Bay Area survey: Rich, poor, young and old unhappy here

[desiboys]

Bay Area residents — despite being swept up in an unprecedented economic boom — are growing ever unhappier with the place they call home.

Nearly 3 in 4 residents think the quality of life in the Bay Area has gotten worse in the last five years, according to a new poll of registered voters conducted for the Bay Area News Group and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. That marks an astonishing 10-point jump in dissatisfaction from last year.

In another dramatic shift from last year, more residents are thinking about moving, 47 percent, than staying, 45 percent. Nearly 10 percent say they have definite plans to leave this year.

The survey unearths a remarkable paradox — high wages, an expanding economy, record growth in home values, coupled with natural wonders have failed to alleviate the crushing toll of longer commutes, spreading homeless encampments, and budget-breaking prices for houses, apartments, child care.

Dave Metz of FM3 Research, which conducted the poll, said the high levels of dissatisfaction are almost unprecedented given the region’s strong economy. Last year, 44 percent of residents said they expected to leave in a few years, while half expected to stay. The new survey follows a trend of growing unrest found in 2016 and 2017 polls by the Bay Area Council, where residents saying they planned to move grew from about 33 to 40 percent.

“Nobody is really happy with the way things are going,” Metz said.

The survey of 1,257 registered voters in five core Bay Area counties reflects deep misgivings across the social strata — wealthy, established homeowners, middle-class workers, poor people and younger residents in apartments all sense a decline in their quality of life:

Residents say they’ve grown frustrated with the inability of state and local leaders to fix long-standing and obvious problems — homeless and RV camps popping up along city streets, rising housing costs sinking the working poor and middle class, and traffic and transit solutions running the bureaucratic gauntlet for years until comatose or dead.

The poll reflects a growing concern about homelessness. This year, nearly 9 in 10 residents called it an extremely or very serious problem, up from 8 in 10 last year. “That is about as bright a flashing red light as you can see,” said Metz.

“It’s the cumulative weight, like rock after rock placed on your chest, that’s come to a breaking point for many of our neighbors, friends and family members,” said Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino. “These challenges won’t be solved overnight.”

Guardino is concerned that nearly 10 percent of residents say they have concrete plans to move. They’ve decided other cities are better places to live and work than the Bay Area.

“The choice we have is, are we going to fight or flight?” said Guardino. “I still think our area is worth fighting for.”

Richard Hallsted, 62, recently retired as an operations manager for a manufacturing company in the East Bay. He and his wife have lived in Palo Alto for more than 40 years and raised their two daughters in the city.

During a recent family walk through their neighborhood, he saw four homeless people pushing shopping carts along the streets. It was a new sight in their community.

“What do you do?” Hallsted asked and sighed. “I don’t know. If you built a bunch of condos on El Camino (Real), they couldn’t afford them.”

[Spartan]

most outgoing state ..for last 3 years.

[JambaKrantu]

Lol bay area, it's a costly piece of crap area that will continue to decline..

More and more companies are opening development centers in other cities and hiring there.. Seattle, Austin, DC, Dallas, Atl, Raleigh and Chicago are the gainers..

[JambaKrantu]

Macy's recently closed its development center in Bay area and moved about 1000 jobs to Atlanta 

 

https://socketsite.com/archives/2020/02/macys-shuttering-dot-com-space-in-sf-expanding-in-atlanta.html

[desiboys]

3 minutes ago, Spartan said:

most outgoing state ..for last 3 years.

Verey states ki move ayyi ade dem party,ave policies ki vote vestharu. Example: austin,texas

[Spartan]

Just now, desiboys said:

Verey states ki move ayyi ade dem party,ave policies ki vote vestharu. Example: austin,texas

misconception..

most of the desis who are eligible to vote , do vote  Republicans

[desiboys]

3 minutes ago, JambaKrantu said:

Lol bay area, it's a costly piece of crap area that will continue to decline..

More and more companies are opening development centers in other cities and hiring there.. Seattle, Austin, DC, Dallas, Atl, Raleigh and Chicago are the gainers..

Chicago,seattle kooda finished. 

Anni companies ippudu dallas,austin,st.louis,atlanta,columbus lanti low business tax unna states ki move avuthunnayi

[desiboys]

1 minute ago, Spartan said:

misconception..

most of the desis who are eligible to vote , do vote  Republicans

Desi kadu..americans gurinchi antunna.

[Spartan]

Apple expanding in Austin .

[Android_Halwa]

Of course lot of companies and corporations have been moving out of the bay area, even at this pace it may take another decade to have a slight effect on the region's economy, something which can be felt..

 

 

[Spartan]

Just now, desiboys said:

Desi kadu..americans gurinchi antunna.

hmm

[redsox]

Silicon Valley 

[Spartan]

one major hit for the talent is Housing..

adi dorakadam ledu...so companies has to move where talent will be happy and less stressfull.

they cant keep paying high salaries for everyone in office

[desiboys]

3 minutes ago, Spartan said:

Apple expanding in Austin .

Facebook opened a office in columbus.

Nestle moved all the jobs to st.louis

[Cathedral]

2 minutes ago, Spartan said:

one major hit for the talent is Housing..

adi dorakadam ledu...so companies has to move where talent will be happy and less stressfull.

they cant keep paying high salaries for everyone in office

What's your rent?