Seems to me the one thing that ‘New California’ lacks is a sheltered deep water port. So any tax imposed on ‘Old California’ can quickly be made up by imposing heavy taxes on goods coming into the country through its ports. Losing game for New Ca.
Not if Contra Costa County is included. Tankers deliver crude oil to refineries in Martinez (Shell& Tesoro), Phillips (Rodeo), and Chevron (Richmond). Also the San Joaquin River is deep water all the way to Stockton.