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Huntington Beach Bans Mask, Vaccine Mandates
An aerial view of Huntington Beach taken during the pandemic shutdowns.
(
Apu Gomes
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
The Huntington Beach City Council voted to approve a resolution to ban mask and COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the city, but it likely doesn’t hold much legal weight. State law requires local health departments to implement state health orders and cities can’t supersede state laws. The state hasn't indicated it is going to reinstate any type of mandate.
The resolution: The resolution passed on a 4-3 vote and says individuals “should have a right to choose” whether or not to wear a mask or get vaccinated. City attorney Michael Gates told LAist in an email that the resolution formalizes the city’s position against “overreaching broad mask and vaccine mandates by other government agencies” and that “it was important to City Council to take this public position on a policy to ban mask and vaccine mandates.”
A political stunt? Former Mayor Kim Carr, who served during the height of the pandemic says the resolution is “performative” and “half-baked.” “Nobody’s talking about mask mandates. Nobody’s talking about vaccine mandates,” she said. “This is just more fear mongering and trying to get people angry about something.”
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, Orange County has seen a recent increase in COVID cases, and hospitalizations have trended up since July. The state ended the COVID public health emergency earlier this year and the California Department of Public Health hasn't indicated it will reinstate any type of mandate. The resolution will be presented and voted on for formal adoption at a later city council meeting.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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