‘State of the State’ ignores concerns, lawmakers say
Governor Brown’s speech fails to address high cost of living, transportation and increase in crime, local politicians say
Lawmakers representing Santa Clarita said Gov. Jerry Brown’s final ‘State of the State’ speech failed to address concerns about California’s high cost of living, transportation and crime.
Assemblyman Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita, said the governor’s speech was notable for what wasn’t highlighted.
“Today’s ‘State of the State’ speech was far more about who wasn’t mentioned than who was. Not mentioned were those who make up the highest in the nation poverty rate. Also not mentioned were the millions struggling to afford the historically high cost of housing,” he said. “Similarly ignored were my constituents paying some of the highest fuel costs in the nation for the right to spend much of their life in traffic.”
Acosta added: “I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats in Sacramento in a bipartisan fashion to solve the problems that continue to face our state. Our future is bright if we work together to grow our state from the ground up in our communities and not from the top down in Sacramento.”
Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, said the state’s taxes are the highest in the country.
“The Golden State is home to the sixth largest economy in the world; when the cost of living is factored in, one out four Californians now live in poverty,” he said. “Our gas tax, sales tax and income tax are the highest in the nation and we continue to have one of the most unfriendly business climates in all of the country. California is home to the best and brightest, but advancing policies that make it harder for its citizens to thrive is not a good state for our state."
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, whose district includes the northeastern portion of the Santa Clarita Valley, said the state’s middle class is being squeezed by a high cost of living.
“Governor Brown is right that California’s economy has improved since the depths of the Great Recession. However, we need to have an honest conversation about how California can become a more affordable place to live for middle class and working families,” he said. “Everything from housing to transportation to education and childcare is becoming too expensive for ordinary Californians. We cannot simply be a state where the wealthy residents living near the coast are doing well while everyone else is squeezed by bad policies coming out of Sacramento.”
Sen. Henry Stern, D-Calabasas, whose district includes the western edge of the Santa Clarita Valley, did not return requests for comment.
Board of Equalization Vice Chair and former Republican senator and assemblyman George Runner said homelessness is on the rise and the middle class is leaving the Golden State.
"Rising rents are driving out the middle class, retirees and workers who can no longer afford our state,” he said. "When people are fleeing for the exits, it doesn't take an expert to figure out that something has gone very, very wrong."