California was placed under a new set of strict lockdowns earlier this month, courtesy of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Californians have since decided to look at Newsom as a role model and have largely ignored the latest order.
According to mobility trend data collected from cellphones by Google, California residents have returned to the level of outside-the-home activities seen in November, before Newsom’s latest lockdown order. After an initial dip, visits to grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, retail stores, and workplaces have rebounded to November levels.
There is a combination of factors for this and, outside of the expected pandemic fatigue, they all trace back to Newsom.
Newsom’s order is performing as expected, given that there was little rhyme or reason to what was prohibited. Outdoor dining was banned, and outdoor playgrounds were closed, despite no evidence that they are significantly contributing to the spread of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Hollywood and the entertainment industry are exempt, considered to be “essential” by the state.
And then, of course, there is Newsom himself. In November, California residents watched as their governor mocked them, attending the indoor birthday dinner of a lobbyist friend and then smugly smiling as he “apologized” for clearly disregarding his own lockdown orders. It’s no surprise that Californians have since decided to treat Newsom’s latest order the way Newsom has treated them.
The inconsistent lockdown rules and Newsom’s view that they shouldn’t apply to him combined with the holiday season make the stance of Californians clear. Newsom’s order to prohibit “private gatherings of any size” was never going to play well before Christmas, but Newsom’s own behavior has given residents the green light to ignore the other restrictions he imposed.
Newsom has only himself to blame for the defiance he is facing, as well as the burgeoning efforts to recall him over his hypocrisy on lockdowns. In a state where residents are already struggling with the cost of living and fleeing in droves, Newsom has offered no end in sight. California residents are going to continue to tune him out, and it’s impossible to blame them for that.
