California still dreaming

The skyline of downtown Los Angeles in the early evening during the pandemic. The state of California, once synonymous with boundless growth, sees its population stagnate and rethinks its future. — ©2023 The New York Times Company

CALIFORNIA has long beckoned with its coastal beauty and bustle – the magnetic pull of Hollywood, the power of Silicon Valley.

That allure helped make it a cultural, economic and political force. For 170 years, growth was constant and expansion felt boundless. And it was easy to be drawn in by the lore.