Massive Drop in California School Enrollment; Exploring the Role of Ethnic Communities for Younger Generations

The Golden State continues to grapple with some big issues made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. On this episode of California State of Mind, Elizabeth and Nicole chat with Emily Hoeven about the state’s Covid vaccination plans, the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the continuing lack of a plan to get kids back into schools. Emily writes a daily newsletter for CalMatters and shares some of her insights.

Speaking of education, while state and local leaders have spent months trying to figure out a safe return to in-class teaching, tens of thousands of kids have simply dropped off the rolls. Nicole gets an update from CalMatters Education Reporter Ricardo Cano. 

Plus, Lunar New Year is underway and it’s a time of celebration for many, including Vietnamese-Americans and the business districts they support. In Sacramento, one of these places is seeing some change as a younger generation is moving out. Elizabeth talks with CapRadio’s Sarah Mizes-Tan about what a place like Little Saigon means to Asian-American identity.