I’m wading into political waters, but it is certainly related to travel and merits our discussion. There’s a big brouhaha in California over Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to push social distancing guidelines by dining maskless and ostensibly indoors at a famous Michelin starred restaurant with friends and lobbyists. Meanwhile a delegation of California legislators are in Maui this week for a conference on COVID-19. Calls of hypocrisy are growing in volume and bipartisan. But I’m not outraged over these incidents. If anything, I am outraged that more cannot enjoy the same thing.
California Governor Breaks Own Social Distancing Guidelines To Dine At Swanky Restaurant
Newsom was “caught” at The French Laundry, a Michelin star restaurant in Napa Valley. He was celebrating the birthday of a lobbyist from the California Medical Association and joined with 11 friends to partake in the meal. Masks were not worn and though the private dining room had floor-to-ceiling retractable doors on one side, witnesses reported they were closed at points during the meal when the party became too loud.
Newsom has recently urged Californians to abstain from traveling, avoid social gatherings for Thanksgiving with non-family members, and hold any gatherings that do occur outdoors and with masks.
Asked about it on the day that Newsom ordered thousands of restaurants across the state to cease indoor dining, Newsom fessed up:
“I want to apologize to you because I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice, and I’ve done my best to do that. We’re all human. We all fall short sometimes.”
Newsom has also been criticized for placing his children back in school while most California families are forced to juggle work with distance learning for their own children.
His kids can learn in person. But yours can’t.
He can celebrate birthday parties. But you can’t.
He can dine on a $350 meal at one California’s fanciest restaurants during the worst recession in generations. But you definitely can’t.
Can you believe this? I can’t. https://t.co/lmRBWh9rpS
— Kevin Faulconer (@Kevin_Faulconer) November 14, 2020
California Legislators Head To Hawaii
Meanwhile, a handful of legislators from California headed to Maui this week for a four-day COVID-19 conference at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea.
This comes as broad community spread is being reported in California and officials have urged residents to avoid travel during the upcoming holidays.
Looking Beyond “Rules For Thee, Not For Me” In California
Technically, the governor did not violate COVID-19 guidelines. The text of the rules designates a room with three walls as “outdoor” and merely suggests, not mandates, that only members of the same household sit together. Masks obviously do not have to be worn while eating and drinking.
Similarly, the lawmakers who are in Hawaii this week are not violating a travel ban and have complied with State of Hawaii testing protocols. Social distancing and masks will be mandated at the conference.
But the bipartisan outrage is more over violations of the spirit of the law, not the letter. Newsom admitted as much during his apology on Monday.
Nevertheless, I find myself unable to be outraged over the conduct of the governor and state legislators. A special dinner with friends at The French Laundry is something that left an indelible positive mark on my brother and something I hope to experience one day as well. Traveling to Hawaii for a conference may be unnecessary, but travel is one of the greatest gifts of life on this Earth and has become quite safe with the protocols in place.
> Read More: The Joy Of Flying, Even In Economy Class
Yes, yes, but why now you might be thinking. Why travel during a pandemic when hospital beds are filling up? Why preach one thing and practice another?
All fair questions.
These are questions we must wrestle with as a society. Is there a third way that avoids the harsh economic and mental effects of lockdown? Is it really fair to say that those who partake in intimate dinners with friends or travel to Hawaii are selfish jerks? Or those that find a way to send their kids to private school hate their neighbor? Wouldn’t you do the same thing if you could?
And my post ends here, quite unsatisfyingly. I don’t have an answer. My post was simply to express my solidarity with the deeply-rooted human desire for fellowship and adventure. We must be vigilant to guard the vulnerable among us and realize that the 40-50% of COVID-19 spread is by asymptomatic carriers. Maybe we should all just stay home for a little while longer until a proven vaccine is widely available….I’m not exactly arguing against it.
But anyone who loves travel can appreciate and see how safe it has become and therefore appreciate the dilemma. We can also look at the millions unemployed and ask how we handle this now, not look back at what we should have done eight months ago.
Life is a constant cost-benefit analysis of risk and reward. Before jumping on our leaders for dining out or flying to Hawaii, we should instead ask whether we are comfortable with the consequences of doing so ourselves and move beyond the unhelpful exchange of dire threats and swift condemnation.
Effective this week, 96% of California is now in a “purple tier” again, meaning indoor dining in restaurants, bars, and coffee shops or indoor worship at churches, synagogues, and mosques is now prohibited. Is wearing masks and social distancing inside meaningfully less safe than crowding tighter outside?
This goes beyond COVID-19 fatigue. It gets to the heart of what it means to live and approach life. And it gets to the heart of how to treat a virus that will be within our midst for a very long time.
I don’t have the answer here. I’m really struggling at this point to think through this in a smart way that balances the many dimensions of compassion required to navigate this unique period of life. Death occurs not just from COVID-19 but from the unintended consequences of lockdowns. Is a utilitarian approach best?
Like the governor, my son is also in school. I won’t apologize. I traveled to Germany last week and New Jersey this week. I won’t apologize. I support my local businesses during a time in which they are starved for business. I won’t apologize (and wish more would support mine…). And I’ve done all of this carefully with masks, distancing, and contactless payment. I am not materially rich, but I am resourceful. We test often and religiously wash our hands and wipe down surfaces. I go to the grocery store near midnight to avoid crowds. Should a healthy person be perpetually locked in at home?
It’s a battle I fight in my mind every day.
I’ve always wanted to go to the FL but in addition to being expensive, it’s in the middle of nowhere! I’ve been to his vegas restaurant which was very fancy.
Lockdown is important to lower the spread. It’s also true that government officials should not be breaking or stretching the rules.
He is a hypocrite.
But he is human. He has never claimed to be otherwise. And this is between him and his god and he asks that people respect his privacy while he and his family heal through this process and asks for forgiveness.
This crap works for situations.
Screw all politicians. That guy shouldn’t even be eating dinner with a lobbyist unless he was paying from his own pocket.
> Is it really fair to say that those who partake in intimate dinners with friends or travel to Hawaii are selfish jerks?
Yep. This Democrat says it’s totally fair to say that, and the criticism is spot-on.
We all are giving up things that we would like to do, for the good of others. We all need to keep doing that. Including Newsom. He should know better. “Oops” doesn’t cut it.
Agreed. He’s a buffoon. Also doesn’t he live in a mansion? I feel like out of all of us it’s least excusable in his case given that not going out, socializing, etc. shouldn’t be that hard for him…
“my post ends here”
…and then 7 more paragraphs. Interesting.
Gavin is typical liberal elite: advocating policies they they themselves have no intention to follow. Hypocrisy is their defining characteristic.
I agree that he’s a total hypocrite, but same goes for the “pro life” Republicans who believe in the death penalty. There’s no shortage of hypocrisy on either side of the aisle
“Whataboutism” is certainly a common albeit meaningless argument to bring to every discussion. “Pro life” is relevant here? Seriously?
Let’s focus on the hypocrisy by Newsom and not go elsewhere. It’s a pandemic. Don’t make it political when it’s about stupid.
Then let’s not paint folks with a political brush. Claiming “ypical liberal elite” when he’s just a douchebag begs someone to retort with “typical conservative hypocrites/elite”. There’s utter nonsense fallacy in the initial statement and, yes, true/correct whataboutism in the response. So if you’re going to have your feathers ruffled by one, then don’t be clutch your pearls when the playing field is leveled and the same accusations are lobbed at the other side.
Said poster always rails against anything that isn’t arch-regressive conservatism. Their only argument at this point is a “many terrible people on both sides”-ism.
Ah the Democrat’s are back in !! SO Newsom goes to the FL and others to Maui.
Not you though. And not me under threat of arrest/job loss, etc.
I think the difference isn’t that we want to and we are jealous because he is, but that he is actually forcing some people not to be able to, by closing businesses and causing people to not work so they cannot do these things. I’m not jealous of you or him, but I’m pissed off at him that he, and only he, apparently gets to make the rules that impact the lives of thousands of Californians.
Kevin Faulconer has been very reasonable as the Mayor of San Diego, but the second largest city in the state gets very little back from the state in terms of answers to many requests.
Lol @ lockdown and social distancing.
And people are surprised politicians are corrupt?
I’ll hit all 6 continents in 2020. Will end close to 25 countries.
Traveling full time, enjoying the world.
Will do the same next year.
Anyone who bought into this hype, is not good at math. And politicians figured that out. So, I’m sure this isn’t the end of the power grab and manufactured panic.
Brouhaha. Now there’s a word you don’t see every day.
Their is absolutely nothing wrong with what Newsom did or the other individuals did in flying to Hawaii. In fact we need a lot more people getting out and doing what they can to return to normal if we are going to overcome the economic devastation wrought by our responses to this virus.
BUT….
These are the same people telling you how to live your life and telling you NOT to go out, NOT to travel, NOT to spend time with family and friends. It’s the utter hypocrisy that is an issue here and why people are very justifiably outraged. Unfortunately it’s pretty standard behavior for politicians who want to control your life but never hold themselves to the same standard.
I’m reminded of the famous R Lee Ermey line from Toy Story “where is your honor dirtbag your an absolute disgrace”.
https://youtu.be/ybne3oC21wY
This comment is going to be nakedly political, and I apologize, but you know my feelings on this subject from FB a few months ago.
Respectfully, you’re missing the point. This isn’t about Newsom doing this or some Assemblymen doing that. It’s about Democrat politicians constantly screaming about how I’m a serial killer for going to work at my office, going out to eat in a restaurant once a week, and getting my hair cut once a month or so.
Yet I’m yet to hear a single mainstream Democrat criticize Nancy Pelosi for getting her hair done – maskless – in a hair salon, or plan a lavish indoor gala for freshman Congresscritters.
Or Chuck Schumer screaming maskless at a massive Biden victory rally in NYC with zero distancing.
Or Gretchen Whitmer’s husband going DYKWIA to coerce a marina owner to let him launch his boat while Whitmer banned Michigan residents from even traveling to second homes.
Or the absurd letter from a thousand or so public health politburo members insisting that mass BLM “protests” are just hunky dory, yet my choosing to go to work, and these business owners keeping their businesses open, rather than take whatever welfare Nan deems we’re worthy of is white nationalism. (Which is funny because I’m not even white.)
Meanwhile the governor of Oregon says she has no qualms about sending the state police to your private residence for allegedly having too many guests inside. Yet I’ve not seen her once say anything about the lack of social distancing at the Portland “protests”.
It’s not limited to politicians. A friend of mine at work, a Democrat, insists we need more lockdowns – while she comes to work and joins two of us at lunch inside a restaurant.
The reality is, if these people believe in “Stay Home Stay Safe”, they would be staying in their basements 24/7 regardless of what the law allows. It’s quite clear to me they don’t believe their drivel, and just relish the control over the hapless proles. So no, I have zero intention of complying with any lockdowns henceforth. I’m just glad I live in a state that’s #resisting.
Hyperbolic much?
Are we cherry picking who gets outraged?
I haven’t heard a democratic politician calling people serial killers for getting a haircut.
Why don’t you name the so called Democrats calling you a white nationalist for wanting to “keep your business open”. What it Chuck Schumer? Bill Deblasio? …otherwise it’s just false equivalency.
I can go on and on about your post…I know you’re not white but I know you are not black and have never had someone’s knee on your throat so don’t try to equate BLM protests to you having lunch with friends.
If you think public health officials are part of the communist politburo…I just hope you or any of your family members don’t end up in the hospital with this “fake” democrat-virus …and don’t expect any of us health care workers to treat you without at least a bit of schadenfreude in our hearts.
Sir, what does this person’s race have to do with anything? You liberals have to insert race into EVERYTHING. So you think his opinion is more valid than a white person, but less valid than a black person? That is despicable.
Well done! Finally someone speaks out who really gets this. I applaud and join you. Folks do not get that it’s our Democracy at stake here and not who wins the election.
Here’s another thought for you to consider. I asked a good friend of mine what color her mail-in ballot was and she said green. I found that fascinating since mine was blue. Knowing what party I am registered as, I asked her if she was a registered voter with her party which of course she is. Was there a reason the envelopes were two different colors?
However this mess resolves, just remember folks once again your Democracy is the only thing we covet as a free nation. Telling us who, what, where, how and when we can function is no longer a Democracy.
The actions of Governor Nuisance and the lawmakers is outrageous when people are trying to survive on a daily basis. Their actions show no regard for anyone around them. I’m sure his Aunt, Nancy Pelosi, for those who didn’t know, will shield him. Just absolutely shameless.
+1
I know I’m going to get a lot of eye rolls for this, but at a certain point we have to accept that some loss of life from COVID is an acceptable trade-off for being able to live out our lives. This is no different than us accepting the reality of deaths from traffic accidents, plane crashes, etc. as a social cost of having traveling.
I understand the importance of not overwhelming the healthcare system, and that is a fair justification for some COVID restrictions, but the notion that any loss of life from COVID is a “tragedy” as though we will not all die one day is extremely irrational and cowardly.
It’s not any loss of life is excessive, but that our handling of it has caused the current loss of life to be excessive. I spent a good chunk of this morning comforting a colleague whose mother died in Taiwan (heart failure not COVID). She absolutely will not be allowed in the country in time for the funeral, but that is the cost of keeping 24 million people safe. Taiwan has had 7 deaths. There are buildings in Taiwan with a higher population than any city in South Dakota, which had 53 deaths on Tuesday. The part you aren’t getting is that she can’t go back because everyone else in Taiwan is going about their life normally, going to stores, eating in restaurants and going to sporting events. They took care of their business. We didn’t and exposure to us is too dangerous for them to allow.
The one universal in the pandemic: sleazy politicians , on all sides, engaging in ‘do as I say, not do as I do’. We’ve seen it so many times, all over the world. They love to ‘lord it over’ constituents with highly restrictive rules ( most of them justified) but then get caught,in flagrante delicto , breaching their own rules. Secret sex trysts, visits to holiday homes, parties, etc, etc, etc.
Is time to change enough is enough
Recall California Governor Gavin Newsom (2020)
https://recallgavin2020.com/
We are tired of this politicans in Sacramento the just waste taxpayer money
“Should a healthy person be perpetually locked in at home?” No.
Should a sane person be perpetually locked down in California? No. I left California years ago, something to consider while it’s still possible to do so.