WORST Value
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8/5/2006
The problem with Salinas isn't that it's so incredibly bad. It reminds me of various cities along highway 99 ie Modesto, Fresno, Stockton. It's only maybe a little worse than these cities in terms of crime, lack of activities, air quality, etc. The problem is the price you pay to live here. Just look at Sperling's opening description for Salinas. It's cost of living is 70% higher than the national average!!!
C'mon! How is this city possibly worth paying 70% more than average. It's got all the problems: violence, unemployment, terrible chain stores(it's my hypothesis that every store or restaurant decreases in quality about by half just by being in Salinas, how can a burger king or best buy be worse just because of the city it's in, I don't know but it is)The prospect for jobs is terrible as San Jose industry hasn't moved this far south yet leaving produce or maybe tourism as the only viable areas to start a career. I know I mentioned crime but it bears mentioning again. I live in a pretty average neighborhood near downtown, and in the past 9 months my house has been broken into and there have been multiple shootings just blocks away.
I guess the main draw is its proximity to the coast, but that also makes no sense because towns like Castroville and Marina cost the same and are far closer. Case in point, when I lived in Marina (a growing little town that has it's problems but not nearly like Salinas and would be my suggestion for anyone wanting to move to this area) I walked, not drove, but walked to the beach almost everyday. Now that I live in Salinas I probably take the 15-45 minute drive to the beach maybe once a month.
Two perks of living here, not to sound too negative, are the new movie theater in downtown and the weather - brilliant during the summer with coastal fog in the morning that burns off to a beautiful/breezy mid 70s/80s day. If only the city was beautiful to match.
I really do feel bad ranting but I just don't get it. Take this last point to solidify the confusion. Salinas was the home of John Steinbeck for a lot of his life, and the inspiration for many of his books yet the public library is only open like one day a week and about one fourth the size of a local borders. Why am I here you ask? I moved to be closer to my job, but I'm leaving at the end of the month. Though I will be homeless for awhile, it makes way more sense than paying the astronomical cost of living in Salinas.
Brian | Salinas, CA