It says some patients can wait up to five years for specialist support, and that some services are so overstretched they have closed their waiting lists entirely.

Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for Newsom, said that in the event of a financial crisis the measure would require government to wait up to two years for the next ballot to raise taxes, “potentially putting lives and our economy at risk.”

“Not if this rain continues. They’ll wait up for you at home.”

“Mom! I tried to wait up to see you last night, but I fell asleep.”

Other times, she might wait up to an hour to use a dirty toilet shared with thousands of other people.