[Edit: I've heard CA is similar, but don't have personal experience there.]
Have personal experience with CA. It's not at all the same. NYC is a nightmare to work with, but CA agencies are quite easy to work with. The only other jurisdiction as bad as NYC is the state of Hawaii.
Other than during the tax filing season I can reach a live human at a CA agency (except the DMV) within a few minutes just by calling. Representatives are very helpful over the phone, and I've resolved many issues for clients and my employer (now that I'm in-house) just by calling.
CA's bureaucracy looks complex, but it's actually very easy to navigate, and if you need help, there are a great many government employees who would be happy to help.
Have personal experience with CA. It's not at all the same. NYC is a nightmare to work with, but CA agencies are quite easy to work with. The only other jurisdiction as bad as NYC is the state of Hawaii.
Other than during the tax filing season I can reach a live human at a CA agency (except the DMV) within a few minutes just by calling. Representatives are very helpful over the phone, and I've resolved many issues for clients and my employer (now that I'm in-house) just by calling.
CA's bureaucracy looks complex, but it's actually very easy to navigate, and if you need help, there are a great many government employees who would be happy to help.