Rich Get Richer, Wind Gets Weaker, Asparagus Gets Weird

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Whoa, this week was a lot. California’s wealth gap is wider than ever, offshore wind is looking dead in the water, Malibu is fireproofing the future, and the Delta’s water wars rage on. Nevertheless, the Golden State continues its reign as the happiest place in America (sorry, everyone else). Plus: a true crime podcast for Californiaphiles and an asparagus festival that defies culinary decency.

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Onward!!!

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MIND THE WEALTH GAP

A recent PPIC report on income inequality demonstrates a stark reality that is felt in every corner of the state: California’s income inequality isn’t just bad — it’s near historic highs. In 2023, the top 10% made $336K, while the bottom 10% scraped by on $30K — an 11x divide, one of the widest in the nation. Since 1980, top earners’ income soared 68%, while low earners got a measly 10% bump. Inflation, racial disparities, and wage stagnation keep the chasm yawning. 70% of Californians want action, but partisan gridlock ensures the rich stay richer, the poor stay stuck, and the cycle grinds on. If only there was a grassroots movement working for a new era of opportunity in California… 🙋

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<DIG INTO THE DATA>

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🤫 Everything you should know

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🧑‍🌾 💧 🐟  -  DELTA BLUES — In a stunning recent New York Times visual essay, Fresno native and Harvard doctoral student Ryan Christopher Jones explores California’s Delta, a vital yet imperiled water source caught in the state’s endless tug-of-war between conservation, agriculture, and urban thirst. Using President Trump’s famed hatred for the Delta smelt (and conservation efforts in general) as a jumping-off point, Jones dives into a complex and deeply human story. The “water wars” narrative radically oversimplifies reality, he finds. The Delta isn’t just a resource — it’s a community, a habitat, a lifeline. “The ‘water wars’ narrative ensures that no side really ever wins — only that some lose more than others,” he writes. NY Times

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🌴 🌉 🏄  -  THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH — Bow down, other American states — California doesn’t just win, we dominate happiness. Five of the top 10 happiest cities in the U.S. are in the Golden State, which should tell you something. Fremont is untouchable (six years running!) with the highest life satisfaction and lowest divorce rate — because happy people stay together. San Jose residents basically live forever. Irvine is a fitness paradise where everyone’s thriving. Huntington Beach proves sunshine and surf cure all. And San Francisco? Even with its recent much-chronicled struggles, it’s still a joy factory. Face it: happiness isn’t just a feeling — it’s a California state of mind. Sunset Magazine

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🔥 🙅 🚒  -  STOP PLAYING WITH FIRE — At their most destructive, wildfires wipe the slate clean — horrifying and tragic, yes, but also a rare opportunity to try to get things right. Six years post-Woolsey Fire, Malibu isn’t just rebuilding; it’s wising up. Fire-resistant homes, smarter land use, and community-led resilience are replacing the old cycle of burn, rebuild, repeat. Malibu residents aren’t clinging to the past — they’re future-proofing. Because if disaster is inevitable, the real question is: do we learn, or do we just keep playing with matches? Reasons to be Cheerful

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🎧 🔊 🎧 ON THE POD: CALIFORNIA TRUE CRIME

In a state as big and eclectic as California, it should come as no surprise that it has its own true crime podcast. What it lacks in clever branding, the “California True Crime” podcast makes up for with an impressive catalog of harrowing stories and criminal mysteries set right here in the Golden State: California True Crime

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🌬️ 💨 😔 - HUMBOLDT: TWISTING IN THE WIND

Humboldt County’s offshore wind dreams are becalmed. Energy giants RWE and Vineyard Offshore have slashed jobs, citing market turmoil and political headwinds. Local workers are left adrift, victims of a presidential administration more interested in tilting at windmills than harnessing them. While other nations surge ahead in renewable energy, America’s offshore wind ambitions remain stuck in the doldrums, casualties of policies that favor fossilized thinking over forward momentum. In the battle between advancement and stagnation, it seems the winds of change are blowing elsewhere. Lost Coast Outpost

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GET READY FOR THE ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL!!!

Prepare to gather, noble citizens, for the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival, a glorious celebration of the mightiest of stalks! The Stockton festival, running from April 11–13, is an asparagus lover’s fantasy. (The image above, on the other hand, is DALL-E’s fantasy.) Feast upon asparagus ice cream, asparagus margaritas, even asparagus corn dogs (for the bold)! Ride monstrous trucks! Pet goats! Witness ambitious young people vying for coveted positions in the vaunted Asparagus Court! Let merriment — and questionable food choices — reign! San Joaquin Asparagus Festival

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