‘Go back to California’: Wave of newcomers fuels backlash in Boise

California bashing is a cyclical sport with a long history in the heart of Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Growth spurts have more than doubled Boise’s population since the 1980 census. Four months before federal counters hit the streets here that year, a Washington Post headline crowed, “To Most Idahoans, A Plague of Locusts Is Californians.”

Boise mayoral candidate Wayne Richey.

LA Times  BOISE, Idaho — This city sure knows how to roll up the welcome mat — that is, if you happen to move here from California.
'Just consider last week’s mayoral election. It was the most competitive race in recent memory, a referendum on growth in the rapidly expanding capital of Idaho. And candidate Wayne Richey ran on a very simple platform: Stop the California invasion.
'His basic plan to fulfill that campaign promise? “Trash the place.”
'Richey figured that would be the best way to keep deep-pocketed Golden Staters from moving to his leafy hometown. He blames them for pushing home prices and rents up so high that Boiseans can’t afford to live here on the meager wages most Idaho jobs pay."  . . .