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By Sharan Street
Published Mar 29, 2022

The water tower at Moffett Field in front of Hangar One, one of the world’s largest freestanding structures, is a visual representation of Silicon Valley’s agricultural past and its military-industrial history. The water tower at Moffett Field in front of Hangar One, one of the world’s largest freestanding structures, is a visual representation of Silicon Valley’s agricultural past and its military-industrial history. Image credit: Robert Crow   Shutterstock

3-29-22: Celebrating César Chávez Day. Plus, Defense Contracts and California Libraries

This coming Thursday, many Californians will celebrate César Chávez Day, an official state holiday since 2000. But though they may not be in the office on March 31, some citizens may still be busy. This holiday has a unique purpose: encouraging acts of community service to honor Chávez’s work as a farm laborer, union organizer and civil rights activist. With Dolores Huerta (who turns 92 on April 10), Chávez cofounded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.

How important is agriculture in California? Though it’s not the top sector in the state economy, it does produce some $50 billion in revenue and more than 400 commodity crops are grown across the state. About half of the national production of lettuce and celery takes place in the Salinas Valley, and California has more certified organic farms than any other state. But in Silicon Valley, that productive farmland gave way to a new source of wealth: the defense industry. In 1956, Lockheed moved its Missile Systems Division from Burbank 340 miles north to Sunnyvale, buying farmland next to the Naval Air Station Moffett Field—which was already making the region a hot spot for technology engineers.

In the articles we feature this week, California Local writer Ray Delgado offers up information on where to learn more about Chávez and his legacy, as well as tips how to make the holiday a true day of service. And Jonathan Vankin takes a look at how defense industry contracts blew up the California economy and fueled the tech revolution that changed the world.


What Will You Do on César Chávez Day?

If you’re looking for ways to serve, California Local can help. Check out our directory of community groups, which you can peruse by topic. We even have a listing for the UFW Foundation, which continues to demand equitable treatment of the farmworkers who help make California’s agriculture industry the most profitable in the United States.


What’s the Best Way to Celebrate César Chávez Day?

César Chávez in 1979, originally photographed for U.S. News & World Report.
Californians have the perfect opportunity to remember César Chávez by making March 31 a day of service.

Playing Defense...and Winning

California Local reporter Jonathan Vankin delves into how the military-industry complex and its lucrative contracts drove economic growth and technological innovation from Southern California to Silicon Valley.


California Defense Contracting: The Rise and Decline

The Reaper drone is manufactured by a major California defense contracting firm.
The defense industry built modern California. Though military dollars have declined, the military-industrial complex still plays a major role in shaping the state. Here’s how.

Checking Out the Library System

This week, media ally Santa Cruz Local reports on the meeting where city leaders shared preliminary renderings, timeline details and possible funding opportunities for a new library in downtown Santa Cruz. Find a link to the story below in the section titled “From Our Media Allies.” And while we’re on the subject, read our explainer on libraries, which writer Jonathan Vankin calls “the purest example of democracy in action.”


How Cool Are Libraries?

California's library system dates back 171 years.
California has gone from one library to more than 1,100 in the last 171 years.


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