Counties resist reopening rules
Local leaders accuse state officials of enforcing pandemic restrictions unevenly.
Frustrated with the state’s process for allowing businesses, schools and other facilities to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, leaders in Riverside County are looking to join forces with officials in other Southern California counties to press Sacramento for changes to its strategy.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a report that called on the county “to work in a collaborative fashion with our colleagues in other Southern California counties to engage the state in a truly meaningful conversation of the devastating impacts that the state tier system, as currently configured, is having on our counties.”
Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who introduced the motion, and others on the board criticized California’s four- tier, color- coded system for deciding how far each of the state’s 58 counties can go toward reopening as overly broad and unequally applied.
“I’ve always said there’s power in numbers,” Spiegel said. “Our voice is louder than just one county.”
Under the state’s approach, a county is put in one of four tiers depending on the number of infections it records and the percentage of tests that are positive for the virus. As a county gets better control over the virus’ spread , it moves up the tiers and can increasingly reopen. If it backtracks, it must clamp down on what types of business are allowed to operate.
The system, the Riverside report said, is applied statewide “without recognition of the tremendous diversity of California’s geography, demographic density, or other factors.”
Among the sectors the state should review or rethink, supervisors said during their discussion, are gyms, restaurants and hotel meeting spaces.
“Reexamination, I think, is a great thing. Having a dialogue with the state of California, I think, is a great thing,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.
He added, though, that “it’s important that we stick to the science, and it’s important that we stick to the public health concerns like the social distancing and the facial coverings, obviously washing our hands ... because I think that’s also equally as important in moving us forward in reopening.”
The agitation in Riverside is the latest example of discontent among county officials, many of whom have lobbied the state to change its COVID- 19 restrictions throughout the pandemic. Riverside officials previously have voiced concern, saying they wanted more local control over reopening guidelines.
Generally, counties are allowed to adopt rules that are stricter, but not more lenient, than the state’s — though officials in Sacramento “work collaboratively and closely” with health officers and elected officials at the local level, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
Some Riverside County supervisors, though, accused the state of having an uneven hand when it comes to categorizing counties within the tier framework.
“I do recognize that there is the potential that certain counties are getting preferential treatment,” said Supervisor Kevin Jeffries. “Generally, if you’re Bay Area, you’re treated in much higher regard, much more respect. And the inland counties, you’re basically poorer counties and, ‘ good luck you’re on your own.’”
However, this week’s move comes as state and health officials have expressed concern with recent increases in coronavirus infections. With much of the nation grappling with significant spikes in new cases, some warn California could face a similar fate unless the state collectively takes the steps necessary to ward off a surge.
“We are seeing increased disease in the community,” Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.