Question for those who live in California

[ultrarunner]

Interesting CA map divided by voter results

The most favored is a 3 or 4 division and then there is the State of Jefferson which was nearing possible reality just at the time WWII started.

WA also has a movement for part of the state to join Idaho.

 

[jyoutz]

The most favored is a 3 or 4 division and then there is the State of Jefferson which was nearing possible reality just at the time WWII started.

WA also has a movement for part of the state to join Idaho.

Would those be economically viable states? Just wondering.

 

[ericm979]

Is this a change from earlier maps that were more blue or red?

Not for the last 30 years or so. Before that, CA had Republican governors and other officials. But the Republican party in CA was much different then.

Would those be economically viable states? Just wondering.

The ones made up of SF, LA or San Diego would be. If LA county was a state it'd be about 14th in revenue. Admittedly it's large in area and population. The central valley is a huge agricultural area and might be able to stand on its own or as a major part of a new state. But the far north, sierras and desert don't have much of an economy. They're partly supported by the more populated counties. For example far Nor Cal Trinity county took in $45M in 2022 and recieved $75M. Any new state that's primarily made of those places will have a tough time.

The state of Jefferson has been a pipe dream for nearly a century. Far north California, and southern Oregon, are both far from their respective state's centers of gravity. They feel remote which is why I like them.

Logging was historically the big revenue generator in Jefferson. 80 or 100 years ago logging was a viable way to support an economy. But most of the area has been over-logged and poorly managed. The trees they're bringing out are tiny compared to 40 years ago. Even if they're been managed sustainably, in today's economy logging is pretty low value... unless you're willing to buy $20 2x4s.

I don't think the state of Jefferson or any of the many Californias proposals are going to happen. With a two party system, if a change benefits one party the other one will block it. In the 1800s there was a similar situation with pro- and anti- slavery sides wanting to add new slave or free states. But unlike that era there's no pressure to do any of these state splits and thus no reason for the sides to compromise.

 

[ultrarunner]

Would those be economically viable states? Just wondering.

Hard to say and California as a powerhouse would no longer have the same status.


In many ways it's the dense urban hubs vs the remainder...

Integrating infrastructure would be a challenge as SF water comes from the mountains, etc...

Many outside the urban areas want no part of urban...

 

[plowhog]

public funds and incentives that inevitably go bankrupt or require on going support ... Raiders and A's leaving ... Auto makers left what was once home... huge foundry making cast iron pipe for over 100 years had enough and moved ... smaller field offices from large companies like Grainger are fleeing SF ... Chevron sold it's magnificent Bay Area world headquarters relocating to TX... Mom and Pop Housing providers getting out .... big hotels and Malls closing...

You have a tendency to sugar coat how things really are, eh?

 

[Quaffer]

I and a Native American did interviews at small businesses after a state measure passed mandating that minority businesses had to be solicited for public works projects. There was suddenly a need to distinguish legitimate minority small businesses.

Curious of your reaction to this, wondering how well it was distinguised?

BREAKING: $100 Billion Federal Contracting Scam. 8(a) Firm Admits to Violating Federal Law, Using Minority-Owned Status as a Front to Obtain $100M+ No-Bid Government Contracts While Outsourcing 80% of the Work. - O'Keefe Media Group Federal Contract

Explosive investigation reveals a $100 billion federal contracting scam, exposing how ATI Government Solutions exploits the 8(a) SBA program, using minority-owned status to secure no-bid contracts while outsourcing 80% of work.

okeefemediagroup.com

 

[KennyG]

On minority contracting, it's pretty easy to meet the letter of the rule without conforming to the spirit of the rules. I saw this all the time while I was working. Someone with a successful business reincorporates with his wife as owner - instant woman owned business. Same with taking in a black or hispanic partner - who knows what the actual partnership arrangement is.

 

[California]

Curious of your reaction to this, wondering how well it was distinguised?

BREAKING: $100 Billion Federal Contracting Scam. 8(a) Firm Admits to Violating Federal Law, Using Minority-Owned Status as a Front to Obtain $100M+ No-Bid Government Contracts While Outsourcing 80% of the Work. - O'Keefe Media Group Federal Contract

Explosive investigation reveals a $100 billion federal contracting scam, exposing how ATI Government Solutions exploits the 8(a) SBA program, using minority-owned status to secure no-bid contracts while outsourcing 80% of work.

okeefemediagroup.com

I had a longwinded reply composed then it vanished. Anyhow - Our examination to verify minority businesses and put them on a solicitation list found a few instances of a wife or a trusted foreman suddenly listed as an co-owner or more commonly, a supplier.

But nearly all the firms we examined were legitimate, often they were subcontractors on State work now encouraged to bid state jobs directly.

The state purchasing branch had lost a lawsuit, so it was now required to identify and solicit minority bidders. That suit had proven that minority businesses were being ignored in solicitations, and purchases from them was far below the proportion of minority citizens in California. So the state was required to make an effort to bring those numbers up. My buddy, Native American, handled the ethnic aspect while both of us verified suppliers and identified the real owners.

As for that example you cited, state contracts require at least 50% to be performed by the firm's own employees so that contracting-out model isn't such a problem.

A few years after that statewide review of potential minority vendors, I had a different role reviewing completed contracts as a requirement for federal reimbursement. We didn't find any projects exceeding that 50% subcontracted rule.