California voters say gas prices are a serious problem as doubts about transit persist, according to a UC Berkeley survey co-sponsored by The Times.
Coronavirus cases are dropping and the state’s unemployment rate is on the decline, but most California voters still say the Golden State is headed in the wrong direction, with high gasoline prices, low housing affordability and persistent homelessness cited as the biggest challenges.
The pain of high gasoline prices, which last month reached a statewide average of $5.73 a gallon — up $1.79 from a year ago, is felt most keenly by lower-income Californians, Black and Latino residents and those under 30, according to the survey. Lorena Mendez, an airline catering company worker at Los Angeles International Airport, struggles weekly deciding how to fill her tank and buy groceries, among other household expenses. She bought a house in Bakersfield because housing is more affordable there, but her commute to LAX is two hours in each direction. On some days, rather than driving home she stays with her mother, who lives closer to her job, to save on gas.
“I was barely able to pay my bills, and now with everything getting more expensive, it’s a struggle,” she said.Gasoline prices have reached record highs in Los Angeles, but convincing tens of thousands of Angelenos to leave their gas guzzlers at home is still a hard sell for many. In 2016, Los Angeles County voters showed just how frustrated they were with traffic. They approved a half-cent sales tax that will pump out $120 billion over four decades to further build out a massive rail system that can carry commuters from the foothills to the sea and to make highway improvements.
Registered Democrats favored the project 73% to 18%, but Republicans opposed it 66% to 25%. Nonpartisan voters supported the project 55% to 35%.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California man admits buying hundreds of MacBooks stolen from Tesla, Stanford University and U.C. BerkeleyA California man took nearly 1,000 Apple laptops from major schools including Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley as well as from Tesla and resold them to out-of-state buyers, knowing full well that they had been stolen.
Read more »
California reparations panel to meet in San FranciscoGov. Gavin Newsom created the two-year reparations task force in 2020, making California the only state to move ahead with a mission to study the institution of slavery.
Read more »
Russia’s war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food suppliesThe war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.
Read more »
California Shop Owner Fires At Thieves, Hits Girl Waiting For Easter Bunny At MallThe Southern California shoe store owner fled the state and was arrested in Nevada, authorities say. The girl was left with three gunshot wounds.
Read more »
Gov. Abbott's new border policies spur backlash among many – Republicans includedDemocrats say the governor’s plans to bus migrants out of state are inhumane, while some Republicans are calling his latest moves a campaign gimmick.
Read more »