Edhat Staff
Leadbetter Beach packed with people on April 25, 2020 (Photo: Baron Erik Spafford / edhat)
Governor Gavin Newsom announced only the beaches in Orange County will close due to the COVID-19 pandemic during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Newsom stated the decision to make a hard closure of Orange County beaches was largely due to photos and reports of crowds throughout the county last weekend.
Santa Barbara County beaches are expected to remain open this weekend as officials continue to urge people to socially distance and not to congregate in crowds.
Newsom clarified the memo by the California Police Chief’s Association was not written by the Governor’s office and he never stated all California beaches were to be closed. He continued by saying he’s a beach advocate and has worked to keep all the beaches open, even giving a shout out to signing a bill to open Hollister Ranch beach in Gaviota.
While Newsom praised other counties for their concerted efforts to distance at the beach, he stated this effort is a targeted approach to address concerns in specific communities.
“We’re going to have a temporary pause on the beaches [in Orange County],” he said. “If we can get some framework and guidelines to get this right, we can open very quickly. We got to make sure we get this right.”
Governor Expected to Close California Beaches
Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to close all California beaches and state parks starting Friday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The news was leaked from a memo written by the California Police Chief’s Association to all law enforcement agencies giving them time to prepare for the order.
“We wanted to give all of our members a heads up about this in order to provide time for you to plan for any situations you might expect as a result, knowing each community has its own dynamics,” the memo states.
The closure is expected to be in response to numerous reports, videos, and photos depicting hundreds and sometimes thousands of people on California beaches this past weekend.
Images from Orange and Ventura counties were shown throughout the state of crowded beaches. Newsom commented on such images earlier this week, warning these acts could delay re-opening the state.
“This virus doesn’t take the weekends off. This virus doesn’t go home. We have to manage and augment our behavior,” he said. “The only thing that will set us back is people stopping practicing physical distancing.”
Edhat readers shared photos of people on Leadbetter Beach while other reports stated an overflow at Hendry’s Beach.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Gregg Hart made it clear in past press conferences that the county will follow the Governor’s orders.
Newsom is expected to officially make the beach and park closure announcement on Thursday.
SACJON, it has not been proven or verifiable that everything we’ve done has had any affect on the spread of the virus. That is coming from various medical and scientific studies using data analyzed from throughout the country. Those conclusions just aren’t being reported by most of the large news agencies; those sources are only posting the studies which claim it is working. Indeed, many of the findings that contradict that are being removed from YouTube. As CSF stated elsewhere, probably the only way to eliminate this virus is through complete and total lockdown – and that is impossible unless you want a complete police state.
12:28 – temporary restrictions based on a health emergency are perfectly legal. “The First Amendment does not provide the right to conduct an assembly at which there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder, or interference with traffic on public streets, or other immediate threat to public safety or order” (Jones v. Parmley, 465 F.3d 46, 56–57 (2d Cir. 2006)). So, it can easily be argued that leaving the beaches open could constitute “other immediate threat to public safety.” Is it right or true? No, I don’t think it is. I think it would be easy to keep the beaches open if they were adequately patrolled, but the argument remains that closing the beaches is a constitutional limitation on the right to assemble. Also……. the right to assemble usually applies to protests where the freedom of speech is being exercised, not really a beach where people are getting some sun.
X: I think you mean 3 million + confirmed globally. There are only a little more than 1 M in the US currently and no reports of re-infections. Only 0.3% of the US population has tested positive, so there’s a long way to go from 0.3% to minimum ~30% required for herd immunity, without a vaccine. Given how contagious this virus is, I bet you could get up to that number quickly without any measures. The key thing is that the mortality isn’t as high as SARS, so most people should pull through and presumably be immune for a period of time. I have no problem with people going out and trying to build up the herd immunity. Go for it!
Before anyone jumps on me, while I think it is legal to do this, I still do not think it is right!
Whatever happened to warning signs so that we as adults can make our own decisions. That’s what they do when the water has high levels of bacteria in it. So how about “WARNING: if you make the choice to go on this beach, you will potentially be exposed to other people’s germs which have a medium to low chance of killing you. However, you have a 99% chance of NOT dying from it. So stay 6′ away from others while enjoying the health benefits of fresh sea air, ocean waters and sunshine” Friggen common sense.
My issue is when temporary becomes permanent. We were told to temporarily stay at home to “bend the curve” so as to not overwhelm the health care systems capacity. We did that, so much so that the hospitals are empty and laying off staff, yet the stay at home order has not been lifted. Now it’s stay at home until metrics that the gov. hasn’t even quantified are met, and can change. This is when temporary becomes the new normal and is the line in the sand for me.
We can wait and see what happens in Georgia After it recently reopened including its beaches.. If in 3 or 4 weeks Georgia doesn’t see a spike than other states can start reopening.
???
NostraChumash, it’s more accurate to state that the decisions people made to vote for Newsom, Becerra, Padilla, Limon, Waters, Carbajal, Schiff, Pelosi, Harris, et al is what brought this on, not “SB and other adults.”
So many willing to give up liberties for subservience and kowtow to government. It makes me ill.
SAM – I really don’t think the goal of the gov’t is to permanently keep us in our homes and close our beaches. This maybe “temporary” for a little while longer, but where is the concern that we will be ordered to stay out of businesses, beaches, etc permanently coming from? What would be the motive of the gov’t to ruin our economy permanently and keep the citizens locked up? I just don’t see that.
Matty – if the only way back to normal is us continuing the temporary restrictions, then so be it. I draw the line in the sand (pun intended) with the beach closures, but everything else is necessary to slow the spread even more. The more people are out there being selfish and not distancing, the longer we will have to wait to go back to normal. It’s folks like those who crowded the beaches last weekend and those protesters in MI, NC, etc that are getting infected at their own protests that are making the drag out longer! I’ve been saying this all along, go outside but be safe and responsible, otherwise this happens. Bite the bullet and do what needs to be done, or we will lose our entire summer!
SACJON: I guess the motivation that escapes you is that Trump built his success, and justification of a second term, around his very strong economic numbers. By taking that away from Trump, you give an edge to Biden or whoever the Democrats end up nominating. Aside from Democrats, the Chinese would certainly benefit from a new administration that might be willing to re-negotiate Trump’s recent trade agreements. Lots of politicians, on both sides of the aisle, are friendly with the either the Chinese government or donors who do business with them.
1:27 – I hate to break it to you, but Republican governors are also closing things down. Blaming the voters for this move is about as effective as blaming the parents of the politicians for having kids. The rules were put in place, whether you liked them or not, and the selfish, me-first folks went out and ignored them and wrecked it for all of us.
Mattyboy
Extreme and baseless statement.
Lazy intellects make me sick.
If Newsom actually now confirms that he is only closing down Orange County beaches because “he didn’t see the memo” about him closing all beaches and parks, then he has backpedaled like a crab under citizen and county supervisors’ protests alike and the political backlash he feared. Maybe if we consider strongly protesting many of the other outrageous, egregious, and Constitutional-violating other laws he has both enacted and plans to enact during his reign of terror, his dictatorship will come to an end. The ballot boxes in November are a good place to start, too. We have not yet seen the end to this tyranny, I’m afraid.
SUPERFREAK – good point, I forgot about that. But still, the damage is already done with temporary restrictions, so why would they want to make them permanent? It sill doesn’t make sense.
Good call changing the order. Thank you!
So only OC beaches. Okay. Wonder where OC residents will migrate to this weekend? LA? Last weekend lots of people from LA came up to our beaches. So by shutting down only certain beaches you’ll just drive people to migrate over longer distances to find open beaches, stopping by gas stations, convenience stores and markets along the way. Wouldn’t it make more sense to encourage people to use their local resources in order to contain the possible spread? None of what our government has been doing makes any sense, more so now than before.
Yes! Now, all you anti-restriction people stay home or we’re going to get closed down too! Take a hint folks!
But leave the folks at Hollister Ranch alone.
I agree with you that closing some beaches will simply increase crowding at other beaches. California laws and policies typically achieve the opposite of their stated intention and this will be no exception.
yes… globally… so i’ll drop it to show me 5 cases in the USA (because truly fact checking this granular of a statistic from another country is many of orders of magnitude harder)
Close ALL or NONE! Really the only way to do this.
5000 people? Come on. Deltopia maybe. I would say you might have slightly over exaggerated by some 4700k.
Sbcarnut, a whole slew of comments, including yours, were deleted because they went too far from the Edhat guidelines: discussion of local issues only. It wasn’t personal.
To A-158..
Thanks for the opinion..
However, the C-virus would be doing it’s damage regardless of whomever was in-charge politically.
What SHOWS is; a governor made a public Order, it was not respected (im decorated combat vet, i know “orders”), consequences followed..
That’s how it works.
People did this to themselves & should accept accountability.
Your children are watching your behavior.
Haha. They asked for it. They had over 80,000 at the beach last weekend. From what I’ve heard they’ve been having Covid parties for their kids in OC.
I was pretty sure I hear Newsom say in his speech yesterday that he was closing all California beaches. But he must have gotten push back. Thankfully.
Sacjon- I don’t have any idea what the motivation behind making closures permanent is, but there have been many road closures in the backcountry that were temporary which have never reopened. Temporary can have a loose definition when the Gov uses it.
When can me and my crew access those pristine HR beaches?
Any time you want, the beach is public below the mean high tide line. You can walk in when the tide is low, paddle in on your kayak, or anchor your boat offshore. However, you don’t have a right to enter the ranch since it’s private property.
Incorrect, Newsom said that if what he saw in Orange County continues (tons of people on the beach in crowds) he will need to take action. That’s exactly what he did but focused on just OC and not the areas where there wasn’t crowding.
BAM!! Assembly Bill 1680, written by Assemblymember Monique Limón, directs the California Coastal Commission, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Lands Commission, and the Coastal Conservancy to update the Hollister Ranch Public Access Program and truly enforce the law. Hollister Ranch is required to provide public pedestrian access to the beach by April 2022.
Coolio – wait, Chip agrees with Limon? Better check to see if pigs are flying around….. hahaha!
The OC beach closures appear punitive. That’s not going to win him any fans in a county that flipped from red to blue in 2018. Wonder how many representatives will be asking Newsome to campaign for them this year?
You should try reading the story “Newsom clarified the memo by the California Police Chief’s Association was not written by the Governor’s office and he never stated all California beaches were to be closed. ” But stating an uninformed opinion because it provides apparent support for your position is how it is done now – good work!
Can anyone figure out a way to allow the OC beaches to be open, but limit the numbers of people allowed on them at any one time? Seems impossible, but maybe some genius has an idea.
Y’all can put away your pitchforks and torches now.
@02:25pm Incorrect. it actually WAS a backpedal. this memo was prepared. note the big bold ALL in the original notice. also note that they’ve prepared the legal codes they’re going to cite for enforcement —
https://ei.marketwatch.com/Multimedia/2020/04/30/Photos/NS/MW-IF554_EW0ZJW_20200430102301_NS.jpg
I just read that the Orange County Sheriff will not enforce Newsom’s hard closure order for the beaches. If Newsom wants to enforce his order, he’ll have to send the CHP. We’ll see what happens.
So basically another toothless order.
29,000 people died from influenza this year. Possibly much higher as the numbers after Feb got put in the COVID pile. 80,000 died the previous year. You remember, the year when the vaccination did not match the virus? There were over a million hospitalizations. We did not lock down society. Why? Because flu happens every year, sometimes worse than others. We’re “used to it” and isn’t that telling? Far more people have died from influenza than the from CoVID. Or the Vietnam War. And almost every year influenza returns. And every years it begins in September and starts to decline in March and is almost gone by May. The curve for COVID is identical. Midway down the page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcovid-data%2Fcovidview.html
I am very glad to hear the sheriff is refusing to enforce the governor’s order. I hope the people of Orange County visit the beaches in mass to protest and enjoy the sunshine this weekend.
instead of wild speculation, here’s some actual stats. Newport beach saw.. 90,000 beachgoers over last weekend. — https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/us/california-newport-beach-open-enforcement/index.html — and yet, after that weekend… Newport Beach then proceeded to VOTE to keep beaches OPEN. /gasp.
X: So I took a bit of text from the memo in the link you posted and searched the web. Most news agencies have amended their articles, but not the SB Newspress. Now agencies, such as CNN report the following: “That memo never got to me,” Newsom said. If I were a reporter, I’d ask Newsom if that memo was sent to his official email inbox, regardless of whether he read it or whatever “got to me” means. Was he CC’d on that memo? Newsom is trying to throw people under the bus with that denial. Here’s the link to the Newspress while it lasts: https://newspress.com/exclusive-california-police-chiefs-association-says-that-gov-newsom-to-close-down-all-beaches-state-parks/
https://newspress.com/exclusive-california-police-chiefs-association-says-that-gov-newsom-to-close-down-all-beaches-state-parks/
OK, Pit, have it your way. But opinions are often based on the old phrase of connecting the dots. The news reports about the beach closures coming from from the California Police Chiefs Assn. came out early yesterday afternoon. Surely his staff follows such reports and would have advised him immediately to publicly clarify what he meant. In fact, less than an hour before he made his “correction” this afternoon, such trusted news sources such as the LA Times, CNN, MSNBC, and all the other media were still reporting it as factual, and some still haven’t retracted that. Yet it took more than 24 hours only after heavy citizen and county supervisor’s concerns and criticisms for him to come out and state he only meant OC? I smell a rat living in his 13,000 sf home. Fake news or backpedaling under pressure?
Sacjon, maybe not permanent, but when they goal posts keep getting moved, and stay home continually extend, it certainly isn’t temporary.
Two weeks people, this is was supposed to be two weeks “stay at home”!!! Two months later were still at home and we have to adapt to a new way of life (it’s called communism btw) Newsom knew all he had to do was throw the S word (science) out there to his sheep and they all foamed at the mouth. This is nothing more than a power grab by the government. We gave them an inch and they took miles, good luck getting it back. This will not be the last gov’t “shutdown” in our lifetime. It was too easy to control us.
SAM – until it’s permanent, it’s “temporary.” Just because you think it’s been going too long, doesn’t mean it’s not temporary.
420772 – explain how a temporary safety/health order is “communism?”
The Gov’s got my vote! (however, we’re gonna need to bring our hammers and bats to the beach this weekend to school the OC crowds) – “locals only dude” Who’s with me ?! Shame I’m in my early 60’s..
Modoc County in Northern California just announced they are going to open everything up. There has been no Coronavirus cases in that county this whole time. Churches, schools, restaurants, hair salons, etc. If you’ve ever been to Lava Beds National Monument where the cool Lava Tubes are, that’s where Modoc County is. What will Newsom do?
@1:37 and everyone else.
So, when all this began, we were told we needed to shelter at home and if out social distance. Why? Because of the fear, all of our hospitals would be overwhelmed. ” flatten the curve” was the goal to make sure our hospitals could handle the influx of patients. That has happened almost everywhere… The extra beds have been eliminated, hospital ships heading home and yet more and more restrictions are imposed. It’s not going to just go away and I for one cannot just toss my lively hood out the window and wait until there is a vaccine. There have been zero financial options for self-employed small business. At least any that actually happens and I would rather earn it myself anyway. Quarantine the sick and the people who are elderly or have medical conditions. Don’t quarantine the healthy folks because it makes people feel safer or because you, the government, want more control! Rant over.
Lord Governor Newsome of the State of California has Spoketh. Fall in line and obey. (And then take the blue pill).
Modoc County should definitely open up. Hardly anyone lives there; they have built-in social distancing. I doubt Newsom will object.
Funny you can’t spell his name correctely.
Says the person that can’t spell correctly correctly. You just made my night.
420722: That was pretty funny!
Get with the times. These days it is the UV pill vs Bleach pill.
Hope the hoards don’t show up at our doorstep in Goleta.
As long as those kooks don’t threaten my wave – I’m all good with them thinning their own herd.
Here is a link to Modoc County opening. It’s a Nor-Cal source that’s not behind a paywall. *** https://krcrtv.com/news/coronavirus/modoc-county-could-be-the-first-california-county-to-reopen-after-covid-19-closures *** The SF Chronicle also covers the story, but it’s behind a paywall.
Newsom is a Tyrant……………………………………………..
Thanks jerks! Your beaches were closed, so you came to ours and ruined it for us, like I’ve been warning about for weeks. THIS could be the tipping point for me in this whole thing. I still plan on walking the beach, come and get me.
Insanity. A lot of county supervisors are fighting back. Hopefully ours does too.
I agree we are reaching a tipping point. It’s time for the people to rise up. It’s our beach! Let’s take it back this weekend!
Wow, the ignorance. How hard is it to stay home? He’s closing the beaches in the first place because you idiots refuse to wear a mask and stay away from one another. Storm the beaches, protest, go for it, and watch all of us suffer longer as the shut down is extended.
Agreed .
you honestly think the crowding on our beaches was from.. out of town? LA? –https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8255763/Thousands-Californians-flock-open-beaches-despite-Gov-Newsoms-pleas-stay-home.html — people went to the beach.. IN LA. it’s not like everyone who lives in SB… has a license plate from SB.. buying cars from ventura and LA is common..
The government was created to serve us, not to punish us. We are citizens, not subjects. The shut down will be extended until we the people decide to end it.
@Chip, read the reports from the Spanish Flu about numerous cities ignoring doctors orders and easing restrictions too soon only to bring a larger wave of illness and death. Funny how people suddenly think they’re scientists and know what’s best for all.
Exactly!! this is why we can’t have nice things.
SBSURFER – it’s not about “staying home,” we (most of us at least) were able to go to the beach and enjoy the water and sun responsibly and at a distance from others. There was was NEVER a stay indoors order, now there is. The beaches are wide open spaces, the easiest places on earth to spread out and all enjoy. This is wrong. If people are too close, give them a ticket! This is lazy! Get the cops out there ticketing, don’t just be lazy and close and cancel everything!
I’m with you on this one Sacjon!
Nextdoor removes post that have to do with this, or anything that runs contrary to what the government is ordering. Does that remind you of anything? Thank you to EdHat for allowing discussion. MY point: Why not give people a choice to be responsible instead of punishing them in advance? There are plenty of beaches where people can be distant. When it reaches a level of use where that is an issue, then limit access to the beach to avoid being crowded. That’s a reasonable choice. A smart choice.
This should not be a statewide mandate. Every beach in every community is not a problem. The correct science-based and not emotional response is to manage each beach in each community if and as needed. People need to be out in the fresh air with friends and family. We need that to survive. We don’t need micromanagement how to use the beach. We don’t need rules that say we can run on the beach but not stroll or it’s okay to also stroll but not sit down, or maybe a chair is allowed if you have a disability, but no blanket. Except between 8am and 10am. Wait, that time reserved for runners. Water sports are okay but you can be arrested if you bring a volleyball. That’s for 2pm-4pm. Seriously, there *are* beaches with posted rules like that. Do you really want that here?
The politicians are making decisions that are not based on rational medical science. They are guessing. Trying to do what’s best for us but remember: they are guessing. And they keep changing their guesses. Does that work for you? Are you going to “just go along with it for now?” Anyone read or watch Handmaid’s Tale, or remember what happened to human rights when citizens listed to crazy politicians?
Our beaches will become our Berlin Wall moment. Ordinary people will go to the beach to protest the gov’t the way the East Berliners stood on that wall in the 80s. It’s only a question of how much force Newsom will use to drag people off the beach.
GINGER – you had me until the Handmaid’s analogy. Nope, not like that, since this is only temporary, but I agree with the rest. There’s no reason the park rangers, cops, lifeguards, etc can’t be out there telling people to keep distance or get a ticket. Now, we have a lazy, sweeping rule. What gets me is at the same time we’re supposed to be EASING restrictions, we’re shutting down all beaches and parks and requiring everyone to wear a mask! Pick a side!
Voluntary compliance with social distancing at beaches and parks was a bit of a joke from the start and was doomed for failure. The only way you get people to follow rules is by making law and enforcing it.
I would encourage everyone here to let the governor know what they think. Perhaps if enough of us reach out now we can stop this insanity before it starts. Contact Governor Newson:
https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
I’ve heard rumors here of a protest this weekend against the masks. Maybe someone’s doing a beach protest too?
Indeed. This is going to turn into a social distancing problem due to his heavy handed approach. As it is, social distancing is enforced by rangers. Now it’s going to become a free for all protest. Stupidity at its finest.
What a marvelous time to own a beach house.
I am not surprised by this at all. I went to Mesa Lane beach on Saturday afternoon, and there probably had to be around 5,000 people there. A Coast Guard helicopter did a flyover while we were there to get a lay of the land. I had this sinking feeling that with as many beachgoers as they saw, they’d report it to city and/or state officials and the beaches would be closed. Sigh…
even LA county supervisors are chiming in. == https://www.toddstarnes.com/coronavirus/no-sand-castles-gov-newsom-to-close-all-california-beaches-and-parks/ == “Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far. I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information.”
Most people will follow this directive. The small number that don’t will probably be able to be socially distant if they are not ticketed. Once again, the responsible people will have to do more than the irresponsible ones. But that is how the world works, not just during this time.
“it’s only a question of how much force”….. indeed… — https://babylonbee.com/news/california-releases-thousands-of-felons-to-make-room-for-skateboarders — what actual threat can you make here that does not result in totally asinine behaviour on all sides?
No beach! While he stays home with his air conditioning and swimming pool.
Sacjon, you can ease restrictions if people still distance socially and wear masks. If they don’t, you have to stay on lockdown. What is unclear about that?
Yeah, it sucks. A version of the tragedy of the commons. This is why we cannot have nice things.
Oh come one. Get over yourself. Comparing this to a war, especially one as long and horrific as WW2 is just plain ridiculous. As if you’re actually suffering… Seriously, you cant stay home for a few months? You actually think your plight equals that of interned political prisoners held in a police state for decades? Such a snowflake, such a whiner. ———————————————————————- OK Guy, If it is a war, than act like a patriot and do it for your country. Be a good American, be a true patriot and stay home for your country. Our nation’s survival is more important than your short term comfort.
Sacjon & Sbsurfer are correct in that SB & other adults, have brought this upon the community by not following the governors order in the 1st place.
Now, live with the decisions you have made.
Xant, google LA Times articles on this with interviews from people that came to our beaches. Also check out the hotel room occupancy rates that went up this last weekend. Sorry to bring facts into this.
You said it, Nut.
Newsom ought to be reminded of this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. ”
Except for it falling into the ocean due to sea level rise. I say buy across the street and wait for it to become beach front.
I am frequently at the harbor and out on the water, but I am totally okay with temporarily closing the beaches, in the interest of the public interest (i.e. decreasing infectious disease transmission). I’d rather have a less infectious and slightly less tan general public, so we can eliminate this pandemic and get back to what semblance of normal life we will have in the future.
Yes!!!
Newsom is punishing us ……………He is a Tyrant, I posted my thoughts the other day as I believe this is yet another political hit. Needless to say my post was removed. Our city leaders are beyond weak, all of these problems we are now facing are because of the shut down. Everyone is running around with masks & disinfectant, I see people in their cars by themselves wearing masks? your afraid of getting sick from your car? Everything that’s happening is unbelievable! The numbers don’t lie, Newsom claimed 25 million in Calif would have the virus, WRONG! Actually everything Newsom says is wrong, he is a hardcore leftist………. anyone that can’t see this , well I don’t know? My business is going to hell! My Daughter is a local restaurant owner of 11 years, she works very hard & now losing everything! Thanks, Newsom! People need to start using common sense , unite & re-open our community before it’s to late. Sadly common sense just isn’t that common anymore.
SBCARNUT – the numbers are low BECAUSE of everything we’ve done to prevent the spread. BUT, closing the beaches is still wrong. We can continue to responsibly social distance without being completely shut down. The kids are losing everything now, no school, no sports, and now they can’t even go outdoors? This is BS. This is LAZY. We can still social distance and keep safe while doing things like going to the beach or even playing some sports! Heck, golf courses are open!
PROTEST!
Either have complete shutdown, with 100% enforcement to extinguish this thing in a couple of weeks, or open up everything and let people go out and catch this thing if they want. This in-between is a frustratingly slow bleed. The downside of total lockdown in CA or the entire US, is that you’ll still have people circulating this thing somewhere and eventually it will find its way back here to rekindle another outbreak. So the enforced shutdown would have to be worldwide, and good luck with that. Opening things up gets us closer to “herd immunity”, but could overwhelm the healthcare system, which itself is circling the drain because regular, non-essential procedures have ground to a halt. It seems that the most serious concern is there might not be enough beds and ventilators if opening everything up were to cause the number of cases to explode. Well so be it, as long as hospitals keep a certain portion of the beds/ventilators reserved for people who’ve elected to stay home but find themselves in need of health care. Too bad if all of the COVID-19-designated beds are full and there are still COVID-19 patients are out on the sidewalk, frothing pink foam from their mouths. If people who wish to freely circulate without masks are fine with that prospect, I’m fine too. But that’s not realistic. In the real world the people who choose to freely circulate, get COVID-19 and require medical attention would form advocacy groups and would demand the bed space reserved for the “most vulnerable” segments of our population, which they advised to stay home.
1. The “Spanish Flu” was over a hundred years ago. Not a good reference point. Health care was a little different then. 2. You think the politicians know what’s best for us? You really don’t want to go there.
PITMIX – Yes, but we’re easing restrictions and requiring masks and closing beaches at the same time. That does not make sense.
Stop making stuff up. I was there and counted, actually counted about 150 people. That’s about twice “normal”. And yes, it was too crowded and I walked back to Hendry’s. You cant possibly fit 5,000 people in a space 100 yards by 10 yards. That’s silly.
Yes. Thank to Edhat for allowing this discussion.
Having to wear a mask when I enter a store or not being allowed to sit on the beach seems like a reasonable inconvenience if it will get the curve to descend in California to the point where it is actually safe to reopen and not worry so much about a resurgence which would only cause more pain.
OMG! Seriously? People believe that crap? PLEASE stay away. “Too bad if all of the “COVID-19-designated beds are full and there are still COVID-19 patients are out on the sidewalk, frothing pink foam from their mouths.” The fear and hysteria continue. We are doomed. Call out the National Guard! Cordon off the city! Lock ’em up!
Wearing a mask is one thing, being banned from walking on the beach is just wrong!
As of yesterday you have a .0018% chance of dying from CV in Santa Barbara County, and a .011% chance of contracting CV. So, lets only let SB County residents on the beaches in SB County. This is crazy making. Taking away our beaches…. who would have ever thought this possible.
Wow, you’re rude. I walked down the Mesa Lane Steps – is that not Mesa Lane Beach? You must have gone at a different time than I was there, because there were considerably more than 150 people. Just relax – no need to get snippy over an innocuous comment.
Thank you for that address to email Newsom. I did it but I wonder how much of an impact these things have.
Consider this: Why not stop and interview passengers in every vehicle entering SB on 101 Freeway? Basic CV screening–questionnaire, temperature, for example. Mostly to impress upon them the seriousness of the matter. Hand them a note requesting that they do not visit our beaches right now and a reminder of what is safe(r) behavior. Post signs at likely to be impacted beaches reading: “SB Co. Residents Only Please” That should deter at least some visitors. Perhaps enough to matter. Although I abhor Draconian measures, this is a reasonable temporary approach. Thoughts?
First amendment to the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” You can make a strong argument that hanging out at the beach is a form of peaceable assembly.
I am worried that the changes that start out “temporary” become permanent. I truly feel that the envelope is getting pushed farther and longer, until these are all the new normal. Changes to the core nature of our republic ala Handmaid’s Tale do not happen overnight, but rather over a period of time until it is unrecognizable. By then, the indoctrination of the majority has been successful. I have NO problem at all wearing masks and maintaining a heightened level of distancing, limiting capacities in restaurants, etc. but these vast and generalized orders are OUT OF HAND. PS how on earth does anyone expect humans to reach herd immunity (or maintain their immune systems at all) like this?
I agree. Also, wearing a mask severely impedes one’s ability to speak. It’s downright hard to understand people out there.
58,318 Americans died in the Vietnam War over many years. Upwards of 60,000 Americans have died so far due to Covid-19 in a couple of months. And you are complaining that you can’t go to the beach this weekend?
the biggest meme that is prevalent here is… “you could get reinfected / anytime we open up, cases can explode”…. ok.. so… we have 3 MILLION + confirmed cases in the USA. There has been ample time for someone who was exposed… to get “re-exposed” … can anyone show even 10 cases in the USA that are confirmed re-exposures leading to symptoms requiring re-hospitalization?
this is by design, Chip 😉 confuse and obfuscate, outlaw gatherings, censor communication lines… “everybody just sit and watch netflix”
the numbers are low because of the lack of testing. period.
all else is conjecture.
Spot On SBCAR53. But It’s more than just punishment. It is an insidious process by decree that Newsom and local governments are eliminating our First and Second Amendment rights. I fear complete control of our lives is the ultimate goal with these types of politicians. They were elected to serve the people, not dictate to us, and deny us the rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Many people here are claiming that the beaches and parks are closed because we didn’t follow the rules. In actuality, it is because Newsom is the governor and he believes he can do damn well what he wants under the guise of protecting you and so can’t be challenged, which is the excuse all dictatorships use. I guess it’s time I break out the old “Question Authority” and “Resist” bumper stickers. I don’t think any of us thought what we are seeing and experiencing locally and throughout this country would ever come to be, but here it is. It is like a dream come true for the CCP. The famous phase from Patrick Henry is echoing more and more in my mind, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
No one is closing anything except a hard closure for Orange County. Key word is “news leak”. You people need to “chill ax.” …………
Closing beaches, parks and hiking trails was simply stupid, defying common sense and eroding public confidence in other restrictions. It is bureaucrats run amok, and Americans are not going to put up with it.
Even the Trump-hating, Republican-hating Los Angeles Times ran a front page article about how outraged Orange County residents are about the beach closure. I guess his adoring media outlets alarmed him to rescind his state wide decision to close all beaches and parks:
“ ‘Politics will not drive our decision-making, protests won’t drive our decision-making,” Gavin said Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.” So the will of the people doesn’t matter to him?
Let’s see how Mr. Hair Gel responds when statewide protests and outrage about his “4 Stage” plan gain momentum. Maybe even our local city council imbeciles will rescind the stupid and unnecessary all-inclusive mask order if we protest enough. I wonder how all the mask enthusiasts will get food into their mouths through their mask when, and if, our restaurants are ever able to open again. No new deaths, no new cases in the city today. Watching Murillo smiling and nod her head in approving agreement when the mask decree was voted in by a 7-0 “yes” by the city council almost made me puke. Sure, let’s keep everything locked down due to the idiots running this (formally) fine city and it’s populace.
You spelled his name wrong…its Governor Nuisance.
SACJON: “We need to close down the county lines, not the beaches!” Please explain how you object to beach closures, yet are in favor of restricting the free movement of citizens in or out of the county with some kind of police/military-style check-points (i.e. martial law). You’re the second person today to make such an incongruous proposal.
Aragorn, can you please supply us, the obviously ignorant, with how many people have died from visiting our county and city beaches? While you’re at it, please let us know how many in town have died from not wearing a mask or bandanna.
Aragorn can’t speak right now he is under the bed. I’ll answer, ZERO!
sure CSF.. and how many of those new positive cases from North County are … 60+ y-old nursing home residents who absolutely aren’t taking jaunts to the beach, or receiving visitors due to being… in a nursing home during covid. 😉
Don’t shut down the borders where anyone can cross without being vetted for health or terrorist reasons. But it’s just fine to shut the native populace from enjoying the local beaches. Makes no sense.
Don’t shut down the borders where anyone can cross without being vetted for health or terrorist reasons. But it’s just fine to shut the native populace from enjoying the local beaches. Makes no sense.
Wowed! Some serious conspiracy theory nuts popping up. Maybe it was all the rain that dogged their minds. Their paranoia appears clinical and may be a bigger threat to our great nation than COVID-19. People be making up stuff right and left to suit their personal agenda, ignoring facts and parroting half truths, innuendo and lies(and the obvious ”just making shit up cause I have no clue what I’m talking about“). Hmmmm, who do we know who does that on a daily basis?
@42072 are you a writer? You have a great imagination.
@ SAMTHEDOG Temporary: your time on earth
Here’s a twitter feed of the OC Sheriff discussing the beach closure order at a press conference *** https://twitter.com/MarlaTellez/status/1255973711246573568 ***
So what. It’s an association of sheriffs, not a governmental entity. Newsom has said he was talking with different people before he made his final decision. The “association” jumped the gun.
EGGS: Can you not comprehend that what you are saying is actually a major part of the problem?
given that he doesn’t actually name any specific entity… i’m not sure he’s actually saying anything 😉