In an op-ed for the New York Post, Assemblymember David Tanigpa writes that Fresno is the future of California.

“I understand why young families are choosing Fresno. It’s one of the last places in California where you can still plant roots and buy into a community,” the Clovis Republican says.

“When young families in other parts of the state feel hopeless, they find hope here.”

Tangipa points to sky-high housing costs elsewhere in California as one reason families are moving to Fresno and surrounding communities.

“In September, the median home in California sold for just under $900,000. In Fresno, it was about $400,000. Less than half the price.

“And in Fresno, less really does mean more. More yard. More room to raise a family. Young families don’t want to raise their kids without a backyard. Here, $400,000 buys a great house with one. In LA or the Bay, that money won’t even get you most condos.”

You Can Build a Successful Life in Fresno

Tangipa, who is the Republican whip in the Assembly, also cites Fresno’s mid-state location, agricultural productivity, and commitment to combatting crime as reasons as community advantages.

“Fresno sits in the middle of the state, and nothing is out of reach. From Yosemite to the ocean, you can get to almost anywhere in California within hours,” he writes.

In closing, Tangipa says, “Put it all together and you get a place where a kid with nothing can build a life. I know, because I did.

“The California dream of owning a home, getting a college education, and making something of yourself still exists. You can find it in Fresno.”

Read more at the New York Post.