US News Metro Long Island Politics

Sports NFL MLB Olympics NBA NHL College Football College Basketball WNBA

Business Personal Finance

Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater

Lifestyle Weird But True Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel

Health Wellness Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition

Science Space Environment Wildlife Archaeology

Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers

Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips

Switch between CA and NY editions here.

Are Californians better off than they were eight years ago? 

To borrow from Ronald Reagan: Are you better off than you were four years ago?

What Reagan asked of the nation in 1980, we can ask of California today.

Is the state more affordable? Is it safer? Are the schools better? Are the roads easier to navigate? Are taxes lower? Is energy cheaper and more abundant?

Put another way: Under the (eight-year) watch of Gavin Newsom & Co., the state has badly regressed.

A just-released study from the Pacific Research Institute, a Pasadena-based think tank, adds an exclamation point:

Researchers found that Californians earn 20% more than the national average, yet have 35% less disposable income.

That’s a staggering number.

It’s also an indictment of this state and its elected officials — including Newsom, who incidentally wants a promotion.

In fact, it will take a starkly different leadership tack, and policies that defy an entrenched status quo, to ease........

© New York Post