CaliforOn Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was pulling an “emergency brake” on reopening the state as 42 California counties were put back into the “purple tier.” This tier is the most restrictive of the coronavirus mitigation restrictions. These include halting indoor worship, forcing most indoor businesses to close or operate at a fraction of their capacity and keeping most schools closed.

His latest action on Tuesday put 41 of the 58 counties in the strictest of the four-tier system, which is based on virus cases and infection rates. Newsom also mentioned the strengthening of mask requirements and consideration of a statewide curfew.

These new restrictions are receiving heavy backlash from California residents, especially amidst Newsom’s own scandal for failing to follow his own rules. The Governor attended a friend’s birthday party at French Laundry, a french restaurant north of San Francisco, with multiple other households present.

Since then, he’s apologized for his actions and admitted that he undermined his own message. “The spirit of what I’m preaching all the time was contradicted,” he added. “I need to preach and practice, not just preach.”

But this apology may not have been enough to earn forgiveness. Many Californians have grown tired of the Governor’s mixed messages and sporadic guidelines.

Numerous people are actively sharing their anger and even protesting against what they consider to be poor leadership and hypocrisy.

this kind of hypocritical behavior is why no one is going to listen this time around.

— florida man 🐊 (@2rick2morty) November 13, 2020

If our California governor, governor Newsome, placed 41 counties into the purple tier, we might as well go on lockdown, especially when he went to family parties that a lot of people were gathering in. Come on governor, get your head straight! 😡

— Art (@art__salcedo) November 17, 2020

California state lawmakers are flying to Hawaii and partying it up with lobbyists while telling their constituents not to travel because of the coronavirus lockdown. We are being governed by hypocrites who tell us what to do and then break their own rules. This is unacceptable.

— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) November 17, 2020

Jennifer Hall, 43, collections specialist, has lost faith in California’s Governor. “It just seems like he doesn’t know what he’s doing,” she said. “The on and off restrictions are just confusing rather than actually helping anyone.”

On the other hand her husband, Cecil Hall, 51, yard shifter believes that the Governor is doing the best he can. “I think he’s acting on what’s handed to him. We’re all being fed different information everyday, I’m sure he is too,” he said. “Given the circumstances I can be a little more forgiving.”

The more forgiving side, like Cecil, have also spoken on their support of the governor’s actions.

https://twitter.com/howtopless/status/1328599900414767104?s=12

https://twitter.com/alanaboops/status/1328545440325791745?s=12

I am in California as well and I am happy he made the decision to hit the emergency brake. It’s out of control and the only way we can fight it right now is to lockdown. https://t.co/EInArLHeMh

— TheCrazyOldJew (@jewish_lasers) November 17, 2020

With so many varying opinions about the state’s Governor, it seems that California is dealing with more than just the coronavirus crisis. As cases surge and new restrictions are imposed, it’s clear that more and more divisions will happen. What’s unclear is what these divisions will lead to.