FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2020
CONTACT: Randall Avila
PHONE: (714) 453-0900

Statement on Governor Newsom's Second Shutdown of California

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Hon. Fred M. Whitaker, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, released the following statement:

"Yesterday Governor Newsom announced new criteria to justify a second shutdown of California. Once again Governor Newsom has moved the goal post on Orange County, placing us within days of a shutdown.

Orange County has made significant progress in containing covid-19 and reopening our economy. Under Gavin's colored tier approach, Orange County met the criteria to reopen critical industries while maintaining safe and sufficient levels of hospital capacities. Weeks ago without any statistical evidence, we were thrown back into the most severe tier even though our infection rates and hospital capacities did not warrant the move.

He has not only changed the criteria again but he has taken away the autonomy of Orange County to address the recent spike and continue our economic recovery. His new regional approach places our ability to reopen with 10 other counties including Los Angeles County which has absolutely failed to control the coronavirus and Mono County whose most populous city is 344 miles away. 

Gavin Newsom doesn't know what he's doing.

Since March the Governor has placed Californians in a constant state of confusion leaving our families, businesses, workforce and schools paralyzed. Nine months later his lack of leadership has left us in the same shutdown with one of the highest covid-19 case counts and one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

California's workers can't access unemployment benefits while California prisoners were able to pull off a $400 million scam cashing in on those very benefits. Sacramento Democrats vacationed in Hawaii last month as we were told not to see our loved ones for Thanksgiving. And to top it off days before announcing his latest shutdown, the Governor enjoyed a $15,000 dinner with lobbyists violating his own orders. California has lost trust in Gavin Newsom.

We have no doubt his latest attempt to flatten the curve will fall flat leaving Californians sicker and poorer."

###