[Magdalen] Wrent woes.

[M J _Mike_ Logsdon]

Last August, my rent went from $995 to $1200.  Just 12 months later, this coming August, it will (so I'm told and led to believe by credible testimony) go to $1400.

My rent outstripped my cost of living increases with the County years ago.

Now, before the Usual Suspects (grin) tell me to move, let me say that I have done my homework, and today confirmed it with a co-worker who lives across the street and rents from the same property manager, and the Sad Truth is, ....... the battle rolled up its sidewalks some time ago, it seems.  The average 2-bedroom apartment in Salinas starts around $1300, and goes UP from there on an annual basis.  My place lands basically squarely in the middle, meaning it can go much higher, depending.  It seems the culprit is (PACE my friends in immediately Northern Climes) an understandable invasion of Southern Silicon Valley into a (CURRENTLY) more affordable housing field.  I asked my friend "When does it stop going up?"  He said (and he learned this from several local property managers as he was looking for more affordable digs recently) -- "When no one will pay it anymore."

So, either a large portion of us Salinians willingly lives in the streets in protest, or we blow up (PACE said friends) Silicon Valley.

It's just damned sickening.  I'm lucky, I know, because I can survive it all.  But everything in proportion, as they say.  Proportionally speaking, I'm being robbed blind.  And yes, proportionally speaking, it f*****g hurts.