Good morning and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Thursday, April 6th.
New census data gives us a glimpse of how population numbers across the state dwindled and dwindled during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The early stages of the pandemic (2020 to mid-2021) marked an exodus of residents from more populous urban counties such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
But that exodus slowed over the following year until mid-2022. Some counties that had lost residents are beginning to rebuild their populations, while some more rural counties are seeing population declines.
“The big takeaway,” my colleague Terry Castleman reported this week:
“California have relocated fairly frequently in response to the pandemic and other factors, but many counties are now beginning to transition to pre-pandemic status quo.”
Based on the numbers
Between July 2021 and July 2022, the 10 counties with the highest rates of population loss were:
- Lassen County: -6%
- Alpine country: -3.64%
- Circle Plumas: -2.95%
- Sierra County: -2.36%
- Mono County: -2.13%
- Trinity County: -1.74%
- County Del Norte: -1.71%
- Napa County: -1.40%
- Mendocino County: -1.34%
- San Mateo County: -1.34%
During the same period, the 10 counties with the highest rates of population growth were:
- Yolo County: +4.26%
- County Merced: +1.95%
- Santa Cruz County: +1.49%
- Santa Barbara County: +1.46%
- San Benito County: +1.36%
- Yuba County: +1.31%
- Placer County: +1.20%
- San Luis Obispo County: +0.97%
- Madera County: +0.85%
- Riverside County: +0.84%
Statewide, California’s population loss rate also slowed — from a 0.91% decline in the first year of this dataset to a 0.29% decline in the second year.
So what is driving these more recent shifts? This varies from district to district. Influencers and officials point to some professional sectors returning to in-person work, students returning to college towns, prison closures (meaning many inmates are no longer residents), and more affordable housing options in some suburbs.
Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at UCLA, told Terry that cities “have again become attractive to a new generation of young workers.”
But despite slowing population loss, cities are struggling. Issues like housing, public safety, and the impact of remote work on commuting affect their bottom line. That has some economists worried that a doom loop could undo decades of urban regeneration and push even more city dwellers to move to the suburbs.
When we asked how the COVID-19 emergency had transformed the lives of Californians early last month, some of you shared your experiences of moving — to California or out of California — for jobs, retirement, or to be closer to family .
The census data provides some broad lines, but for the details let’s go back to your personal experiences. So tell us:
Have you relocated from one California county or another — or another state entirely — since the pandemic began? What fueled your decision?
And if you haven’t moved, what changes have you noticed in your community as some residents move out or others move in?
Our goal is to feature as many of your submissions as possible in a future issue of the newsletter, so please keep your responses under 150 words.
Take our poll to share your experience and stay tuned to see your answers in an upcoming issue of Essential California.
And now this is happening across California:
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LA STORIES
Anyone who says “no one walks in LA” has never met Pedro Moura and his friends. Last month, they put one foot in front of the other for the 25-mile drive along Sunset Boulevard from Chinatown to the intersection with the Pacific Coast Highway. “Sometimes walking through this city feels like disregarding its well-orchestrated desires,” Moura wrote for The Times this week. “Wouldn’t this place be a lot better if it was a little easier to discover on foot?” Los Angeles Times
(Sam Alden / For the Times)
A new Los Angeles tax on large real estate sales, intended to boost funding to tackle homelessness, went into effect Saturday but faces legal limbo. The so-called mansion tax faces two lawsuits, leaving city officials to weigh whether to spend new earnings that they will later have to pay back if they lose in court. LAist
In the early 20th century, LA was rich in private clubs fueled by Angeleno’s desire to belong. But as Patt Morrison found, the history of many organizations has been riddled with the exclusion of women and minority groups. Los Angeles Times
Watch The Times podcast for breaking news and more
Nowadays it can be disheartening to wake up to current events. If you’re looking for a more balanced news diet, The Times podcast is for you. Gustavo Arellano, along with various reporters from the LA Times’ award-winning newsroom, delivers the best stories from the Los Angeles Times every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
A new effort is being made to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented farm workers in California. Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced)’s bill would create a pilot program that would “enable our undocumented friends, family and neighbors to step out of the shadows, live fear-free lives and qualify for the safety-net programs that they.” earn and contribute to,” she said in a statement. Fresno Bee
It’s a defining moment for the future of public transit in the state. With ridership and revenue falling dramatically, and federal governments ending pandemic emergency funding, many agencies are exploring options to cut service and/or increase fares. CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom spent earlier this week on his Campaign for Democracy tour, a trip to some red states he says are “enjoying a massive decline in liberties under GOP leadership.” On Wednesday, he met with students at New College of Florida, the small liberal arts school undergoing a dramatic change in leadership orchestrated by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Sacramento Bee
CRIME, COURTS AND POLICE
According to a recent federal labor report, wage theft is rampant among apparel industry employers in Southern California. Labor Department officials surveyed more than 50 contractors and manufacturers and found that more than 80% violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. “In one particularly egregious case … a contractor was paying the garment workers just $1.58 an hour,” officials said. Los Angeles Times
A San Francisco-based digital library has been dealt a major blow in a court battle that could affect similar online archives across the country. A federal judge sided with publishers in a multimillion-dollar copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive, which temporarily allowed unrestricted access to online books in the early days of the pandemic. KQED
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
The Bay Area is set to add approximately 2,000 acres of protected green space. Conservationists recently completed the $22.4 million purchase of Lakeside Ranch south of San Jose, and their plan is to preserve the rural property in its largely natural state — and add some hiking trails. Chronicle of San Francisco
Most of California’s COVID-19 rules have been relaxed since the state lifted its pandemic emergency declaration. However, some counties still have some of their own guidelines, including rules for masking in healthcare facilities, timeframes for quarantine or isolation, and reporting new infections and outbreaks. Here’s what’s changed in LA County. Los Angeles Times
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Photographers in San Francisco will take advantage of a rare opportunity this weekend: to capture the “California Henge”. Saturday’s sunrise is perfectly aligned with the city’s street grid, providing a breathtaking view (weather permitting) that’s only available twice a year. Los Angeles Times
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AND FINALLY
California’s current landmark is by Frank Damon of Pacific Palisades: Carrizo Plain National Monument.
The wildflower-rich landscape of Carrizo Plain National Monument photographed on April 3, 2023.
(Courtesy of Frank Damon)
Frank writes:
Carrizo Plain National Monument is about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles in a valley between Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo. It was probably formed by the San Andreas Fault and natural erosion over thousands of years. Formerly home to grazing moose and antelope, it is now home to spectacular and colorful wildflowers in spring. And this year, after record rainfall, they’re spectacular!
What are the top attractions in California? Fill out this form to send us your photos of a special place in California – natural or man-made. Tell us why it’s interesting and what makes it a symbol of life in the Golden State. Please ensure that you only include photos taken directly by you. Your contribution could be featured in a future issue of the newsletter.
Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
