California, here we come (again)

Bob McAdams seems to have touched a nerve with his My Turn column published last Saturday. Under the headline “7 points to ponder on Idaho etiquette,” McAdams notes that many people continue to move to North Idaho from California “…for the quality of life, affordability of housing, and the exquisite beauty of the area.”

But, he writes, “…some bring many of the negative attitudes and lifestyles with them.” McAdams’ seven suggestions pretty much stick to a central theme: Relax. Be patient. Adapt, and things will be just fine even as the population grows.

It’s only at the end of the column that Bob discloses he’s a California transplant, too.

If we were putting together a list of North Idaho lightning-rod words, “Californian” would be right up there with “Muslim,” “Hillary” and “taxes.” And that’s not just our opinion. Last September, after an encounter with a nasty North Idaho driver whose sign read “California — Go Home!,” Ron Ekas of Glen Ellen, Calif., wrote the following in a letter to The Press:

Hey I understand you like your small town ways. I come from Sonoma, a small town too, that is growing fast like yours, because they are both wonderful places. I’m a retired police officer. I have family in Hayden & Spokane, that’s why I’m up there all the time. But let’s be real clear about one key point. This is America, and as an American-born citizen, each & every city in this country is my home. When she held up the sign, after nearly causing an accident with her aggressive maneuver, I thought that she was insane, but chuckled at her train of thought of, “See a California plate, start a confrontation.” The thing is, I agree with most of you up there in that money comes up there and encroaches upon your accustomed way of life. I’ve experienced the same thing here in “whine country” (that’s a good one by the way), but I don’t carry signs, I don’t tell people to go back where they came from…why? Because it’s America — Land of the Free. Get used to it though, because I’ll (and my fellow Californians) be back. Sorry if that bothers you, but as an American, I’ll go where the heck I please.

For our part, The Press has no agenda against California transplants, with a key stipulation: That like everybody else, they play by the laws of the land. We’ve editorialized that way consistently over the years, including this excerpt from last Sept. 7:

We know a great, great many native Californians who have adopted — and improved — North Idaho. Some are retired law enforcement and firefighters, the kind of people you not only want in your community, but hope end up buying the house next to you. Some are highly successful business people — the kind who buy second or even third homes here, pay far more than their fair share of taxes and demand little of public services in exchange. Most of the Californidahoans we know are just good people who came here for the same reasons those of us from Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona and elsewhere chose to make North Idaho home: This is one of the best places in all the land to live.

So there you have it. We applaud McAdams for his tasteful, constructive treatise and encourage everyone to freely share their opinions. No matter where you used to live, your letters to the editor are all welcome here.