Good morning. It's Thursday, Dec. 28. Here's what you need to know to start your day.
Looking back on 12 months of California news — and forward to a new year
As you kick back during this dead week, it's a good opportunity to reflect on 2023. What a year, huh? (As most years are, I guess.)
I couldn't possibly recount every news event from the last year — and I don't think you'd like me to! But there were some key themes that made headlines. Here's a brief look back, and then a look ahead — which we'll need your help to do.
We had a year of weird weather. Forget the Rose Parade; it was the parade of atmospheric rivers that really rang in 2023. Weeks of near-record rainfall and snowfall effectively ended California's historic drought but also revealed our inability to protect vulnerable communities from flooding and capture enough of that free water to save for the next dry day (or year).
More rain came during a mild spring, soothing fears of a big melt that was poised to flood valleys with melted snow. There were tornadoes in SoCal. And the state made history again this summer when the National Weather Service issued a first-ever tropical storm warning for the Southern California region. All that water helped tamp down what could have been another highly flammable fire season.
Although our most recent drought has ended, our water woes aren't over. As Ian James reported, the once-mighty Colorado River "can no longer withstand the thirst of the arid West," which will bring a reckoning that could reshape the region and affect the millions who live here.
The housing and homelessness crisis continued to counteract California's image as a progressive and prosperous state. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass' first year in office was defined largely by her response to the homelessness crisis. Over the last year, Bass said city and county agencies brought roughly 21,000 Angelenos off the streets and into interim housing. But it's worth noting that those people are still defined as homeless, just sheltered.
Some cities grappled with the state over rules meant to boost affordable housing production. It'll be a while before we know how well recent policies — and some communities' resistance — work to alleviate the crisis.
Gun violence continued to claim lives and shatter peace in our communities. In Monterey Park, a gunman opened fire on dancers celebrating the Lunar New Year in January, killing 11 and wounding nine others. Two days later, a gunman killed seven fellow farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. In August, a gunman killed three people and wounded six others at a beloved Orange County bar.
The swell of organized labor continued — and went Hollywood. LAUSD workers went on strike, SoCal hotel workers walked off the job in waves and the film and television industry ground to a halt when unionized writers went on strike, seeking a better contract in the age of streaming. They were joined by SAG-AFTRA's actor members over the summer. Both Hollywood groups reached deals with the alliance that represents traditional studios and streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon.
California's political power got shaken up. In Washington, Democrats started the year without Nancy Pelosi in her long-held leadership role. After a record 15 votes, Bakersfield Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy became speaker of the House, then lost the role about 10 months later. Soon after, he announced his retirement from Congress. California also lost longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in late September at age 90. Several prominent Democrats are running to succeed her in 2024.
It was a busy year at the Big Tech wrangling ranch. In late January, the U.S. Department of Justice — joined by California and seven other states — sued Google, alleging it has an illegal stranglehold on online advertising. Robotaxis filled the streets of San Francisco, bringing high-profile traffic tie-ups. One company, Cruise, recalled its entire fleet after one of its autonomous vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian.
Artificial intelligence dominated headlines this year, as the state and federal governments explore how to utilize and regulate the rapidly evolving technology. As tech columnist Brian Merchant explained, 2024 is the year to explore how it could affect the workforce (as in: Will employers begin to lay the groundwork for AI taking our jobs?).
It was another deadly year for people walking, biking and driving on California roads. Preliminary data show that even before the end of December, more people had been killed on Los Angeles streets this year than in all of 2022. Statewide data will take a while, but recent years have seen a notable increase in pedestrian deaths.
There was one state policy change that could start to reverse that trend next year: Speed cameras will now be permitted in several cities, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, San Jose and Oakland.
Driving remained an integral part of life in the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom made that clear when he declared a state of emergency after a fire closed a section of the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles for eight days. The blaze drew attention to the state's leasing of land under freeways — and the fact that Caltrans had long been aware of hazardous conditions under the very portion of the 10 that was later scorched in what officials suspect was arson.
The war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip created battle lines in the Golden State, sowing division on college campuses. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza took their protests on the road, blocking freeways and access to LAX in recent weeks.
There was no shortage of devastating, tragic and preventable events this year. And it's easy to focus on the bundles of bad news. But life in California still brings plenty of sunshine. There were a lot of stories that delighted readers as well, from a dog mayor to the mystery of a reported "full body orgasm" during an L.A. Philharmonic performance to pretty much everything our De Los team published. Oh, and Shohei Ohtani is a Dodger now.
I'm partial to the ungovernable Otter 841, the surfboard-swiping sea mammal who lived her best life in the waters off Santa Cruz. In case you missed it, her days as a fugitive are behind her. Now she's focused on being a mom.
I was thrilled (and later very sore) to take on the California Double — tagging along with a group of friends who began the day surfing in Malibu and ended it on snowy slopes in Angeles National Forest. I hiked among the poppies. I biked 17-Mile Drive. I partied with hundreds of fellow Ryans.
There's a lot I'm looking forward to in 2024. I'm hoping to see more of the Golden State and keep writing about it, plus eat at as many of L.A.'s 101 best restaurants (according to The Times' Bill Addison) as my wallet and stomach allows.
How about you? What events or moments brought you happiness, clarity or peace this year? What are you looking forward to in 2024? And there's plenty of room for change in California, so why not share your resolution for the Golden State?
Take our survey to share your own look back and look ahead. And look out for responses from fellow readers (and perhaps you!) in an early 2024 edition of the newsletter. Thanks and happy New Year!
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Today's top stories
Eva Garcia joins other tenants and advocates outside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration to demand the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors extend eviction protections during a rally in September 2021. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Housing and real estate
Labor
Climate and the environment
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Today's great reads
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Nobody's ever lost their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Will Trump be the first? Some L.A. residents want to see Donald Trump's star removed from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but city officials say there's no precedent for doing so.
Other great reads
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
For your downtime
The New Year's Eve celebration at Gloria Molina Grand Park is a multistage party in downtown L.A. with music, food trucks and an immersive art installation to help count down the clock. (The Music Center)
Going out
Staying in
And finally ... from our archives
The Hawai'ian Po'ouli, or black-faced honeycreeper. You won't see this bird anymore because it's extinct. (Hawai'i DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife)
On Dec. 28, 1973, President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act, which obligates federal and state governments to protect all species threatened with extinction that fall within the borders of the United States and its outlying territories. In October, Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik wrote about how humans have driven 21 species to extinction, and why everyone should care.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Elvia Limón, multiplatform editor
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Laura Blasey, assistant editor
Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
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