower homicide rates, although Texas’ violent crime rate is higher than in California. The rates are similar overall, but both states have higher prison costs. The higher the prison cost in one state, the higher the crime rate in the other. Further, both states have higher incarceration rates than the national average.
How do people afford to live in the Bay Area? Here’s a look at the cost of rent and mortgage payments in the San Francisco and Marin counties. Rent and mortgage data comes from Zillow and is current as of autumn 2019.
Work-from-home or self-employment
If you’re struggling to afford living in the Bay Area, you’re not alone. Rent in San Francisco is more than double the national average. Even in Oakland, rent is about half that. And if you’re a tech worker, your salary could go farther if you were working from home or self-employed. But how do you find an affordable apartment in the Bay Area? It doesn’t have to be a job that pays top dollar. You may be able to find a room rental for half of the price.
Fortunately, there are many options for those who are interested in remote work. A recent report from the San Francisco Federal Reserve notes that more than a quarter of Bay Area workers are eligible for this type of work. However, there are some caveats to keep in mind when planning your remote work program. First, consider the potential consequences for public transit, housing markets, and service jobs. Secondly, consider the social equity implications of remote work.
One possible benefit to work-from-home is the reduction of commute time. In San Francisco, the median rent in October 2020 was down more than 20% year-over-year. And in Mountain View and Cupertino, median rents were down 20% year-over-year. But while remote work has the potential to increase income, the impact on housing prices is unclear. In the meantime, remote workers are likely to prefer suburban housing.
While most remote-work jobs are based in the professional services industry, they are not all equally distributed. Some Bay Area counties have more remote-work eligible jobs than Los Angeles County, but the percentage is significantly higher. San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have the highest percentages of remote-work eligible jobs. If you want to live in the Bay Area and make money while doing so, you can also choose to work from home or self-employed.
Rent control
In many areas of California, rent control laws have been passed. These laws restrict landlords from raising rents above certain levels, and give tenants certain protections in case they fail to pay their rent. Some cities, including San Francisco, have even passed their own rent control laws. These laws apply to new buildings built after 1979, but not to older units. Landlords can only raise rents between two units if there is a specific legal reason. This can include nonpayment of rent, destruction of property, violation of the lease contract, and illegal use of the rental unit. Moreover, landlords have to give tenants an opportunity to fix any violations in the lease before they are evicted.
San Francisco’s rent control law was first introduced in 1994, and was meant to apply to buildings with at least five apartments. It did not apply to new construction, as legislators didn’t want to discourage new developments. It exempted small multi-family buildings, deemed to be more’mom and pop’ ventures. But, a ballot initiative in 1994 lifted this exemption for these units, as many of them were owned by large businesses.
California has numerous rent control laws. These laws restrict landlords from raising rents in some buildings, as long as the increase is not more than 10% a year. Rent control is important in San Francisco, as it helps to keep rents affordable for most residents. Landlords can only raise rents on existing tenants a small percentage each year, which is more than enough to help people stay in their homes. The Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board oversees the enforcement of these laws.
Density laws
While San Francisco and Oakland enacted legislation that eliminated single-family zoning, Berkeley recently passed similar legislation. Oakland and San Jose are considering measures similar to Mandelman’s fourplex legislation. A new law, Senate Bill 9, will allow for residential properties to be divided into two lots containing up to two units. The measure must be ministerial-processed before becoming law. If adopted, the new laws will make it easier for developers to build higher-density housing in the bay area.
In addition to enacting strict density limits, the city has other regulations designed to prevent high-density developments. The San Francisco Planning Commission approved 618 Octavia in Hayes Valley on a 4-3 vote. The decision sets a dangerous precedent for climate, transit, and Vision Zero goals in the region. The developer invoked the State’s Density Bonus law and demanded more parking than was allowed by law.
In addition to the new laws governing density, the state government has also implemented new requirements for affordable housing. Beginning January 1st, 2021, the density bonus for affordable housing will increase from 35% to 50%. This measure was introduced by Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez of San Francisco and David Chiu of San Francisco. The new laws will allow developers to gradually increase housing production throughout the state. A new study will determine whether the proposed legislation is effective in the city.
In addition to the new State Density Bonus law, San Francisco is also amending its local density laws to protect existing neighborhoods. While SB9 encourages developers to add affordable units to their developments, this law also requires them to pay for those extra units. Those fees are a way for developers to get around local density laws and create more space for market-rate housing. If you’re a developer, don’t forget about SB9!
Cars
Yesica Prado, a photojournalist, is taking a closer look at the culture of vehicle living in the Bay Area. Her project, Cars and Living in the Bay Area, was developed in collaboration with San Francisco Public Press and the Dysturb digital media agency. The project includes a series of posters distributed in public locations to promote healthy driving habits. They are also part of Artists Against the #Infodemic campaign.
Many San Franciscans have one car per household. This makes it easy for them to get around the city and to travel to desirable destinations outside the city. It is also possible to take public transportation or ride a bike to get to your destination. If you’d rather use transit, the Bay Area offers a variety of options. But while public transportation options are plentiful, the availability of parking is limited. Many residents opt to live near work to avoid long commutes.
The Bay Area has an estimated 10,000 people living in their vehicles. The number of vehicle residents is particularly high in Alameda County, which also has the highest proportion of street-parking residents. Oakland offers a Safe Car Parking program at Westside Missionary Baptist Church. The church is fenced, well-lit, and patrolled. Hundreds of people use this program on a daily basis. In some neighborhoods, the system has become widespread.
San Francisco air officials recently announced a new funding program called Clean Cars for All. It aims to encourage Bay Area residents to switch out their gas-guzzling vehicles for hybrids and electric ones. The program also offers residents up to $9,500 for their used cars. It aims to reduce air pollution in high-pollution neighborhoods. Whether you’re looking to buy a hybrid or electric car, or somewhere in between, it is easy to find a carpool in the Bay Area.
Apartment hunting
Apartment hunting in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. Finding a place to live can be a challenge no matter what your budget is. Luckily, there are many ways to find a cheap place to rent. While San Francisco and Berkeley are not known for cheap rental rates, Oakland and San Jose are easier to find if you know the right people. With a little research, you can find a cheap room rental in Oakland for about half the price of an average apartment.
To qualify for an apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area, you must have some kind of recommendation. To do so, you will need to present a letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well and can attest to your character. A good letter of recommendation can come from your current landlord. Other good references could be your employer or the director of a non-profit where you volunteer. These people can vouch for your character and your ability to pay the rent.
If you want to search by neighborhood, you can use Rent.com. This website allows you to draw your own map of your desired neighborhood. You can also search through the city’s neighborhoods. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate. Most listings are online and you can apply for them directly on the website. This site vets every listing before they are placed on the site. However, Zumper has a low inventory of available apartments and is dominated by newer buildings.
While San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world, rent in nearby cities is still affordable. Many people are looking outside of the city to find a bigger space, a more affordable price, or a landlord that will allow their pets. Prices are on the rise all over the bay, and some areas are more affordable than others. However, some amenities can only be found outside of the city.
