Newsom’s hard line rules keeping schools closed appear to remain in place

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Last week, the Yuba City Unified School District governing Board of Trustees voted to resume in-person instruction on a hybrid schedule. Three days after the vote, the California Teachers Association sent a cease and desist letter demanding that the District rescind its plan to begin in-person instruction for Grades 6-12 on February 1, 2021 citing the Governor’s framework as prohibiting the opening of schools.

“The Governor got big headlines recently after claiming to be in favor of re-opening California schools. But despite all the bluster and political maneuvering, Newsom’s hard line rules keeping schools closed appear to remain in place and are being exploited by the powerful California Teachers Association,” said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). 

Gallagher continued, “It’s an inside job. The Governor talks publicly about re-opening schools but his policies actively prevent them from opening. And his allies in the CTA work in conjunction with those policies to keep them closed. That is what is really going on. What’s happening in my neighborhood school district is indicative of what is happening throughout California.”

Californians are rightfully concerned with this pattern of fumbling and inept leadership during COVID-19:

Newsom promised he would fix the EDD so that out of work Californians could receive financial help, but the backlog of claims continues. Meanwhile, ABC30 reports that the amount of unemployment funds stolen from California taxpayers in 2020 may total more than $8 billion -- four times higher than estimated just one month ago.

Newsom promised he would have a plan for the rollout of vaccines. Yet, California lags far behind the rest of the country in COVID vaccinations and new bureaucratic rules have delayed teachers and support staff from getting access to the vaccine. The Sacramento Bee reported recently that four weeks after vaccine distribution began, California has administered just 891,000 of its first 3.4 million shots, or barely 26%.

Newsom promised back in March that he would marshal and coordinate volunteers, nursing students, and retired healthcare workers to help provide emergency staffing. But last week, the AP reported that only 14 health professionals who signed up for the Governor’s Health Corps program are actually working in the field.

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.