Photo by Ryan Shiver.
Levi Sumagaysay reports on the California economy for CalMatters. She previously worked at MarketWatch and the Mercury News. Before moderating the Zócalo/The James Irvine Foundation panel in Oakland, “What Is a Good Job Now? In Gig Work,” she swung by the green room to chat Bay Area hikes, the vibecession, and “money memories.”
What’s the best gig you’ve ever had?
I would say the job I have now. I get more time to work on stories. But having said that, I’ve been really lucky. I think as long as I’m doing some sort of storytelling, I’ll be happy.
Where is somewhere you like to go in the Bay Area?
Muir Woods. I love the smell of it. I love the feel of it. I love how nice and cool it is there. I hike in other places in the Bay Area. I grew up in Vallejo. I can’t imagine living anywhere else but the Bay Area.
What are your thoughts on the vibecession—where the consumer mood is foul but market indicators are strong?
I think that goes to show that there’s a story behind everything. Even numbers. I recently wrote a story about the inflation numbers and how people in California continue to not be so happy about the economy. No matter what the data says, you always should know that there is a story behind the numbers, that there are always nuances to everything. And yeah, you’ve always got to ask the people.
What is one of your first “money memories”—those early, formative moments that have shaped your relationship to money and the economy?
My mom was an immigrant and came here when she was much older than me. I just remember her always having another gig. She worked for the County of Marin during the day, and at night, she would do all kinds of things. She would sell real estate, or she would sell vacuum cleaners, or whatever. She was always trying to make ends meet. That, I think, shaped my life. My mom is gone now, but her work ethic sticks with me.
A scenario: You’re headed to the airport for a trip. Are you taking a robotaxi, public transit, or something else?
At this point, I would drive myself to the airport. Depending on where I am, I do take Uber and Lyft sometimes. I definitely chat up the drivers—hella. And I definitely tip really well. Maybe not a robotaxi. Five or six years ago I did take rides with self-driving car companies but there was always a driver in the car.