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Report: 29% of Californians Say Someone in Their Home Has to Cut Back on Food to Save Money

“Only one in three Californians think that the American Dream – including the notion that if you work hard, you’ll get ahead –holds true,” stated the report regarding people’s outlook on the current economic condition.

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media  

Rising prices and inflation has left more than half of California’s low-income households struggling financially. In 2024, 29% of residents reported that they or someone in their household has cut back on food to save money, according to a December Public Policy Institute of California report. Many Californians, including 40% of lower-income adults, worry daily about the cost of housing.

“Only one in three Californians think that the American Dream – including the notion that if you work hard, you’ll get ahead –holds true,” stated the report regarding people’s outlook on the current economic condition.

The financial hardships are widespread, as 23% of Californians have experienced reduced work hours, 22% have struggled to pay rent or mortgages, and 21% have been unable to pay a monthly bill. Many also faced health-related financial difficulties, with 20% postponing medical visits or medication purchases, while others sought assistance through programs like CalFresh or food banks.

These difficulties are most pronounced for lower-income households, particularly those earning under $20,000 annually. Renters are especially vulnerable, with 34 percent reporting difficulty paying for housing, compared to just 12 percent of homeowners. Minority groups, particularly African Americans and Latinos, are more likely to report financial hardships than Asian Americans and whites. Among lower-income Californians, younger, less-educated individuals, and those making under $20,000 a year are most likely to experience these challenges.

Despite national indicators showing steady employment growth and lower inflation, many Californians continue to face low wages, particularly given the state’s high cost of living.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025

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IN MEMORIAM: William ‘Bill’ Patterson, 94

Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

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William "Bill" Patterson, 94. Photo courtesy of the Patterson family.

William “Bill” Patterson, 94, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at his home in Oakland, CA. He was born on May 19, 1931, to Marie Childress Patterson and William Benjamin Patterson in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Dunbar High School and traveled to Oakland, California, in 1948. William Patterson graduated from San Francisco State University, earning both graduate and undergraduate degrees. He married Euradell “Dell” Patterson in 1961. Bill lovingly took care of his wife, Dell, until she died in 2020.

Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

He served on the boards of Oakland’s Urban Strategies Council, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, and the Oakland Workforce Development Board.

He was a three-term president of the Oakland branch of the NAACP.

Bill was initiated in the Gamma Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

In 1997 Bill was appointed to the East Bay Utility District Board of Directors. William Patterson was the first African American Board President and served the board for 27 years.

Bill’s impact reached far beyond his various important and impactful positions.

Bill mentored politicians, athletes and young people. Among those he mentored and advised are legends Joe Morgan, Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, and Lionel Wilson to name a few.

He is survived by his son, William David Patterson, and one sister, Sarah Ann Strickland, and a host of other family members and friends.

A celebration of life service will take place at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center (Calvin Simmons Theater) on November 21, 2025, at 10 AM.

His services are being livestreamed at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1250167107131991/

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Euradell and William Patterson scholarship fund TBA.

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