Sonoma County deputies will stop enforcing the more restrictive local stay-at-home order beginning Monday and instead focus on the rules and requirements of the statewide order.
Sonroma County Sheriff Mark Essick released a lengthy statement Thursday explaining his position.
"As your elected Sheriff, I can no longer in good conscience continue to enforce Sonoma County Public Health Orders, without explanation, that criminalize otherwise lawful business and personal behavior," Essick wrote. "Effective June 1, 2020 I am directing all Sheriff’s Office staff to discontinue the enforcement of the Sonoma County Public Health Orders issued by the Sonoma County Public Health Department and the Public Health Officer. Reports of violations, when brought to our attention, will be evaluated against the California State guidelines on a case-by-case basis."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reopening California with a four-stage plan that's implemented through a statewide stay-at-home order. Counties that meet certain benchmarks for infection rates can move more swiftly through the plan and make additional modifications to their orders with state approval For example, the governor recently gave hair salons statewide permission to open in counties with regional variances.
Newsom has said counties don't have to come into compliance with the state order and can keep their more strict guidelines. While Sonoma has proven it meets requirements for a regional variance, it is among the several Bay Area counties that have chosen to move at slower pace and has refrained from opening hair salons and barbershops.
Essick expressed it's time for the county to catch up with the state....(Read more)
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