Newsom orders Orange County beaches closed after big crowd
SACRAMENTO » California Gov. Gavin Newsom closed beaches in Orange County on Thursday, overriding some local officials who had rejected his pleas to limit access as the coronavirurs continues to spread throughout the state.
A memo to the state’s police chiefs on Wednesday indicated Newsom was preparing to close all beaches in the state of nearly 40 million people whose identity is rooted in part in the surf and sand along its scenic coasts.
But Thursday, Newsom limited the order to Orange County, south of Los Angeles where the Newport Beach City Council earlier this week rejected calls to close its beach at the beginning of the busy tourism season. And nearby beaches in nearby Huntington Beach have remained open with few restrictions.
Last weekend, some 80,000 people flocked to the Orange County city of Newport Beach with additional thousands gathering at open beaches northwest of Los Angeles. Beaches in Los Angeles County remained closed.
Newsom said those packed beaches were “disturbing” and makes it more difficult for him to consider relaxing the state’s mandatory stay-at-home order.
“The only thing that will delay it is more weekends like last weekend,” he said. “Let’s not see that happen.”
While most state parks and many local beaches, trails and parks have been closed for weeks, Newsom’s order ignited pushback from community leaders who argue they can safely provide some relief to residents.
“Governor Newsom just doesn’t seem to get it,” said Republican state Sen. John Moorlach, a former Orange County Supervisor who represents the area in the state Legislature. “We need to trust people. If our citizens exercise proper social distancing, then we should allow access to the beaches.”
Other beaches in Southern California have opened this week, but with restrictions. In the City of San Diego, officials allowed walking, jogging and swimming — banning people from stopping or sitting. A statement from Newsom’s office called restrictions like that “responsible strategies to allow residents to recreate in coastal areas.”
“We are hopeful that Orange County can work with us to apply a similar approach,” the Governor’s Office said in a news release.
Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis and Fire Chief Jeff Boyles said in a statement Thursday that they were out patrolling last weekend and most city residents and visitors were keeping their distance.
“What we observed from land and by air was the vast majority of beachgoers practicing social distancing,” the statement said.
An Orange County supervisor, Donald P. Wagner, said he believes Newsom has the power to close local beaches but “it is not wise to do so.”
The announcement angered some in Orange County, who were tired of being cooped up at home for weeks as the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations have flattened.
“It’s time to move on,” Huntington Beach resident Jim Puro, 59, said Thursday. “We need to start opening up and I can’t think of a better way than to be out in the sun.”
Newsom said California saw a 5.2% increase of coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, offering a reminder, he said, that “this disease has not gone away.” California has more than 49,000 cases and more than 1,950 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested.
Pressure is building to to ease state and local restrictions that have throttled the economy, closing most businesses and adding nearly 4 million people to the unemployment rolls.
In Humboldt County, also near the Oregon border, Sheriff William Honsal indicated he wouldn’t enforce Newsom’s order to close beaches and state parks. “It is not OK to punish Northern California for Southern California’s mistake, and I hope he hears that loud and clear,” Honsal said in a statement Thursday.
In sparsely populated Modoc County, also near Oregon, schools, hair salons, churches, restaurants, the county’s only movie theater and other business will reopen Friday as long as people stay six feet apart, said Ned Coe, a cattle rancher and county supervisor.
Newsom reiterated Wednesday it would be weeks before he makes the first significant modification to the state order. “It won’t be on the basis of pressure, it won’t be on the basis of what we want, but what we need to do,” Newsom said.
Rescanning needed for antenna TVs
Marin residents who receive television via an antenna will need to rescan their TVs to continue viewing local networks.
The Federal Communications Commission has required nearly 1,000 television stations to change frequencies in order to provide more channels. The change took effect Thursday.
Rescanning instructions are available at TVAnswers.org.
City offers support during virus crisis
The city is offering support services for residents in need of assistance during the coronavirus stayat-home orders.
Residents seeking help with grocery delivery, dog walking and other needs can call 415-384-9650 or email communitysupport@cityofmillvalley.org.
Knife suspect accused of kicking officer
A San Rafael woman is accused of attacking a victim with a knife and then kicking an officer in an attempt to escape, police said.
Castanya Tompkins,
23, was booked into Marin County Jail on allegations of assault with a deadly weapon and battery. Her bail was set at $50,000.
San Rafael police responded at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a fight at a home on Sylvia Way in Terra Linda, Lt. Dan Fink said. A resident told police that the suspect, Tompkins, was armed with a knife.
Tompkins fled the scene before police arrived, leaving the knife behind. The victim told police that Tompkins, who was with her boyfriend, accused her of owing money. An argument ensued.
Tompkins allegedly punched the victim four times in the face. When a resident told Tompkins he was calling police, she left the room and grabbed a kitchen knife, which she threw at the victim, narrowly missing her, Fink said.
Tompkins was found at Lea Drive and Regina Way within 15 minutes. She denied the attack and denied having a knife.
In the patrol car, Tompkins removed her seat belt and slid across the backseat. She refused to return to her seat, Fink said.
Officers stopped the car and opened doors on each side to restrain Tompkins, and she attempted to escape. In the process, she kicked an officer in the chest and eye.
The officer did not require medical attention.
Police arrest suspect after street beating
Police arrested a woman on allegations she beat a man with a metal object in a dispute over a debt.
The incident occurred at about 12:25 a.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of Francisco Boulevard East, San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said. A witness said the victim was attacked by a man and a woman during an argument.
The alleged attackers drove off, and the victim was hospitalized with head injuries. He is a 36-year-old San Rafael resident.
During an interview at the hospital, the victim said he is friends with the two suspects and had met with them earlier Tuesday evening. He told police the woman accused him of owing money.
At around 5 p.m., the female suspect, Andrea Harris, 52, of San Rafael, went to the police station to make a statement. She said all three of them were in a fight but denied hitting the victim with a metal object, police said.
Harris was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Her bail was set at $75,000.
Police were still looking for the other suspect on Thursday.