Follow up to my last review
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2/19/2018
Hey folks, it’s Bob, back with an update since my review 3 years ago. I’m finally leaving CA , but I thought it would be nice to give an update and review some developments over the past 3 years. Here’s a rundown of happenings in my area (North Oxnard over the past few years: Tagging has become more prevalent (sidewalks, neighborhood fences, mail boxes and trees. Beer/liquor bottles and trash are left everywhere. Yes, much of the trash is from school kids, but the number of people throwing liquor bottles from moving cars or drinking and driving is insane. I’ve since stopped picking them up, but I was averaging 3-7 bottles a night. It’s also become obvious that some people have developed a habit of emptying their party trash bags on neighborhood sidewalks (30+ bottles usually). There’s also an inordinate amount of garbage left in front yards. For the past year or so, I’ve also been finding hypodermic needles and spoons in various areas. I don’t expect drug users to be considerate (and I’d like to assume it’s just a diabetic) but please, for the love of God, throw your needles away! Don’t just leave them in the grass with your burnt spoons where dogs or kids can find them. Fireworks are now year round! They used to be heard around Cinco de Mayo r the 4th. Now…they can be heard weekly! It wouldn’t be a problem if they weren’t banned and didn’t terrify most of the dogs in the area. Also, the cops just ignore them. I’ve seen my share of police cruisers driving right by groups people lighting them off. Why, you may be wondering? They know the people can’t afford the fine (usually over $1k per offense). Chickens- It might just be my neighborhood, even though I’ve nearly run over stray hens in other areas, but these are a real pain. Yes, roosters are not allowed, but that doesn’t mean hens won’t be waking you up. Oh well, who needs alarms, right? Keep in mind folks, the average house in this area costs over $500k. That leads many to rent out their garages or build granny flats to cram in more people, which results in very little parking. I’m sure most people would be amazed at the number of cars lining the streets. City management- In their infinite wisdom, our fearless city council has increased water rates despite decreased water usage city-wide. Next, our equally fearless city manager has bailed. In 3 years, all he managed to do was to hire two assistants at over $100k/ a year each and waste more of our money. Plus, our former police chief (a transfer from Phoenix), is back in Phoenix. She did nothing for our crime rate, but at least she was able to leverage her time here to become Chief in PHX.
Now for the larger County and State. As many of you probably know, Ventura County recently played host to the largest wildfire in CA’s history. Yes, it was terrible and my job entailed working directly with some of those who were impacted, so I got to hear some of the horror stories directly from victims. The fire has been blamed on homeless lighting fires in a park in Santa Paula, or possibly Edison workers doing maintenance work in that area. Regardless of the cause, last winter was relatively wet, which lead to a growth in vegetation that dried out over the year. The Santa Ana winds were particularly bad this year and whipped the fire through all the fuel and spread it across the County toward Santa Barbara. The state, and especially the region is once again slipping into a deep drought (Ventura/ Santa Barbara was the only area not to be declared drought free last year). Needless to say, there will likely be another terrible fire season for the entire state, and So Cal in particular. This past December saw simultaneous fires from SB/Ventura down through San Bernardino County. It seems the “normal” weather pattern of a wet winter is being replaced by increasingly dry and windy conditions. The state also recently passed a gas tax without the consent of the people, so now we’re back to being solidly $1 over most of the rest of the country. Car registration fees were also increased substantially. A 14 year old car for example, went from $63 to about $118. Will the money be used on our terrible infrastructure, a bullet train no one will ride and will likely never be completed or more programs for illegals? Anyway, if you happened to read through my two novels, or you’re someone researching the area for a possible move, I have to ask…does this sound like paradise to you? I know everyone has visions of the California of yesteryear… perfect weather, celebrities, beaches and the endless summer. California was seen as something like America+, a place where folks could find real success. Well, I can assure you that dream is largely dead for the average person. When accounting for housing, nearly 70% of Californians fall under the poverty line. 2/3 of cities considered overcrowded in the US are in CA. I could just keep quoting negative stats, but you get the idea. Anyways, now for some good. The state still has some amazing scenery, which I was reminded of during another trip to the Sierras. For me, other states offer the same or similar natural beauty and I don’t mind colder weather, especially if my quality of life increases. For others, I’m sure the prospect of frequent sunshine (not in Oxnard- overcast for much of the year) is worth any cost or disaster. If you’re looking to move to Ventura County, be aware that there are much better areas than the ‘Nard. Basically, anywhere in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, or mid-Town/ West Ventura would be decent. I’d avoid Santa Paula and Fillmore. Ojai lacks much in housing and the fire danger Is generally higher from the mountains inland. The Thomas Fire for example, followed the foothills from Santa Paula, past Ventura and to the ocean while also heading North into the mountains and surrounding Ojai. Simi Valley would be probably be best if you have to commute to LA, but a lot of folks find it to be too hot and windy. If you absolutely have to live in Oxnard, look to the North West and avoid Rose, or anything South of Wooley. Riverpark is pretty cool, and has some good entertainment options, just be aware of the Mello Roos on your property taxes. If you’re in the market for beach living, check out the Ventura Keys, or around Oxnard shores. Silverstrand has a “reputation” so you may want to avoid that area. Seabridge is another area under development (some great food options around there). You’ll likely find that VC basically offers a sense of small town living with many big city problems. There’s a general lack of things to do and it’s very suburban, but you get to live the LA life with an ever growing traffic and crime problem. Many people like to mention the proximity to Santa Barbara as a benefit of living here. And while Santa Barbara is a great town with a decent nightlife and amazing scenery, you better plan on going during the week or leaving the house before 9am on the weekend. Between 10-4pm, the 101 North is a parking lot of Angelinos heading to SB. There seems to be a quite a few breweries in the area, and most of them are pretty decent. If you’re hoping for pot, the County as a whole is pretty opposed, so don’t expect a lot of dispensaries. A lot of folks are also surprised by the cold water at the area beaches, so you may want to grab a wet suit. For hiking, it would be best to check out Ojai or Thousand Oaks. For rock climbing and mountain biking, Simi Valley offers a fair amount. Other than that, you’re generally looking at bare hills (now fire charred). The harbors can be fun, so I recommend renting a boat or give paddle boarding a try. If you like snow, you can usually find some at Mt Pinos (North County), or head to Mt High or Big Bear without too much hassle. Other than that, I wish you the best of luck!
Bob | Oxnard, CA