California Governor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, and LA County Board of Supervisors member Sheila Kuehl attended parties or ate at restaurants in the last month.- The government officials did so despite urging their residents to avoid gatherings and dining at restaurants to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Newsom, Liccardo, and Kuehl have apologized for skirting the rules. Breed did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
California officials urged residents to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19, all while attending parties and going to restaurants themselves, according to reports.
At least four high-profile California politicians, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have been criticized for skirting the state's COVID-19 guidelines in the last month.
In November, Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed attended birthday dinners at French Laundry, a restaurant in the Napa Valley, the Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
And more recently, KTTV reported that Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Sheila Kuehl was spotted eating outside at a restaurant on November 24, after calling for a ban on outdoor dining on the principle of COVID-19 being a "
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, meanwhile, faced criticism after traveling for an outdoor Thanksgiving dinner at his parents' house while advising his residents not to travel.
Newsom, Liccardo, and Kuehl have apologized for flouting rules they have urged their residents to follow. Breed did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Newsom called the birthday party, which he attended with his wife and several others a "bad mistake," while Liccardo committed to "do better."
"I apologize for my decision to gather contrary to state rules by attending this Thanksgiving meal with my family," Liccardo said in a statement. "I understand my obligation as a public official to provide exemplary compliance with the public health orders, and certainly not to ignore them."
A spokesperson for Kuehl, meanwhile, told the Washington Post that Kuehl has no plans to eat out again until public health orders permit her to do so.
California is currently seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and is facing a seven-day average testing positive rate of 7%, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In recent weeks, cities around the state have closed outdoor dining, and Newsom said on Monday that he may announce new restrictions state wide in the coming days.