Manuel Pastor (1)

10 stars: an exemplary book.

From the back cover: Once upon a time, any mention of California triggered unpleasant reminders of the Reagan and right wing tax revolts, ballot propositions targeting undocumented immigrants, and racist policing that sparked two of the nations most devastating riots. In fact, California confronted many of the challenges the country faces now - decades before the rest of us.
Today, California is leading the way on addressing climate change, low wage work, immigrant integration, overincarceration, and more. As white residents becomea minority and job loss drove economic undertainty, CA had its own Trump moment 25 years ago but has becoming increasingly blue over each of the last 7 presidential elections. How did the Golden State manage to emerge from its unsavory past to become a bellwether for the rest of the country? And what lessons can we learn as a nation?

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I read this book in 2018, after seeing the author at Festival of Books. I immedaiately purchased for my uncle, who was also there, who similarly devourced, and another friend. I lost my review, so wanted to post some excerpts below so I would remember and be able to share with others. If you are reading this...get this book. Very good. Covers 20th century California history up to 2017, and gives a model for the US to use. Will we succumb to Trumpism (I write this Feb 2021 and the jury is still out) or will we try for a better future for all? and what role does California play?

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On the same day that Clinton accepted the results came a dramatic statement from the heads of the CA State Senate and the CA State Assembly, Kevin de Leon and Anthony Rendon. Expresssing shock at the electoral turn of events and promising the challenge federal attempts to turn back progress on the environment, civil rights, and immigration, the two leaders concluded by writing that “we will not be dragged back in the past. We will lead the resistance to any effort that would shred our social fabric or our Constitution. California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future.”

How do we address big, complex issues such as persistent educational disparities, racialized policing practices, and impending climate change? An answer may come from California…California stopped skidding and turned around. Its deficits shifted to surpluses, its economy began to boast growth rates above those of the nation, and its voters raised taxes on themselves several times in order to heal the budget woes. Public policy is finally turning to the issues of income distribution, with the state extending an income tax increase on the wealthy, raising its minimum wage in dramatic fashion, and shifting public school spending to students most in need.

So California is in a state of resistance – but the task ahead will be not just to defend but also to develop and deploy. The state can illustrate what the nation could gain if it drops the anti immigrant sentiment, confronts the reality of climate change, and works together to address income inequality…California will also need to spread the message in ways both symbolic and concrete, including working to export good policy today as much as it exported bad policy in the past, and sharing some of the evolving models of integrated voter engagement that have aligned movements and politicians.

What the adoption of [Pat Brown’s Master Plan] codified was the belief that the real way to sustain California’s growth over time was not just by investing in roads, waterways and ports…but also by investing in people. Over the course of his governorship, Brown went beyond words and doubled state spending on the university system and triple it on the state college system, lifting California’s college attendance rates well above the national average.
Standing back from the rubble caused by hate, it may be easy for Californians to point the contemporary finger at the xenophobia wracking other states, particularly now that a slew of pro immigrant politicians and policies have changed California’s own political terrain… Californian’s should resist the temptation to congratulate themselves on their state’s open mindedness. When it comes to insulting immigrants and building walls to keep them out, Californians were pioneers – indeed, not just pioneers by often eager purveyors of the anti tax, anti opportunity, and anti immigrant franchise.

[Regarding Prop 8 passage during the same election as Obama for Pres]. Some LGBT advocates were struck by exit polling that suggested that African Americans were much more likely than whites to vote against marriage equality… But many in the movement also began to understand that while some voters of color may have supported Prop 8 out of religiousity, the LGBT movement was also seen as overwhelmingly white and not concerned with the challenges facing many who were less economically advantaged or who were facing …a host of other racialized disadvantages – a perception shared by many lesbians, gays, and transgender people of color.

We will not be saved or doomed by a well written tweet, an Instagram share, and a perfectly reported scandal. But rather by a patient commitment to building governing power in cities, metros, and states across the nation.

And the 12 lessons to learn from California:
1. Anticipate and counter the dynamics of the generation gap.
2. Understand the key role of social movements.
3. Change takes time.
4. Build intersectional movements that are less susceptible to infighting.
5. Untangle the rules that bind.
6. Pay attention to geography.
7. Work to pull in some part of the business class.
8. Offer up a compelling, practical, and progressive economic vision.
9. Do not move to the middle, move the middle.
10. Be clear about analyzing and building power.
11. Change the electorate.
12. Keep your eyes on the social compact.… (more)