Things are just getting better and better in the city of Torrance.
The city residents have spoken, and they want a robust city council that will stick up for the rights and needs of the people. Unlike the previous Torrane city council, we now have a stronger majority that is ready to push back on the abusive encroachments of Los Angeles County government.
At the August 9th, 2022 Torrance City Council meeting, the city council took two extraordinary steps to push back on government overreach from the county.
First, the city council voted to issue a Resolution of No Confidence in LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer:
Here's the full text of the Resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE
EXPRESSING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEAL TH DIRECTOR BARBARA FERRER
WHEREAS, the
City of Torrance ("City") finds that the Los Angeles County
Department of
Public Health
Director has overstated the health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the
City of
Torrance; and
WHEREAS, the
City finds that imposing the same Health Orders onto the entire Los Angeles
County is not
fair to areas with significantly less COVID-19 cases; and
WHEREAS, the
City maintains that the community of Torrance can determine the risks of
COVID-19 within
the community without the help of county-wide mandates; and
WHEREAS, the
City finds that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health shall
consider the
complexity of the cities within the county when creating standardized future
mandates.
NOW, THEREFORE,
the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby resolve that:
(1) The City of
Torrance expresses a vote of no confidence in Los Angeles County Department
of Public
Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
(2) The City of
Torrance hereby directs staff to transmit the resolution to applicable and
interested
offices and organizations.
(3) The City of
Torrance welcomes an opportunity to engage in comprehensive discussion with
Department of
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer to develop a working relationship aimed
at
promoting
public health and supporting Torrance businesses.
(4) The City
Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED
and ADOPTED this 9th day of August 2022.
From there, the city council also issued a proclamation that they would not enforce any other health mandates or lockdown orders from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors or the LA County Department of Public Health.
It was good to see the entire city council approve this measure.
This resolution should have been issued in 2020, but better late than never. No doubt that the LA County Board of Supervisors will attempt to impose yet another mandate, since they got away with so many shutdown and lockdown orders over the previous two years. This abuse of power cannot go unchecked a second time.
I am really proud of the city council, and I am so grateful that we have a new majority that is willing to stand up to the abuses from the county staff and county officials.
Here's the full text of the proclamation of non-enforcement:
A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE
OPPOSING POTENTIAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH ORDER REQUIRING
INDOOR MASKING OR BUSINESS CLOSURES
WHEREAS, the
City of Torrance ("City") finds that no government intervention or
mandate
should impact
the ability an individual has to make money by enforcing mandates that create
loss of jobs;
and
WHEREAS, the
City finds that all workers are essential workers; and
WHEREAS, the
City will not enforce any potential Health Order requiring indoor masking and
the shutdown of
any business; and
WHEREAS, the
City respects the right of people to wear masks if they choose to, however no
member of the
Torrance community should be mandated to wear a mask; and
WHEREAS, the
City supports the voluntary use of face masks, COVI D-19 vaccines, and testing
to slow the
transmission of the virus and protect vulnerable populations.
NOW, THEREFORE,
the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby resolve that:
(1) The City of
Torrance asks that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director
Barbara Ferrer
refrain from enforcing mask mandates and shutdowns in the County of Los
Angeles.
(2) The City of
Torrance will not use City staff, resources, or public funds to enforce a
potential
new Health
Order requiring indoor masking or the shutdown of any business.
(3) The City
Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED
and ADOPTED this 9th day of August 2022.
I am glad to live in a city that will no longer comply with these onerous mandates. These resolutions will be sent to the LA County Board of Supervisors, as well.
It's time for the Board to listen to the needs and concerns of the people, rather than ignoring us and doing as they please, to the great detriment of residents and businesses alike. No one entity in the county should have the authority to deem which businesses are essential or non-essential. No one authority should have the power to require individuals to wear masks or comply with other health mandates. How many lives were disrupted irrevocably because of these outrageous health mandates? How many people lost their businesses? Their homes? Their lives?!
This abuse of power can never happen again, and the city of Torrance took another step to make sure of that.
