Sacramento – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled new indicators and conditions to safely re-open certain segments of the state’s economy in Phase Two. Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) and Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who have fiercely advocated for small businesses and their employees, issued the following statement:
“Rural counties have much lower infection rates than urban areas of the state.
“We listened and followed the Governor’s orders to stay home to protect the elderly and those with underlying health issues. Now, we must focus on the other crisis – our economy.
“Over seven million Californians (18 percent) are jobless. The state is facing an estimated $54 Billion deficit, which will endanger social service programs.
“Californians need to safely get back to work, without setting up unworkable barriers that prevent people from making a living.
“Human lives are at stake. People are stressed and filled with anxiety about their livelihoods. The toll on the mental health of unemployed Californians must be taken into consideration.
“Allowing people to safely return to work is the only way to get the state out of this eye-popping deficit.
“We’ll know more over the next few days whether or not North State counties can meet the Governor’s detailed re-opening requirements. We appreciate the leadership from Yuba and Sutter Counties that paved the way and helped expedite the creation of this new process.
“We have been and continue to be collaborative as we work through this process. But let’s be clear, we stand by our local Yuba-Sutter Public Health Officer who issued a valid order consistent with public health guidelines and the real-time conditions on the ground.”
BACKGROUND: Following consistent low infection rates, small businesses and local leaders in the rural North State asked the Governor to let local leaders decide when it is appropriate for them to lift the shelter-in-place order base on regional numbers. Twenty (20) city mayors and county supervisors sent the bi-partisan letter to Governor Newsom. On Tuesday, May 5, the health officer of Yuba/Sutter allowed its businesses to reopen when proper sanitizing protocols and social distancing are followed.
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Elected to the State Senate in January 2013, Senator Nielsen represents the Fourth Senate District, which includes the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba. To contact Senator Jim Nielsen, please call him at 916-651-4004, or via email at senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov. Follow him @CASenatorJim.
Assemblyman James Gallagher represents the 3rd Assembly District, which encompasses all of Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties as well as portions of Butte and Colusa counties.
