In the Bay Area it's expensive near job centers but it's still expensive 40 miles away. The sprawling mess is too low density to sensibly cover with trains so people end up with insane highway commutes.
California's problem is property taxes. Tax people fairly - not based on the time they joined the class of property owners - and our problems go away.
In New York you can get an apartment in Jackson Heights for $200k and take the F train to work.
https://www.redfin.com/NY/Corona/112-50-Northern-Blvd-11368/...
In the Bay Area it's expensive near job centers but it's still expensive 40 miles away. The sprawling mess is too low density to sensibly cover with trains so people end up with insane highway commutes.
California's problem is property taxes. Tax people fairly - not based on the time they joined the class of property owners - and our problems go away.