Ever since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, residents have been moving from the Westside of Los Angeles.  

California gained 21,200 residents between July of 2019 and July of 2020. However,  because of the city’s increase in population, population, real estate, and skyrocketing rent prices, the state’s most populous county logged the biggest net loss with about 40,000 fewer residents in 2020, according to the LA Times. 

A lot of people have decided to either move to northern California or leave California entirely, according to many news outlets. 

“Yes, I think prices over here in Chico are lower than the ones in L.A, and here people do have more jobs whereas in LA people are losing jobs,” an anonymous senior said. Now home prices in LA are hitting record levels causing low-income residents to lose their homes and allowing the wealthy to gain more land, according to the LA Times. 

Due to the pandemic, Los Angeles workers have lost their jobs. With millions of low-income workers filing for unemployment and rent simultaneously increasing, it has been hard to support themselves. Los Angeles used to be the popular place where people dreamed about living. 

Is that the kind of state that we want to become? Where people can’t afford to live. Do we really want California to become a place where the only people who could afford residency are wealthy people? Of course, Los Angeles is a city of diversity. 

“I moved from California because Vegas is way cheaper than LA. Even though we have less than the minimum wage, the groceries are way cheaper so it equalizes,” a former-MaCES senior said. California has a high salary compared to other states. But it continues to not be enough for people to live comfortably.

COVID-19 was one of the causes to destroy the economy in LA. So does Los Angeles have to wait until the pandemic is over to go back to its normal self or will this continue?