Those ignoring safety rules shouldn’t be let off the hook

The editorial knocking Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decisions in this crisis (“Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 leadership falls woefully short,” July 5) points the finger in the wrong direction.

It ignored that some local politicians fail to act to keep citizens safe; also that some Californians fail to prioritize public safety over self-gratification.

The writer’s indignation should be for people who pack California beaches despite warnings, for example. Or for citizens in Riverside and Orange counties who have turned wearing masks into a political issue. The politicians who need a lecture are the supervisors in those counties since they refuse to either enact or enforce precautionary measures.

Dr. Bob Wachter of UC San Francisco has been doing many media interviews recently. Not only does he stand by Newsom’s decisions, but he also makes it clear that this virus surge is due to the choices made by people who have disregarded recommendations for controlling COVID-19. Your editorial let them off the hook, which they do not deserve. — Karen Lyon, San Jose