No Jobs in Los Banos: Residents Suffer from Long Commutes

For several families in the San Joaquin Valley, the workday doesn’t end when the shift is over, it continues for hours on the road just to get home.

FOX26 News reporter Mayra Franco takes a closer look at which community is sending the most commuters to Bay Area jobs and what’s driving so many to make that daily drive.

A map by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that California has some of the most super-commuters in the country.

The city with the highest? Los Banos.

For many families in Los Banos, the long drive to Bay Area jobs has become part of everyday life.

“I commute from here to San Francisco,” said Francisco Javier Sanchez, who lives in Los Banos and commutes every day to his job.

“The furthest is probably San Francisco, which is two hours and 20,” said Jose Mandujano.

One commuter's wife described work assignments that can span across the region.

“He can be anywhere from Palo Alto to Morro Bay the closest is Gilroy, but he’s usually way out there into the Bay Area,” said Kianie Gossett.

But, those long commutes come with a hidden price and it’s not just the wear and tear on a vehicle.

One driver said his car has taken a major hit over time.

“It was 50,000 miles when I got it. Right now, it’s over 200,000,” said Francisco Javier Sanchez.

Gas costs are another major factor.

“It takes a toll on our cars in general, but with gas prices going up, it’s not filling up every four days, it’s filling up every day or every two days,” said Gossett.

And beyond the financial strain, there’s also time lost at home.

Despite the sacrifices, many say the commute is worth it.

“The money’s out there, they just don’t like that they have to go back and forth to get that money,” Gossett said. “You get home to see your family pretty late.”

For some workers, the pay difference is the deciding factor.

“You’re not going to get paid $90 an hour here,” said Mandujano. “The highest pay here is $30 an hour, which is not enough to pay mortgage, cars, kids. It’s just not enough.”

“If I come and look for a job, it’s not the same salary that you would get here versus what you get in the Bay Area,” added Sanchez.

FOX26 News Reporter Mayra Franco asked all of the interviewees, is the drive worth it? All said yes.

They also told Mayra Franco they could afford to live in the Bay Area but choose not to. Instead, they prefer staying in Los Banos for a more comfortable lifestyle, even if it means long hours on the road.

Moving closer, they said, would only mean a tighter budget and less financial breathing room.

Article Originally Published At: https://kmph.com/news/local/from-los-banos-to-the-bay-hear-why-families-commute-every-day-for-bay-area-jobs