European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 2, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday March 2, 1986 by Robert Lindsey new York times Stockton is the California town the okie called the end of the  years ago it was the last Stop in along migration of people from the nation impoverished dust bowl that helped turn Stockton and other towns like it in California s vast Central Valley into a Bountiful agricultural area. Now Stockton is the Hub of one of America s fastest growing metropolitan areas part of a fundamental shift in the settlement of California. For the first time the population in a 600-mile spine in the Interior of the state is growing faster than the narrow strip beside the Pacific coast where Urban growth in the state was entered for More than a Century. That growth gave birth to such major cities As san Diego los Angeles san Jose and san Francisco. In absolute numbers officials say that coastal cities still draw the most people. But on a percentage. Basis they say the fastest growing cities Are in the Interior of the state Many of them agricultural centers such As Stockton Bakersfield Fresno Rancho Cucamonga san Bernardino Modesto Visalia Chico Sacramento and Yuba City. The newcomers to the Interior Are seeking less congestion and pollution and Are attracted by housing costs that Are considerably lower than those along the coast. But they Are also finding that High paying jobs Are in Short Supply. According to the census Bureau California s population increased 11.4 percent to 26.4 million from 1980 to mid-1985. The National growth rate that period was 5.4 percent. If anything state officials say the growth rate has increased since then As a result of growing migration from other states and a continuing tide of immigrants Legal and illegal from Mexico Central America and Asia. After a Lull said Elizabeth Hoag a state demographer migration to California from other states is going through the  the path of Inland growth begins in the South at Riverside situated on the Edge of the Mojave desert about 60 Miles Southeast of los Angeles and extends northward through the Central Valley to Sacramento where there Are branches extending to Redding and Santa Rosa North of san Francisco. Most of the towns in the Valley Are growing very fast Hoag said along with what we Call the Gold  she was referring to rapidly urbanizing communities such As Placerville Oakhurst and Nevada City in the Foothills of the High Sierra East of the Central Valley that in the mid-1800 s lured people in the Gold Rush. According to the census Bureau the population of the Stockton metropolitan area a port of the san Joaquin River that was a major jumping off Point for the forty liners increased 14.8 percent to 388,000, from 1980 to mid-1984. This was the latest figure available on metropolitan area populations. Electronic manufacturing plants often built by companies fleeing higher land and labor costs in the san Jose area 105 Miles to the West Are sprouting in new Industrial Parks. Although people Here emphasize that the nation s agricultural crisis continues to Hurt Many Farmers in the Valley and has dampened the rate at which new jobs have been created the area has a look of vitality. In Bakersfield an Oil and farming Community 230 Miles South of Stockton people at work on new office buildings shopping malls and suburban houses seem everywhere. The Bakersfield metropolitan area s population jumped 14.7 percent to 462,400, in the first four years of the decade. Officials attribute the increased population growth in California s Interior to several factors. More than a Century of intensive development along the states coastal strip they say has led to some of the nation s highest housing costs High operating costs for business and mounting complaints about the Quality of life. A modest three bedroom two Bath new House in Stockton costs about $80,000 in the coastal cities prices for comparable houses Start at about $125,000. Because they cannot afford a Home closer to work Many of the people colonizing the Rural areas of Oregon Yos mite National Park Central Valley Bakersfield California Rancho Cucamonga a v san / Bernardino Riverside san Diego Arizona affordable housing is among the lures of California s Central Valley. Riverside and san Bernardino counties Are driving an hour or More to work in Orange county on the coast of Southern California. Similarly in Modesto an agricultural Community 26 Miles North of Stockton mayor Peggy Mensinger says that More and More people Are commuting an hour or More each Way to jobs on the fringe of the san Francisco Bay area. They can find affordable housing in Modesto she says. A major Force behind the rapid growth of some communities such As Santa Rosa Redding and the Gold Rush counties officials say is the desire of Many californians to escape the traffic smog and congestion often found in the coastal cities. Not in the least concerned about feminism new York times there was a proverb once popular among italian men a woman is like an egg. The More she is beaten the better she  but it seems today s woman has developed a much harder Shell. As a result Many italian males Are finding it More difficult to be a Man today than it was 20 years ago. Men from Milan to Syracuse think the modern female is less respectful More demanding and far More critical than the women of their mothers generation according to a recent opinion Survey. Even worse in their estimation women Are now much too aggressive. And worst of All an italian male no longer has the satisfaction of the Conquest. These Are some of the findings of the Survey to be a Man today conducted by the Mccann Erickson advertising Agency in Milan. Fifteen Hundred men Between the Ages of 15 and 65 were interviewed by mail. A random sampling of italian males at All income Levels in nine major italian cities were asked to respond to questions in categories ranging from sexuality and the family to professional aspirations and personal  goal to discover just who wears All those Missoni sweaters Armani jackets and Valentino colognes and what makes them tick. One thing seems certain the contemporary italian male according to the poll does not feel entirely Defeated by feminism. Women May be disrespectful and Overly critical of men but More than eight out of 10 men interviewed find it much easier to have casual sexual relations today thai Ever before. Yet 28 percent insist they would never marry a woman who was not a Virgin. More than half of those surveyed believe their attitude toward women has improved while 35 percent complain that it is the attitude of women toward them that has deteriorated. The family the stronghold of italian society is still every bit As important to the men of the 1980s As it was to their forefathers. Two thirds of those questioned consider having a Happy family the essential ingredient for a successful life. Nearly All want children two is considered a Good number but the modern italian father said he found precious Little time to devote to discussion with his offspring on matters concerning their education. However the woman of their dreams is not Likely to be dynamic and enterprising Only 21 percent of those surveyed said they wanted such a woman or career oriented Only 6 percent said they would favor that or even sexy Only 13 percent said they wanted a sexy woman for a wife sixty nine percent of the men said they preferred a Sweet and affectionate person who would definitely be satisfied to remain at Home. And if italian women Are looking for help around the House they would be Well advised not to look in the direction of males. Only 17 percent of the men surveyed pitch in with Domestic chores on a regular basis and just a handful More said they Ever cooked for themselves. While a Man s Home life provides the Linchpin around which All else revolves it is his Job that gives him the greatest satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment. Nevertheless 41 percent More than half in the younger age groups would prefer to work Only half a Day. Italian children it seems Are weaned on four potent words of advice from their mothers make a Good impression. To look sensational even though you might be wearing the Only suit in your closet seems a National obsession. So it comes As no great Surprise that nearly everyone interviewed finds it crucial to like what they see in the Mirror each morning. What is surprising considering the temptations inherent in native italian cuisine is that the men Are equally concerned with what goes into their bodies. Nearly half of those surveyed said they watch what they eat and a Large majority said they limit their alcohol consumption. Only one out of five however practice a sport on a regular basis. While 70 percent of those interviewed said they liked to dress fashionably it seems it is not Only clothes that make the modern italian Man. Some 90 percent said they use toothpaste at least once a Day but the Survey had bad news for purveyors of deodorants after shaves colognes and face creams. Less than one fifth of the group Are interested in such accoutrements. So what do All these facts and figures Tell us ultimately about the italian Man of today has he changed much Over the years a few less eggs in his Basket perhaps but he seems essentially the same