New York is better than California

[_Brackite]

Even New York State is a much better place to start a business than California.

Because of asset seizures, I am starting my new company outside California

...

Today was a bad day. After meeting with my tax accountant, I am now cutting a very large check to the State of California, all of which resulted from Proposition 30 and the “retroactive tax” that was levied on my 2012 income.

This despite the fact that I already paid my 2012 taxes back in September.

While the law stipulates that I must surrender this money, I refuse to acknowledge this as a tax at all. This is not a tax. This is an asset seizure plain and simple. The term “retroactive tax” is a despicable euphemism. It is no different than when Hugo Chavez used the benign-sounding “nationalize” to describe his seizure of private property in Venezuela.

Now before I go any further, let me tell you what I am not.

I am not a Tea Party member. I am not even a Republican. Twice I have voted for Barack Obama, and I was supportive of his tax compromise earlier this year. I am not a person who opposes paying taxes, even higher ones. I am a very reasonable person who respects the great opportunity that America has given to me.

But there is a very clear and unambiguous line between taxes — regardless of how high they are — and asset seizures. The State of California has taken money from me. Money that I already earned and paid taxes on, and I will not tolerate this act of theft.

So what am I doing about it, other than speaking up?

Well, I am moving my new company — which is now closing a round of venture funding from world-class investors — to the East Coast. Because my last company created almost 200 jobs, most of which were in San Francisco, this is not good news for the State of California.

As I write this, I am hiring people on the East Coast who might otherwise have been hired in California. Some have already been hired. My California employees will be relocating to New York by early next year.

I will also be leaving California next year and de-establishing residency to be with my new company. No more 13.3 percent of my income for you, California. How does 0 percent sound? That sounds good to me.

Now, to be clear, my new company will be in the Media space, and there are plenty of business reasons why I am starting it outside of California. In my opinion, New York is a better place to start this company. But make no mistake: California’s seizure of my personal assets is a big reason why I am moving.

Similarly, the state’s constant battering of successful startups is another factor. Consider the outrageous retraction and “back-taxing” that took place recently with the Small Business Tax.

Some people will argue that voters supported this “retroactive tax.” That means nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is exactly why the Founding Fathers of the United States completely opposed direct democracy. Because it often leads to mob rule. If “majority rule” were a fair reason to seize assets, then Zimbabwe’s farm seizure laws would be totally kosher. We called it “mob rule” when they did it, and this is absolutely no different.

So why am I speaking up? Why am I risking the ire of readers and potentially besmirching my reputation? Because somebody needs to stand up and demonstrate the real impact of this.

People whose assets have not been seized are laughing and pointing to studies that suggest entrepreneurs will not leave. Rather, they suggest, the best entrepreneurs will stay in California and continue to finance this racket of a state government.

That is not happening this time, and I encourage all entrepreneurs to stand up and let themselves be known. None of us are “obligated” to endure state asset seizures, and there is no shame in paying the lowest taxes possible.

Or — to quote one of America’s most revered judges and judicial scholars, Billings L. Hand: “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.”

Despite the ridiculousness of this “retroactive tax,” and despite the fact that no American has a moral obligation to put up with said taxes, there will still be a litany of responses from Californians who mock me and act as though I have encroached upon reason.

I constantly hear people say things like “Good Riddance!” or “Enjoy the weather out East!” or other snarky comments of the like.

Let me be unambiguous in my feelings on the matter — I would far prefer bad weather to bad government.

...

Link: http://pandodaily.com/2013/03/25/becaus ... alifornia/

[_Brackite]

California aspires to mediocrity — It’s almost there

...

The Atlantic recently published a quintessential “puff piece” about Governor Jerry Brown that talks in depth about the man and offers a primer about the state itself. Because it is a long article, I will summarize it here:

First, the state of California is unwieldy due to several deeply-ingrained political peculiarities, such as (a) direct democracy, (b) a weak legislature, and (c) a widespread defeatist sense that the state is ungovernable.

Second, the state suffers two fiscal issues which are (a) limits on property tax and (b) extreme public sector union expenses. The author more or less ignores these problems in favor of discussing the issues enumerated above.

Third, the Governor is such a seasoned and self-cultivated statesman, that he has used pragmatism and deep understanding of the state’s politics to delicately navigate the situation — ultimately culminating in a positive annual budget.

Fourth, the Governor is totally awesome and super mature. He’s kind of Zen too.

But here’s the real TL;DR version of the article, if we must sum it up quickly and eloquently: “California is a hopeless shithole, and a master politician is now spraying some Febreeze on it.”

Along the way, the author concedes that the Febreeze is weak… a lot of the “comeback” is due to a nationally improving economy and spending cuts, though what exactly has been cut is unclear. Certainly nothing of substance. Much of the fiscal improvement is from Proposition 30, a massive tax hike that sniped out entrepreneurs that I have written about many times before (including in my article where I cite Proposition 30 as a reason for me leaving California, a process that is well underway… and which I couldn’t be happier about).

But this article is not about the tragedy of Proposition 30. It’s about how an Atlantic puff piece that generally gushes over Jerry Brown and seems to paint the state with a brush of optimism is actually…downright depressing.

Because what the article really conveys is a defeatist message. And, even worse… The author is absolutely correct.

As usual, with the state of California, he points to the “good” and the “bad.”

The good: innovation, a welcoming attitude towards immigrants, a culture of risk taking, and breathtaking natural beauty with abundant natural resources. The bad: dysfunctional government, awful schools, busted roads, and a prison system so despicable that the Supreme Court considers it unconstitutional.

Now — what do we notice about the “good” and the “bad”?

Perhaps we could ask a child who has graduated from one of California’s horrifically bad elementary schools to look carefully at those two lists and observe a pattern…

Hmmm… let’s see here. Ah! There it is! Everything on the “bad” list is managed by California’s state government. Everything on the “good” list has absolutely nothing to do with the government.

Sure, a few of the blind, pro-California wishful types will argue that we have great universities, totally oblivious to the fact that even this one rare gem of civic achievement is in a downward spiral. UC Berkeley is a testament to the achievement of men and women long dead.

But other than a few UCs, the state of California offers nothing to its people. Nothing worth paying for, that is — and certainly nothing worth paying 13.3 percent of your income towards.

...

But here’s what does impact me: The city of New York.

I love the fact that I can take a subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan in a matter of minutes, the “L” line runs like clockwork. I like how the fire department showed up to my office’s front door last week to do a routine inspection of the premises for safety purposes. (Can’t put all your trust in landlords these days.) I like how I can walk around Manhattan at any hour and feel safe. I like how Williamsburg is so much cleaner than the Mission.

And the combined state and city taxes in New York, while high, will be much lower than if I keep living in San Francisco.

There are cheaper places in America, to be sure, but in New York you get what you pay for — in California, your tax dollar goes nowhere, except maybe a smoldering hellish dark pit somewhere. (Yes, that was a subtle jab at the prison guard union.)

...

Link: http://pandodaily.com/2013/05/27/califo ... ost-there/

[_Brackite]

Go New York State!!!

The New New York, a Whole New Approach to Business:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQgILlGg1E8

[_Quasimodo]

The trouble with running a business in NYC is that you might have to live there.

Winter entrepreneur in New York:



Winter entrepreneur in San Diego:

[_subgenius]

The trouble with running a business in NYC is that you might have to live there.

Winter entrepreneur in New York:



Winter entrepreneur in San Diego:

California depends on, nay, survives on people with your logic.

[_Brackite]

In the summer time, I would rather be in San Diego than New York City when it is too humid there. However, in the winter time, I would rather be in New York City than San Diego. I love the cold weather and snow during the winter time.

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/climate_of_ny.html

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/newyork_c20.html

http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Calif ... n%20Diego/

[_bcspace]

I am not a Tea Party member. I am not even a Republican. Twice I have voted for Barack Obama, and I was supportive of his tax compromise earlier this year. I am not a person who opposes paying taxes, even higher ones. I am a very reasonable person who respects the great opportunity that America has given to me.

But there is a very clear and unambiguous line between taxes — regardless of how high they are — and asset seizures. The State of California has taken money from me. Money that I already earned and paid taxes on, and I will not tolerate this act of theft.

So what am I doing about it, other than speaking up?

This guy is part of the problem and will be as long as he votes Democrat. He has no right to complain and got exactly what he asked for and deserved.

[_Brackite]

More evidence that New York State is better for business than the State of California:

New York is regulation-happy, also. But New Yorkers don’t have to deal with the cap-and-trade system that requires greenhouse-gas-producing industries to either substantially lower carbon-dioxide emissions or bid for “pollution” allowances in a convoluted government-created exchange.

New Yorkers don’t have to deal with a coastal commission that exerts so much bureaucratic control over development decisions that property owners are routinely denied their rights and are subject to rulings over minuscule issues, such as the color of house paint and the type of fencing that can be used.

And California’s debt levels, which crush public services and lead to demands for higher taxes, are worse than New York’s, by some accounts. A new California Public Policy Center report found that “the outstanding debt owed by California’s state and local governments, using responsible actuarial assumptions, is almost certainly in excess of $1.0 trillion.”

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-0 ... state.html

[_Quasimodo]

In the summer time, I would rather be in San Diego than New York City when it is too humid there. However, in the winter time, I would rather be in New York City than San Diego. I love the cold weather and snow during the winter time.

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/climate_of_ny.html

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/newyork_c20.html

http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Calif ... n%20Diego/

Personal preference, I suppose. Winters in Utah were beautiful and the skiing was superb. I spent more than a few winters back East. Gray, wet, numbing and pointless.

I have a nephew that attended NYU. He was excited about going to live in NY and was looking forward to four seasons.

I asked him (during his first winter) how he liked it. He said "It's disgusting." I told him that's how I remembered it, too.

[_Brackite]

In the summer time, I would rather be in San Diego than New York City when it is too humid there. However, in the winter time, I would rather be in New York City than San Diego. I love the cold weather and snow during the winter time.

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/climate_of_ny.html

http://nysc.eas.cornell.edu/newyork_c20.html

http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Calif ... n%20Diego/

Personal preference, I suppose. Winters in Utah were beautiful and the skiing was superb. I spent more than a few winters back East. Gray, wet, numbing and pointless.

I have a nephew that attended NYU. He was excited about going to live in NY and was looking forward to four seasons.

I asked him (during his first winter) how he liked it. He said "It's disgusting." I told him that's how I remembered it, too.

From Wikipedia:

Snow in the city is so rare that it has been observed only five times in the century-and-a-half that records have been kept. In 1949 and 1967, snow stayed on the ground for a few hours in higher locations like Point Loma and La Jolla. The other three occasions, in 1882, 1946, and 1987, involved flurries but no accumulation. [48]

From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

Dream came true as Christmas neared 40 years ago today

...

December 13, 2007

December 13, 1967, is a day you can't forget – unless you weren't here. Then, it's a day you can't quite accept.

“This is something you tell to people who are from out of the area. They have a hard time believing it,” said Ken Ayers, a county native who was a dazzled 7-year-old on that wondrous day.

“It's the California Christmas dream.”

The dream came true 40 years ago this morning, when gale-force winds blew a Canadian cold front far, far off course. Across San Diego County, residents woke up to see the air shimmering with something cold, white and unfamiliar.

Bill Brick, then a seventh-grader at Oak Crest Junior High School in Encinitas, remembers looking out his bedroom window that morning. His initial reaction: “Huh?”

He had not seen snow before.

San Diego's coast has not seen significant snowfall since.

If this were New York, Chicago or even Atlanta, the tiny storm would have been forgotten. But along this county shoreline, where a century's worth of snowfalls can be counted on one hand, the day lives in memories forever cold and bright. Longtime residents can tell you where they were when JFK was assassinated, when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and when snow fell on a stunned region.

Meteorologists reveled in the unexpected bonanza. At Lindbergh Field, they tracked the mercury's steady plunge: 19 degrees in eight hours. By 7:30 a.m., flurries were tracing white outlines around San Diego office buildings.

Downtown San Diego was lightly dusted, but winter wonderlandish scenes abounded elsewhere in the county. Snowflakes frosted South Carlsbad State Beach's lifeguard towers, splashed ivory patterns across crimson poinsettias in Leucadia and were impaled on the spines of ocotillos in the Anza-Borrego desert.

Surfers walked into Hansen's surf shop in Encinitas, for once stoked about something other than the waves at Swami's. “They had been out surfing,” recalled shop owner Don Hansen, “and all of a sudden, snowflakes were falling on them.”

The storm pounded the mountains to the east, dropping 2 feet of snow on Palomar Mountain and up to 15 inches on Julian. At those altitudes, though, snow comes with the season. Not so in Bow Willow, but the campsite in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park recorded 5 inches. Fallbrook scored 4 inches and Carlsbad 2.

Wind and ice knocked down power lines in Vista and Jamul. In Baja California, snow and ice covered a 50-mile stretch of the highway between Tijuana and Mexicali.

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