Readers Split On Whether Newsom Should End 'State Of Emergency'

CALIFORNIA — On June 15, California will reopen, allowing residents to enjoy liberties they haven't experienced since the coronavirus hit the West Coast last year. But the date won't necessarily mark the end of the pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has opted to maintain a state of emergency in California, an order that came down on March 4, 2020.

"We're still in a state of emergency." This disease has not been extinguished, it's not vanished," he said. "It's not taking the summer months off."

In a recent survey, we asked Patch readers to weigh in on the governor's choice — and respondents were particularly divided on the subject. The poll — which drew 11,991 respondents and appeared in questionnaire form this week on Patch — is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

Nearly 50 percent thought that Newsom should end the statewide emergency order, while 43.9 percent said that he should maintain the order. Just 6.1 percent were unsure.

Why should Californians care about this? The order hands Newsom the authority to impose new rules and override certain restrictions. It also gives the governor power to change state law and expedite federal funding.

A statewide state of emergency order is meant to do the following:

• Ensure that hospitals have enough resources to treat patients should another surge break out.
• Require the state's office of emergency services to provide assistance to local governments "that have demonstrated extraordinary or disproportionate impacts" from the pandemic.
• Request medical personnel from out-of-state.
• Ensure that any fairgrounds or state-owned properties may be used for "mitigating the effects of, or recovering from COVID-19."

California has consistently reported a COVID-19 positivity rate just slightly under 1 percent — among the lowest in the United States.

We asked: Are you concerned that the state will face another coronavirus surge?

• 39.2 percent said "yes."
• 48.1 percent said "no."
• 12.8 percent said they were unsure.

If another surge did hit the Golden State, the governor could potentially reimpose restrictions with the power of the emergency order.

We asked: Do you think he should have this authority?

• 50.4 percent said "yes."
• 45 percent answered "no."
• 4.6 percent said they were unsure.

About 53 percent of Californians have been fully vaccinated less than a week before the state reopens. Some 52.6 percent said they were not concerned about this metric, while 38.3 percent said it was worrisome. More than 9 percent said they were "not sure."

Some respondents shared their thoughts about the emergency order and California's reopening date:

We're not out of the woods yet and restrictions should remain in place until we have reached "herd" immunity with MAJORITY of the public vaccinated. Waiting for under twelves to receive the "go ahead" on being vaccinated.

Everyone needs to continue to take this seriously and keep many of the health protocols in place going forward. We do not want another surge where we would need to shut down again. The Governor represents all of the citizens in California and we need to let him do what is good for the majority of people.

The governor’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis was lacking in guidance from medical experts, the tier system was confusing.

Leave decisions to the counties not the governor. Up to people to take care of themselves at the point. If they are not vaccinated they can face the risks.

Everyone needs to continue to take this seriously and keep many of the health protocols in place going forward. We do not want another surge where we would need to shut down again. The Governor represents all of the citizens in California and we need to let him do what is good for the majority of people.

[Newsom] is a horrible leader and has no business keeping us in a “state of emergency” he is drunk on power and needs to be thrown out of office.

I am so tired of people saying negative things about Governor Newsom. He is doing a great job trying to protect us from the variants. I’d vote for him again.

Newsom is also facing a recall election that could be scheduled as soon as September. Some Republican hopefuls eyeing Newsom's seat have already commented on his move to keep the order in place.

Anne Dunsmore, a recall campaign manager, said keeping the order "seals the coffin," she told CalMatters. "People don't feel that he understands the pain they've been through."

Only Newsom or the state Legislature can end the declaration. Lawmakers could pass a concurrent resolution to end it.

California has been notoriously stringent in its navigation of the pandemic, more so than many other states. But the state — which is the most populous in the U.S. — was also the country's coronavirus epicenter as cases spiraled out of control during the winter months.

"If Newsom believes the state is safe enough to reopen, then it's safe for people to be able to make decisions for themselves without his arbitrary and capricious rules," state Senate Republican leader Scott Wilk of Saugus wrote in a statement Friday. "I believe it is time for him to hang up his crown and restore our democracy."

Didn't get to participate in the survey? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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