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Fast food workers from across California rallied at the state Capitol in Sacramento, urging lawmakers to pass AB 257. Aug. 16, 2022, Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

California Divide

Covering income inequality across the state

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California’s gap between rich and poor is among the largest in the country, and it is widening. We explore how income inequality is reverberating across the state.

Vehicles including Foster Farms trucks enter and exit the Foster Farms facility located at 1000 Davis Street in Livingston, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Photo by Andrew Kuhn, Merced Sun-Star
California Divide
Nearly 200 workers test positive for COVID-19 at Foster Farms poultry plant in Fresno
Foster Farms shut down its facility on Cherry Street in Fresno following a coronavirus outbreak but reopened by Monday, according to company officials. Over the past two weeks, 193 workers at the 1,400-person facility in southwest Fresno tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ira Brill, vice president of communications for Foster Farms. None of the […]
By • December 7, 2020
Teresa Trabucco and her son are photographed in front of the door of their home.
California Divide
How California renters are bracing for an eviction tsunami
More than 2 million Californians are struggling to keep up with rent — many of them single mothers with at least some college education. The situation will be made worse as some unemployment benefits begin to expire after Christmas and landlords begin evicting Feb. 1. This report is part of a multi-month series from the California Divide.
By • December 6, 2020
Patricia Mendoza stands with her two children, Erik and Alejandra in the backyard of their Imperial Beach apartment on Dec. 10, 2020. Photo by Tash Kimmell for CalMatters.
California Divide
Gasping for air in the face of eviction
Patricia was already spending 75% of her take home pay on rent before the pandemic. Since losing her job as a medical transport driver, the single mother of two has fallen behind on rent.
By • December 6, 2020
California Divide
Losing out on work so her son can learn
In many ways, distance learning is keeping Teresa from making ends meet. The waitress can only work weekends when her son isn’t in class. She’s falling behind on rent and considering moving out of state.
By • December 6, 2020
A for sale sign hangs in front of a home in Pacific Grove, on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Photo David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian
California Divide
Real estate prices soar during pandemic, climbing 25% in parts of California
When Colette Barss sold her Seaside home this spring, her new east Garrison-area home had been sitting on the market for about 190 days. She ended up buying it for about $60,000 under asking price.  Today, that would be extremely unlikely.  The price of real estate has soared across the country since the pandemic, and California isn’t immune. […]
By • December 5, 2020
Matt Hoffman pets his Saint Bernard Jackson while on hold with Bank of America at his girlfriend’s house in Escalon on Nov. 13, 2020. Hoffman, who has been unemployed since suffering a stroke last year, has been unable to access his benefits since July. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters
Economy
California may change how unemployment gets paid
Could jobless Californians soon receive benefits by direct deposit? State legislators are considering reforms and asking Bank of America for answers following a CalMatters investigation into payment problems impacting more than 350,000 unemployment debit cards.
By • November 25, 2020
Health care workers wait to offer COVID-19 testing at Cristo Rey Church Friday afternoon, Nov. 20, 2020 in Malaga, south of Fresno. Photo by Eric Zamora, The Fresno Bee
California Divide
Deep distrust: Why few farmworkers show up for COVID-19 testing
Lea este artículo en español. On Sept. 9, a mobile testing site rolled up to Huron Middle School in the 7,000-person rural city 50 miles south of Fresno. In four hours, only four people showed up for free COVID-19 testing. At five other coronavirus testing events organized by the Fresno County Health Department that month in […]
By • November 25, 2020

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California Divide - Page 44 of 68 - CalMatters
News and analysis on poverty and income inequality in California.
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