Gov. Gavin Newsom is withholding money from two Central Valley cities that are defying health directives and allowing all businesses to remain open during the pandemic.
The governor has blocked nearly $65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County. The money was supposed to be first installments of $2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don’t follow state directives on coronavirus safeguards.
Atwater is eligible for $389,000 and Coalinga for $216,000 in assistance through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund.
On Monday, Newsom announced he would spend $52 million in the Central Valley to improve virus testing and provide other help to residents in the agricultural region that has a high population of Hispanics, a group disproportionately harmed by the virus.
The state also is sending strike teams of health care workers to help hospitals handle the additional cases.
