All business essential, Fresno County city affirms. And Newsom’s a ‘bully,’ councilman adds

All businesses in Coalinga are essential during the coronavirus pandemic, the city council reaffirmed this week in defiance of state orders — and putting the Fresno County city in danger of losing federal relief aid.

The city was notified by the state’s Office of Emergency Services last week that the first $36,000 of $216,000 from the CARES Act would be withheld by the state until the city rescinded the resolution and complied with public health orders.

The city of Atwater received a similar letter after it declared itself a sanctuary city for businesses.

During a special meeting on Monday night, Coalinga mayor Ron Lander called for a vote to rescind the May 7 resolution but found no support from the council. Instead, the council voted 4-1 to affirm the original resolution.

Lander was the sole no vote.

He said it is clear that the federal money was given to the state to use at its discretion, contingent upon complying with state health orders. “We were told by the state to close certain businesses,” Lander said in an interview Tuesday with The Bee.

That includes his barbershop, which has been closed twice now due to the pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ‘a little school bully,’ councilman says

Councilmember Adam Adkisson called into the question how the CARES Act funds were being distributed. What Coalinga was slated to receive amounts to $12.84 per resident, he said, compared that Fresno, which is receiving $93 million, or $175.40 per person.

“Why does the governor and our state representatives feel that we are worth less than what the citizens of Fresno are worth?” he said.

“We’ve over here trying to get lunch money from the governor. And the governor is being a little school bully out there trying to steal our lunch money.”

“So, I’m not buying into what the governor’s saying. I ain’t drinking his Kool-Aid.”

Lander said Tuesday he doesn’t know if the council will seek to proceed with litigation against the state over the money.

Atwater city council backs its ‘sanctuary city’ resolution

A similar scene played out in Atwater on Monday, where a crowd gathered at city hall to hear Mayor Paul Creighton’s statement about the city possibly losing its Coronavirus Relief Funds.

City Council members and the mayor have adamantly stated that they continue to back the sanctuary city declaration, despite the warning from the state’s Office of Emergency Services.