FILE – In this Jan. 8, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines his 2021-2022 state budget proposal during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Law enforcement officials are investigating escalating threats of death and violence against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, his family and the the wineries, shops and other businesses he founded. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool, File)
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is very hopeful for a compromise in the ongoing efforts by advocacy groups lobbying the state to ease COVID-19 guidelines so outdoor contact high school sports such as football can return.
In a news conference Wednesday morning about coronavirus vaccine distribution at the Oakland Coliseum, Newsom was asked about the lawsuit two San Diego high school football players filed last week — which called for an immediate return to play — and if he could provide updates on conversations between officials from his office and the return-to-competition advocacy groups.
Tuesday, Newsom officials met with those pushing for colored tiers to be removed from the state’s youth sports guidelines, including the coaches group led by Serra’s Patrick Walsh and De La Salle’s Justin Alumbaugh.
Walsh on Tuesday night characterized the meeting as “moving in the right direction, but we’d rather not say anything more at this time.”
Wednesday, here is what Newsom said about the lawsuits and the discussions with youth sports leaders:
“Last week we made an announcement and that allowed for youth sports like track and field to take place. It’s just the levels that we are and have provided a framework to allow certain youth sports to take shape in competition. That said, we have been in very direct conversations. Personally, I launched those conversations last week. My team is in constant contact, trying to work through these different tiers.
“The red tier, you’ll start to see baseball. In subsequent tiers, we’ll get to football. But I’ll be honest with you, a lot of this is driven by football and folks wanting to get a football season in. And I am deeply sensitive to that. As I said, I not only have four kids that want to get educated, but they love sports. So I recognize all of the benefits — physical and mental — as well as the benefits to teachers and parents that have kids that are engaged in physical activities in terms of our responsibility to support those children as well. We want to see this happen.
“We want to do it safely and a lot of great data has been provided by the same groups that are suing us. If I was concerned about lawsuits, I would have collapsed a year ago. We receive dozens of them every week. And some of them from folks who are very close to us. It’s clarifying. It allows for focus. Some are specious, political. Others like this I think are quite legitimate in terms of what they ultimately want to achieve.
“I share that and we are processing that, and I am very hopeful, very hopeful — I really mean this — I am very, very hopeful that we can find a compromise here and I believe that’s possible as long as these case rates continue to move in the direction they’re moving.”
