Newport, Huntington Beach Challenge Governor Newsom’s Order Closing Orange County Beaches

Newport Beach and Huntington Beach hit back and challenged Newsom’s unconstitutional order ahead of another heatwave that is expected to hit Southern California next week. 

Huntington Beach city council on Thursday voted to challenge the order.
After meeting in closed session to discuss the measure, the council voted 5-2 to “take any legal action to challenge the governor’s executive order,” City Attorney Michael Gates said. 

The two dissenting votes came from council members Barbara Delgleize and Kim Carr. Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said the city hopes to get an injunction soon, but it will close its beaches in the meantime. 

“We’re very concerned about if we happen to be the only Orange County beach open at that point,” she said. “That would be very difficult on our marine safety officers.” Newport Beach, which is just south of Huntington, is also fighting Newsom’s abusive order. 

The Newport Beach city council voted in an emergency session this week to keep its beaches open and will be meeting again this weekend to “discuss legal options to challenge the directive.”