North State lawmakers blast Governor’s “Ill-conceived” COVID-19 shut down order
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s orders last Monday for small businesses across the state to once again close their doors in the wake of what he and others have called “an increasingly concerning surge in coronavirus cases”, lawmakers across the North State have responded, calling the ordered shut down “ill-conceived and punitive.”
While explaining the new shut down order, Newsom on Monday said the state recorded 8,358 new cases on Sunday alone; and that there were now 6,485 people hospitalized with Covid-19.
According to Newsom, California hospitals have also reported a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus patients, growing 28% over a two-week period.
The Governor went on to explain that the percentage of all tests returning positive has ticked up to 7.4%.
“The data suggests not everyone is acting with common sense,” Newsom said at Monday’s press conference.
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Even though some businesses are exempt or partially exempt from the most recent shut down, Newsom’s order will once again force countless businesses and meeting places throughout the state to shutter their doors and remain closed until further notice.
Although some types of outdoor dining and takeout are still allowed, based on the Governor’s orders, all indoor operations at locations and businesses such as places of worship, restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, gyms, indoor malls, and offices in non-critical sectors, as well as businesses such as hair salons, barbershops and other personal care services, have been ordered to immediately close down statewide.
The Governor’s ordered shut down, which is far-reaching and will affect millions of Californians, was immediately met with strong push-back from North State lawmakers who blasted the order.
“Let’s be clear: It is imperative that we all do our part by practicing social distancing and acting responsibly in order to suppress this virus and protect our community,” North State lawmakers Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber), Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), wrote in a strongly worded letter sent to Newsom after Monday’s shut down order.
“But these efforts are undermined when the Governor is single handedly and arbitrarily crushing people’s livelihoods – their ability to put food on the table, to pay rent and to pay their bills,” they continued in their letter; writing, “There is no justification for this approach. There is no evidence that any of these activities are causing an increase in Covid-19 cases.”
“Restaurants and churches are not the source of our increase in cases,” lawmakers who oppose the shut down order explained in their letter.
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“Small businesses are hanging by a thread and this action puts all the burden of this crisis back upon them,” they continued; saying, “Main Street is struggling for its very life, while Lowe’s and Home Depot are packed with people and having record years.”
“No one can make any sense of these confusing orders,” the letter continued.
“Businesses have NOT been the direct cause, they’ve done everything they’ve been asked to do successfully,” area lawmakers continued; saying, “These shutdown orders punish them (and) their customers … and completely (miss) the target, especially in our rural towns.”
“It’s painful to watch the Governor constantly change his mind if counties can govern themselves or not during this pandemic,” the lawmaker’s letter continued. “It’s even more painful being forced to sit on the sidelines as the California Legislature has handed over all authority to one man.”
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“Keep in mind that 7.5 million Californians are jobless,” those opposing the shut down went on to explain.
“The EDD has not been able to handle the current unemployment claims. People who filed in March still have not received payments,” opposing lawmakers continued; while asking, “How in the world will EDD be able to handle the enormous uptake in cases based on (Monday’s) one-size-fits-all decision?”
“We have said it before: human lives are at stake,” the letter went on to say.
“People are stressed and filled with anxiety about their livelihoods. The mental health and other side effects of today’s decision will be felt for years into the future.”
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.