The San Francisco Giants have reportedly fielded calls on left-hander Blake Snell. While that's not a huge surprise, many in baseball wouldn't have expected it just a week ago.

After the transfer of Jorge Soler, the team may indicate that they plan to transfer more players.

Snell returned from injury on July 9 and is one of the best pitchers in baseball, allowing just two earned runs in 24.0 innings pitched. After a 15-strikeout performance in his last game, contending teams seem to think he could help them.

If the Giants want to trade Snell, it makes little sense unless they get a package they can't refuse. Making the postseason won't be easy, but San Francisco is still very much in the race for the National League wild card.

However, Snell has a player option at the end of the year and could opt out if he wants to land the mega deal that his agent was unable to get him last winter.

If the front office believes they're going to lose him in the offseason, it makes a lot more sense to trade him right now. This is a seller's market, and teams have been willing to spend money on impact players in recent days.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand even believes Snell has a 50 percent chance of being traded when asked if he thinks a blockbuster trade will happen before Tuesday's deadline.

“Unless the Blue Jays pivot and decide to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr., I would be surprised if any big names we haven't talked about yet get traded. However, the fact that Blake Snell has come up in the conversation in the last few days is a bit surprising, and from what I'm hearing there's a better than 50% chance he'll be traded. I wouldn't have predicted that a week ago.”

Snell's first season with the Giants was a year of ups and downs. He struggled more than ever at the start of the season, but with injuries, personal issues and more, his difficulties were well justified.

He has a 5.10 ERA in 47 2/3 innings pitched, which shows how bad he's been during his first few starts. The lack of Spring Training for the former Cy Young Award winner also likely got him off to a slow start, which again made sense.

With the opportunity to sign promising talent, there is a chance Snell will go to a team that gets an offer too good to refuse.

As Feinsand reported, there is a chance it will be traded, and given some of these returns, it might not be a bad idea to strike while the iron is hot.

The post Will Blake Snell Be Subsequent San Francisco Giants Participant Moved? appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Teddy Liaw is a tech CEO who left San Francisco in 2021 to move to a suburb of Las Vegas.
• Liaw was frustrated with crime in the Bay Area and wanted a family-friendly and vibrant city.
• Since moving there, Liaw says his mission has been to introduce others to everything Vegas has to offer.

This essay is based on a conversation with Teddy Liaw, the 45-year-old CEO of contact center solutions company NexRep, who moved from San Francisco to Summerlin, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas, in 2021 after becoming frustrated with crime in the Bay Area. Liaw founded the Vegas Tech Summit, a multi-day tech conference that promotes Vegas as an emerging tech hub.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I absolutely loved the Bay Area. I loved the culture, the food, the people, the intellect, and the gorgeous water views that surround this amazing city.

But COVID-19 has completely devastated the city. It's not the same San Francisco it once was. The city is still recovering, but it's not fully back on the mend yet.

I had lived in San Francisco for about 15 years before I moved. I owned a condo at the top of the hill with a beautiful view of the bay.

The Bay Area had so much to offer, including a thriving entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem that made very smart people even smarter.

But during the pandemic, there was rampant crime. I don't appreciate people making this a homeless problem, because San Francisco has had homeless people before and they've found ways to provide help. That's been the narrative during COVID. But it's not a homeless problem. It was a safety problem.

At the end of 2020, my house was robbed. My experience with the police was not positive. That was the last straw.

I have two young children and I asked myself: is this the kind of environment where my family will be safe? The answer was unfortunately no.

Everywhere on the table

I considered Los Angeles, Washington State and Texas.

In January 2021, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I decided to take an exploratory trip to Vegas. It opened my eyes to what Vegas had to offer, including new homes, clean living, and ample playgrounds for children.

There was amazing food of all ethnicities, cuisines and cultures. Vegas offers entertainment, family life and suburban living, just 20 minutes away from all the social opportunities you could want.

It was a very easy decision.

Summerlin is a suburb about 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas. halbergman/Getty Images

Summerlin is a planned community about 20 minutes from all the action. You can't walk more than a half mile without coming across a park. We're in a desert, but there's plenty of greenery.

Designed for families, Summerlin offers an amazing selection of schools from kindergarten through high school, including some of the best private schools in the state.

I also love playing golf and there are so many opportunities to play golf.

I got nearly 7,000 square feet and two swimming pools for the same price as my four-bedroom apartment in the Bay Area. I needed a house that my friends would want to visit.

As soon as I moved, I started inviting friends to visit me. Many of them ended up being blown away by what Vegas had to offer. I convinced many of my friends to move. There's a whole wave of people I “imported” from California.

Everyone always worries about the 100 degree heat, but in just 35 minutes you can get to Mount Charleston and it's only 80 degrees. Yes, we're in a desert, but we can drive 35 minutes and go sledding in the winter.

Honestly, Vegas has more to offer in terms of quality of life than it should have.

Vegas is well on its way to becoming a thriving tech ecosystem

There's nothing better to work in than the Bay Area. It offered unexpected opportunities. Back then, you could hop in an Uber, sit down with the vice president of a tech company and have a great 20-minute conversation. Or you could sit in a restaurant and overhear the conversation of the executive next to you. That was the spirit of San Francisco.

The magic of the Bay Area hasn't quite made it to Vegas yet, but it will.

When I came to Vegas, I began meeting with public officials and was appointed to the previous governor's Startup and Venture Council.

I later founded a nonprofit called Vegas Tech Summit. It already attracts successful entrepreneurs and tech people from across the country who come to see what Vegas has to offer.

My goal is to get people to realize that Vegas has the potential to be a thriving tech ecosystem and we are well on our way to achieving that. I see a lot of VCs and entrepreneurs already moving here.

The last thing I miss here is an existing circle of friends. There is no replacing friendships that have lasted for decades. But I have noticed that so many new people are moving here and everyone is keen to meet nice people and build a community.

That's the spirit of Vegas.

The post Tech CEO Moved From San Francisco to Las Vegas Due to Crime appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A much-criticized bike lane that runs through the middle of a San Francisco street could be relocated less than a year after it was built.

It was a bold and different plan. Cyclists would ride in the middle of Valencia Street between the traffic lanes. The center bike lane was installed last August between 15th and 23rd streets in the Mission District.

The goal was to make cyclists feel safer and create an efficient traffic artery along the Mission. But the project has since come under criticism. People in the area say there are no clear directions for cyclists or motorists, leading to confusion and danger.

The SFMTA is currently seeking approval from the city's Department of Transportation for a side-by-side bike lane. Two concepts are under discussion:

• One proposal would force cyclists to ride around restaurant parklets, bringing them closer to traffic.
• The other design would have cyclists ride between the curb and the parklets.

Some local business owners KPIX spoke to are fed up with the whole thing.

“It's terrible. It's not an attractive part of town anymore. Nobody wants to be here,” said Sahar Milani, owner of Rossi Mission SF.

Kevin Ortiz, a member of VAMANOS, a newly formed coalition against the current design of the bike lanes, expressed the community's concerns.

“We have seen 20 companies close, the latest being Los Amigos. So the question is how many more companies will have to suffer,” he said. “The problem is that the SFMTA has not reached out to our organization. We want to meet with them, but they are basically only making contact a week before the actual hearing, which is next week,” he added.

“They don’t ask us or discuss with us, and then they ask people,” says Eiad Eltaweil, owner of the Yasmi restaurant.

In fact, some business owners have filed a lawsuit with the city because they're upset about the loss of parking and other changes in the neighborhood. KPIX spoke with a cyclist today who understands their concerns but still enjoys the ride.

“From a cyclist’s perspective, it’s safer for bikes,” said Craig Sakowitz, a cyclist.

Sakowitz said that while the center bike lane reduces the risk of being hit by a car door or colliding with pedestrians, it also makes it more difficult to turn onto other streets.

All of this information will feed into the next debate on moving the lane to the curb. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will hold a public hearing on the issue a week from now, on Tuesday, June 18.

More from CBS News

Anna Makovec

Anne Makovec is the Breaking News Anchor for the KPIX 5 Morning News. She reports breaking news from across the Bay Area and around the world every weekday from the Live News Desk and compiles reports from Bay Area neighborhoods for later KPIX broadcasts.

The post Controversial bike lane in San Francisco Mission District could possibly be moved appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Stevie Howell is an artist born and raised in San Francisco and now living in LA.

• Howell says she misses the support system San Francisco provided her and her business.

• She finds LA socially distant and misses the diverse food, art and neighborhoods of San Francisco.

This essay is based on a conversation with Stevie Howell, an artist and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was born and raised in San Francisco and spent six years of my adult life there before moving to Los Angeles about five years ago. I thought the move would be easy, but I was surprised by some things that a huge city like LA doesn't have compared to tiny SF.

People love to hate San Francisco – I recently heard the city described as “war-torn” – but the truth is it's beautiful. The city has parks and incredible views, and the hills are scenic and fun to drive up and down. There's great architecture – from colorful Victorian buildings to the monstrous Salesforce Tower – and easy access to the ocean and the bay.

It is a well-planned urban space and the city continues to make thoughtful decisions to keep it visually appealing and stimulating.

Although LA is much bigger than San Francisco, LA doesn't have the urban feel that San Francisco does. Here are the five worst things I found about leaving the San Francisco Bay Area and moving to LA.

1. LA feels socially distanced

LA feels like a huge network of suburbs. In San Francisco, I feel the urban buzz – that hum of activity and people walking around instead of staying in their homes like in LA.

San Francisco is relatively densely populated, so you can know your neighbors, walk to get coffee or grocery shopping, meet up with a friend on a whim, or walk to the other side of town for dinner without having to spend the entire evening getting there like we did in LA.

2. I miss the diverse food, the art and the neighborhoods

Walking around you hear a mix of languages ​​and get to try a variety of cuisines. There is amazing food and so many creative chefs doing great things. Some restaurants I miss the most are Flour + Water (Italian), Mandalay SF (Burmese food), Marnee Thai (Thai), La Taqueria (Mexican) and Swan Oyster Depot (seafood).

I've heard the art world in San Francisco described as “provincial,” but it's home to both amazing galleries and significant collections. Some of my favorites include Jessica Silverman Gallery, SFMOMA, Rebecca Camacho Presents, and Minnesota Street Project.

Additionally, each neighborhood has its own identity, personality and unique characters.

3. I miss San Francisco’s support system

I loved the community I had in my studio; it's a sense of community that I haven't found in any other city.

My art studio was at the end of an old wooden building in the middle of a row of beautiful old brick warehouses and shipbuilding facilities. Other artists lived in the building and we helped each other out. We referred each other new clients, got our work known to the press, and shared resources for opportunities.

As an artist and entrepreneur, I started my eco-friendly textile and wallpaper collection business in San Francisco in 2013. I don't think I would have ever started a business in any other city. San Francisco encourages entrepreneurship that goes beyond the tech world.

4. I miss San Francisco’s culture and philanthropic spirit

When I lived in San Francisco, I found that many of the companies there had a good environmental or social mission. I miss the philanthropy that is embedded in the city. People care about the world and each other.

While San Francisco has done many things right, the way it is dealing with the homelessness crisis – or not – is a mistake. That's because of how the city deals with drug addiction, mental illness, and the high cost of living. Many other cities in the U.S. are struggling with similar problems, and like other cities, it's devastating to see it in San Francisco.

But I think that for the most part, San Francisco still has the same heart and soul that it has had for years. People care about their neighbors, their parks, and the world at large.

5. I miss being close to nature in the Bay Area

There are so many great green spaces and beaches around the Bay Area that are easy to get to. You can take a hike on your lunch break. Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, Bernal Heights Hill, Dolores Park, Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, Angel Island and Rodeo Beach are all great places.

When I lived in San Francisco, I served on the board of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where I learned in depth about the amount of thought that goes into every single plant planted in the city, as well as the educational and research work that goes on in the city's parks.

The access to nature and the beauty of the outdoors is also what made the Bay Area such an incredible place to grow up. There really is a mix of indoor and outdoor learning that is unmatched by LA or any other place I've lived.

If you've moved to a new city or state and want to share your experience, email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The post I left San Francisco and moved to LA. Listed below are the 5 worst issues about leaving the Bay Space. appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Stevie Howell is a San Francisco born and raised artist who now lives in LA.

• Howell says she misses the support system that San Francisco provided her and her company.

• She finds LA socially distant and misses SF's diverse food, art and neighborhoods.

This essay is based on a conversation with Stevie Howell, an artist and business owner living in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was born and raised in San Francisco and spent six years of my adult life there before moving to Los Angeles about five years ago. I thought it would be a very simple step, but I was surprised by some things that a big city like LA doesn't have compared to a small city like San Francisco.

People love to hate San Francisco – I recently heard the word “war-torn” used to describe it – but the truth is that it is beautiful. The city has parks and incredible views and the hills are scenic and fun to drive up and down. There's great architecture – from colorful Victorian buildings to the monstrous Salesforce Tower – and easy access to the ocean and bay.

It is a well-planned urban space and the city continues to make careful decisions to make it visually appealing and stimulating.

Although LA is much larger than San Francisco, unlike San Francisco, LA does not feel urban. Here are, in my opinion, the five worst things about leaving the San Francisco Bay Area and moving to LA.

1. LA is feeling socially distant

LA feels like a vast network of suburban enclaves. In San Francisco I feel an urban feel – this hustle and bustle and people moving around instead of staying in their houses like in LA.

San Francisco is relatively densely populated, so you can know your neighbors, walk for coffee or grocery shopping, meet up with a friend at the last minute, or walk across town for dinner rather than all evening have to spend to get there like we do in LA.

2. I miss the diverse food, art and neighborhoods

As you walk around you can hear a mix of languages ​​and taste different cuisines. There is amazing food and so many creative chefs doing great things. A few restaurants I miss the most are Flour + Water (Italian), Mandalay SF (Burmese food), Marnee Thai (Thai), La Taqueria (Mexican), and Swan Oyster Depot (Seafood).

I've heard the art world in San Francisco described as “provincial,” but it's home to both great galleries and important collections. Some of my favorites include Jessica Silverman Gallery, SFMOMA, Rebecca Camacho Presents, and Minnesota Street Project.

Additionally, each neighborhood has its own identity, personality and unique characters.

3. I miss San Francisco's support system

I loved the community I had in my studio; It's a sense of community that I haven't found in any other city.

My art studio was at the end of an old wooden building among a row of beautiful old brick warehouses and shipbuilding facilities. Other artists lived in the building and we helped each other. We referred each other to new clients, presented each other's work to the press, and shared resources for opportunities.

As an artist and business owner, I founded my eco-friendly textile and wallpaper collection business in San Francisco in 2013. I don't think I would have ever started a business in any other city. San Francisco breeds entrepreneurship that extends beyond the world of technology.

4. I miss the culture and philanthropic spirit of San Francisco

I live in San Francisco and have noticed that many of its companies have a good environmental or social mission. I miss the philanthropy that is embedded in the city. People care about the world and each other.

While San Francisco has done many things right, one thing it has done wrong is the way it has handled — or failed to handle — the homelessness crisis. It's due to how the city deals with drug addiction, mental illness and the high cost of living. Many other cities in the US are facing similar problems, and like other cities, it is disturbing to see.

But I believe that for the most part, San Francisco still has the same caring heart and soul that it has had for years. People care about their neighbors, their parks, and the world in general.

5. I miss the Bay Area's accessibility to nature

There are so many great green spaces and beaches within easy reach around the Bay Area. During your lunch break you can go for a hike. Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, Bernal Heights Hill, Dolores Park, Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, Angel Island and Rodeo Beach are great places.

When I lived in San Francisco, I served on a conservation committee at Golden Gate National Park and was able to learn in depth about the amount of thought that goes into each plant planted in the city and the education and research that takes place in the parks takes place in the city.

Access to nature and natural beauty is also what made the Bay Area such an incredible place to grow up. There really is a mix of indoor and outdoor learning that can't be compared to LA or anywhere else I've lived.

If you've moved to a new city or state and would like to share your experience, email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The post I left San Francisco and moved to LA. Listed below are the 5 worst issues about leaving the Bay Space. appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

CNN
—

Als John Flores und Michael Leitz nach einem Zuhause für den nächsten Lebensabschnitt suchten, stellten sie fest, dass ihr Wohnort in San Francisco zu teuer war.

Stattdessen begannen sie, weiter in die Ferne zu schauen – und kauften schließlich ein wunderschönes, 120 Jahre altes, dreistöckiges Haus im ländlichen Spanien für weniger als 50.000 US-Dollar.

Sowohl Flores als auch Leitz arbeiteten vor ihrer Pensionierung im Bildungswesen in den USA – Leitz war Geschichtslehrer an einer High School, während Flores Verwaltungsangestellter an der UCLA war.

Obwohl sie sagten, dass sie beide ihren Lebensstil in San Francisco genossen, erkannten sie, dass es unbezahlbar wäre, in einer Mietwohnung zu leben und deren Renten weit unter ihrem Gehalt lägen.

„Europa war für uns eine naheliegende Wahl“, sagte Leitz. „Ich bin teils Deutscher, teils Ire, daher hatte die Familie europäische Wurzeln. John ist zum Teil Mexikaner, was für eine spanische Verbindung sorgt, und er spricht auch fließend Spanisch.

„Der kalifornischen Lebensart kommt man in Europa am nächsten, man kann sie in Spanien finden, daher fiel uns die Wahl leicht.“

Gonzalo Azumendi/Stone RF/Getty Images

Das Paar begann seine Wohnungssuche in der spanischen Stadt Valencia, fand es aber zu teuer.

Leitz und Flores sind nicht allein. In den letzten Jahren sind immer mehr Amerikaner aus geschäftlichen Gründen und im Ruhestand nach Europa gezogen – wobei sich Spanien laut einem Bericht des Migrationsberatungsunternehmens Global Citizen Solutions zu einem Top-Reiseziel entwickelt hat.

Ein Teil der Attraktivität ist wahrscheinlich auf Spaniens ganzjährig mildes Klima und einen entspannten Lebensstil gepaart mit relativ günstigen Grundnahrungsmitteln, einschließlich hochwertiger Speisen und Weine, zurückzuführen.

Auch Visa- und Aufenthaltsbestimmungen wurden in den letzten Jahren deutlich erleichtert. Spanien möchte ausländische Staatsangehörige zum Leben und Arbeiten anlocken, um einem enormen Entvölkerungsproblem, insbesondere in ländlichen Gebieten, entgegenzuwirken, und heißt digitale Nomaden ebenso willkommen wie wohlhabende Privatpersonen, Rentner und Ferienhausbesitzer.

Den richtigen Ort zu finden und in ein anderes Land zu ziehen, war für Flores und Leitz keineswegs einfach.

„Wir waren uns bewusst, dass der Umzug nicht ohne Hindernisse verlief“, sagt Leitz. „Ich hatte noch nie ein solches Unterfangen unternommen, aber viele Jahre bevor ich ihn traf, hatte John etwas Ähnliches in Phoenix gemacht, deshalb hatte er mehr Ideen als ich.“

Bei dem Umzug musste das Paar zwangsläufig zahlreiche Herausforderungen meistern. Der Kauf und Verkauf von Immobilien in Europa unterscheidet sich stark von den USA. Der gesamte Prozess ist viel formeller und umfasst Notare, Grundbuchämter und Beamte wie vereidigte Übersetzer.

Und dann sind da noch die Sprachbarrieren und Kulturschocks. Als Rentner mussten sich Flores und Leitz keine Sorgen um Schulen und Bildung machen – ein wichtiger Aspekt für angehende Expats, die mit Kindern nach Europa ziehen.

Siestas und verschlafene Sonntage

Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Foto

Schließlich ließen sie sich in der charmanten Marktstadt Xatavia nieder.

Da beide als Lehrer tätig waren, hatten sie reichlich Urlaub und nutzten diesen, um im Vorfeld ihres Umzugs Spanien und Europa zu erkunden.

Spanien ist ein riesiges Land mit vielen verschiedenen Regionen, von schneebedeckten Bergen im Norden bis zu den Stränden und Inseln des Mittelmeers. Es gibt ländliche Täler, kleine, romantische Dörfer und große Städte wie Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Sevilla und Malaga.

Flores und Leitz nahmen sich Zeit und reisten über mehrere Jahre hinweg überall hin, um kulturelle Veränderungen wie die langen Siestas in Spanien, zahlreiche Feiertage und die Tatsache, dass Geschäfte sonntags nicht geöffnet sind, einzuschätzen.

Nachdem sie sich für Spanien entschieden hatten und der Ruhestand noch einige Zeit entfernt war, begannen sie mit den Vorbereitungen, indem sie die Landessprache auffrischten – etwas, das sie bereits aus ihrem Leben in Kalifornien kannten.

„Mein Spanisch zu perfektionieren ist jetzt eigentlich meine Priorität, da alles andere geklärt ist“, sagt Leitz. „Für den Alltag ist es einfach so wichtig, mit den Arbeitern und den Einheimischen kommunizieren zu können.“

Als es um die Wohnungssuche ging, war ihre erste Station Valencia, eine wunderschöne Stadt und Hafenstadt am Mittelmeer im Südosten Spaniens.

Valencia – berühmt für Orangen, das Nationalgericht Paella, Architektur, Keramik und Kultur – wurde für drei Jahre ihre Heimat, da sie in Mietwohnungen lebten.

Michael Leitz

Das Paar beschloss, das Erdgeschoss seines neuen Zuhauses zu öffnen, um einen offenen und luftigen Raum zu schaffen.

Allerdings lag die Stadt außerhalb ihrer Preisspanne, wenn es um den Kauf einer Wohnung für ihre Renten ging. Sie waren auch auf der Suche nach einem ländlicheren Ort – am liebsten nach einem besseren Ort, den sie nach ihren Wünschen restaurieren konnten.

„Unsere Hobbys sind Geschichte und Kunst und wir wollten einen Ort, an dem beides sowie Natur und Wald vorhanden sind“, sagt Flores. „Eine weitere Überlegung waren öffentliche Verkehrsmittel und gute Zug- oder Busverbindungen in andere Teile Spaniens.“

Als sie die ländlichen Dörfer rund um Valencia erkundeten, entschieden sie sich schließlich für eine historische Kleinstadt namens Xativa, die über eine beeindruckende Burg und einen Wachturm sowie Museen, Kunstgalerien, Bars und Restaurants verfügt.

Entscheidend ist, dass es auch eine Schnellzugverbindung nach Valencia und darüber hinaus gibt.

Was das Paar wirklich anzog, waren die engen Gassen mit vielen älteren Gebäuden, die dringend renoviert werden mussten – einige ziemlich heruntergekommen, andere in einem vernünftigen Zustand.

Auch die freundlichen Bewohner – Einheimische wie auch andere Expats, die sich dort bereits glücklich niedergelassen hatten – überzeugten sie. Sie sagten, sie hätten ein Gemeinschaftsgefühl gespürt, das sehr ansprechend sei.

Nachdem sie sich für einen Wohnort entschieden hatten, galt es nun, eine passende – und bezahlbare – Immobilie zu finden.

Anstatt zu einem Immobilienmakler zu gehen, wandten sie sich an Idealista, eine der beliebtesten Immobilienverkaufs-Websites in Spanien, und fanden fast sofort einen Ort, der ihnen zusagte.

Händeschütteln und Hürden

Michael Leitz

Sie haben auch eine überdachte Terrasse voller Pflanzen angelegt.

Es war ein dreistöckiges Steingebäude, groß genug für ihre Bedürfnisse und zu einem vernünftigen Preis angeboten. Sie sagten, sie seien überrascht, wie niedrig die Preise im Vergleich zu Valencia und anderen Orten in Spanien seien, die sie sich angesehen hatten – und natürlich im Vergleich zu den USA.

Es bestand aus mehreren kleinen Räumen im Erdgeschoss, nur einem Badezimmer und zwei Schlafzimmern. Sie konnten das Potenzial erkennen.

Der nächste Schritt waren Inspektionen, um sicherzustellen, dass das Haus baulich einwandfrei und wetterfest war.

Dann war da noch die rechtliche Seite des Kaufs – etwas kompliziert durch das Alter des Gebäudes – es ist etwa 120 Jahre alt. Wie so oft im ländlichen Spanien gingen im Laufe der Jahre viele Aufzeichnungen verloren. In früheren Zeiten wechselte Eigentum häufig per Handschlag den Besitzer.

Schließlich handelten sie mit dem Verkäufer einen Preis von 45.000 Euro inklusive Steuern aus. Es gelang ihnen, eine Hypothek aufzunehmen, was bedeutete, dass die Bank einen Teil des Papierkrams erledigte.

Nachdem der Kauf abgeschlossen war, begannen sie, Pläne zu schmieden. Sie beschlossen, die Innenwände im Erdgeschoss herauszureißen, um einen großen, hellen Raum zu schaffen. Das Obergeschoss würde ebenfalls umgestaltet, um ein weiteres Schlafzimmer und ein Badezimmer zu schaffen. Sie wollten auch eine Klimaanlage installieren, was angesichts der hohen Sommerhitze in Südspanien eine Notwendigkeit war.

Nachdem ein lokaler Architekt und Bauunternehmer gefunden wurde, der bereit war, die Arbeiten für 40.000 Euro (ca. 44.000 US-Dollar) zu übernehmen, begannen die Arbeiten im Erdgeschoss.

„Hier fanden wir die meisten Probleme“, sagt Flores.

Sehen Sie sich diesen interaktiven Inhalt auf CNN.com an

„Es gab vier kleine Zimmer und der Raum fühlte sich ziemlich eng an. Außerdem war die Decke ziemlich niedrig, also haben wir den Architekten gebeten, nachzusehen, ob darüber feste Balken vorhanden sind. Es gab welche, und keine davon erwies sich als faul. Dennoch sprühten die Arbeiter alles mit einer speziellen Lösung ein, um zu verhindern, dass Holzwürmer in die Balken gelangen.

„Nachdem die Trennwände entfernt worden waren, hatten wir einen großen, luftigen und sonnigen Raum und die Decke wurde um 3 bis 4 Fuß angehoben. Das machte den Unterschied.“

Darüber hinaus entfernte das Paar das eine Schlafzimmer im Erdgeschoss und erweiterte das Hauptschlafzimmer im zweiten Stock um einen begehbaren Kleiderschrank, ein Gästezimmer und ein weiteres Badezimmer mit Badewanne und Dusche.

Dann folgten die letzten Handgriffe. Es gab keinen Garten, sondern eine überdachte, geflieste Terrasse.

„Wir haben darüber nachgedacht, die Terrasse zum Himmel hin zu öffnen“, sagte Leitz. „Aber man muss den Einheimischen zuhören, die Bescheid wissen. Sie rieten uns dringend, die Terrasse geschlossen zu halten, da es manchmal zu starken Regenfällen kommt und das Haus überflutet werden könnte. Deshalb ist es jetzt mit einem transparenten Dach bedeckt, das viel Sonnenschein hereinlässt.“

Michael Leitz

Das Treppenhaus vor der Renovierung.

Sie verfügen nicht nur über eine Terrasse, sondern auch über eine Terrasse mit vielen Topfpflanzen. Um ihren künstlerischen Interessen nachzugehen, richteten sie im Dachgeschoss ein Atelier ein. Leitz sagt, dass er gerne malt, während Flores farbenfrohe Keramik herstellt. Ihre Werke sind im gesamten Anwesen ausgestellt.

Die Einrichtungsgegenstände sind eine Mischung aus aus den USA gelieferten Artikeln und lokalen Akquisitionen.

„Einige Dinge haben wir aus Kalifornien mitgebracht, darunter einen Perserteppich, der schon lange in Familienbesitz war, andere haben wir bei Ikea gekauft, aber unser bester Fund war ein Möbelgeschäft, das auf Immobilienverkäufe spezialisiert ist“, schwärmt Leitz. „Wir haben dort die schönsten antiken ländlichen spanischen Möbel gekauft.“

Die Renovierungsarbeiten am Haus dauerten etwa sechs Monate, doch es dauerte noch lange, bis die örtlichen Behörden eine Baugenehmigung erhielten.

Michael Leitz

Das neue, offene Treppenhaus.

Nachdem der Architekt Pläne, Anträge und andere Unterlagen eingereicht hatte, wurde das Paar bald mit dem Konzept von „mañana“ vertraut – ein Wort, das wörtlich „morgen“ bedeutet, in Spanien aber eigentlich jede Zeitspanne bedeuten kann.

„Das Schwierigste war das lange Warten auf die Genehmigung und der bürokratische Aufwand“, sagt Flores „Aber die Bauarbeiten selbst dauerten nur etwa sechs Monate und verliefen ohne größere Probleme, außer der Suche nach dem besten Platz für die Klimaanlagen.“

Nachdem die Arbeiten im Sommer 2022 abgeschlossen waren, konnten sie einziehen und sagen, dass sie nun vollständig in die Gemeinschaft integriert sind.

Sie haben viele Freunde gefunden, darunter Einheimische und andere Ausländer, und sagen, dass sie es lieben, wie sich alle auf der Straße begrüßen.

„Sogar unsere Katze, die mit uns aus Kalifornien kam, ist glücklich“ sagt Flores.

Sie haben sich auch an das Leben in einer kleinen, verschlafenen Stadt gewöhnt, in der zwischen 14 und 17 Uhr alles geschlossen ist

„Je älter wir werden“, sagt Leitz, „das ruhigere Leben passt zu uns.“ Wir brauchen keine Nachtclubs und Bars, obwohl wir manchmal Konzerte und Theater vermissen. Aber dann ist Valencia nicht mehr weit.“

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Eventually they settled on the charming market town of Xatavia.
(Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Photo via CNN)

By Inka Piegsa-Quischotte | CNN

John Flores and Michael Leitz. (Michael Leitz via CNN) 

When John Flores and Michael Leitz were looking for a home in which to spend the next stage of their lives, they realized that where they lived in San Francisco was too expensive.

Instead, they began looking further afield – eventually buying a beautiful 120-year-old, three-story home in rural Spain for less than $50,000.

Both Flores and Leitz worked in education in the US before retiring – Leitz was a high school history teacher while Flores was an administrator at UCLA.

While they said they both enjoyed their San Francisco lifestyle, they realized that it would be unaffordable to live in rented property on pensions much lower than their salaries.

“Europe was an obvious choice for us,” said Leitz. “I am part German and part Irish, so there were European roots from the family.  John is part Mexican, which makes for the Spanish connection, and he is fluent in Spanish too.

“The closest you can come to the Californian way of life in Europe is in Spain, so the choice was an easy one for us.”

Finding the right place

The couple began their home hunt in the Spanish city of Valencia, but found it too expensive.(Gonzalo Azumendi/Stone RF/Getty Images) 

Leitz and Flores aren’t alone. In recent years an increasing number of Americans have moved to Europe for business and retirement – with Spain emerging as a top destination according to a report by migration consultancy Global Citizen Solutions.

Part of the appeal is likely down to Spain’s year-round mild climate and a laid-back lifestyle paired with relatively cheap essentials, including high-quality food and wine.

RELATED: What’s the Bay Area’s most competitive rental market?

Visa and residency requirements have also been made much easier in recent years. Spain wants to attract foreign nationals to live and work to help counter a huge depopulation problem, especially in rural areas, and welcomes digital nomads as well as wealthy individuals, retirees and vacation homeowners.

Finding the right place and relocating to another country was by no means easy for Flores and Leitz.

“We were well aware that the move was not without obstacles,” says Leitz. “I had never undertaken an enterprise like this but, many years before I met him, John had done something similar in Phoenix, therefore he had more ideas than I had.”

Inevitably, the couple needed to navigate numerous challenges in making the move. Buying and selling property in Europe is very different to in the US. The entire process is much more formal, involving notaries, land registries and officials like sworn-in translators.

And then there are the language barriers and culture shocks. As retirees, Flores and Leitz didn’t have to worry about schools and education – a major consideration for would-be expats moving to Europe with kids.

Siestas and sleepy Sundays

Eventually they settled on the charming market town of Xatavia.(Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy Stock Photo via CNN) 

Since they both worked in the teaching profession, they had plenty of vacations and used them to go exploring Spain and Europe in anticipation of their move.

Spain is a huge country with many different regions, from snow-covered mountains in the north, to the beaches and islands of the Mediterranean. There are rural valleys, tiny, romantic villages and big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga.

Flores and Leitz took their time and traveled everywhere over several years, sizing up cultural changes like Spain’s long siestas, numerous public holidays and the fact that shops don’t open on Sundays.

Having decided on Spain and with retirement still some time away, they started preparations by brushing up on the local language – something they were already familiar with from living in California.

“Perfecting my Spanish is actually my priority now, that everything else has been resolved, “says Leitz. “It is just so important for everyday life to be able to communicate with workers and the locals.”

RELATED: California Exodus: Once growing rapidly, state population projected to remain the same through 2060

When it came to house hunting, their first stop was Valencia, a beautiful city and port on the Mediterranean in southeast Spain.

Valencia – famous for oranges, the national dish paella, architecture, ceramics and culture – became their home for three years as they lived in rented accommodation.

Fixer-upper

The couple decided to open up their new home’s ground floor to create an open and airy space.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

The city was, however, out of their price range when it came to buying a place on their pensions. They were also looking for somewhere more rural – preferably a fixer-upper that they could restore to their liking.

“Our hobbies are history and art and we wanted a place where both were present, as well as nature and woods,” says Flores. “Another consideration was public transport and good train or bus connections to other parts of Spain.”

Exploring the rural villages around Valencia, they finally decided on an historic small town called Xativa, which has an impressive castle and watchtower as well as museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants.

Crucially, it also has a fast train connection to Valencia and beyond.

The couple says what really appealed was the narrow streets filled with plenty of older properties crying out for restoration – some quite rundown, others in reasonable shape.

They were also won over by friendly residents – locals as well as other expats who had already happily settled there. They said they sensed a feeling of community that was very appealing.

Having decided on a place to live, they now had to find a suitable – and affordable – property.

Instead of going to a realtor, they turned to Idealista, one of the most popular property vending websites in Spain, finding somewhere that appealed to them almost immediately.

Handshakes and hurdles

They also created a covered terrace filled with plants.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

It was a three-story stone building, big enough for their needs and offered at a reasonable price. They said they were surprised how low prices were compared to Valencia and other places in Spain they’d looked at – and of course as compared to the US.

It consisted of several small rooms on the ground floor, just one bathroom and two bedrooms. They could see the potential.

The next step was inspections to confirm the house was structurally sound and weatherproof.

Then there was the legal side of the purchase – complicated slightly by the building’s age – approximately 120 years old. As is often the case in rural Spain, many records had been lost over the years. In times gone by, property frequently changed hands with a handshake.

Eventually, they negotiated with the vendor a price of 45,000 euros (about $48,000) including taxes. They managed to secure a mortgage, which meant that the bank took care of some of the paperwork.

After finalizing the purchase, they began to make plans. They decided to rip out internal walls on the ground floor to create one large, light space. Upstairs would also be reconfigured to produce another bedroom and bathroom. They also wanted to install AC, a necessity given southern Spain’s high summer heat.

RELATED: 841,065 left California. Where will you find them?

After finding a local architect and builder willing to take on the work for 40,000 euros (about $44,000), work began on the ground floor.

“This is where we found the most problems,” Flores says.

“There were four small rooms and the space felt rather cramped. Also the ceiling was quite low, so we had the architect look and see if there were any solid beams above. There were, and none of them turned out to be rotten. Nevertheless, the workers sprayed everything with a special solution to prevent woodworm getting into the beams.

“After the dividing walls were removed, we got one big, airy and sunny room and the ceiling was lifted by 3-4 feet. This made all the difference.”

In addition, the couple removed the one bedroom on the ground floor and extended the master bedroom on the second floor, adding a walk-in wardrobe, a guest bedroom and another bathroom with tub and shower.

Then came the final touches. There was no garden, but a covered tiled patio.

“We considered opening the patio up to the sky,” Leitz said. “But you have to listen to the locals in the know. They strongly advised us to keep the patio closed because there are sometimes strong rainfalls and the house could be flooded. So, it is now covered with a transparent roof which allows lots of sunshine.”

The quiet life

The staircase before the renovation.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

Not only do they have a patio but also a terrace with plenty of potted plants. To indulge their artistic interests, they installed a studio in the attic. Leitz says he loves to paint while Flores makes some colorful ceramics. Their works are displayed throughout the property.

Furnishings are a mix of items shipped from the US and local acquisitions.

“Some things we brought back from California, among them a Persian rug that had been in the family for a long time, some we bought in Ikea, but our best find was a furniture shop that specializes in estate sales,” Leitz says enthusiastically. “We bought the most beautiful antique rural Spanish furniture there.”

Work to renovate the house took about six months, but that followed the considerable time taken to get building permission from local authorities.

The new, open plan staircase.(Michael Leitz via CNN) 

After the architect submitted plans, applications and other paperwork, the couple soon became familiar with the concept of “mañana” – a word that literally means “tomorrow,” but in Spain can actually mean any length of time.

“The most difficult part was the long wait for the permit and the red tape,” says Flores  “ But the building work as such took only about six months and went without major problems except to find the best place for the AC units.”

With work completed in summer 2022, they’ve been able to  move in and say they are now fully integrated in the community.

They have made many friends, including locals and other foreigners, and say they love how everyone greets each other in the street.

“Even our cat that came from California with us is happy,” says Flores.

They’ve also gotten used to life in a small, sleepy town where everything shuts between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“As we get older, “ Leitz says, “the quieter life suits us. We don’t need nightclubs and bars although we sometimes miss concerts and theaters. But then, Valencia is not far away.”

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• Nick Burns made a horizontal move at his company and transferred from San Francisco to Singapore.
• The COVID-19 guidelines were strict when he first moved, but he loves his new home.
• Despite missing Mexican food and his car, he plans to stay in Singapore during his earning years.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nick Burns, a 32-year-old tech worker in Singapore. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Connecticut and studied nuclear-energy engineering technology before joining the Navy in 2011. I worked on a submarine, so I moved around a lot. I was stationed in South Carolina, New York, and Hawaii and visited places like Singapore.

I fell in love with Singapore the first time I visited. I loved the food and the culture, and it became a dream to move there one day.

Right after my contract with the Navy ended in 2017, I moved to San Francisco to work at Tesla, and then I took a job at my current company, KLA. I took the job knowing it was based in San Francisco, but I kept telling my boss that I would be interested in moving to Singapore if the opportunity arose.

In early 2020, KLA opened a branch in Singapore, and I accepted a horizontal transfer. Singapore had very strict COVID-19 policies, so I didn’t do much socializing for my first couple of years.

Once Singapore opened up, I met new people at parties, dinners, and barbeques. In December, I married a Singaporean woman. I can’t see us leaving anytime soon.

Singapore is so safe that it’s difficult to explain to Americans

I lived in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Nearly every time I got off the Bay Area Rapid Transit trains in the city at night, I would see people using and selling drugs. My car was also broken into frequently.

In Singapore, if you’re at a Starbucks and need to go to the bathroom, you can leave your laptop, wallet, and phone on the table, and you can be almost certain it will be there when you return.

If you’re a woman, you can walk around the city at any time of day or night; there’s really no area that’s considered unsafe.

If a person is convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore, they could face the death penalty, so you don’t see people using drugs. There’s also very little homelessness and almost no gun crime.

I love the food, the weather, and the location

I prefer being hot over being cold, so the weather here suits me.

The food is really good because the surrounding countries — including Malaysia, India, and China — heavily influence Singaporean culture. I love very spicy food, so mala and hotpot are my favorites. I like to order 大辣 (big spicy) occasionally, but I limit that to once a month since it takes a toll on my body.

Singapore has big street markets with various food stalls that sell what’s known as “hawker” food. I eat that at the office most days. For $3.71, I usually get noodles and dumpling soup. When working from home, I like to go to my local hawker 菜饭 (economic rice) stall and get a portion of pork, chicken, and rice for $2.08.

If I’m ever bored, I can travel to other countries quickly and easily. Because the airport is so big and there are so many flights, you can easily go to Vietnam, Thailand, or Bali for a weekend trip.

Taxes and healthcare are both cheaper

Income tax in Singapore tops out at 22%. Even though I have to file my taxes in both Singapore and the US, I still end up paying less.

Healthcare isn’t free, but it’s much cheaper than in the US. I recently jammed my toe so hard, I was convinced it was broken. I went to the emergency room, got X-rays, and saw a doctor, and it cost under $200. I imagine that would’ve cost thousands of dollars in the US.

Culturally, there are some differences

In Asia, sharing food is very common and expected. For me, if I go to a restaurant and see a dish I think I would like, my instinct is to just order it for myself and eat it.

Like many other Singaporeans, my wife prefers to order a bunch of dishes for the table. I still prefer to just eat my dish myself.

Singapore is quite diverse, and people live comfortably with each other. I occasionally get stares in certain areas, but overall, people are friendly. Many Europeans and Americans work here, so I don’t stand out too much.

One cultural difference I can’t get past is taxi driving. Many drivers pump the accelerator, so it’s never a smooth ride and you feel nauseous the whole time as the passenger.

The things I miss the most about America are Mexican food and my car

Coming from California, Mexican food is important to me. It’s just not very good here in my opinion.

As an American, living without a car feels like not having freedom, but I think buying a car in Singapore is financially irresponsible unless you have many kids and need to move around. Here, you could order a taxi or private hire car to drive you around daily for about the same price as owning a car.

Public transportation here is extremely clean, ubiquitous, and reliable, so we mainly use that.

I’ll happily return to America to visit but not to live

Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but when I lived in San Francisco, the rent was even more expensive. The salaries in the Bay Area are much higher than in Singapore, but taxes are much lower here, so it balances out.

My brother’s getting married this year, and I plan to get into a rhythm of taking an annual trip home, but I want to stay in Singapore permanently during my earning years.

My dream is to one day renounce my US citizenship in favor of a Singaporean one. Then I could see myself retiring in Thailand, Bali, or somewhere more affordable.

The post I Moved From San Francisco to Singapore and I am so A lot Happier appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Julia Stevens moved to San Francisco after visiting friends there and falling in love with it.
• She landed a new job and moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, with her partner in August.
• She says she isn’t concerned about safety and enjoys the outdoor activities but pays higher prices.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julia Stevens, a 25-year-old who recently moved to San Francisco. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was born and raised in Raleigh and started building my adult life there when I landed a job after college. Even though I loved it, I always dreamed of moving away from home and living in a big city.

I was open to living anywhere as long as it was in the US and I had friends nearby.

In August 2022, a few of my college friends who’d moved to San Francisco invited me to visit them.

I’d never been to San Francisco and didn’t know much about it

I’d heard SF was home to many technology companies and the oldest Chinatown in America. The day I got there, I was flabbergasted. I’d traveled in Europe during college; even still, San Francisco was the most beautiful and striking place I’d ever seen.

Candy-colored houses, the Pacific Ocean, and mountains in the distance surrounded me. My friends took me to popular spots like Dolores Park and Golden Gate Park, and people my age were everywhere. During that trip, I decided to move there.

In August 2023, I unpacked my boxes and started a new job in the city I fell in love with. Even though there’s talk about how SF has become a ghost town and is unsafe, I’ve had a different experience.

San Francisco was perfect for the career path I wanted to take

I majored in English and minored in environmental science. My first few jobs were for nonprofits, but I always aimed to work in communications in the climate-change and sustainability space.

SF has a big focus on climate, clean energy, and sustainability. Many companies like this are headquartered here because the state is known for its progressive policies. I knew that moving to this city would help further my career.

In May, I started applying for jobs. The process felt long, and I applied to dozens. In August, I landed a job at a PR agency focusing on cleantech, healthtech, and edtech.

Finding a job in a city I didn’t live in yet was challenging, but I included my intent to move to San Francisco in my cover letters and interviews. I also changed my location on LinkedIn from Raleigh to San Francisco so recruiters would be less confused by my profile.

I didn’t let the news affect my decision to move to San Francisco

I heard the news about SF struggling to recover after the pandemic. I was aware of the increasing homeless population, crime rates, and the amount of people struggling with addiction. I didn’t feel like these things made the city a bad place, and I understand that cities nationwide have similar problems.

It did make me a little nervous to move from a place like Raleigh, where the crime rate is low. But even in Raleigh I took safety precautions. I avoid walking by myself late at night, take rideshares home after a night out on the weekend, and am generally aware of my surroundings.

I don’t think the answer is pretending these problems don’t exist in San Francisco. I educated myself, and I’m interested in finding a community-based mutual-aid organization to volunteer with.

Moving across the country was easy because I didn’t have a lot

I moved with my partner, who also found a job here. Since we’re in our early 20s, we don’t have a lot of possessions or investment pieces. We offloaded our furniture to friends and sold items on Facebook Marketplace, then packed everything in our car and drove ourselves.

It was hard to look for apartments online without seeing them in person. I didn’t want to get scammed, so we stayed in an Airbnb for a month and explored different neighborhoods and apartments.

We used Zillow, Craigslist, and Facebook to find good deals and found the winner on Zillow. We’re paying nearly twice as much as we did in North Carolina, but I did receive a salary increase that reflects the higher cost of living here.

There’s a lot I love about this city that makes it better than Raleigh

I think SF is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen. Though Raleigh is very green, the Bay Area has stunning grassy hills, redwood trees, and native succulents that make it unique.

I’m outdoorsy and enjoy nature, and there are so many opportunities to go for hikes or explore towns nearby like Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz.

I’m also in a food paradise here. I’m close to some of the best Szechuan, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mexican, El Salvadorian, Eritrean, Taiwanese, Italian, Filipino, French, Arab, Burmese, and new American food I’ve ever had.

While my boyfriend and I share a car, we rarely use it. In Raleigh, you have to drive everywhere. Here, there are bus and subway systems. San Francisco is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in America, though I don’t have a bike yet.

The cost of living is the biggest downside

I wasn’t fully prepared for the high cost of living in SF. I knew I’d pay a premium to live here, but everything from gas to laundry is significantly more expensive than in Raleigh.

The trade-off is that living here, I have better access to amazing food, a vibrant social scene, incredible hiking, and a good transportation system.

I don’t know if I’ll live in San Francisco forever, because it’ll be difficult to purchase a home here. Plus I’m far from my family, who are all on the East Coast. But right now I love it here and enjoy exploring all the city offers.

The post I Moved to San Francisco Regardless of Negativity, and It is Price It appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

San Francisco became the poster child for a pandemic-era population drain that hit dense urban centers across the country, with the city losing some 30,000 people between 2020 and 2021.

But new data released by California’s Department of Finance on Tuesday showed that San Francisco is again attracting new residents, with the city experiencing the highest population growth from net migration among the state’s 58 counties over the last year.

San Francisco saw an increase of 4,682 net new migrants between July 2022 and July 2023, combining both domestic and international migration. Net new migrants is the number of people who moved in minus the number of people who moved out.  Overall, with births added in, the population of San Francisco increased by 4,925 to a total of 848,019.

The city’s 0.58% population growth ranked as one of the highest marks across a state generally characterized by population declines. In absolute figures, San Francisco’s number of new residents ranked No. 3 behind Alameda and Santa Clara counties, which have much larger populations and had more births than San Francisco. 

Los Angeles County, which ranks as the state’s most populous county with 9.8 million residents, saw its population fall by 15,217 people (-0.15%) over the past year. 

The Bay Area as a whole experienced population growth after the period of decline during the peak of the pandemic. But even with those gains, San Francisco’s population is still below where it was before the pandemic started: The city lost 29,013 people between 2020 and 2023, according to the report.

A statewide population decline has been ongoing since 2020. Before then, California’s population actually grew every year from 1959 to 2020, according to the Institute for Economic and Policy Research at Stanford University. 

California’s population decline was especially stark at the onset of the pandemic when deaths spiked and federal legal immigration was significantly curbed. Between 2020 and 2021, the state lost 295,000 people, state officials reported. 

California’s population is still shrinking, but state officials noted the pace of population decline is slowing as pandemic shutdowns have abated and foreign immigration has recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Last year, the state lost about 37,200 people.

The population estimates reported by the state are drawn from a number of data sources including birth and death counts from public health officials, address change data and school enrollment numbers. 

Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to info@sfstandard.com

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