Since Gavin Newsom took office as Governor of California in 2019, the condition of the state’s working class has steadily deteriorated. From the rising cost of living to increased tax bills from the beginning of this month, Newsom’s purportedly “progressive” policies have actually undermined the interests of workers and impeded the upward mobility of Californian citizens.

For example, shortly after Christmas Pizza Hut announced the termination of over 1,200 delivery drivers in the state. The decision coincided with the upcoming increase in California’s minimum wage, which is set to rise from $16 to $20 per hour for fast-food workers, impacting an estimated 500,000 workers. Other major fast-food companies have threatened to follow suit, with McDonald’s and Chipotle cautioning about potential repercussions such as higher prices and closures.

Despite these policies being introduced to assist lower-wage employees, Newsom fails to understand that, really, they have the reverse effect. As wages rise, so do costs. And if labour costs rise too quickly, companies may end up switching to automation, resulting in further closures. For instance, self-checkout machines have already replaced cashiers at many grocery stores. And just this week, the world’s first fully AI-powered burger restaurant opened in Pasadena.