This actor’s happy days in the California sun have come to an end.
Scott Baio, known for his role as Chachi in “Happy Days”, declared that he would depart from the Golden State because of its uncontrollable issue with homelessness.
“After 45 years, I’m making my way to finally ‘exit stage right’ from California,” The sitcom actor mentioned staggering statistics about homelessness in his tweet.
“‘The most recent survey conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found approximately 69,000 people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County and 41,000 in the city in 2022,’” Baio wrote on Twitter.
The actor known for his role in “Charles in Charge” criticized California’s lenient approach to crime, claiming that it has led to a high number of homeless people on the streets. He also tweeted that this situation “brings down property value” and that, despite living in California for many years “it’s just not a safe place anymore.”
After announcing his retirement on Twitter, the actor responded to negative comments by stating that his conservative beliefs were not missed by his fellow Californians.
Baio responded with a witty comeback after a Twitter user said he wouldn’t be missed in the Golden State.
“Maybe not, but they’ll certainly miss the high taxes I pay,” Baio replied.
According to Realtor.com, Baio put his Woodland Hills home on the market last month for $3.85 million. He had originally purchased the home for $1.85 million back in 2010.
The property, which spans 6,300 square feet, has five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and a home theater.
Baio has joined the large group of celebrities who are leaving California.
In recent years, well-known celebrities such as Joe Rogan, Mark Wahlberg, and Matthew McConaughey have relocated from Los Angeles to states like Texas and Nevada.
Between April 2020 and July 2022, approximately 500,000 California residents have relocated from the state.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the homeless population in California has increased by 6% since 2020, which is higher compared to the rest of the country where the population has increased only by 0.4%.
In California, there are over 115,000 unsheltered homeless people, making up 30% of the total homeless population in the United States in 2022.
According to Crosstown, the Los Angeles Police Department reported a total of over 229,000 crimes in 2022, which is an increase of 11.6% compared to the previous year.
Violent crimes in California went up by 6% from 2020 to 2021.