Californians Invade Boise, Idaho
Californians are leaving their state in droves, fleeing the wake of California’s liberal politics for pristine and sparsely populated Idaho. For years, Californian cities have struggled with homelessness brought on by a dearth of affordable housing and a bearish job market. Idahoans attribute the rapid development, rampant homelessness, and rising housing prices to Californians, and blame the group for the many problems they bring with them. Californians have become the scapegoat, the go-to group by citizens who pride themselves in being welcoming, at least when it comes to refugees. Whereas many cars in the capital city Boise can be seen sporting locally supplied “Refugees Welcome” stickers, others can be seen bashing on Californians. It is common to dismiss reckless and inconsiderate California drivers, and for local Californians to preface admitting this controversial fact about themselves with how they know they are about to be negatively perceived. Californians are blamed for numerous growth-related problems, even when the government’s response is the real culprit, the most significant being their contribution to our affordable housing crisis.
Californians who sell their homes, pack their bags, and head for Boise Idaho are able to purchase houses upfront with cash. Coming from a place with a minimum wage of $12 per hour, thus significantly higher housing prices, Californians are able to pocket the difference and live better-off than local Idahoans. Idaho has a minimum wage of $7.25 and the highest percentage nationally of residents working for minimum wage. Idaho is one of the fastest growing states in the US, the majority of the population growth being from Californians (LA Times). The gem state is regarded as a diamond in the rough by Californians fleeing “changes in taxes, local ordinances or the curriculum taught in schools — and they were seeking more safety” (CNN). Idaho home prices are, in turn, skyrocketing. The LA Times furthers, “The median home price in Ada County, where Boise is located, has risen 19.3% since February 2018, according to the Idaho Statesman.” What is even more telling is that “the vacancy rate for apartments in the price range of the county’s lowest-income residents was 0.45% as of Oct. 18, according to HousingIdaho.com” (LA Times). This has resulted in increased rates of homelessness, and fueled ad hominem attacks against Californians.
Californians who move to Idaho for its “affordability, low taxes, access to world-class outdoors recreation and nonexistent traffic” (The Idaho Statesman) are met with xenophobia, intimidation, and hateful rhetoric. In 2019, Boise Mayoral Candidate Wayne Richey even ran on a platform advocating putting an end to the “California Invasion.” Cars and roadsides are decorated with sentiments like: “IDAHO LIVES MATTER GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA,” “Idaho hates Californians,” and “Warning Californians are known to Cause Cancer in the State of Idaho.” Such statements respond to growing Idahoan insecurity regarding the threat posed by Californians to their livelihoods. Growth leads to competition, which infringes on Idahoan rights perceived as inalienable and god-given. This is especially pertinent for those born and raised here, who have raised families here, whose families and lives here go back generations. These residents are beginning to realize that to have a stake in the state, all one must really have is property- the rest goes out the window like discarded chewing tobacco. According to Alzo Slade of VICE, “one of the best ways for an American family to create intergenerational wealth is to own some land. It’s in high demand, and they don’t make it any more.” Many locals work for years, often in low-paying jobs, and have nothing to show for it. This discontent is worsened by the harsh realization that Californians are coming into the state, taking advantage of an economy they have done nothing to build, have money to fall back on, and are seen to bring with them the very source of dysfunction in (which will lead to the eventual demise of) their state: growth.
In a state ranked 39th in the nation for education, commonly confused with Iowa and Ohio, where politics are dominated by old conservative white men and a liberal vote is technically a wasted one, locals already feel somewhat disadvantaged. The thought of anyone with more financial and cultural capital disrupting our delicately balanced, locally agreed-upon reality is deeply upsetting. We barely have enough jobs and housing for Idahoans, and those privileged in these areas have worked hard to develop and sustain the local economy. Local sentiment dictates that Californians can’t have their cake and eat ours too. People from rural Idaho see the capital Boise as almost a cosmopolitan center. As a shining liberal city on a hill, we have many eyes upon us. Moving to Boise is a big deal for those who have grown up in surrounding areas, almost like a rite of passage for liberal (and inevitably some conservative) young adults. These rites and dreams are tarnished when Californians flock to Boise, often as a last resort.
While locals love to obsess over the problems with California which Californians bring with them and play the blame game, growth is not all bad. KTVB states, “Many Northern and Southern California companies have moved to the Treasure Valley in the last several years which, in the long term, brings more economic opportunities to Idaho.” This stimulates the job market by bringing more high-paying jobs to the area which is dominated by low- paying jobs. As long as the system of Californians selling their expensive houses, coming here and buying a new one in all cash, and pocketing the difference, and the $7.25 minimum wage persist, Idahoans will continue to get the short end of the stick. Idahoans tend to play off their grievances as against Californians and growth, whereas I believe they really stem from structural matters. Affordable housing is much less common than large houses and hotels built to attract affluent out-of-staters. Housing prices rise, but wages do not follow suit.
I advocate for an increased emphasis on building affordable housing structures and increasing the minimum wage to a livable one. Housing is a legitimate concern, which is why I support continuing efforts to build more houses and develop the region. Californians will bring a revival of diverse cultural perspectives to Boise (as many millennials are moving here), support for the arts, and a more vibrant college experience for my peers at Boise State University. Locals should not have to live paycheck-to-paycheck and be pushed into competing with Californians (and each other) for housing. This will ease tensions between locals and Californians, promoting social harmony and diminishing harbored resentments. Once Idahoans feel they no longer have to compete with Californians, we will no longer feel inclined to corrupt our bumpers with invective, and anti-Californian, vituperative graffiti will become a thing of the past.
Works Cited
La Ganga, M. L. (2019, November 10). ‘Go back to California’: Wave of newcomers fuels backlash in Boise. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-10/go-back-to-california-wave-of-newcomers-fuels-backlash-in-boise
Idaho Statesman Editorial Board (2019, November 11). When it comes to Boise’s growth, quit blaming the Californians. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/editorials/article237245439.html
Slade, A. (Director), & VICE News (Producer). (2020, August 11). How Property Law is Used to Appropriate Black Land [Video file]. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls3P_FicO7I
Stjepovic, K. (2021, March 03). Idaho continues to attract out-of-staters, mainly from California. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/growing-idaho/idaho-attracts-californians-migration-growing/277-5c2a35b2-d3be-46fa-8565-faf024a16f7c
Bahney, A. (2021, February 01). Lots of people moved out of California and New York in 2020. Here’s where they went. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/02/01/lots-of-people-moved-out-of-california-and-new-york-in-2020-heres-where-they-went/
