Local Officials Push Back Against Statewide Face Masks

You knew it was coming. Days after Gavin Newsom signed an executive order mandating face coverings in public, local officials and law enforcement leaders are pushing back, with some refusing to enforce the mandate.

On Saturday, Nevada City Mayor Reinette Senum posted the following message on Facebook:

As you go about your day today, KNOW there is NO LAW that Orders you to Wear a Mask. Our Governor does NOT have that unilateral power to make such orders. While I know the HEADLINES over the last couple days have stated something entirely different, that is because journalism is dead.
 

Again, THERE IS NO LAW THAT STATES YOU MUST WEAR A MASK. Ask our local Police chief or officers. They will not, and cannot, cite ANYBODY for not wearing a mask because the law does not exist.

When you come across Newsom's "orders" online, you will see it's linked to a page that does not lead you to his Executive Order, BUT to the California Department of Public Health GUIDELINES!

Again, NOBODY can be forced to wear a mask outside, in a business, or as an employee or customer.

As the Sacramento Bee notes, Californians are required to follow public health guidelines such as this one under an executive order previously signed by the governor.

Of course, you need an enforcement mechanism. And that’s already proving to be a problem in more than a dozen jurisdictions where law enforcement has declared it will not enforce masking rules. These jurisdictions include Nevada City; Roseville; Visalia; Placerville; Placer County; Fresno County; Calaveras County; Sacramento County; and Orange County.

From the looks of things, COVID’s going to be here for a while.