Comments on: CA Business Exodus Accelerates

By: Shelley Evans

Shelley Evans — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:44:12 +0000

My three children have moved out of state; Two are now home owns in Texas and they love the state and its people; One lives in Europe when she moves back to the States it will be to Texas or Florida. The three of them will not move back to California, a state with 16% of the US population and 30% of the US Welfare-Recipients

By: Vince Perez

Vince Perez — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:57:40 +0000

@ExExZonie:

I don’t mean to undermine your position that longstanding California businesses are leaving the state – they are. They have been for a decade or more; but the Carl’s Jr. of today is not the old line California company of Carl Karcher’s day. These punks running the company now are as different from Carl Karcher, much as Carl’s recent TV ads promoting sex over burgers are from the days of “Happy” the star and Carl Karcher promoting a friendly family-oriented fast food establishment (and that was fast food with one of the first salad bars! -you go Carl!) The California businessman is now an anachronism, replaced by charlatans and boys barely resembling men. But, I still agree with you that Carl Karcher Enterprises leaving for Texas should give us all pause…

By: ExExZonie

ExExZonie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 06:06:42 +0000

@Wayne did you even visit Joe Vranich’s site? Everything he writes is thoroughly documented, and if anything, he understates the case as he only captures a fraction of businesses that move or expand elsewhere. All you have to do is read his April 15 entry and find the segment that pertains to Carl Karcher Enterprises (i.e., Carl’s Jr/Hardees). This story alone is enough to give one pause about how California treats long-standing businesses.

“CEO Andrew Puzder said that it’s ‘easier to open a restaurant in Shanghai than in California,’ Puzder said he is drawn to Texas’ ‘business-friendly’ atmosphere and the prospect of a 10 percent pay raise, thanks to the state’s no-income-tax policy …. Founded in Southern California by Carl Karcher in 1941, Carl’s Jr. has strong roots in the Golden State …. ‘We’re going to look at whatever is a good business reason to move,’ said Puzder, who also said that Perry called him about a year ago to ‘thank me for opening restaurants in Texas.’”

By: EastBayLarry

EastBayLarry — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:45:41 +0000

None of this is news; we’ve discussed this issue repeatedly here and at other venues. What I still don’t understand is why the LibDems running this train wreck can’t see the disaster they are causing.

Is it blindness? Is it deliberate? I can’t believe it’s stupidity. Even an idiot would accidently get a decision right occasionally.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:42:38 +0000

We moved our small business out of California. Although we still own our home in Cali, our homestead is Texas. It is as different as day and night. We shipped a couple of cars from Cali. The trailer was loaded with Cali cars all headed for Texas. The line for new licenses at the motor vehicle dept comprised mostly of Californians…..Although property taxes may be a bit higher, the sales tax is lower, no state income tax, gas is about .80 less a gallon….The roads and highways are incredible!!!! Need I say more? Now, we have to sell our Cali home….

By: larry 62

larry 62 — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:31:33 +0000

It has happened in my family as well. One of my sons has moved to Montana and at least one of his close friends has also left, looking for opportunity elsewhere. Life in Montana isn’t easy or perfect, but overall he loves it. No sales tax, lower income tax, property taxes probably comparable to Ca. and lots of open space with very few people.

By: Wayne Lusvardi

Wayne Lusvardi — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:06:07 +0000

Oh, I forgot to say that the unnamed Japanese auto manufacturer with headquarters in So Cal has already informed its employees of a possible move to the Dallas area pending what happens with the state deficit and taxes here in California.

By: Wayne Lusvardi

Wayne Lusvardi — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:22:03 +0000

John
This is purely anecdotal. I know two California households that are moving to Texas.

One is an 82-year old woman who foresees nothing but future social disaster in California. Property taxes are three times higher in Texas but overall tax burden is lower. It’s a better system – property taxes go to schools and basic fire and police services and property values are half of California’s. What taxes pay for in Texas is closer to the voting decisions of homeowners. In other words, Texas doesn’t over-invest in real estate to the detriment of business and industry. This 82 year old told me her deceased husband appeared in a dream and told her to move out of California. Call it what you want, irrational or rational, but at 82-years old she’s moving back to her childhood home after 50 years in California. An 82-years old reverse pioneer. That takes spunk!

The other is a family of three. The breadwinner works for a large Japanese auto manufacturer with a big corporate office in Southern California. He is moving to the San Antonio area. His merit scholar daughter was also accepted at Trinity University in San Antonio. He has taken the bar exam in Texas and is awaiting results. He earns a considerable salary in California but wants out. He sees no future here for his daughter or himself.

The above is not anything from which to extrapolate a trend. But is the middle class poised for a mass exodus of historic proportions like the Dust Bowl migrations of the 1930’s? We will see.