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Paso Robles councilmen walk out of chambers in protest of mask rules

February 5, 2022

Paso Robles Councilmen John Hamon and Steve Gregory

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Two Paso Robles city councilmen walked out of the council chambers during a meeting on Tuesday in protest of the existing indoor mask mandate.

At the beginning of the Paso Robles City Council’s regular session, Councilman John Hamon announced that he would leave the chambers and participate in the remainder of the meeting virtually because he would not be wearing a mask. Councilman Steve Gregory followed suit and likewise said he would exit the council chambers and participate in the meeting virtually because of his opposition to the mask mandate.

Both Hamon and Gregory questioned the science behind California’s indoor mask mandate. Additionally, Hamon argued that government control has become more important than COVID-19 treatments, and Gregory alluded to Gov. Gavin Newsom at times failing to comply with his statewide mask mandate.

Mayor Steve Martin, Councilwoman Maria Garcia and Councilman Fred Strong remained in the chambers as Hamon and Gregory exited and rejoined the meeting virtually. Martin instructed everyone who remained in the chambers to wear a mask.

Strong said he agrees philosophically with Hamon’s and Gregory’s statements, but he would continue to follow the rules that the council is asking others to follow.

Hamon’s remarks on his decision to leave the council chamber:

“I will not be wearing a mask just because I think again the fact that some unelected officials mandate, tell me to do so. And I will also say that because of sound, common sense personal reasons, based on science, backed by nearly two years of COVID data, and also vaccinated twice and boosted once, I feel that masks give little protection from transmission.

“I am no longer concerned with contracting a severe case of COVID at this point because of the vaccinations that I’ve taken. Nor do I worry about others who are not vaccinated and out in public and unprotected where they may contract the virus just by simply touching a knob and then a face or maybe from somebody else that is vaccinated and might be carrying the virus. In my opinion, more people should question so-called authorities on health issues, especially when government will not even allow proven therapeutics, like monoclonal antibody treatments to be used on high-risk positive cases. It’s also my opinion that we are at a point where government control has become more important than a cure. After 13 months of available vaccine, it is clear that mandates are causing more harm than good to both our economy and our children. I think it’s unwise to continue public harm and of course disruption to everybody.”

Gregory made the following remarks:

“I concur with Councilman Hamon, and I respect everybody’s opinion to do what is best for them. But when the maker of the mandate doesn’t do it himself, and we don’t have a lot of science behind this, it’s time to get over this COVID issue that we’re having. And I’m vaccinated, I practice all the protocols, I respect everybody else’s opinion and what they like to do. But I can’t wear my mask anymore. It’s disrupting my ability to communicate. I don’t think I’m at risk because two years and 13 tests and vaccinations and my vitamin protocol. I’m in good shape, and I’m not affecting anybody. I don’t think it’s appropriate for us not be able to speak openly in this chamber as we’re exercising our due diligence with spacing.”


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Yeah? What’s the news here? Two cowpokes from a cow-town that would be against breathing air if the Left supported it and Trump didn’t.


-60

Please don’t insult us cowpokes by saying Steve Gregory is one of us. He ain’t.


-9

Attention craving weirdos.

On a positive side, this pandemic is rapidly approaching its end.


-53

Says who?


-20

John Hamon has always been an @$$ both on the council and at his place of business. Don’t know why he keeps getting reelected. Grow up, wear a mask because its not about you, but your constituents. SERVE the people of your city. If you can’t bear to wear a mask, join virtually, and don’t make a big deal out of it.


-71

He keeps being reelected for the same reasons that assh… like Bruce Gibson and the late Adam Hill did. They like them. Those two had the same problem in serving their constituent’s and districts. The difference is, Hamon may be an assh…, but he does serve his city.


3

Silly twits.


-68

And these are the folks that we have elected to establish city policies but refuse to abide by policies that elected officials at the state level have made. Maybe they shouldn’t be making policies or guidelines if they themselves are incapable of following the same.


-77

Yah, like our governor.


69

So, do you feel the same way about other local and state level officials who refuse to abide by laws passed by higher bodies of government, i.e. immigration and sanctuary city’s lack of enforcement of Federal immigration law?


Just asking


21

If only those other 900,000 (and counting) people knew that a “vitamin protocol” would have saved them.


-55

HUGE MISTAKE. They gave in to the B.S. Courage and commitment would mean STAYING PUT with no mask.


-31

That’s not courage and commitment, it’s radical lawlessness, no better than the BLM and antifa protesters you despise. Why don’t you go post some more counterfeit vaccine cards so we can report you to the FBI and DHS again.


-86

That’s called being selfish, not courage and commitment. Courage would be doing the right thing and wearing the mask, even if you don’t agree with the mandate, because it is for the greater good and it takes courage to put others before oneself. Commitment is also wearing the mask because you are an elected official and you have a commitment to serve your community, whether they voted for you or not…lead by example and follow the laws even if you don’t agree with them. My 5 year old wears kn95’s all day and it doesn’t seem to impact her mental health or her ability to breathe, even while running, and she has a lung disorder…COURAGE AND COMMITMENT


-14

Didn’t see many masks at the packed Rams game last weekend. The only serious casualty was a knockout in the parking lot, most likely involving pre game alcohol . It’s time to be done with the whole covid enterprise, boosters and jabs still readily available if desired.


109

So far, and that you’ve heard of. And you can bet there will be cases though maybe not as many as a game that would have taken place in New Orleans or Nashville where the vaccination rates are barely over 50%. In California they are over 70% so people are going to start relaxing, stop taking precautions and guess what? Rest assured, the number of cases is headed right back up. All because we live in country full of epidemiologists that went to epidemiology school at Nowhere State University.


-57

Damn, I hope you are wrong. I’ve been vaccinated but still caught it in Las Vegas. Very mild, even though I’m old and have high blood pressure. Thank God for the mRNA vaccine. It is truly a gift from the lord.


-29

Your theoretical math regarding venue is probably correct…… but “Cases? We talkin’ bout’ cases ?”- Iverson voice . Will the next nearly irrelevant item be how many cases of the clap med stop recorded last month at Poly ?- It’s over Johnny, get back to work, just like the rest of us have been the entire time . When the afternoon 4:15 commute South through Pismo clears up due to mass Covid deaths please wake me. The vax does appear to be effective to an extent.


6

Proof of vaccination or negative test is required to enter SoFi. Most brain functioning Americans have been vaccinated.


-38

WONDERFUL to hear! Glad they left the important meeting. Masks were REQUIRED, PERIOD! Until the council deems that masks are no longer required per state and country requirements, masks ARE REQUIRED and MUST be adhered to. If you don’t like it as a council member, then participate virtually, or, BETTER YET, resign and let someone who is more respectful and supportive take your place as a productive council member. Go pound the pavement and get a another job where they don’t care about your health or the health of others. Even better, LEAVE SLO Country and move to Texas, where people do not matter.


-97

Texas, with no mandates, have fewer cases and deaths, per capita, than California. It would be healthier to move to Texas.


51

“It would be healthier to move to Texas.”


You first.


-25

Do you even check your info before saying it messkit? California 81272 deaths Texas 80872 deaths. California population 44 million Texas 30 million. Basically same amount of deaths but California has 1.5 times the population. So deaths per capita is way more in Texas than California. Those are facts you can look up yourself.


-12

Actually, Texas has it worse with 2794 deaths per 1M pop vs 2061 deaths per 1M pop here in CA and 221,701 cases per 1M pop to CA’s 218,198 cases per 1M pop. Overall, CA does have over 2M more cases (yet only 400 more deaths) but a population which is 10.5M greater than texas so it is actually healthier to live in CA.


-5
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