Post: #1

http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms

Quote:AWAY from the California of the popular imagination, from the beaches and glamour of Los Angeles and the technological innovations of Silicon Valley, sits the Central Valley, a 450-mile stretch of mainly agricultural flatlands encased by mountains to east and west. The valley’s geographical seclusion has bred other forms of disconnect; here you encounter habits, such as listening to country music and voting Republican, that are virtually extinct in the rest of the state.
In this section

But this isolation is anything but splendid. A 2011 California human-development report gave the San Joaquin Valley, the more populous part of the Central Valley, roughly the same score as West Virginia. Life expectancy is low, crime rates high, and the air dreadful (if improving). A 2010 report from the Milken Institute, a think-tank, found three San Joaquin Valley cities among the ten least-educated in the country. And joblessness, long the scourge of the valley (see chart), is keeping its grip. Locals hate being told by outsiders that they live in “the Appalachia of the West”, but in the same breath acknowledge it is true.

For decades the fertile soils of the valley, which provide about 40% of America’s fresh produce, have attracted workers from poorer lands, from the dust-bowl Okies of the 1930s to the Mexicans and Central Americans who dominate today’s agricultural labour force. (By one estimate, 90% of valley farm workers are in the United States illegally.) Over one-fifth of jobs in the Central Valley are linked to agriculture.

More recently Californians and other Americans have flocked to the region, sucked in by low house prices and living costs. That helped inflate a bubble that popped in 2007-08, but the state still forecasts that the population of the San Joaquin Valley will more than double to 8.2m by 2060. That will create fresh challenges for public services, employment and, particularly, infrastructure (hence the need, say officials, for a statewide high-speed rail link; see next story). A journey through the valley makes the difficulties clear.

At the southern tip of the San Joaquin Valley lies Kern County. This is oil land, and the spoils of the commodity boom have brought an optimism entirely absent from communities farther north. Pumpjacks nod tirelessly, as they have since the late 19th century, in the large oilfields outside Bakersfield, the county seat. Business leaders enthuse about the possibilities of fracking the Monterey shale, a vast oil formation, and of the solar and wind farms that dot nearby mountains and plains. Bakersfield is one of America’s fastest-growing cities, and few locals hesitate to contrast its fortunes with the rest of the valley.

Yet, despite its energy riches, Kern County shares many of its neighbours’ troubles. A quarter of the population lives in poverty. At 11.5%, unemployment is close to the regional average. Far more people toil in low-paying farming jobs than in the energy sector. A common complaint, as elsewhere in the valley, is the failure of local schools and colleges to attend to the needs of local employers. Kern County has been a major agricultural centre for decades, but it took the local university until 2011 to begin offering relevant courses.

Businesses throughout the valley find it hard to recruit locally. Ambitious types tend to leave. Among those who stay, a lack of basic skills and high levels of drug use mean that employers struggle to fill even menial positions. Poor schooling is a chronic problem in the valley, but an even worse one nowadays, when many manufacturing and agricultural jobs require more skills than before.

Such concerns loom large in Fresno, the valley’s biggest city. The Census Bureau predicts that one in six graduates will leave the place. Unemployment in Fresno County stands at 12.3%. Crime and homelessness are rampant, and visitors are warned not to stay in the city centre. Mark Arax, a local author, recently asked readers of the Fresno Bee how anyone could “breathe its foul air, ignore its shared poverty, abide its corruptions”. Regretfully, readers tended to agree with him.

Still, there are signs of hope if you seek them. They include the energetic mayor, Ashley Swearingen, and the business leaders behind the Boomerang Project, an optimistic attempt to inspire Fresnan emigrants to return. Business groups and investors speak hopefully about the city’s strength in water-use technology, given the complexity of the surrounding irrigation channels. “It’s not going to be the next Silicon Valley,” says Fred Mendez at Rabobank, a community bank. “But there is real opportunity there.”

Sixty miles north-west of Fresno sits Merced, where the foreclosure crisis struck with particular ferocity: in 2009 the city had the third-highest rate in the country. House prices fell by two-thirds. The city is ringed by Irish-style half-built housing estates like the Bellevue Ranch, where handsome houses with green lawns and SUVs in the driveway share space with vacant brown lots baked hard by the valley sun.

Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities. When it opened in 2005 locals hoped it would provide the region with an economic jolt. The housing crash dashed those dreams, but the campus has begun to forge industry links in areas like solar energy and biotech, and spin-offs may follow.

Yet the story behind UC Merced also shows the valley at its worst. Rather than celebrating the arrival of a first-class seat of learning in the region, the backers of competing proposals in Fresno and Madera grumbled and sniped. A similar dynamic is alive today as cities scrap to be the place where the high-speed trains are inspected and repaired. “You often have competition rather than co-operation,” says Carol Whiteside, who as president of the Great Valley Centre, a research institute, has worked on regional infrastructure projects. The potential benefits of high-speed rail, she hopes, will foster a more collaborative spirit.

If the valley is to pick itself up, that is probably one necessary ingredient. A renewed focus on education, particularly among Latinos, is another. The valley is unlikely ever to enjoy the wealth of its coastal cousins. But by fastening on its advantages, especially in agricultural industries, and acknowledging its limits, it may be able to offer its children a brighter future than their parents had.

Can't see why some people on this forum think the central valley of California is a good place. this article describes it well. it's a crime ridden poor shithole whose cities look no different to Detroit and some have even gone bankrupt (Stockton).

Post: #2

(08-03-2013 02:51 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms[...]



Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities.[...]

Post: #3

(08-03-2013 02:58 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:51 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms[...]



Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities.[...]

the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

Post: #4

(08-03-2013 03:02 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:58 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:51 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms[...]



Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities.[...]

the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

Post: #5

(08-03-2013 03:06 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:02 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:58 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:51 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms[...]



Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities.[...]

the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

Post: #6

Stockton and Bakersfield are locked in a dead heat in an ongoing race to see which place gets the designation of "most illiterate city in the US." What more does one need to know?

Post: #7

I don't remember anyone on here saying the central valley like stockton/fresno/bakersfield being good to pick up women, unless you want one that is addicted to meth.

oxnard, santa barbara and ventura are considered more like the central coast and are decent beach towns and are OK for gaming.

Post: #8

(08-03-2013 03:10 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:06 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:02 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:58 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:51 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  http://www.economist.com/news/united-sta...down-farms[...]



Drive just two miles east and you reach the glittering University of California Merced campus, the most recent addition to one of America’s best public universities.[...]

the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

yet she was admitted, and made it to senior-level status at a so-called "world-class university" such as u.g.l.y.

the usa is doomed because trailer trash like this is breedeing and becoming the "leaders of tomorrow"

Post: #9

The central valley is just a place you drive through as quickly as possible going between SF and LA on I-5. And that's ONLY if you're in a hurry. If you got some time, you'd take the 101 or PCH to avoid that bleak hellhole.

Post: #10

[quote='porscheguy' pid='504964' dateline='1375560909']
Stockton and Bakersfield are locked in a dead heat in an ongoing race to see which place gets the designation of "most illiterate city in the US." What more does one need to know?
[/quote]

the whole central valley, starting from sacramento all the way to Bakersfield is this.

[quote='master_thespian' pid='504966' dateline='1375560920']
I don't remember anyone on here saying the central valley like stockton/fresno/bakersfield being good to pick up women, unless you want one that is addicted to meth.[/quote[

there are threads about california here on this forum saying that the central valley is a good place to game. I put this article to show that the central valley is nothing more than a poor shithole. I live in the edge of the bay area, right there the bay area transitions to the central valley, and I have seen just how shitty it is.

[quote]oxnard, santa barbara and ventura are considered more like the central coast and are decent beach towns and are OK for gaming.
[/quote]

I would add san diego to that as well. san diego is the only major city in California that's very livable imo. and especially to a lot of the guys here on this forum, since a lot of guys here want white girls (descent number of them there) and for mexican girls (tijuana is right next to san diego). add to that, one can catch a flight in tijuana and only be 2 hours away from central mexico.

Post: #11

(08-03-2013 03:28 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  The central valley is just a place you drive through as quickly as possible going between SF and LA on I-5. And that's ONLY if you're in a hurry. If you got some time, you'd take the 101 or PCH to avoid that bleak hellhole.

If i could, I would drive at least 100 mph on I-5 but fucking CHP has been cracking down hard on speeding on I-5.

Post: #12

(08-03-2013 03:16 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:10 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:06 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:02 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 02:58 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

yet she was admitted, and made it to senior-level status at a so-called "world-class university" such as u.g.l.y.

the usa is doomed because trailer trash like this is breedeing and becoming the "leaders of tomorrow"

you got a point there. I think she got into UCLA because the UC system will allow any dumb bitch who has at least a 3.0 but was a cheerleader or in some other extracurricular shit. i know lots of those types of bitches who got into Berkeley because of those reasons.

Post: #13

Live in Sac but took some masters degree courses in Stockton and agree with what has been said about that city

Post: #14

(08-03-2013 03:41 PM)LoveBug Wrote:  Live in Sac but took some masters degree courses in Stockton and agree with what has been said about that city

let me guess, UOP right?

Post: #15

(08-03-2013 03:37 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:16 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:10 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:06 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:02 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  the UC system is alright, but too dam fucking expensive and too many fundamentalist liberals.

u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

yet she was admitted, and made it to senior-level status at a so-called "world-class university" such as u.g.l.y.

the usa is doomed because trailer trash like this is breedeing and becoming the "leaders of tomorrow"

you got a point there. I think she got into UCLA because the UC system will allow any dumb bitch who has at least a 3.0 but was a cheerleader or in some other extracurricular shit. i know lots of those types of bitches who got into Berkeley because of those reasons.

^^^ and the worst part of the fiasco: the punk-ass bitch administrators at u.g.l.y. refused to take any disciplinary action against the dirty whore

Post: #16

(08-03-2013 03:45 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:37 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:16 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:10 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:06 PM)GameTheory Wrote:  u.g.l.y. senior Alexandra Wallace. typical UC trailer trash... from the Central Valley:

that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

yet she was admitted, and made it to senior-level status at a so-called "world-class university" such as u.g.l.y.

the usa is doomed because trailer trash like this is breedeing and becoming the "leaders of tomorrow"

you got a point there. I think she got into UCLA because the UC system will allow any dumb bitch who has at least a 3.0 but was a cheerleader or in some other extracurricular shit. i know lots of those types of bitches who got into Berkeley because of those reasons.

^^^ and the worst part of the fiasco: the punk-ass bitch administrators at u.g.l.y. refused to take any disciplinary action against the dirty whore

if we change the gender but keep the same ethnicity, they would have kicked out the dude from dodge.

Post: #17

There's a spot in the central valley that has the highest concentration of prisons in the world. Something like 20 institutions in a 60 mile radius.

Post: #18

spent some time in downtown Sac and I thought it looked pretty nice, stopped in a place to buy some beer and was approached by 3 prostitutes.

Post: #19

I was driving through the central valley a couple years ago to see my uncle who lives up in a little town in Sierra Nevada mountains. I got off an exit to get some food. Parked at a 7/11 parking lot, looked around for a few minutes and decided I should probably take my Springfield Armory XD9 out of the trunk and put it in the passenger seat with a coat over it. Central Valley is California's answer to Detroit.

Post: #20

(08-03-2013 03:33 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:28 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  The central valley is just a place you drive through as quickly as possible going between SF and LA on I-5. And that's ONLY if you're in a hurry. If you got some time, you'd take the 101 or PCH to avoid that bleak hellhole.

If i could, I would drive at least 100 mph on I-5 but fucking CHP has been cracking down hard on speeding on I-5.

Yeah, 100mph is really pushing it given how heavily the I-5 is patrolled by CHPs. I've hit 100+ on some segments just for the hell of it, but never for more than a few minutes. What's the max speed limit anyway? It's 70 right? I think cops on that route will tolerate up till about 85 on that stretch without pulling you over. Beyond that you're asking for a fat ticket in a revenue-bereft part of the state. Just not worth it to arrive in SF 30 minutes sooner when the cost of that speeding ticket would've bought you a RT flight. 85mph will still get you between L.A. and the bay in about 5.5hrs IIRC.

Post: #21

(08-03-2013 06:01 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:33 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:28 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  The central valley is just a place you drive through as quickly as possible going between SF and LA on I-5. And that's ONLY if you're in a hurry. If you got some time, you'd take the 101 or PCH to avoid that bleak hellhole.

If i could, I would drive at least 100 mph on I-5 but fucking CHP has been cracking down hard on speeding on I-5.

Yeah, 100mph is really pushing it given how heavily the I-5 is patrolled by CHPs. I've hit 100+ on some segments just for the hell of it, but never for more than a few minutes. What's the max speed limit anyway? It's 70 right? I think cops on that route will tolerate up till about 85 on that stretch without pulling you over. Beyond that you're asking for a fat ticket in a revenue-bereft part of the state. Just not worth it to arrive in SF 30 minutes sooner when the cost of that speeding ticket would've bought you a RT flight. 85mph will still get you between L.A. and the bay in about 5.5hrs IIRC.

70 is the limit, but CHP typically tolerates 80 mph. beyond that, a fat ticket. but i wish it was higher. i hate driving though the central valley. nothing but flatness and farms for miles.

Post: #22

(08-03-2013 05:51 PM)A War You Cannot Win Wrote:  I was driving through the central valley a couple years ago to see my uncle who lives up in a little town in Sierra Nevada mountains. I got off an exit to get some food. Parked at a 7/11 parking lot, looked around for a few minutes and decided I should probably take my Springfield Armory XD9 out of the trunk and put it in the passenger seat with a coat over it. Central Valley is California's answer to Detroit.

many cities and towns in the central valley have the quality of life on par with Detroit. but it changes once you go north of yuba city. once you hit that point, it's a whole different place.

Post: #23

Im sure each town has bottle service.....

Post: #24

(08-03-2013 03:44 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  

(08-03-2013 03:41 PM)LoveBug Wrote:  Live in Sac but took some masters degree courses in Stockton and agree with what has been said about that city

let me guess, UOP right?

Hey Hispanic_Reasoning, actually UOP is probably a little too expensive/elite for my pedigree hah. CSU Stanislaus, Stockton Center, in a building that was literally an insane asylum a couple of decades ago

Post: #25

(08-03-2013 03:10 PM)Hispanic_Reasoning Wrote:  that chick is a typical american trash girl, period. her very voice is so annoying. i couldn't even stand listening to her for 10 seconds.

I'm not an American, but I can't disagree with anything she said. Some Asians really are annoying. Their tonal languages, metallic voice, lots of relatives, lack of consideration for other people... she's right. The way she talks is not perfect either, but I'd much rather listen to her than to some of my colleagues. And the tits, look at those tits!