From CalMatters financial system reporter Levi Sumagaysay:
As Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped by Colusa County on Tuesday on his tour touting his region-focused jobs techniquea brand new ballot strengthened that Californians have blended emotions in regards to the financial system.
Whereas the governor projected optimism about his financial plans, he additionally acknowledged that not everybody has a rosy view. Requested whether or not he has a message for Latinos — who leaned extra to the proper and voted for Donald Trump in November — Newsom replied: “Take a look at what we’re doing here around economic and workforce development. We see you, you matter, we care. You’ve been included in this conversation. Now we want to make the vision real.”
Newsom’s tone mirrored that he’s aware of Californians’ financial issues: Within the new ballot by the nonpartisan Public Coverage Institute of California70% of residents stated their kids can be worse off financially, and 56% predict “bad economic times” within the subsequent yr — though that’s an enchancment from current years. Additionally, 52% of these surveyed suppose the president-elect ought to prioritize getting “costs and inflation under control.” (Many economists suppose Trump’s insurance policies, reminiscent of tariffs and mass deportationswill do the alternative.)
The PPIC ballot of two,344 individuals performed Nov. 6-22 additionally discovered {that a} majority of the state’s residents — particularly these with decrease incomes — have a unfavourable view of synthetic intelligence, with a couple of third very or considerably involved about its results. About half of residents polled suppose AI will cut back the variety of jobs of their business.
Some concern over AI cuts “across income scales, whether it’s fast food workers or screenwriters,” Dean Bonner, PPIC’s affiliate survey director, stated throughout a briefing Tuesday.
However, the newest Small Enterprise Optimism index rose to its highest studying since June 2021, in response to the Nationwide Federation of Unbiased Enterprise. The affiliation’s leaders stated small companies are hopeful about favorable tax and regulatory insurance policies beneath the incoming administration.
John Kabateck, state director for the affiliation in California, additionally stated in an announcement that some state poll initiative outcomes will assist companies. The affiliation applauded voters’ approval of toughening up penalties for retail theftand their rejection of elevating the minimal wage, boosting native rent-control energy and decreasing the voter threshold to go bonds.
