Sacramento County leader holds in-person ‘Re-Open Cal Now’
A Sacramento County leader is one of the organizers of an in-person conference named “Re-Open Cal Now,” despite public health officials saying the weekend event violates local and state orders. The event starts Friday evening at the Murieta Equestrian Center, lasts through Sunday, and includes a rally and protest at the state Capitol on Saturday. Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost and Orange County Supervisor Dan Wagner are among the organizers of what they describe as a public policy conference to lift COVID-19 lockdowns safely. “I think the biggest part of what prompted it is that our small businesses are really struggling,” Frost said. “It’s a movement. This is only the beginning. We are educational in nature. It’s nonpartisan.”Although a livestream option is available, Wagner estimated roughly 100 attendees are expected in-person from across the state with conference packages that can include an RV spot or hotel room. “There is a way that opens the state up, but still protects the most vulnerable. What we are doing isn’t working,” Wagner explained. “This started out three weeks to flatten the curve. And we are still doing — doubling down on doing — what we were doing 10 months ago. And yet we find ourselves in an even worse situation.”Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye issued the following statement to KCRA 3:“This three-day, in-person conference, scheduled to take place in Sacramento County, is in violation of state and local health orders and has the potential to become a super-spreader event. This is exceedingly troubling as we are experiencing an unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Not only does this put the event attendees at risk, it puts the conference venue employees at risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to their families.”Frost and Wagner argue the conference is outdoors. “I respect Dr. Kasirye. With all due respect this is not a super spreader event,” Frost said. “We’re going to have the tables 12-feet apart, we’re going to be wearing masks.”The keynote speaker is Congressman Tom McClintock (R-District 4), who sent the following statement to KCRA3:”Of course, I will be there in person. No bureaucratic order is valid that denies our First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.”Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones and El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostino will also be participating as panelists on Saturday. Wagner said they invited the governor and state officials, but they will not be attending.“We have that constitutional right to assemble under these circumstances,” Frost said. “We’re sorry that we have to assemble under this circumstance. But we can’t wait. Our businesses are saying, ‘Sue if you wait a month or two, we don’t be around because we’re not going to survive.”
A Sacramento County leader is one of the organizers of an in-person conference named “Re-Open Cal Now,” despite public health officials saying the weekend event violates local and state orders.
The event starts Friday evening at the Murieta Equestrian Center, lasts through Sunday, and includes a rally and protest at the state Capitol on Saturday.
Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost and Orange County Supervisor Dan Wagner are among the organizers of what they describe as a public policy conference to lift COVID-19 lockdowns safely.
“I think the biggest part of what prompted it is that our small businesses are really struggling,” Frost said. “It’s a movement. This is only the beginning. We are educational in nature. It’s nonpartisan.”
Although a livestream option is available, Wagner estimated roughly 100 attendees are expected in-person from across the state with conference packages that can include an RV spot or hotel room.
“There is a way that opens the state up, but still protects the most vulnerable. What we are doing isn’t working,” Wagner explained. “This started out three weeks to flatten the curve. And we are still doing — doubling down on doing — what we were doing 10 months ago. And yet we find ourselves in an even worse situation.”
Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye issued the following statement to KCRA 3:
“This three-day, in-person conference, scheduled to take place in Sacramento County, is in violation of state and local health orders and has the potential to become a super-spreader event. This is exceedingly troubling as we are experiencing an unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Not only does this put the event attendees at risk, it puts the conference venue employees at risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to their families.”
Frost and Wagner argue the conference is outdoors.
“I respect Dr. Kasirye. With all due respect this is not a super spreader event,” Frost said. “We’re going to have the tables 12-feet…
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