62 Percent of Californians Expect Bad Times for the State, Survey Finds 

A majority of Californians are pessimistic about the future of the state, according to a new survey by the independent, nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. “It is noteworthy that optimism is down,” researchers wrote in the report. The survey was conducted Feb. 6 through Feb. 13. This is the 26th year the policy group has questioned Californians about their opinion of the state. Across the state, more than six in 10 respondents are expecting economic distress for California in the next year. That negative outlook has persisted since November 2021. Republicans are more likely to expect financial problems for the state, with 80 percent surveyed suggesting such is the case, while 68 percent of independents agree, and 45 percent of Democrats also concur....