As a recall effort targeting Governor Gavin Newsom gains steam in California, the governor has responded by loosening the Golden State’s onerous COVID-19 restrictions, even as COVID-19 numbers continue to grow at alarming numbers. Hotels in California are once again open for tourism.
Do You Smell Fear? Newsom Lifts State Stay-At-Home Orders As Recall Campaign Gathers Momentum
In a surprise move, Newsom lifted mandatory stay-at-home orders imposed indefinitely on most of the state in late November. All of sudden, overnight curfews were no longer in forced, restaurants could again re-open to outdoor dining, and hotels could once again accept out-of-town tourists.
Why the sudden change in heart? As the Los Angeles Times noted in an editorial over the news:
ICU beds are all but unavailable throughout Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Thousands of new infections are being confirmed every day, and there are new variants of the virus circulating that could be much more infectious.
The LA Times reasonably asks if Newsom was “following the science,” or succumbed to growing public discontent with pandemic-related restrictions. Newsom did not clearly lay out what drove his decision, instead vaguely referring to projections and models looking better.
What the LA Times did not mention is that the Newsom recall effort is gaining momentum. Heck, we even had door knockers in our neighborhood out trying to raise signatures for his removal from office.
From the very start, I’ve questioned whether lockdowns were the answer. I still do and applaud the Governor’s decision for at least allowing hair and nail salons and especially outdoor restaurants to open again.
The lady who threads my eyebrows is a Nepalese immigrant who invested everything into starting a business in the United States. She is on the brink of losing it all and no government check each month will make up for it. A restaurant owner I know has already had to close one of his restaurants permanently and his second one is hanging on by a thread. Their stories (or the story of my own business) are hardly unique.
And yet we do see light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccinations are coming and so is spring. The numbers will get better, this time hopefully for good.
Thus, like so many, I’m at a loss for how we should best proceed. Part of me cheers for the lifting of the stay-at-home order while part of me thinks we’re almost to the finish line. But here we are…and I’m looking forward to enjoying coffee in a ceramic cup again, even if I have to huddle next to a heat lamp (it has been a frightfully cold week in LA…).
Hotels Re-Open To Tourism In California
Oh yes, and hotels. Up until yesterday, hotels were not permitted to accept out-of-state guests traveling for tourism (not that any hotel actually enforced that rule). That rule has officially been lifted. You can now, in the midst of the pandemic with ICU beds still full, travel to California as a tourist and stay in a hotel without any fear of penalties.
CONCLUSION
I look at the case numbers in California and think this is quite a strange time to be lifting restrictions, even though I hate them. Then I look at the growing recall effort against Governor Newsom and see how it all makes sense. And this folks, is why people question the leaders in charge and wonder if we are still going about this all wrong.
100% political. This guy is dangerous and he has big goals politically. He wants to run for president. He also knows if he gets recalled his aspirations are gone. I feel so sorry for my friends living in CA. No students in schools since March 2019. Everything is closed and people are scared. Most other states were able to manage the pandemic much better. My kids have been in school since August and no Covid spread or any problems (of course they wear masks and do not mix students among classes anymore) and they managed it beautifully. The approach of their schools was that this virus might be here forever so we have to work around it and not just lock ourselves forever. California did everything wrong and it is about time to remove this clown from the office.
Eyebrow threading? What in the heck is that and why would you do it?
It’s a great way to keep your eyebrows groomed.
The sad thing is so many people had no backbone and adhered to his nonsense “rules”. Most people i associate with simply ignore these idiotic rules.
Thank god for this as I noticed your eyebrows were looking unthreaded in photos. 🙂
On a different note this is a risky decision but, given CA is the only state with such harsh restrictions right now, there had to be huge pushbacks from businesses. March will be the telling month going forward. Fauci predicts that unless we get the vaccine in arms much faster, the new variants will be out of control in March and we could be headed for the worst month we have seen to date. Much like the U.K saw in December.
From CNN:
“It’s just complete utter nonsense,” Newsom said during a news conference Monday when asked whether the Republican-led recall launched last year had a bearing on the state’s decision to end the orders, which have been in place since early December. “Let’s just dispense with that fundamental foundational nonsense.”
Why would you perpetuate this falsehood, Matthew? You are playing right into the Republican’s hands.
You take his word for it? Please. I’ve known the governor for 15 years. Read between the lines Mitch. Newsom is the ultimate opportunist. And I still support him for dining at French Laundry.
Of course he’s lying, that’s what politicians do. But we’re all supposed to pretend Newsom is being truthful. I’m beginning to doubt your progressive bona fides.
I’m a pragmatist!
STAY HOME
I agree. Perhaps there should be a warning to grocery stores that a lockdown is likely. Then tell people that in 10 days, there will be a complete lockdown. Even essential stuff is closed including grocery stores (maybe for 7 days because some people won’t stock up enough). Perhaps, the only exception would be going to work at a hospital or doctor’s office. Maybe exempt gas stations if you pay by the pump (which does hurt people who like to pay in cash)?
Then have a complete 14-21 day lockdown. It will help a lot.
I have managed 14 days without a grocery store trip but could extend it to 21 days if it were really necessary.
I too have met him on fundraising occasions and “snake oil” is the best analogy that comes to mind. He was there as a “guest draw” and worked the attendees for his benefit not the charity. His goal is the White House… the tax flight from CA (especially from Bay Area) is headlines. This man will tax USA as a means to fulfill his agenda. He and Harris… long time in the works. Yes, I signed. And I’m not a Trump supporter. You bet he opened CA due to the petition. And this is not the first time it’s been circulated.
I have a hard time believing that he has a realistic chance at the Presidency. He’s too far to the left to be viable in a general election, given the Electoral College map.
You will be surprised with this new generation and the damage they can do with their votes. He and Harris has been in the works for years. She already got a foot in the door.
The people who vote don’t decide anything. It’s the people who count the votes who decide everything.
While still high, California new cases have been on a downward trajectory overall and are down 46% over the last 14 days… Does nobody mention that?
Also, what is a ceramic up, and how does one drink coffee out of an up?
Many on here are speculating about whether this was driven by the recall effort. I think a more likely explanation is that he is following the leads of Cuomo and the governor of Illinois who decided it was safe to open just as Biden took office.
It’s pure coinkydink that when Creepy, Sleepy Joe and the Ho take over that these slimy twits ( I wanted to use another words that is spelled similar) like “Any Twosome Newsome “ and Il Duce lightweights Cuomo call for reopening the economy. What gall. Of these twunts didn’t have double standards, they wouldn’t have any standards at all!!!
It’s already starting. They want to make the basket case known as the District of Columbia a state!!
Man, you really are taking the epic Trump loss hard…he is a historic loser after all.
DC can’t become a state soon enough! Hopefully PR too. More than offsets the worthlessness of the Dakotas having 4 Senators.
Yeah apparently things are bad!!!! ;( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdpSgEQKVNE