Unfortunately essential workers who don’t make extremely high incomes typically face grueling commutes from far-flung areas or they live in cramped conditions.

Unfortunately essential workers who don’t make extremely high incomes typically face grueling commutes from far-flung areas or they live in cramped conditions. While living with tons of roommates is sometimes done by single people, for families with children roommate situations are quite undesirable, and so megacommuting is often the only option for those who can’t afford to rent or buy closer to work. I’ve heard of San Jose police officers who commute from Los Banos, a Central Valley town that’s roughly an 80 mile drive away. I believe Tesla’s Fremont factory has a bus for its workers that starts all the way from Modesto. When I lived in the Palmdale area 15 years ago for a summer to do an internship, I saw commuter buses that went all the way to Westside Los Angeles, which is 75 miles away. Having to commute 3-6 hours per day round-trip is grueling, and it’s sadly the reality for many Californians who do it because they can’t afford to live closer to work.