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Is California a Nation-State? Is California a Nation-State?
(8 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a joint statement with Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, announced that the three states were working together on a plan to ease sheltering orders and reopen the economy.On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a joint statement with Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, announced that the three states were working together on a plan to ease sheltering orders and reopen the economy.
Mr. Newsom said he would have more details today.Mr. Newsom said he would have more details today.
The news came the same day that a group of Northeastern state governors announced a similar effort.The news came the same day that a group of Northeastern state governors announced a similar effort.
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In recent weeks, Mr. Newsom’s daily news briefings have helped Californians and the world become better acquainted with his preferred vocabulary.In recent weeks, Mr. Newsom’s daily news briefings have helped Californians and the world become better acquainted with his preferred vocabulary.
California, the nation’s largest state, will, he has assured, “meet this moment.” Mr. Newsom has vowed that his administration will marshal “resources,” “in real time.”California, the nation’s largest state, will, he has assured, “meet this moment.” Mr. Newsom has vowed that his administration will marshal “resources,” “in real time.”
But none of the governor’s linguistic tics have generated as much debate as his repeated use of the term “nation-state.”But none of the governor’s linguistic tics have generated as much debate as his repeated use of the term “nation-state.”
On March 15, for instance, he described California as such in explaining the challenges of developing a plan for school closures that addressed the huge range of districts.On March 15, for instance, he described California as such in explaining the challenges of developing a plan for school closures that addressed the huge range of districts.
“We have to meet the needs of all our diverse communities,” he said, “in a nation-state with six-plus million children.”“We have to meet the needs of all our diverse communities,” he said, “in a nation-state with six-plus million children.”
And on April 7, he told MSNBC that a huge deal to buy personal protective equipment for workers across the state, including 200 million masks per month, was made possible by California’s enormous purchasing power as — you guessed it — “a nation-state.”And on April 7, he told MSNBC that a huge deal to buy personal protective equipment for workers across the state, including 200 million masks per month, was made possible by California’s enormous purchasing power as — you guessed it — “a nation-state.”
He said that efforts to get enough equipment through the federal government weren’t moving quickly enough.He said that efforts to get enough equipment through the federal government weren’t moving quickly enough.
“It’s not a cheap shot; at the end of the day, they don’t have the masks at the national stockpile,” Mr. Newsom said. “We decided, enough of the small ball.”“It’s not a cheap shot; at the end of the day, they don’t have the masks at the national stockpile,” Mr. Newsom said. “We decided, enough of the small ball.”
[Read more about the clash between President Trump and governors over the authority to reopen states.][Read more about the clash between President Trump and governors over the authority to reopen states.]
On Monday, states and governors announced alliances outside the federal government, and they are pushing back against President Trump’s insistence that he has “total” authority over the decision to lift sheltering orders in the states.On Monday, states and governors announced alliances outside the federal government, and they are pushing back against President Trump’s insistence that he has “total” authority over the decision to lift sheltering orders in the states.
So the repeated suggestion that California is in some way its own nation is touching nerves and prompting concerns about the future of American federalism.So the repeated suggestion that California is in some way its own nation is touching nerves and prompting concerns about the future of American federalism.
But it’s far from new, William Deverell, a history professor at the University of Southern California focusing on California and the West, told me.But it’s far from new, William Deverell, a history professor at the University of Southern California focusing on California and the West, told me.
California, of course, has always held a unique position within the United States — and hasn’t been shy about it.California, of course, has always held a unique position within the United States — and hasn’t been shy about it.
While California isn’t unusual among states in that its first residents were Native Americans who were violently removed from their land by Europeans, its geography and its long history under Spanish and Mexican control have made California distinct.While California isn’t unusual among states in that its first residents were Native Americans who were violently removed from their land by Europeans, its geography and its long history under Spanish and Mexican control have made California distinct.
Briefly, in 1846, a group of American settlers rebelled against Mexican authorities and declared a “Republic of California.”Briefly, in 1846, a group of American settlers rebelled against Mexican authorities and declared a “Republic of California.”
In September 1850, California became a state.In September 1850, California became a state.
“The historian in me wants to go back to the days of the Gold Rush, and the notion that California was so far beyond the reaches of the union itself,” Mr. Deverell said.“The historian in me wants to go back to the days of the Gold Rush, and the notion that California was so far beyond the reaches of the union itself,” Mr. Deverell said.
More recently, in the late 1960s, California pushed for many of the environmental regulations that would eventually become federal law. And during the AIDS crisis, Californians’ activism was far ahead of the federal government, he said.More recently, in the late 1960s, California pushed for many of the environmental regulations that would eventually become federal law. And during the AIDS crisis, Californians’ activism was far ahead of the federal government, he said.
Still, in the Trump era, the divide between California’s leaders and the federal government has become wider and more explicit, and the response to the pandemic has made it even more stark.Still, in the Trump era, the divide between California’s leaders and the federal government has become wider and more explicit, and the response to the pandemic has made it even more stark.
“The union is set up with this glorious tension,” Mr. Deverell said. Mr. Newsom’s description of California as a nation-state is “a recognition of that tension, which has been exacerbated in recent years by the blueness of California and the redness of the administration.”“The union is set up with this glorious tension,” Mr. Deverell said. Mr. Newsom’s description of California as a nation-state is “a recognition of that tension, which has been exacerbated in recent years by the blueness of California and the redness of the administration.”
[Should leaders in Western states get more credit for taking early action to fight the coronavirus?][Should leaders in Western states get more credit for taking early action to fight the coronavirus?]
Still, the question of whether California is a nation-state doesn’t have a clear answer, said Henry Brady, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.Still, the question of whether California is a nation-state doesn’t have a clear answer, said Henry Brady, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
California is a state. California is not a sovereign country. But whether it’s a nation is complicated, Mr. Brady wrote in a brief memo to me.California is a state. California is not a sovereign country. But whether it’s a nation is complicated, Mr. Brady wrote in a brief memo to me.
A nation is an “imagined community” of people that typically share a language, territory, religion or culture, he wrote. But there are exceptions, and furthermore, California’s embrace of diversity itself constitutes a kind of shared culture.A nation is an “imagined community” of people that typically share a language, territory, religion or culture, he wrote. But there are exceptions, and furthermore, California’s embrace of diversity itself constitutes a kind of shared culture.
Mr. Brady wrote that “there is nothing wrong” with using “nation-state” colloquially, if you also allow that states like Texas or New York could claim the same.Mr. Brady wrote that “there is nothing wrong” with using “nation-state” colloquially, if you also allow that states like Texas or New York could claim the same.
Nevertheless, he cited the viscount James Bryce, a British historian, who wrote in 1887 that California is “a state on which I dwell the more willingly because it is in many respects the most striking in the whole Union, and has more than any other the character of a great country, capable of standing alone in the world.”Nevertheless, he cited the viscount James Bryce, a British historian, who wrote in 1887 that California is “a state on which I dwell the more willingly because it is in many respects the most striking in the whole Union, and has more than any other the character of a great country, capable of standing alone in the world.”
Updated August 6, 2020 Updated August 12, 2020
Mr. Newsom on Monday said he favored the term because it adds a “sense of scale and scope,” when you’re describing a state that has the world’s fifth-largest economy, and a population that’s larger than roughly 20 other states combined.Mr. Newsom on Monday said he favored the term because it adds a “sense of scale and scope,” when you’re describing a state that has the world’s fifth-largest economy, and a population that’s larger than roughly 20 other states combined.
He didn’t say how the conception of California as a nation-state is shaping its relationship with the federal government, but said he believed people had been “a little literal” in their interpretations of his language.He didn’t say how the conception of California as a nation-state is shaping its relationship with the federal government, but said he believed people had been “a little literal” in their interpretations of his language.
Mr. Newsom said that California is a place defined by its bounty of resources and culture and by its resistance to “one size fits all” governance.Mr. Newsom said that California is a place defined by its bounty of resources and culture and by its resistance to “one size fits all” governance.
So describing the Golden State as something more than another united state is “a point of pride.”So describing the Golden State as something more than another united state is “a point of pride.”
[See our map of California coronavirus cases by county.][See our map of California coronavirus cases by county.]
We’re continuing with our remembrances of those lost in the pandemic. (If you’d like to share memories of a Californian who has died, please email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com.)We’re continuing with our remembrances of those lost in the pandemic. (If you’d like to share memories of a Californian who has died, please email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com.)
Today’s piece, about Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega, was written by Annette Choi:Today’s piece, about Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega, was written by Annette Choi:
It was hard to miss Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega when she made her nursing rounds on the eighth floor of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s south tower in Los Angeles.It was hard to miss Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega when she made her nursing rounds on the eighth floor of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s south tower in Los Angeles.
Decked out in purple scrubs, her personality was on full display.Decked out in purple scrubs, her personality was on full display.
“Even after 12-hour shifts, she made it to birthdays and anniversaries,” her daughter, Tiffany Olega, said. “And she was always on the dance floor.”“Even after 12-hour shifts, she made it to birthdays and anniversaries,” her daughter, Tiffany Olega, said. “And she was always on the dance floor.”
Mrs. Castro-Olega worked as a registered nurse for 37 years before retiring in 2017. She continued to volunteer at short-staffed hospitals in Los Angeles County. And when the pandemic hit, she showed up without hesitation.Mrs. Castro-Olega worked as a registered nurse for 37 years before retiring in 2017. She continued to volunteer at short-staffed hospitals in Los Angeles County. And when the pandemic hit, she showed up without hesitation.
Her daughter said it was not known if her mother was infected through contact with patients. But in mid-March, Mrs. Castro-Olega went to the emergency room with a bad cough and fever and tested positive for Covid-19. She spent her final days on a ventilator in intensive care at the Panorama City Medical Center and died on March 29. She was 63.Her daughter said it was not known if her mother was infected through contact with patients. But in mid-March, Mrs. Castro-Olega went to the emergency room with a bad cough and fever and tested positive for Covid-19. She spent her final days on a ventilator in intensive care at the Panorama City Medical Center and died on March 29. She was 63.
“I just can’t believe she’s gone,” her best friend, Annie Neal, said. “I have the urge to text her, but I can’t.”“I just can’t believe she’s gone,” her best friend, Annie Neal, said. “I have the urge to text her, but I can’t.”
Mrs. Castro-Olega was always ready for fun, whether it was riding roller coasters at Disneyland or cheering at Kobe Bryant’s last N.B.A. game — dressed in purple gear, naturally.Mrs. Castro-Olega was always ready for fun, whether it was riding roller coasters at Disneyland or cheering at Kobe Bryant’s last N.B.A. game — dressed in purple gear, naturally.
“She’d do anything for anybody,” Ms. Neal said. “She’s our purple angel.”“She’d do anything for anybody,” Ms. Neal said. “She’s our purple angel.”
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Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.