It's Wednesday. Poignant reflections about California, on this day dedicated to love. Plus, will voters in San Francisco go for a different kind of mayor?
Happy Valentine's Day! On this day dedicated to love, I'm sharing some poignant reflections readers have sent me about California and what they love about their part of the state. I was recently struck by California's seemingly endless bounty when I stumbled upon the banks of Folsom Lake, where local residents were riding bikes and walking dogs in the crisp morning air. As a reporter, I often hear about Folsom Lake, about 25 miles east of Sacramento, in conversations about drought — it's one of the state's biggest reservoirs. But I somehow hadn't realized there was so much beauty and community to be enjoyed along its shores until I ended up there by accident. I can see that sort of delight in many of the emails readers have sent me about why they love living here. You can send your own California love letter to CAtoday@nytimes.com. Here are some, lightly edited: "Up here in Humboldt County, I am lucky enough to live surrounded by redwoods, with beaches less than five minutes away. A bike ride to work allows me to catch the morning sunrise over the ocean, view the river as I cross a bridge above it, followed by pedalling a winding road through cow pastures. I have all this natural beauty, yet still live only 12 minutes away by car from a college town where I am fortunate to work with students who give me hope for our future." — Jennie Brown, Trinidad "As a native of Los Angeles, I remember back in the 1980s when my boyfriend at the time drove me on the back of his motorcycle one winter. We traveled up to Mount Baldy to see the snow, then we rode all the way to Santa Monica Beach to watch the sunset — all in one day. How many people can say that?" — Pamela Fender, Rohnert Park "My husband and I ended up in Sacramento by accident, and even avoided the city for years thanks to its cow-town reputation. Nine years after my visit, my family and I live just a few blocks from my favorite mansion on H Street, under a thick urban canopy of trees. Our daughters' double stroller fits comfortably on the wide sidewalks, and we have our pick of walkable parks and restaurants, plus an easy bike ride to the Sacramento Kings' arena." — Tyler Whitmire, Sacramento "In 1973, I was a schoolteacher living in Indiana when my brother and his family moved to San Diego. They invited the rest of us out for Christmas. My Aunt Susie, from Detroit, and I were lying in the sand next to the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, and she rolled over and said, 'If we lived here, we could do this every day after school.' I swear to you, I had never until that moment even thought about moving out of the Midwest. So I worked an extra year in Gary, Ind., and saved up $10,000 so I wouldn't have to teach for a couple of years, moved to Leucadia in 1976 and never looked back." — Julie Middleton, Sebastopol "After growing up in Los Angeles, I now live among towering redwoods in a small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains. While weather frequently cuts both roads and power, I actually feel part of a close, supportive community. I have an orchard and a garden. The local wildlife occasionally lets me eat the bounty I grow. The tap water tastes great. The air smells fresh. I can hear the creek from my front porch. And it's clean and quiet and green. It's as close to paradise as I ever hope to get." — Chris Finnie, Boulder Creek
If you read one story, make it thisMark Farrell, a venture capitalist who led San Francisco for six months in 2018, wants his old job back. His chances hinge on how far the city has moved toward the center. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
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And before you go, some good newsTen African penguin chicks have hatched at the California Academy of Sciences in a little over a year, a boon for the species, the museum said last week.
The penguins have hatched at the Steinhart Aquarium since November 2022. The hatchlings represent a breakthrough in a program meant to bolster the dwindling population of the endangered African penguins, which had not hatched any new chicks in the previous four years. The birds have been in a steep decline because of overfishing and habitat encroachment, with as few as 9,000 breeding pairs remaining in the wild. In addition to the breeding program, scientists at the aquarium have also been involved in penguin conservation efforts in South Africa. Four of the new chicks have joined the rest of the colony in the museum's penguin enclosure, where they are visible to the public. Today at 10:30 a.m., the chicks will participate in the aquarium's annual Valentine's Day celebration, where they receive heart-shaped pieces of felt to use in building their nests. If you can't be there in person, you can livestream the event here. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Soumya P.S. Here's today's Mini Crossword. Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
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