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California Today: Haves and Have-Nots in the Golden State California Today: Haves and Have-Nots in the Golden State
(about 1 month later)
Good morning.Good morning.
Welcome to California Today, a morning update on the stories that matter to Californians (and anyone else interested in the state).Welcome to California Today, a morning update on the stories that matter to Californians (and anyone else interested in the state).
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Quentin Hardy, deputy technology editor for The New York Times, provides today’s introduction with a look at new government data on the state of poverty in California.Quentin Hardy, deputy technology editor for The New York Times, provides today’s introduction with a look at new government data on the state of poverty in California.
It’s official: California leads the pack in a very troubling category: desperate poverty.It’s official: California leads the pack in a very troubling category: desperate poverty.
U.S. Census Bureau data released this month show that, using figures that try to measure all incomes and living costs, more than 20 percent of the people in California live in poverty.U.S. Census Bureau data released this month show that, using figures that try to measure all incomes and living costs, more than 20 percent of the people in California live in poverty.
Poverty in America is complex. Earning $25,000 a year in Mississippi is different from the same rough income in California. There are things like state and local taxes to consider, along with vastly different housing costs, child and health care and commuting expenses. There are different benefits, too, like nutrition assistance or child support payments.Poverty in America is complex. Earning $25,000 a year in Mississippi is different from the same rough income in California. There are things like state and local taxes to consider, along with vastly different housing costs, child and health care and commuting expenses. There are different benefits, too, like nutrition assistance or child support payments.
The Census Bureau tries to smooth out some of these differences with what it calls a measure of “supplemental poverty,” which adds many of those other costs and benefits to the standard poverty rate.The Census Bureau tries to smooth out some of these differences with what it calls a measure of “supplemental poverty,” which adds many of those other costs and benefits to the standard poverty rate.
Only the District of Columbia, with 22 percent of its population in poverty under the adjusted figures, ranks higher than California. That is a relatively small place, with 147,000 people in this hard strait.Only the District of Columbia, with 22 percent of its population in poverty under the adjusted figures, ranks higher than California. That is a relatively small place, with 147,000 people in this hard strait.
The California population in “supplemental poverty” is close to eight million people. The census adjustment from standard poverty numbers increased our count by 5.6 percentage points, or 2.2 million people.The California population in “supplemental poverty” is close to eight million people. The census adjustment from standard poverty numbers increased our count by 5.6 percentage points, or 2.2 million people.
California, of course, is a populous and varied state, but rents are sky high in the most dense areas, and taxes are usually high relative to other places. These costs have much to do with this sorry result.California, of course, is a populous and varied state, but rents are sky high in the most dense areas, and taxes are usually high relative to other places. These costs have much to do with this sorry result.
But there is also unimaginable success here. According to Forbes, California has more billionaires than any country except China (and of course, the United States). Half of them are in the Bay Area.But there is also unimaginable success here. According to Forbes, California has more billionaires than any country except China (and of course, the United States). Half of them are in the Bay Area.
If you came to much of the Bay Area or Los Angeles and bought a house, there is a good chance you became a millionaire, at least on paper, simply by paying your mortgage bill.If you came to much of the Bay Area or Los Angeles and bought a house, there is a good chance you became a millionaire, at least on paper, simply by paying your mortgage bill.
The very poorest Californians, by comparison, are in the agricultural areas, not cheek by jowl with the opulent.The very poorest Californians, by comparison, are in the agricultural areas, not cheek by jowl with the opulent.
But here are still plenty of places where the contrast is closely stark: In 2014, the Census Bureau put per capita income in Palo Alto at $75,257, while adjacent East Palo Alto was at $18,527. And that’s not adjusting for the area’s sky-high housing costs. But there are still plenty of places where the contrast is closely stark: In 2014, the Census Bureau put per capita income in Palo Alto at $75,257, while adjacent East Palo Alto was at $18,527. And that’s not adjusting for the area’s sky-high housing costs.
In Los Angeles, the per capita income of Beverly Hills was $81,788, while Bell City came in at $12,031. They are 20 miles, and several worlds, apart.In Los Angeles, the per capita income of Beverly Hills was $81,788, while Bell City came in at $12,031. They are 20 miles, and several worlds, apart.
• The Rams were triumphant against the Seahawks in a long-awaited homecoming to Los Angeles. [The New York Times]• The Rams were triumphant against the Seahawks in a long-awaited homecoming to Los Angeles. [The New York Times]
• New data show that Irvine may now be the largest city in the continental United States with an Asian plurality. [Orange County Register]• New data show that Irvine may now be the largest city in the continental United States with an Asian plurality. [Orange County Register]
• A 1,200-acre wildfire at a Central California military base forced the delay of a satellite launch. [Los Angeles Times]• A 1,200-acre wildfire at a Central California military base forced the delay of a satellite launch. [Los Angeles Times]
• Toxic algae is plaguing more than 40 California lakes and waterways. It’s the state’s highest count ever. [The East Bay Times]• Toxic algae is plaguing more than 40 California lakes and waterways. It’s the state’s highest count ever. [The East Bay Times]
• After 27 years abroad, rediscovering a land of sustainable pot and sleek Teslas in San Francisco. [The New York Times]• After 27 years abroad, rediscovering a land of sustainable pot and sleek Teslas in San Francisco. [The New York Times]
• Rose Pak, a Chinatown leader and San Francisco power broker, died at 68. [SFGate.com]• Rose Pak, a Chinatown leader and San Francisco power broker, died at 68. [SFGate.com]
• Don Buchla, a pioneer and maverick of electronic music, died at his home in Berkeley. He was 79. [The New York Times]• Don Buchla, a pioneer and maverick of electronic music, died at his home in Berkeley. He was 79. [The New York Times]
• How a pension deal went wrong and cost California taxpayers billions. [Los Angeles Times]• How a pension deal went wrong and cost California taxpayers billions. [Los Angeles Times]
• The segregation that was a vestige of slavery caused many to leave New Orleans. But why Los Angeles? [The New York Times]• The segregation that was a vestige of slavery caused many to leave New Orleans. But why Los Angeles? [The New York Times]
• Two Silicon Valley veterans have been helping Stanford students navigate the future. Now they want to help you. [The New York Times]• Two Silicon Valley veterans have been helping Stanford students navigate the future. Now they want to help you. [The New York Times]
“Game of Thrones and “Veep” repeated victories in the top two categories at the Emmys on Sunday night. But for a ceremony that can be numbingly predictable, it was energized by a slew of first-time winners.“Game of Thrones and “Veep” repeated victories in the top two categories at the Emmys on Sunday night. But for a ceremony that can be numbingly predictable, it was energized by a slew of first-time winners.
The host Jimmy Kimmel tweaked the high-mindedness of the night, while reminding us of the cultural dominance of a prime-time personality.The host Jimmy Kimmel tweaked the high-mindedness of the night, while reminding us of the cultural dominance of a prime-time personality.
Check out the full list of winners, and photos from the red carpet.Check out the full list of winners, and photos from the red carpet.
• Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, will be in the Bay Area on Wednesday, raising money in Atherton and San Francisco.• Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, will be in the Bay Area on Wednesday, raising money in Atherton and San Francisco.
• The Kern County Fair in Bakersfield runs Wednesday through Oct. 2. It will have fireworks, livestock, deep-fried flan and a grape-stomping contest.• The Kern County Fair in Bakersfield runs Wednesday through Oct. 2. It will have fireworks, livestock, deep-fried flan and a grape-stomping contest.
• The three-day Miramar Air Show, featuring the Blue Angels, opens Friday in San Diego. It’s a big draw: half a million spectators are anticipated.• The three-day Miramar Air Show, featuring the Blue Angels, opens Friday in San Diego. It’s a big draw: half a million spectators are anticipated.
• The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra begins its 48th season on Saturday with Jeffrey Kahane conducting his final season with the orchestra.• The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra begins its 48th season on Saturday with Jeffrey Kahane conducting his final season with the orchestra.
• The California Lemon Festival in Goleta celebrates the area’s lemon crops on Saturday and Sunday. Yes, there will be pie-eating contests.• The California Lemon Festival in Goleta celebrates the area’s lemon crops on Saturday and Sunday. Yes, there will be pie-eating contests.
Tens of thousands of volunteers turned up on Saturday for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.Tens of thousands of volunteers turned up on Saturday for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.
And just as they do every year, cigarette butts topped the list of most common trash items found along beaches, waterways and lake shores, the event’s leaders said.And just as they do every year, cigarette butts topped the list of most common trash items found along beaches, waterways and lake shores, the event’s leaders said.
More than seven million cigarette butts have been collected during the cleanups since 1989, according to the California Coastal Commission.More than seven million cigarette butts have been collected during the cleanups since 1989, according to the California Coastal Commission.
The primary source of the discarded cigarettes traces back not to beachgoers, but rather urban smokers, people in, say, Riverside, who flick a butt to the curb, where it is swept into storm drains, out to the ocean and up on to the shore.The primary source of the discarded cigarettes traces back not to beachgoers, but rather urban smokers, people in, say, Riverside, who flick a butt to the curb, where it is swept into storm drains, out to the ocean and up on to the shore.
“Really lightweight, smaller items of trash are the ones you find the most because those are the ones that make their way easily through our aquatic system,” said Julia Williams, cleanup director with Orange County Coastkeeper, an environmental group.“Really lightweight, smaller items of trash are the ones you find the most because those are the ones that make their way easily through our aquatic system,” said Julia Williams, cleanup director with Orange County Coastkeeper, an environmental group.
Part of the solution lies in making sure that smokers understand where used cigarettes end up when they are discarded in a gutter or out a car window, environmentalists say.Part of the solution lies in making sure that smokers understand where used cigarettes end up when they are discarded in a gutter or out a car window, environmentalists say.
An awareness campaign created by the coastal commission this year used posters with images of cigarette butts on a beach alongside phrases like “Flicked along Highway 5” or “Flicked along L Street.”An awareness campaign created by the coastal commission this year used posters with images of cigarette butts on a beach alongside phrases like “Flicked along Highway 5” or “Flicked along L Street.”
“Most people have understood for some time the damage cigarettes can do to human health,” Eben Schwartz, the coastal commission’s marine debris program manager, said in a statement. “What we are trying to shed more light on is the incredible harm they cause in our environment as well.”“Most people have understood for some time the damage cigarettes can do to human health,” Eben Schwartz, the coastal commission’s marine debris program manager, said in a statement. “What we are trying to shed more light on is the incredible harm they cause in our environment as well.”
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.