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Long Beach Parks/Rec Comm'r Goldberg Urges City To Begin Reopening Beaches, Parks, Golf Courses And Most LB Businesses By Early May Subject To CDC Guidelines

Stance by staunch Trump supporter echos Trump theme that cure can't be worse than the problem itself


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(April 18, 2020, 7:45 a.m.) -- Echoing a stance voiced by President Trump, and predicting civil unrest could result if City leadership fails to act, Long Beach Parks & Recreation Commissioner Ben Goldberg has taken to Facebook to urge City officials to consideer re-opening LB golf courses, parks and beaches and let some Long Beach businesses by early May, in both cases applying CDC guidelines.

Writing in his individual capacity (not as a Mayor-chose/Council-approved Commission appointee), Mr. Goldberg calls for re-opening golf courses( with social distancing for users, gloves for employees, no golf carts and other course adjustments) and says City should "consider opening all parks and beaches with CDC guidelines."

On his Facebook page, Mr. Goldberg displays email text (that he invites residents to join in sending) urging the City Council, Mayor and Parks and Recreation Director to consider letting businesses "like salons, spas, dentists, chiropractors, out patient/elective medical procedures, dealerships, retailers" reopen with CDC guidelines by May 4, 2020, saying the majority of LB businesses can be responsible in doing so by that date. He says the City should allow this whether or not Gov. Newsom "insists on delaying [removal of restrictions on] restaurants, bars, large public gatherings, gyms, and access to nursing homes for a little longer,"

Mr. Goldberg, part of the leadership of Long Beach Area Republicans and a staunch supporter of President Trump, voices s view consistent with the President (who on March 22 Tweeted, "We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.") In his April 16 Facebook message, Mr. Goldberg similarly writes: "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."

Mr. Goldberg further states: "I'm hearing rumblings from normally very moderate and stable people that they are ready to "take to the streets" if this goes on much longer." He adds "we [also] need to consider the potential for increased suicide, domestic violence and crime on the streets, if things don't open up soon." As part of his comments in the Facebook thread, he adds: "I've spoken to some police Dept people and they have stepped up mob control tactics in preparation for what will happen, if things don't start moving towards reopening." In another comment he states, "LB PD is gearing up for civil unrest and crowd control big time." [Scroll down for further.]








Challenged by a Facebook respondent to name "how many have died from staying home" and cite a source for this, Mr. Goldberg replied: "They won't report those numbers or will attribute the death to COVID 19.. That's the problem, anyone who dies during this time is tested and since odds are most of us have had it or have it with less than deadly symptoms, they will error on blaming Covid. Quite frankly, even if a person kills themselves because of aggravated depression because of covid lockdown, it probably should be reported as covid."

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Asked how he knows a majority want reopenings, Mr. Goldberg replied: "[N]ot today or tomorrow, but after 4 (14 day periods) there is going to be revolt if they don't open up for business...When I have good friends breaking down in tears over this, I know the majority is about to snap...These are people with much more than the average person."

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President Trump never issued a national COVID-19 stay at home order (leaving such orders to state Governors.) On March 16, his administration issued guidelines it called 15 Days To Slow The Spread. On April 2, it extended its guidelines through April 30 in a document it titled 30 Days To Slow the Spread of the Coronavirus.

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On April 16, the Trump administration issued a document it titled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, calling it a "three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts" that will "help state and local officials when reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives."

The next day, CA Governor Gavin Newsom voiced caution over lifting CA's restrictions too quickly but at the same time announced formation of a "Task Force" headed by former Democrat Presidential candidate Tom Steyer to help fashion a CA plan to begin lifting restrictions.

Mayor Garcia has echoed Governor Newsom's approach, choosing former LB Mayor Bob Foster (who has praised Newsom's actions and panned Trump's) to head a now-yet-named "Task Force" that will ostensibly guide local actions. Mayor Garcia has no policy setting authority; the City Council sets policy. Thus far LB Councilmembers have let city management promulgate COVID-19 public health policies and orders without dissent which have mainly mirrored Sacramento recommendations. .

Over the past 48 hour hours, President Trump has encouraged residents of some states (not California at this point) to press their Governors to lift their state's "stay at home" orders. On Friday April 17, a crowd of roughly 200 people (some carrying "Trump in 2020" signs) held a demonstration in Huntington Beach calling for lifting CA's COVID-19 restrictions.

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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.


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