People are Getting Crazier in California
I don't know about other parts of the nation. But, we were just talking about this in the office today. My life is spent commuting, working, and spending time with my family. I'm seeing things on my commute the past month or so that are really mindblowing. I think it must be a reflection of something affecting people. Just this morning there was a five car pileup in front of my office. 35 mph speed limit, no stop sights, no speed bumps, straight shot, two lanes...no reason for cars to run into each other. Yet, there it was. Almost no traffic at the time, very early in the morning. I've had a drunk stagger in front of my truck at 6:30 am, almost getting killed. I've seen multiple people passed out on drugs or booze with their legs out in the street and their upper bodies sprawled on the sidewalks. Lots of tents and boxes people sleep in almost anywhere they can place one - freeway cloverleafs, alleys, parks, creeks. I have seen multiple massive crashes lately - probably 5 in the past week - where somebody runs a red light doing at least 50 and just turns their car into a yard sale - often with bad injuries. I'm guessing people are either passing out or just playing with their phones. I'm seeing accidents like this almost every single day, sometimes a couple per day.
There's got to be something going on, right? My coworkers notice it too. Just this past week we've got stories of close calls on our commutes. Any theories on what it could be? I can't imagine. Perhaps it's just coincidence.
There's got to be something going on, right? My coworkers notice it too. Just this past week we've got stories of close calls on our commutes. Any theories on what it could be? I can't imagine. Perhaps it's just coincidence.
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Most not all tent and cardboard housing are in the blue specks .
Last week I went into downtown Birmingham where an oral surgeon is located near what's called "the projects" with government housing for the poor. People I saw sitting or sleeping on sidewalks? Zero.
Eight years ago I drove through an alley to get to a job interview, having missed where I wanted to turn. The unexpected noise my car made caused a guy to wake up and scramble to crawl out of a cardboard box. He obviously thought I was the police.
Yes, the police. That's because the Birmingham police does not tolerate people sleeping in alleys, on sidewalks or on park benches.
BTW, I've lived in this area since 1982. How many people have I seen in a cardboard box? That one guy I just mentioned.
Most of my life has been as a Californian. I was born here. I've spent countless time enjoying the mountains and beaches. This is such a beautiful place. It's transition into what's happening here now really is very saddening for me. I remember living the simple, happy family life here when I was a kid. My folks would take us over to the beach at Santa Cruz for a weeknight picnic dinner regularly. No crowds. Just natural beauty. Now, so much of it is derelicts staggering around with no teeth, pooping on the sidewalks...tent cities, road rage incidents, schools teaching little boys about how to select marital toys (not an exaggeration). It's sad...
For you and your families self interest you might consider running not walking away from the riches to rags story that California has become. You have the talent and work ethic that would be valued all across the country.
As a former resident leaving was a great move.
Watching The movie Grand Canyon, the way Steve Martin was shot and Kevin Clines ill fated wrong turn leaving the lakers game must seem like a picnic compared to today.
I rarely see many homeless let alone living in tents.
In the major metro area I live in. The only group of those shelter needy folks is at the soup kitchen in downtown St Paul. I have never had to dodge human excrement where ever I go.