California Gov. Gavin Newsom Sued By Former Mayor Over Beach Closures
In addition to lawsuits from California residents and small business owners, Gov. Gavin Newsom is now being sued by former Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon over Newsom’s latest order of beach closures.
Muldoon, who is now Newport’s city councilman, claims the governor’s order to close Orange County (OC) beaches (Newport, Huntington, Dana Point and San Clemente) is clearly unconstitutional, adding that the order violates their freedom of travel, freedom of assembly and due process. He also feels that Newsom’s order singles out OC, which he affirms has less COVID-19 cases than other beach cities.
RELATED: Thousands Of California Residents Flock To Open Beaches Despite Stay-At-Home Order
Additionally, Muldoon says the photos showing packed beaches are completely misleading, as they were “taken from a ground level viewpoint, using zoom lenses that artificially compress perspective.” He adds that aerial photos would’ve shown that goers were in-fact social distancing and that they were spaced out across the sand.
Furthermore, other residents have reportedly tried to sue Newsom themselves, but a judge has since denied their requests to nullify his beach closure order.
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