Responding to a reporter's question at the City's April 24 COVID-19 briefing, Mayor Garcia noted that COVID-19 deaths area on track to become LB's leading cause of death (exceeding murders and vehicular accidents) and are incresing daily. He said there's no question that if the restrictions weee lifted, those deaths would increase Even further. p>The Mayor acknowledged that some other areas (including OC and Riverside County) have begun lifting some of their restrictions but said LB is different, noting that the other areas are less densely populated and said Long Beach would follow Governor Newsom's lead on when to begin reopening.

AUDIO: To hear Mayor Garcia's April 24 statement in full, click here.

As a matter of civics, the Mayor didn't order the restrictions and has no power to remove them. They were ordered and have been kept in place by LB's City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, a city management staffer who doesn't answer to the Mayor or Council. . Dr. Davis answers to LB's Dir. of Health and Human Services who answers to the City Manager who answers to the Council; which can replace him with a majority vote subject to a Mayoral veto that six Councilmembers can override. To date, no Council incumbent has publicly disagreed with the City Health Officer's COVID-19 orders or their continued enforcement for now.

[Scroll down for further.]

Mayor Garcia's April 24 statement is his latest response to local pushback against some of those restrictions.

On April 18, LBREPORT.com reported that LB Parks/Recreation Commission Ben Goldberg, wrote on his personal Facebook page (in his individual capacity not as a Mayor-chosen appointee) that LB should courses( re-opening golf course with social distancing for users, gloves for employees, no golf carts) and consider re-opening all parks and beaches with CDC guidelines." Mr. Goldberg urged City officials to consideer re-opening LB golf courses, parks and beaches and advocsated considering letting businesses "like salons, spas, dentists, chiropractors, out patient/elective medical procedures, dealerships, retailers" reopen with CDC guidelines by May 4, 2020. He said he believes the majority of LB businesses can be responsible in doing so by that date...and LB should do so regardless of whether Gov. Newsom "insists on delaying [removal of restrictions on] restaurants "

Sponsor

Sponsor

Mr. Goldberg's stance drew supportive and opposition comments. Opponents said the actions he advocates will put them and others at risk. Supporters responded that if people are afraid, they should stay home. [LBREPORT.com publisher Bill Pearl opposed Mr. Gooldberg's stance, citing Dr. Anthony Fauci's warning about the economic and human consequences of easing the restrictions too soon.]

A member of the leadership of Long Beach Area Republicanss and a staunch supporter of President Trump, Mr. Goldberg localized a March 22 theme Tweeted by President Trump, adapting it as follows: "Waiting too long to reopen businesses and Parks with the low numbers of LB Citizens impacted by Covid-19 could cause more harm than the disease itself. Facebook contacts postings from Reopen California, a Hesperia, CA based page whose self-description "demands that our officials Reopen California no later than April 29, 2020.' (This goes further than Goldberg himself has adovcated.)

Sponsor

On April 20, LBREPORT.com reported that a March 2020 Second district Council candidate (who finished last) had uploaded an Instagram message indicating plans for a May 1 protest march to "liberate Long Beach" from COVID-19 restrictions

A few hours later at an April 20 city briefing, Mayor Garcia cautioned planners of the May 1 demonstration that while the City respects their First Amendment rights, Long Beach's COVID-19 Health Dept. Orders limiting on gatherings in public spaces and wearing facial coverings will be enforced. Garcia added that Long Beach's actions will be guided by science and data not by "political pressure or...a group of folks holding signs on a corner." (LBREPORT.com coverage here.)

Developing.

Sponsor

Sponsor

Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.