A lot of it (Z placement back then in the Cold War days) had to do with nuclear hardening via geographical distancing from any major cities which would be in the crosshairs for a nuclear strike. This is also why the ops floor portion of a Z (and probably high level tracons) is shielded with corrugated alloy for protection against EM radiation (a byproduct of nuclear fission and fusion) as well as common interference. (A lesser but coincidental issue)
You are right and the agency saw that too by giving the zau controllers time off awards amd the C90 controllers a commemorative coin.
Except affordable housing.
You could offer me 100% CIP money at ZOA and I still wouldn't go.
At first I thought you were being sarcastic, but reading it again I think you’re actually serious… people don’t travel from all over the world to go Oakland. Even the raiders left because it was so shitty.
As of March 2026, the median home sale price in Oakland, CA, is approximately $870,000, with homes selling in about 15 days.
If I were dedicated to the bachelor or DINK life and didn't have any family ties, I'd definitely consider choosing ZOA and get a condo or small townhouse.
So when it comes to the Bay Area, you’re probably not going to be crossing the bridge to Oakland on a regular basis. Traffic is insane. It can take hours. Oakland is the wrong side of the bay for sure, you’ll almost certainly have to live on the side you work, which does limit your options more.
I’m not super familiar with the bay but I am with California. It’s just a way of life you have some sort of commute. Isn’t ZOA near a BART station. I had a buddy rebate there and he was saying you could actually take transit. Not totally sure.
For tower AG, it is. Cost of living increases in most of the western United States has made it unaffordable to be stuck in a low level tower long term although it’s not exclusive to California.
Oddly enough, two center facility identifiers are actually set by the actual town they’re in, (on a random note). ZAU = Aurora, IL; ZOB = Oberlin, OH.
California immediately gets a bad rap from Midwesterners (I know because I’m one).
This is what I gathered there as well, having visited with an outside looking in perspective. Expensive, but literally anything you want to do is within reach.
California isn’t “good” or “bad” it’s just profoundly more expensive than just about any other place. For a profession that’s taken a 30% functional pay cut due to inflation and a decline in purchasing power that’s a terrible combo. There are also huge gaps at facilities like that, older people who got the real estate deals of a generation from 2008-2010 and those who will struggle to get out of renting. If pay kept up, California wouldn’t be so bad. I hear the traffic is fun, some of the facilities have great management but you’re getting body blows financially, and it’s worse the lower level you get to. The cost of living is the primary reason everyone I know whose left CA facilities has cited.
