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This Thanksgiving, let’s be thankful for the things we give thanks for. Research shows that practicing gratitude is a good way to deal with stress and anxiety. The simple act of saying words of heartfelt gratitude or simply counting your blessings can have tremendous mental and physical benefits.
Therefore, we are fortunate to have a holiday to express our gratitude and remind us of our fellow Americans, our shared experiences, and to seek the good in ourselves. In that spirit, here are some of the people and events for which we are grateful.
— Voters in the city and county of Los Angeles accepted major ethics and government reforms this fall. Cities get independent zoning and stronger ethics commissions, while counties get larger boards of supervisors, elected executives (like county leaders), and for the first time their own ethics commissions. will be installed. These changes should provide residents with greater representation, transparency, and accountability.
— The federal government has designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off California’s Central Coast to protect the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. Covering more than 4,500 square miles, the preserve will be the first in California to be managed in partnership with Native American tribes.
— Californians passed Proposition 3, guaranteeing same-sex couples the right to marry. State voters outlawed such marriages by approving Proposition 8 in 2008, and although the initiative was overturned by a court, the language remained in the state constitution. Voters have now amended the Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry and greater standards of dignity for all people.
— The Dodgers won their eighth World Series with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5. Freddie Freeman’s MVP performance throughout the series was spectacular, from his walk-off home run in Game 1 to the two-run single that helped the Dodgers win the game.
— Los Angeles Unified School District is moving forward with banning students from using cell phones in class. It’s not easy to pry a cell phone out of a teenager’s hands, but it’s the right thing to do for academic success and happiness.
— Disneyland plans to replace the smoke-belching gasoline engines powering its popular Autopia attraction with clean, environmentally friendly electric vehicles by 2026, finally bringing the park’s Tomorrowland back into the future.
— Thanks to voter support for the sales tax increase under Measure A, Los Angeles County will receive billions of dollars annually in intervention and prevention services and affordable housing to alleviate the region’s homelessness crisis.
— In this country, we are increasingly accepting the idea that not everyone needs to go to college to have a meaningful, well-paying career and a fulfilling life. New opportunities in training and employment are opening up, and it’s about time. Switzerland has been doing this for years.
— California voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion state bond measure to fund clean water, climate change and conservation projects. Some of the money will be used to prevent wildfires, reduce air pollution, and combat extreme heat.
— College admissions could become more fair as many schools reinstate requirements for applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. Although standardized tests are imperfect, they are closer to objective and comprehensive measures than other available tests, especially when grade inflation is taken into account.
— Angelenos overwhelmingly supported Measure HLA on the March ballot, requiring the city to add bike and bus lanes and make pedestrian improvements. This strong support sent a clear message that voters want safer streets and climate-friendly transportation options.
— DreamWorks has released “The Wild Robot,” a funny and beautiful animated film that reminds us of the meaning of family and the freedom to love even under oppression.
— Wild creatures still manage to share our urban and suburban spaces. Deer tear through L.A. hillsides, coyotes howl at passing sirens, mockingbirds run through their repertoire like DJs making megamixes, and mountain lions sneak out of ravines and into backyards. It disappears into the darkness again.
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