[amluto]

There’s also the cost of utilities (which are entirely out of control in the investor-owned utilities regions in CA, and the CPUC seems to be asleep at the wheel). This obviously drives up the cost of everything else.

And, for small businesses, there are the frankly rather silly taxes on small businesses. Want to be a small business doing business in the Great State of California? You will pay $800/year (minimum) for the privilege. Does the state get any value whatsoever from this?

Want to employ anyone? Prepare for a whole pile of taxes, each of which is small, but you need to do an utterly absurd amount of paperwork.

Would it kill the state of California to let a business employ someone and fill out one form and pay one tax?