Clovis asks Gov. Newsom for COVID-19 relief and to allow businesses to reopen
The Clovis City Council on Monday approved two letters to California Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting funding for coronavirus relief and seeking permission to allow businesses to reopen.
The letters signed by Mayor Drew Bessinger stressed that Clovis and many other central San Joaquin Valley cities are different from Los Angeles or San Francisco and requested state or federal funding to help offset coronavirus costs since Clovis was not eligible for federal CARES Act money. The letters were approved unanimously with minor changes.
The city council also voted to repeal a number of emergency orders since they are redundant to the state’s stay-at-home order, which still is in effect. Councilmember Lynne Ashbeck cast the lone “no” vote for that resolution, saying she wanted the language to be more clear and affirmative.
Fresno County reported on Monday 42 Clovis residents were positive for COVID-19. About 117,000 people live in Clovis.
The votes came after hours of discussion from council members and the public. Ashbeck tuned in remotely to the meeting, which was live-streamed on the internet. The other three council members and the mayor sat at the dais with spaces between them.
More than 30 residents showed up to speak during public comment on the action, said Chad McCollum, the city’s public affairs and information supervisor. The residents practiced social distancing outside in folding chairs and as they lined up to enter the council chambers. More residents called in to comment or sent written comments.
The vast majority of commenters — which ranged from pastors, barber shop and beauty salon owners, a teacher and a doctor — spoke in favor of reopening businesses.
“So where are you all going to stand when the governor comes down on one member of this community following best practices?” asked Tim Rolen, the senior pastor at New Hope Community Church. “We’ve got to have support. We’ve got to have folks standing with us. Or are we going to be left hung out to dry on our own? … Clovis has always been a way of life. You’ll find that on my business card. … I’d hate for us to lose that.”
Ashbeck, who works at Valley Children’s Hospital, explained her hesitation to voting in favor of the resolution, saying she worried the resolution lacked clarity and would result in consequences from the county or state. She said she agreed with many of the comments made during the meeting, but she wanted Clovis to be a strong leader in its decision.
“I hope that we give each other some grace to behave in a way that sort of makes sense for ourselves,” she said. “And I’m sorry for all of the heartbreak. We will all pay a price for this for many years, for sure.”
Councilmember Jose Flores disagreed, saying the resolution was direct and transparent.
“It’s simple. It’s black and white. English is my second language, and I understand this order,” he said. “We’re being transparent. We’re putting everybody on notice: the governor, the county and our citizens. Ladies and gentlemen, there’s an order out there.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 9:58 PM.