Michael Anastasi is as California as a Californian can be.
One side of his family descends from Francisco Salvador Lugo, a Spanish soldier who helped found the pueblo of Los Angeles in 1781 and whose son’s adobe is the oldest standing house in Los Angeles County. Another branch consisted of Italian fishermen who settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked alongside Joe DiMaggio’s father.
Anastasi grew up in Knights Landing, a predominantly Latino town in the Sacramento Valley where “you grew up reading and writing, ‘L.A. sucks.'” Yet he attended Long Beach State, where he found degree in journalism that led to a long stint in Southern California.
That part of his life culminated in 2015, when he was editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles News Group and the Torrance Daily Breeze won a Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for coverage of the High School District of Centinela Valley Union.
A few months after the victory, Anastasi moved his family to the Volunteer State to manage the Tennessean.
“It was the perfect time and place, but our [15-year-old] daughter was upset,” Anastasi told me over coffee and eggs at a Waffle House across from Nashville International Airport. He is 56 years old, fit but soft-spoken.
The people we ate around us were mostly Black and Latino. On the wall, the paper had words like “bacon” and “toast,” along with “What would you like to eat?” in English and Spanish.
“He said, ‘I hate Nashville, I hate Tennessee, I hate the South, and I hate you.’ Now, I’m a senior at the University of Tennessee,” he continued.
“We took a college trip to California when he was a senior in high school,” he added with a smile, “and my wife was kind of hoping he’d choose UCLA [his alma mater]. But at that time, my daughter told us that she lived in the South because ‘these are my people.'”
I was in Tennessee on assignment and wanted to meet Anastasi, whom I hadn’t seen in person since he moved seven years ago. He remains the managing editor of The Tennessean and is now the Southern regional editor for Gannett’s USA Today Network, overseeing the chain’s newsrooms across Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.
I was eager to see not only how Anastasi was doing, but how he was guiding his reporters in covering the great migration from California to Tennessee and other parts of the South.
As my colleague Sarah Parvini reported last year, many readers have already moved, are thinking about it, or know California movers who have. In just one afternoon after I went to Nashville, I met young adults – whites, Asians, Latinos – from Bell Gardens, Santa Maria, Santa Ana and Torrance who had found a good life. in Music City.
Todd Hood of Bold Patriot Brewing Co moved from Norco to Nashville in 2019 and opened his own brewery in the middle of the pandemic in 2020.
(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Anastasi says rumors of Tennessee’s upcoming move to Temecula are rife.
“They come from all over,” he said. “Not just California.” You have a lot of careless people who are not as liberal as other parts of California. ” He noted that people of all political parties are moving here for affordable housing, low taxes and more living space.
They arrive in Tennessee still looking and feeling like the country they left behind.
Latino students make up half of Nashville’s public school population. The city has one of the largest Kurdish populations in the United States. Questions about development, equity, gentrification and growth are rising — the very issues Californians have bemoaned for decades and that many hope to put behind them.
“All of today’s issues in California are happening here,” Anastasi said. “The limitless future against the conflicts of the past. That news is not common [in Tennessee]. But Californians are proud of their Southern history, even if they haven’t explored it the way Southerners have. ”
Tennessean editor-in-chief Michael Anastasi outside a Waffle House in Nashville. The California native has led the state’s largest newspaper since 2015.
(Gustavo Arellano/Los Angeles Times)
Anastasi’s transition from California to Tennessee was uneventful, yet the daughter’s drama. His mother-in-law had spent many years living in that district, and his mother-in-law lived with him for about the same time when he was managing Matensse. The only real cultural problems, he said, so far, have been accepting that Southern hospitality isn’t fake and “trying to learn about country music.”
Earlier, Anastasi hired journalists from California who could come with a different eye to document the area that he already felt was changing.
“People weren’t aware of the change that was happening under their feet,” Anastasi said. “All of us from California understand the power of diversity. People here are starting to understand it.”
He estimates that 10 former Californians have worked at the Tennessean since he started, drawn mostly by the low-cost lifestyle as a chance to continue their careers.
Anastasi said: “Four of them bought their first homes. Journalists became leaders. There is work, and then there are people we work with and help them in their lives. It was a terrible thing for them to help.”
One of those reporters was Jaime Cárdenas, a former LA Times sports reporter and LA Galaxy communications coordinator who worked for Anastasi at the Los Angeles News Group as a digital sports editor.
“My first reaction to the move was ‘hell, no,'” said Cárdenas, who joined us at Waffle House for — yes — the commotion. He was wearing a San Diego Padres hat. “But I knew Michael was a manager I could trust,” so he joined the Tennessean in 2016.
One of the first stories that Cárdenas recommended to Anastasi was to dive into the way Tejano legend Selena recorded her last album in Franklin, Tenn. , is now a public relations specialist for Gannett who lives in Tennessee. “Michael discovered that the South is nowhere near what we thought it was back in California.”
Anastasi keeps his secretary’s pipe. Earlier this year, he hired Keith Sharon, a longtime Orange County writer and podcast host whom Anastasi hailed as “our heavy hitter.”
I had a plane to catch, so I asked Anastasi one last obvious question: Is Tennessee home now?
He sits on the media advisory board for Middle Tennessee State, as well as several other community boards. “I can’t think of an argument to protect freedom” in the state of California, he said, pointing out that the state’s restrictions on housing development are the prices of people out of state.
“It’s not brain surgery,” he said. “I don’t know if it lasts. Here, I don’t have to pay so much. Being in California was something that makes you think that California is the pinnacle of America. ”
Anastasi is on the journalism advisory board at Long Beach State and has taught journalism there with his wife.
“For me, it’s California,” he said. “It is the most diverse campus in the system, with many first-generation students working hard and achieving what they set out to do.”
He returns every summer to Northern California to hunt and fish with his cousins and childhood friends. He said: “They continue to attack California, but they never left.”
“California has a towel that you can’t explain,” Anastasi decided as she reached for her wallet. But I love it in Tennessee, and this is the best job I’ve ever had.
He then showed me his Tennessee driver’s license and his expired California driver’s license.
He said: “I am a dual citizen.”
In general, Nashville is considered a safe place for travelers. That being said, Nashville has an above average crime rate, so visitors to Nashville should always be aware of their surroundings as they would in any other big city.
What is the most moved to state in 2022?
| Status (Maximum Number of Moves) | City |
|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA |
| 2 | Northern California (San Francisco area) |
| 3 | Chicago, IL |
| 4 | Long Island, NY |
What is the most common situation? These are the top ten that have gained popularity recently.
- Texas. According to the USPS, Texas will gain more than 12,700 residents in 2021. …
- Florida. …
- South Carolina. …
- North Carolina. …
- Georgia. …
- Tennessee. …
- Nevada. …
- Maine.
Is Nashville racially diverse?
For decades, blacks made up more than a quarter of Nashville’s population. During "our town" explosion in the last decade, many Asians, Latinos, Middle Easterners and others have been added to the mix. U.S. Statistics The Census Bureau shows non-Hispanic whites now make up only 55% of the city’s population.
What percentage of Nashville is black? It remained very black until this development was successful. From 2007 to 2011, African-Americans made up 67 percent of the total population, on average, census data show. But between 2012 and 2016, their average share had dropped to 50 percent.
Is Nashville still segregated?
60 Years After The End Of Segregation, Nashville Is Still A Long Way From Reconciliation. When some of the crowd started to break the windows of the first floor of the council house and the village hall, a woman stood a little apart from the crowd to raise her sign.
When did sit-ins start and end?
The Greensboro Sit-Ins were nonviolent protests in Greensboro, North Carolina, that lasted from February 1, 1960 to July 25, 1960. The protests led to the Woolworth’s store chain ending its policy of racism in its southern stores. United States.
What were the purpose of sit-ins?
Lunch sit-ins were a non-violent form of protest that was used to protest segregation during the civil rights movement, and often resulted in violence from counter-protesters. their message.
Is Nashville a white city?
(Nashville is 60.5 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic, 28.4 percent black and 3.1 percent Asian). The average family size is 2.63.
Is Nashville culturally Southern?
While many people in Nashville have Southern accents and fit the stereotypical Southern image, many people in the city are actually from other places. Over time, they pick up the decorum, begin to speak Southern slang and become carefree country people.
What is the blackest city in Tennessee?
Now predominantly black, the city of Memphis is home to more than four hundred thousand African Americans, making it one of the largest areas of this race. At least eight other municipalities have large African-American populations: Bolivar, Brownsville, Gallaway, Gates, Henning, Mason, Stanton, Whiteville.
Where do most blacks live in Nashville TN?
Williams says in Nashville, the historically Black neighborhoods – North Nashville, Edgehill and Edgefield – are close to the city, which makes the economy a big drag as well.
What town has the most black population?
New York City had the largest number of people reporting as Black at 2.3 million, followed by Chicago, 1.1 million, and Detroit, Philadelphia and Houston, which were has between 500,000 and 1 million.
What is the black population in Nashville TN?
Nashville Demographics According to the latest ACS, the racial makeup of Nashville was: White: 62.30% Black or African American: 27.35% Two or more races: 3.67%
What is it like to live in Tennessee?
You can go to a bustling city like Memphis or Nashville, or choose to live a quiet life in the Appalachian mountains. Tennessee offers rich culture, natural beauty and a low cost of living.
Is it worth living in Nashville? Compared to other cities in the United States, Nashville was ranked 23 out of 75 when comparing the high cost of living. While the city is still affordable, in 2019 it was ranked more expensive to live than Dallas, Baltimore and Atlanta. Residents spend a lot of money on rent and food.
Is Tennessee is a good place to live?
Famous for its country music, low cost of living, southern comfort food, and beautiful natural scenery, moving to Tennessee could be the best decision of your life. Ranked as the second cheapest state to live in the United States, and as the number one state for retirement, Tennessee is a great state to live in.
Why you shouldn’t live in Tennessee?
What is it like living in Tennessee?
You can go to a bustling city like Memphis or Nashville, or choose to live a quiet life in the Appalachian mountains. Tennessee offers rich culture, natural beauty and a low cost of living. Are you sure?
What is the quality of life in Tennessee?
According to a new study from the U.S. News and World Report, Tennessee is ranked #28 for quality of life. The study set natural and social contexts to create general information. Tennessee is ranked #24 and #32 in each category.
Is Nashville TN a good city to live?
Overall, Nashville received a score of 7.1 out of 10 in an assessment of the state of the local job market, housing affordability, quality of life and more. Nashville was the top-ranked city in Tennessee, ahead of Knoxville (46th), Chattanooga (55th) and Memphis (118th).
Is Nashville expensive to live in?
The annual cost of living comfortably in Music City rose to $80,548 this year, according to a new survey by personal finance management website GoBankingRates.com. Nashville, the most expensive city in the state, is home to some of the most expensive real estate prices in Tennessee.
What is it like to live in Nashville Tennessee?
Nashville has a great location. Because of its central location, Nashville residents are within a two-hour drive of several great destinations, including Chattanooga, TN. Residents also have easy access to The Great Smoky Mountains and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
What’s the average cost to move from California to Tennessee?
The average cost to travel from California to Tennessee and Allied is $5,064.19. Of course, this depends on many factors including the exact location of the move, the number of items being moved, and other moving services such as packing and unpacking.
Where do Californians move to in Tennessee? Californians keep moving to Nashville, a new perspective from the LA anchor. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) â The explosive growth of Music City can in many ways be attributed to the large number of people moving to California.
Where is it better to live California or Tennessee?
Quality of Life. Tennessee’s cost of living is the 5th highest in the nation – and the other good news – you won’t have to pay state income tax like you did in California. Tennessee is ranked 26th best place to live and 28th for quality of life while California is far behind at 50th for quality of life.
Why are people moving out of California to Tennessee?
A growing number of Californians say high taxes, a high cost of living and even politics are causing them to choose to leave the State. When Californians are looking for new cities to call home, Nashville has made it to the top of the list.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Tennessee?
The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 48.2% higher than in Nashville, TN. You would have to earn $88,943 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Los Angeles, CA typically pay 21.7% more than workers in Nashville, TN.
How much does it cost to move from Los Angeles to Nashville?
How much does it cost to fly from Los Angeles to Nashville? The average cost to fly from Los Angeles to Nashville is between $3,800-$8,000. That means on average it costs about $5,812.
What US cities have direct flights to Paris?
This includes Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA ), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD).
How long is the flight from Nashville Tennessee to Paris France?
The total flight time from Nashville, TN to Paris, France is 9 hours, 14 minutes.
How much does it cost to move from California to Tennessee?
Quick Answer: The average cost to travel from California to Tennessee ranges from $1,904 to $8,992. Moving costs will vary depending on the number of items being moved, the time of year, and whether you are hiring a company or moving on your own.
Why are so many Californians moving to Tennessee?
He said most of them cite Tennessee’s conservative politics as reasons for moving here, including personal liberties issues including mask mandates during the pandemic. Hadidsaz said he’s also hearing from Californians like Pangus who are taking action for reasons of affordability.
Can I afford to move to Tennessee?
Low property taxes and no state income tax are just two reasons why you can live comfortably in Tennessee. Citizens of the Volunteer State also enjoy a low cost of living in everyday goods and services.
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