During a 13-year period, from 2010 to 2023, nearly 9.3 million Californians left the state, while only 6.7 million moved in. That net loss of nearly 3 million people, as reported by the Public Policy Institute of California in February 2024, is indicative of a rough period for California. Housing prices and the cost of living have soared; wildfires have ravaged forests and neighborhoods from Paradise to the Palisades; crime and homelessness continue to be a thorn in the state’s side. Many Californians feel congested by the ever-growing flow of people and squeezed by high prices and not nearly high enough wages. They think of the Californian Dream; that this state is home to vast opportunities, is a nest for innovation and ambition and hosts an amazing landscape that shines under the California sun. Unfortunately, that is not what many see or feel, so they moved to other states like Texas, Arizona and Florida. 

While the idea of fewer people in California may seem enticing to many people who live in the state, we must remember that population decreases rarely result in positive outcomes. This can harm the state’s economy with a smaller workforce. It can strain social services and healthcare programs with a lower tax base. Sometimes it results in the drop of a state’s number of Congressional representatives and simultaneously its electoral votes, which did happen to California after the 2020 census. It’s clear, then, that this population decrease will likely have adverse effects on our state, our local economies and our political power.

To combat losses, California desperately needs a new era of investment, political power and cultural influence—some of which have already begun. Salesforce pledged to spend $15 billion to invest in San Francisco and install the city as the global leader in the AI industry. 

Primaries for next year’s gubernatorial race are well underway, with a crop of fresh candidates and, for better or for worse, a new governor in January 2027. While Hollywood experienced its worst summer box office revenue since 1981, as noted by the New York Times in September, many streaming services based in California have grown, with viewership passing that of cable and broadcast for the first time in May of this year. But California can, and must, do more if it wants to shine through this century and be a beacon of hope for a polarized nation and an embattled world. 

Luckily, major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, are all coming to the Golden State within the next few years. Beyond the games themselves, these events provide a cushion to the local economy and a spotlight to the community. In other words, we get a little extra cash and a little extra attention, and I say we play into it. Thankfully, one city has a lesson for us.

In 1968, Mexico City was home to the Summer Olympics. These were the first games to be held in Latin America and in a Spanish-speaking country. Behind this exciting edition of the event, Mexico was undergoing a period of political turmoil and social unrest. Former President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz governed the nation by what many consider to be authoritarian rule, mainly through tightening the political system and suppressing civil freedoms, such as cracking down on student-led protests that demanded political freedoms. Those efforts to suppress the students culminated in the Tlatelolco Massacre, in which the Mexican military and armed men fired upon protesters, killing an unknown number of students. The massacre occurred a mere 10 days before the 1968 games were to open, but the efforts by the Mexican government to hide social tensions were unsuccessful. 

The Olympics placed a spotlight on social issues, gave a voice to the powerless and forced a nation to reckon with its internal problems. Later, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos would similarly use the platform to advocate for social change. After winning the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter race, Smith and Carlos would hold up their fists while on the podium. They did so in protest of racial discrimination in the United States and in support of the Civil Rights Movement. This simple, symbolic act would soon become the reigning memory of these games, and reverberate both at home and abroad. 

While the many problems facing Californians, and America as a whole, are much different than Mexico City in 1968, the similarities are undeniable. ICE raids have become a common occurrence, especially in majority-Hispanic neighborhoods and at places like Home Depot. Protests against such raids have been met with government backlash, including the deployment of the National Guard to Downtown Los Angeles. All of this is occurring in the backdrop of an administration entrenched with corruption, whether it be the pardoning of a former foreign leader convicted of importing massive amounts of cocaine into the U.S. or giving preferential treatment to specific corporations and business leaders. 

Things don’t have to be this way, and with the incoming sporting events, we can change the narrative. We can show our support for embattled communities and embrace the state’s Hispanic heritage, especially with the Super Bowl coming to Santa Clara and Bad Bunny’s halftime performance. We can protest and organize to make these games ours, not letting them become a playground for political leaders. We can be proud of all that our state has accomplished, and what we, if we choose to come together, could create in the future. And we can display what it means to be Californian: ambitious, optimistic, passionate, artistic and always looking forward. From the Bay to Los Angeles, and every inch of land in our Golden State, driven by hope and a powerful urge for change, let us shine under the world’s spotlight and showcase a bright future.