After dispute over governor's order, California city says state considering 'plan to reopen beaches'

A city south of Los Angeles says that the state will consider a plan to reopen pubic beaches in the area, shortly after a governor's order closing the public spaces was met with significant protests from angered residents. 

Dana Point, California, a city in the southern portion of Orange County, announced on Friday the state had agreed to consider "a plan to reopen beaches" that will presumably satisfy health officials' concerns over possible coronavirus spread on crowded beachfronts across the state. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom had ordered the closure of beaches in Orange County after pictures circulated showing beachgoers crowding seashores during hot weather. Newsom had reportedly been considering a statewide closure before settling on just Orange County. 

The county mounted a challenge to the order this week, but a California Superior Court judge struck down the request to immediately re-open, saying the court would consider an injunction against Newsom's order on May 11. During the video conference in which that decision was announced, officials from Dana Point said that the state had agreed via phone to review a county proposal to open local beaches. 

"The city is hopeful the plan will satisfy the state, making further court action unnecessary," public officials said. 

In announcing his decision to close the beaches, Newsom said the state wanted to approach the closure of large public spaces in a "smart, strategic way."

"We don't want to be heavy-handed about these things," he said.