Editorial Looking ahead to California’s reopening

Two months ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised that by June 15, California “can start to open up business as usual,” subject to some qualifiers, of course. As we head into this next phase, we hope some lessons have been learned from the unprecedented governme

On Tuesday, most of the remaining restrictions will be lifted and the color-coded tier system will be scrapped. Social distancing requirements will go away, allowing businesses to lift occupancy limits. And mask mandates will be largely lifted, with some exceptions (such as in health care settings).

Going into June 15, most Californians, including more than 70% of adults, have received at least one vaccine dose. California has one of the lowest COVID-19 case counts in the country, with cases at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic.

Getting here has certainly not been easy. Many lives were lost to the virus, many livelihoods were destroyed due to the measures aimed at containing the virus and many mistakes were made.

Absent some drastic change in the course of this pandemic, it appears the worst of it is behind us. The conditions of today are much different than this time last year.

Moving forward, we hope state and local officials have learned from their mistakes as much as from their successes, from their overreach as much as their more appropriate interventions.

We hope government officials will commit to being more transparent, more consistent and less arbitrary in their decision-making moving forward.

Californians shouldn’t have to experience ever again a situation in which the governor insists he’s making datadriven decisions while refusing to share what exactly that data is.

Californians should expect that the same governor who frequently pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will follow CDC recommendations when the CDC says certain restrictions are no longer warranted.

Californians should expect that at some point the seemingly limitless powers of the governor will be subject to scrutiny and clearly articulated standards.

Californians shouldn’t have to experience restrictions without clearly outlined justifications.

California business owners likewise shouldn’t have to experience the sort of convoluted micromanaging the state routinely partook in. Rules on businesses should be clear, consistent and justified.

And here’s to hoping students are in fact able to return to on-campus school in fall. California students should never again experience the injustice they experienced the past year.

Fortunately, in a manner of days, something resembling normalcy will be restored. The key now is whether we can keep it.