Would LA be the Capital of West California?

CONNCECTING CALIFORNIA-Yes, yes, it won’t happen. But Six Californias is so much fun that it’s become the summer story of 2014. 

Proponent Tim Draper foolishly won’t let states name themselves but his initiative is silent on a crucial question: the location of capitals of the new state. The Internet abhors a vacuum, so let’s fill it with some possible capitals for the six states. 

JEFFERSON 

Favorite as capital: Redding, right in the middle. 

Dark horse: Eureka, cool on the coast and permitting Jefferson to take California’s motto with them. 

Best choice: Medford, Oregon, since Jefferson would quickly become a poor client state of Oregon, where southern counties have agitated for a split as well. 

NORTH CALIFORNIA 

Favorite: Sacramento, because they already have the dome and everything. 

Dark horse: Mill Valley, because Marin folks would see other counties as beneath them. 

Best choice: Fairfield, as a nod to the most important place in the state – the Delta. 

SILICON VALLEY 

Favorite: Whoever wins the war between San Francisco and San Jose. 

Dark horse: Oakland, as a compromise choice if things get out of hand. 

Best choice: Monterey, which people actually want to visit. 

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 

Favorite: Fresno, the biggest city in the new state. 

Dark horse: Bakersfield, with oil money and political pull. 

Best choice: Visalia, a little gem that would be a good ambassador for a poor state. 

WEST CALIFORNIA

Favorite: Los Angeles, because it’s LA. 

Dark horse: Santa Barbara, pretty and central for a state that goes all thew way north through San

Luis Obispo County. 

Best choice: Long Beach, as symbol of this state’s commitment to trade and to give a boost to a big city that could use one. 

SOUTH CALIFORNIA 

Favorite: San Diego, South California’s Finest City. 

Dark horse: Riverside, a working-class crossroads in the new state. 

Best choice: San Clemente, because it’s a beautiful place to think.

 

(Joe Mathews is Connecting California Columnist and Editor, Zócalo Public Square, Fellow at the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It [UC Press, 2010]. This column was posted first at foxandhoundsdaily.com)  

-cw

 

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CityWatch

Vol 12 Issue 61

Pub: Jul 29, 2014