CaliConservative

By Danielle Main

California and US flags flying in Southern California.

Photo By Danielle Main

From bustling Los Angeles to coastal San Diego, Southern California residents are grappling with mixed feelings about the state’s trajectory under Gov. Gavin Newsom, citing concerns over affordability, homelessness, and political priorities.

Economic pressures dominate conversations in the region, with rising costs for housing, fuel, and groceries taking a significant toll. In San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, locals express frustration over stagnant wages against a backdrop of inflation. 

A San Diego local entrepreneur captured the region’s sentiment. “ I am disappointed in the state; they are raising taxes, making it much harder to get by. Groceries have gotten too high. I know we want to save the planet with these great ideas, but to cram all of this down our throats in a four-year term. It’s costing us at the grocery store checkout line, and the cost of gas is rising. This should not be considered a Republican or Democrat issue; it should be considered an everyday average consumer issue.”

The state’s $321 billion budget, signed Friday, addressed a $12 billion deficit while preserving funding for social programs, but it has not quelled all concerns. 

Posts on X reflect similar polarization, with some users lauding Newsom’s defiance in a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News. 

In contrast, others call it a distraction from infrastructure and cost-of-living woes. A recent California Globe poll pegged Newsom’s approval at 34%, underscoring the residents’ concerns.

As California navigates wildfires, economic concerns, and political tensions, Southern Californian residents voice their concerns about their state and Newsom’s leadership falling short.