Would Gov. Newsom really close SLO County beaches? Maybe — so don’t tempt him

That was harsh, Governor.

You didn’t like what you saw in weekend photos of Southern California beaches, so you threatened to close ALL beaches in California, as well as state parks?

Except, then you said you really didn’t say that, and you limited the closure order to beaches in Orange County.

So, were you trying to rattle us, using some tough love? Or were you just testing the waters to see what kind of response the threat of a dramatic statewide beach closure would elicit? And why did you leave us twisiting in the wind for 16 hours from the time word first leaked Thursday night to the press conference at noon on Friday?

We may never know exactly what went on, but for the record, this isn’t the first time Gov. Gavin Newsom has reportedly said something he later said he didn’t say.

Remember back in 2019, when he said he was putting “the brakes” on the high-speed rail project, and then said he didn’t say that? Or didn’t mean what he said ... or something.

There are other instances as well, but let’s not get all bogged down in politics.

Let’s get back to the beach, and the governor’s exercise of parental control.

While heavy-handed, it may not have been such a bad thing for Newsom to have issued a blanket threat, only to back off later — if that’s what he did.

Maybe it was the jolt we all needed.

We really don’t want to end up like Orange County, deprived of the ability to take even an early morning stroll on the sand, to cool off in the surf or sit and watch the sunset.

Yet that’s where we’re headed if we don’t consistently follow social distancing rules.

Who knows when Newsom might decide that he doesn’t like the photos he sees from Pismo Beach and add SLO County to the closure order?

Yes, it would be unfair, because snapshots taken at one place, at one point in time, aren’t an accurate reflection of what’s going on throughout the county.

But all it takes is 50 or so bad apples converging in a “mass gathering” on Pismo Beach or in Cayucos or Morro Bay to ruin things for everyone.

We can’t risk that.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: San Luis Obispo County needs to do a better job of managing its beaches, because the patchwork approach isn’t working. For example, it makes absolutely no sense to funnel everyone into Pismo Beach when nearby Avila is off-limits, except for activities like jogging and surfing.

Summer is almost here and if beaches are going to stay open — and we believe they should, even if it’s just for limited use — we need a better handle on enforcement, especially on busy weekends like Memorial Day.

That starts with individuals but, let’s face it, there are a fair number of covidiots out there who aren’t following the rules.

That’s where enforcement comes in, and we’re not just talking about police.

Businesses that want to stay open need to control their customers. Allowing them to congregate inside or bunch up on the sidewalk is not OK.

Some restaurants assign pickup times for takeout, and allow only one customer inside at a time.

That’s harder to do in the close quarters of, say, downtown Pismo Beach, but business owners are going to have to figure it out; they can’t shrug their shoulders and deny responsibility.

We’re in for a hot month of May, and with so much still shut down — public pools, air-conditioned movie theaters, outdoor dining — local beaches are going to be a refuge.

Take a lesson from Orange County; if you’re going to the beach, plant your towel and umbrella at least six feet way from your neighbors. And space out that line for clam chowder.