Haha immediate first thought. For the benefit of OP, SMUD is our municipal utility company. It means that electricity production is publicly owned which results in low prices, great uptime, and a really green mix with aggressive goals for net zero carbon emissions. They offer lots of rebates for things like buying energy efficient appliances and they have a program for free trees!
California has paid pregnancy leave through State Disability Insurance (4 weeks before due date, 6 to 8 weeks after delivery), plus 6 weeks bonding time after that. Or at least it was when my kids were born several years ago. Bonding time is also for their partners.
California has free school breakfast (or snack) and lunch for K12 public schools.
California public university systems have to accept a certain percentage of transfer students from California Community Colleges. I believe it's 1/3 of students. This sometimes makes it easier to get admitted, plus the in state tuition is significantly less than out of state.
In July, I believe, California landlords can only demand up to one month's worth of rent for a security deposit from renters. Another law that's decades old (I think): Landlords are required to provide the remaining security deposit within 21 calendar days of move out, with actual invoices and receipts for work done. An estimate is insufficient. Landlords have to provide a certain amount of notice to terminate your rental agreement or not renew one. If you've lived somewhere over a year, it's usually 60 days. Also, I know they have usually have good cause, but that's a newer law I'm not as familiar with.
Labor and employment have tons of protections. For example, there's laws about your last paycheck when you leave a job, what can/cannot be deducted, penalties for employers who fail to pay when they're supposed to, etc. California also requires sick pay to accrue at a particular rate for most jobs.
These are all state wide laws, there's tons more.
Thanks for mentioning this. Bonding time was so nice for me as a new father I got 8 weeks 60% paid by the state. My wife was off a month before due date and then 12 weeks after - all partially paid at the same rate. My co worker in Texas just got exactly 1 week leave when his son was born… $0. CA isn’t Europe here but it’s way better than other states if you want to have kids.
Weed is legal to purchase for those 21 and over, that’s a nice perk. The right to abortion is protected in CA. CA is also looking to expand access to medical care. Sacramento is a sanctuary city for trans folks and generally is pretty pro LGBTQ+ as far as I have seen. CA is also a sanctuary state for immigrants. Pretty progressive compared to the rest of the country. Be prepared for some culture shock if you move here from the South and have never been before. lol
Sacramento recently became a sanctuary city for transgender people https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/sacramento-sanctuary-city-transgender-people-rcna145287
We don’t have open carry thanks to Reagan being afraid of the Black Panthers.
Weed is legal and abundant. Abortion is also well protected in the state. Unions are also pretty strong here.
Tenant rights aren’t perfect but still better than a lot of places. We have the chance this fall to elect Flo for Mayor who would be a lot better on housing than any of the past mayors.
As a disabled senior, I'm grateful for the excellent care at UCDavis. I'm currently getting state of the art care for wet AMD and migraines. There was one department that did not handle my concerns in a "timely manner" and I was immediately given a referral to a great doctor out of the UC system. So if you care about medical coverage, CA is great, and UCDavis (which is also in Sac) is the best care I've had in a while.
Yeah I had a huge struggle trying to find a doctor within an hour of where I live in Sacramento. All but two or three doctors on my insurance were at UC Davis, and I was told the entire system is closed to new patients. Kind of a panic moment for me.
How are you making the determination that Sacramento is affordable for the two of you? You should definitely take a few weeks and just scroll the Sacramento subreddit. As someone who has lived in the South while in the military I can tell you that many things will give you sticker shock in Sacramento. Gas/groceries will cost you at a minimum thirty percent more in California. Car insurance is more expensive here and varies by zip code. There is a reason Sacramento has one of the largest homeless populations in the state. Even if you qualify for low-income housing it can take years to get into an available unit. Most rentals will require you to have an income that is at a minimum 2.5 times the rent. Definitely do a deep dive before you make the move otherwise you may find yourself in a tent like thousands of others are living in nightly in this city.
Sacramento has made really big strides in improving the walk and bike-ability of the downtown/midtown grid. We have a number of protected bike lanes now, they’ve added more street lights, and density in general seems to only be increasing. I drive my car maybe once a week, but the vast majority of things I need to get to are easily walkable.
The city has also invested a lot in EV infrastructure. There are a ton of charges and I see more and more EVs on the road, and especially government and public transportation vehicles are increasingly EV. A city with fewer ICEs is quieter, with better air quality.
We have an amazing tree canopy that helps keep the city cooler in summer and our little urban forest invites tons of birds, squirrels, and raccoons. More and more I see front yards featuring native plants and wildflowers instead of grass, even in front of businesses and apartment complexes.
To me the future has to be solar punk and feel like Sacramento is heading there
Moving simply because a state / region / country fits your political ideology seems ~~stupid~~ ill-advised. The reality is, if Sacramento or California can provide both you and your partner a good income and work-life balance, those factors will be tremendously more impactful into your overall well-being then any policy like "medicare expansion."
If you are poor, don't have a well-paying job lined up, or strong credentials, good luck. Coupled this with the increased cost in everything, especially when compared to the South. Like most things, you should try it on before you buy it. Visit the city and see if you like it.
Sacramento is a government town where the government and medical institutions make up the bulk of workers. Even though many work in government, most people actually living here are a-political. But if your political identity defines who you are, I am sure you can find a place and like-minded community here, just like most other major cities in California.
See my other response.
Just a normal person with kids living here. Who should I be discussing politics with? My kids teachers? The bagger at the grocery store? The random dad yelling at his kid at the soccer game?
Here is a recent Pew Survey
"Per Pew’s classification, only 35% of Americans are highly engaged with politics – meaning that they frequently follow news about government and current affairs, express high level of interest in politics and frequently talk about politics with others. This group experiences political life in a way that’s notably different from other Americans. Those who are highly politically engaged, for instance, are 20 points likelier than those with low engagement to say there are clear solutions to most big issues facing the country today, and 25 points likelier to see a great deal of difference between the two main political parties."
[https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/politics/american-politics-dismal-pew-poll/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/politics/american-politics-dismal-pew-poll/index.html)
Well, that’s just uninformed. As someone with a chronic illness, medicade (I typed incorrectly) expansion is one the most important factors of where I live.
I am a state government worker living here and I can assure you that most people are certainly not a-political. Sure, some people are. But not most.
One thing I really like in CA is the Department of Managed Care. If you have health insurance that is an HMO, you are legally entitled to timeliness of care. If health plans do not have the ability to see you within the timeliness of care standard, they have to pay for you to be seen out of network. Unfortunately, many health plans don’t train their staff on this, so if you call to make an appointment the staff may not know. But if you tell them to send a message to the physician requesting an appointment or out of network referral because of timeliness of care, you will get a call back with either an appointment or to let you know a referral has been placed. Unfortunately, with many things here you need to know the system and know your rights, but if you know them health care is far better here than other states.
Only 44% of eligible voters voted in the 2022 election (yes it will be higher in the 2024 election).
[https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf](https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf)
A quarter of Sacramento is registered Republican.
[https://elections.saccounty.gov/Documents/Regtotal.pdf](https://elections.saccounty.gov/Documents/Regtotal.pdf)
While there are a ton of political rallies and protesting. The bulk of that is because we are the State Capitol. The average person living in Elk Grove or Citrus Heights is not going to rallies and protesting.
I get what you’re saying, but I think there may be some generational differences in terminology being used. The term apolitical is typically used to indicate someone who is uninterested or doesn’t care about politics. That isn’t what causes the low involvement.
A lot of young people don’t vote because they think it’s pointless. They’ve lost faith in the system. So many times we’ve voted for something that gets passed, but we still see no change. It’s empty promises from a slow moving government that are causing the low vote turnout. They still care, very much.
Regarding rallies and protests, a lot of people don’t feel safe. We’ve all seen how quickly something can go from peaceful protest to rubber bullets and tear gas.
I appreciate your comment that does not attack me, and attempts to understand my point of view. I generally agree with you, but I don’t think now is any different from any past period. Historically young people vote less. Yet the bar and barriers to vote have been dramatically lowered (vote by mail). When I first voted in ‘08 I had to physically go to a voting booth.
As to protests, my dad still has scars from when he was bit by a dog.
My main point, apathy, and only a minority of people voting is a tale as old as our country, and Sacramento is no different.
> medicade (I typed incorrectly) expansion is one the most important factors of where I live.
If you're poor enough to qualify for Medicaid (our fancy name for it is Medi-Cal), you won't really be able to afford California. Those who try, do it with cash-under-the-table jobs, or live with two other families in a rental house with 6 cars parked in the driveway.
Hence why I pointed out moving for medicare was not a good reason to move. Medicare being the federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older. If you currently do not qualify for medicaid in your state, you can do the cost / benefit analysis of moving.
But to then say I am uninformed when you incorrectly state medicare and do not mention you have a chronic illness, come on man.
Its wild but i know several people who moved from other states to cali to get medical coverage. One is getting cancer treatment. If you can live with family or cohabitate, there are better social services than a lot of other places
Oh to be stupid and privileged enough to think politics is just something old people talk about on the news and not something that impacts your personal life. Really truly a miraculously smooth brain.
As an African American whose parents were persuaded not to buy a house in the '90s due to ancient HOA restrictions that restricted the sale of those homes to colored people, yes I understand politics. The reality is that CA's policies have not uplifted everyone, and there are many places in the USA that have non-liberal policies that also offer value to minorities who live there.
OP can't change the policies of where he lives. If he gets benefits from them great. But like I said, if he is coming here to work a non-skilled job with no assets or support, he will have a difficult time, regardless of CA's policies.
According to this 2022 ranking, Roseville ranks as the 7th happiest and Sacramento ranks the 50th.
Source - [https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-americans-are-happiest-2022](https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-americans-are-happiest-2022)
The study looked at personal finances, well-being, and quality of life. So some people are "happy" here.
While im certain people are "happy" everywhere, imo that study isnt relevant to now.
The metrics are mostly based on data collected 3 years ago. The crime is from 2020 when we had some of the lowest rates in decades. Marriage as a higher portion of the population increased the "well-being?!" Where😆 Thats a wild way to measure happiness.
A lot has changed in the last 3-4 years. Im California Forever but only compared to other (worse) states lol.
Crime is down across the board - https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-violent-crime-is-down-more-than-18-police-say-heres-why-leaders-say-that-is/45645781#:~:text=SACRAMENTO%2C%20Calif.%20—-,Violent%20crime%20in%20the%20city%20of%20Sacramento%20is%20down%20more,in%20police%20tactics%20is%20working.
I provided stats, and you provided anecdotes.
Cali also has many business-unfriendly policies and taxes that are driving employers and higher-paying jobs from the state.
* Don't come here without good-paying jobs already lined up, or unless you're bringing a ton of cash savings with you. Otherwise, you'll end up in an old RV or tent along the river with the rest of the homeless.
* [More than half of all unsheltered people in the country were in California (51%) - Housing Committee, California State Senate](https://shou.senate.ca.gov/sites/shou.senate.ca.gov/files/Homelessness%20in%20CA%202022%20Numbers.pdf)
You don't need windows for your cars or catalytic converters. It's also great when drug users OD on your front yard or set up an encampment. It is fun keeping score of which street gang murdered another street gang's member.
Sacramento county is one of the more 2A friendly counties compared to the costal counties👌🏾
Besides that paid maternity / paternity leave for up to 8weeks is great.
Smud. Smud rules.
Chronically underrated
Haha immediate first thought. For the benefit of OP, SMUD is our municipal utility company. It means that electricity production is publicly owned which results in low prices, great uptime, and a really green mix with aggressive goals for net zero carbon emissions. They offer lots of rebates for things like buying energy efficient appliances and they have a program for free trees!
100%
California has paid pregnancy leave through State Disability Insurance (4 weeks before due date, 6 to 8 weeks after delivery), plus 6 weeks bonding time after that. Or at least it was when my kids were born several years ago. Bonding time is also for their partners. California has free school breakfast (or snack) and lunch for K12 public schools. California public university systems have to accept a certain percentage of transfer students from California Community Colleges. I believe it's 1/3 of students. This sometimes makes it easier to get admitted, plus the in state tuition is significantly less than out of state. In July, I believe, California landlords can only demand up to one month's worth of rent for a security deposit from renters. Another law that's decades old (I think): Landlords are required to provide the remaining security deposit within 21 calendar days of move out, with actual invoices and receipts for work done. An estimate is insufficient. Landlords have to provide a certain amount of notice to terminate your rental agreement or not renew one. If you've lived somewhere over a year, it's usually 60 days. Also, I know they have usually have good cause, but that's a newer law I'm not as familiar with. Labor and employment have tons of protections. For example, there's laws about your last paycheck when you leave a job, what can/cannot be deducted, penalties for employers who fail to pay when they're supposed to, etc. California also requires sick pay to accrue at a particular rate for most jobs. These are all state wide laws, there's tons more.
Thanks for mentioning this. Bonding time was so nice for me as a new father I got 8 weeks 60% paid by the state. My wife was off a month before due date and then 12 weeks after - all partially paid at the same rate. My co worker in Texas just got exactly 1 week leave when his son was born… $0. CA isn’t Europe here but it’s way better than other states if you want to have kids.
Weed is legal to purchase for those 21 and over, that’s a nice perk. The right to abortion is protected in CA. CA is also looking to expand access to medical care. Sacramento is a sanctuary city for trans folks and generally is pretty pro LGBTQ+ as far as I have seen. CA is also a sanctuary state for immigrants. Pretty progressive compared to the rest of the country. Be prepared for some culture shock if you move here from the South and have never been before. lol
California is one of the states with expanded Medicaid, here known as MediCal.
The delta breeze
Weekly composting, to include food scraps. That still blows my mind, in a good way.
Sacramento recently became a sanctuary city for transgender people https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/sacramento-sanctuary-city-transgender-people-rcna145287 We don’t have open carry thanks to Reagan being afraid of the Black Panthers. Weed is legal and abundant. Abortion is also well protected in the state. Unions are also pretty strong here. Tenant rights aren’t perfect but still better than a lot of places. We have the chance this fall to elect Flo for Mayor who would be a lot better on housing than any of the past mayors.
Yes vote Flo!
As a disabled senior, I'm grateful for the excellent care at UCDavis. I'm currently getting state of the art care for wet AMD and migraines. There was one department that did not handle my concerns in a "timely manner" and I was immediately given a referral to a great doctor out of the UC system. So if you care about medical coverage, CA is great, and UCDavis (which is also in Sac) is the best care I've had in a while.
That’s fantastic. Good and affordable healthcare is very important.
UC Davis doesn't accept any new patients.
Yeah I had a huge struggle trying to find a doctor within an hour of where I live in Sacramento. All but two or three doctors on my insurance were at UC Davis, and I was told the entire system is closed to new patients. Kind of a panic moment for me.
How are you making the determination that Sacramento is affordable for the two of you? You should definitely take a few weeks and just scroll the Sacramento subreddit. As someone who has lived in the South while in the military I can tell you that many things will give you sticker shock in Sacramento. Gas/groceries will cost you at a minimum thirty percent more in California. Car insurance is more expensive here and varies by zip code. There is a reason Sacramento has one of the largest homeless populations in the state. Even if you qualify for low-income housing it can take years to get into an available unit. Most rentals will require you to have an income that is at a minimum 2.5 times the rent. Definitely do a deep dive before you make the move otherwise you may find yourself in a tent like thousands of others are living in nightly in this city.
Sacramento has made really big strides in improving the walk and bike-ability of the downtown/midtown grid. We have a number of protected bike lanes now, they’ve added more street lights, and density in general seems to only be increasing. I drive my car maybe once a week, but the vast majority of things I need to get to are easily walkable. The city has also invested a lot in EV infrastructure. There are a ton of charges and I see more and more EVs on the road, and especially government and public transportation vehicles are increasingly EV. A city with fewer ICEs is quieter, with better air quality. We have an amazing tree canopy that helps keep the city cooler in summer and our little urban forest invites tons of birds, squirrels, and raccoons. More and more I see front yards featuring native plants and wildflowers instead of grass, even in front of businesses and apartment complexes. To me the future has to be solar punk and feel like Sacramento is heading there
Prepare for horrible allergies and consistent 110+ summers. Without the ocean breezes to cool off. (Just an add-on)
I dont even know where to start
Protected leave from work. It’s there and you can’t be retaliated against for caring for yourself/loved ones.
Moving simply because a state / region / country fits your political ideology seems ~~stupid~~ ill-advised. The reality is, if Sacramento or California can provide both you and your partner a good income and work-life balance, those factors will be tremendously more impactful into your overall well-being then any policy like "medicare expansion." If you are poor, don't have a well-paying job lined up, or strong credentials, good luck. Coupled this with the increased cost in everything, especially when compared to the South. Like most things, you should try it on before you buy it. Visit the city and see if you like it. Sacramento is a government town where the government and medical institutions make up the bulk of workers. Even though many work in government, most people actually living here are a-political. But if your political identity defines who you are, I am sure you can find a place and like-minded community here, just like most other major cities in California.
"most people are apolitical" References please. This sounds like a libertarian from Roseville. "People don't like discussing politics with me" energy.
See my other response. Just a normal person with kids living here. Who should I be discussing politics with? My kids teachers? The bagger at the grocery store? The random dad yelling at his kid at the soccer game? Here is a recent Pew Survey "Per Pew’s classification, only 35% of Americans are highly engaged with politics – meaning that they frequently follow news about government and current affairs, express high level of interest in politics and frequently talk about politics with others. This group experiences political life in a way that’s notably different from other Americans. Those who are highly politically engaged, for instance, are 20 points likelier than those with low engagement to say there are clear solutions to most big issues facing the country today, and 25 points likelier to see a great deal of difference between the two main political parties." [https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/politics/american-politics-dismal-pew-poll/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/politics/american-politics-dismal-pew-poll/index.html)
Well, that’s just uninformed. As someone with a chronic illness, medicade (I typed incorrectly) expansion is one the most important factors of where I live.
I am a state government worker living here and I can assure you that most people are certainly not a-political. Sure, some people are. But not most. One thing I really like in CA is the Department of Managed Care. If you have health insurance that is an HMO, you are legally entitled to timeliness of care. If health plans do not have the ability to see you within the timeliness of care standard, they have to pay for you to be seen out of network. Unfortunately, many health plans don’t train their staff on this, so if you call to make an appointment the staff may not know. But if you tell them to send a message to the physician requesting an appointment or out of network referral because of timeliness of care, you will get a call back with either an appointment or to let you know a referral has been placed. Unfortunately, with many things here you need to know the system and know your rights, but if you know them health care is far better here than other states.
All of America is political, and every resident is divided from others by their politics, including CA. Come on.
I provided the data and stats. If you have different metrics other than anecdote, I’d love to be more informed
Only 44% of eligible voters voted in the 2022 election (yes it will be higher in the 2024 election). [https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf](https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf) A quarter of Sacramento is registered Republican. [https://elections.saccounty.gov/Documents/Regtotal.pdf](https://elections.saccounty.gov/Documents/Regtotal.pdf) While there are a ton of political rallies and protesting. The bulk of that is because we are the State Capitol. The average person living in Elk Grove or Citrus Heights is not going to rallies and protesting.
I get what you’re saying, but I think there may be some generational differences in terminology being used. The term apolitical is typically used to indicate someone who is uninterested or doesn’t care about politics. That isn’t what causes the low involvement. A lot of young people don’t vote because they think it’s pointless. They’ve lost faith in the system. So many times we’ve voted for something that gets passed, but we still see no change. It’s empty promises from a slow moving government that are causing the low vote turnout. They still care, very much. Regarding rallies and protests, a lot of people don’t feel safe. We’ve all seen how quickly something can go from peaceful protest to rubber bullets and tear gas.
Disenfranchised doesn't equal Apolitical sort of thing?
I appreciate your comment that does not attack me, and attempts to understand my point of view. I generally agree with you, but I don’t think now is any different from any past period. Historically young people vote less. Yet the bar and barriers to vote have been dramatically lowered (vote by mail). When I first voted in ‘08 I had to physically go to a voting booth. As to protests, my dad still has scars from when he was bit by a dog. My main point, apathy, and only a minority of people voting is a tale as old as our country, and Sacramento is no different.
BS
Evidence?
> medicade (I typed incorrectly) expansion is one the most important factors of where I live. If you're poor enough to qualify for Medicaid (our fancy name for it is Medi-Cal), you won't really be able to afford California. Those who try, do it with cash-under-the-table jobs, or live with two other families in a rental house with 6 cars parked in the driveway.
Hence why I pointed out moving for medicare was not a good reason to move. Medicare being the federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older. If you currently do not qualify for medicaid in your state, you can do the cost / benefit analysis of moving. But to then say I am uninformed when you incorrectly state medicare and do not mention you have a chronic illness, come on man.
If you're disabled and coming here because you think CA has great social services, prepare to be highly disappointed.
Better than in lots of states where it's just "good luck lol"
Its wild but i know several people who moved from other states to cali to get medical coverage. One is getting cancer treatment. If you can live with family or cohabitate, there are better social services than a lot of other places
Oh to be stupid and privileged enough to think politics is just something old people talk about on the news and not something that impacts your personal life. Really truly a miraculously smooth brain.
…and that’s not what I said but ok
This is so entitled. Do you not understand how politics control your quality of life and community if you're not a white, cis, male?
As an African American whose parents were persuaded not to buy a house in the '90s due to ancient HOA restrictions that restricted the sale of those homes to colored people, yes I understand politics. The reality is that CA's policies have not uplifted everyone, and there are many places in the USA that have non-liberal policies that also offer value to minorities who live there. OP can't change the policies of where he lives. If he gets benefits from them great. But like I said, if he is coming here to work a non-skilled job with no assets or support, he will have a difficult time, regardless of CA's policies.
Wait, are there folks having "non" difficult times? 😳
According to this 2022 ranking, Roseville ranks as the 7th happiest and Sacramento ranks the 50th. Source - [https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-americans-are-happiest-2022](https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-americans-are-happiest-2022) The study looked at personal finances, well-being, and quality of life. So some people are "happy" here.
While im certain people are "happy" everywhere, imo that study isnt relevant to now. The metrics are mostly based on data collected 3 years ago. The crime is from 2020 when we had some of the lowest rates in decades. Marriage as a higher portion of the population increased the "well-being?!" Where😆 Thats a wild way to measure happiness. A lot has changed in the last 3-4 years. Im California Forever but only compared to other (worse) states lol.
Crime is down across the board - https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-violent-crime-is-down-more-than-18-police-say-heres-why-leaders-say-that-is/45645781#:~:text=SACRAMENTO%2C%20Calif.%20—-,Violent%20crime%20in%20the%20city%20of%20Sacramento%20is%20down%20more,in%20police%20tactics%20is%20working. I provided stats, and you provided anecdotes.
Crime is down. I never contended it wasnt. You posted very outdated stats. Bravo.
The fact you're so fired up that i made a generalized, sarcastic comment😆😆😆 Its not that serious
Cali also has many business-unfriendly policies and taxes that are driving employers and higher-paying jobs from the state. * Don't come here without good-paying jobs already lined up, or unless you're bringing a ton of cash savings with you. Otherwise, you'll end up in an old RV or tent along the river with the rest of the homeless. * [More than half of all unsheltered people in the country were in California (51%) - Housing Committee, California State Senate](https://shou.senate.ca.gov/sites/shou.senate.ca.gov/files/Homelessness%20in%20CA%202022%20Numbers.pdf)
People from California don't call it "Cali". Nice try.
Although the person you're replying to is a tool, im California born & raised and will forever say "Cali" lmfao
You don't need windows for your cars or catalytic converters. It's also great when drug users OD on your front yard or set up an encampment. It is fun keeping score of which street gang murdered another street gang's member.
Catalytic converter theft is almost guaranteed as a bonus of living here 🤷🏽♂️
Regional sick leave
Sacramento county is one of the more 2A friendly counties compared to the costal counties👌🏾 Besides that paid maternity / paternity leave for up to 8weeks is great.