Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Opponents Accuse Newsom of Indoor Dining in Fresno. Governor Denies.
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
March 1, 2021

Share

After holding a news conference in central Fresno on Friday to discuss the state’s vaccination efforts, Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped by Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant on Blackstone and Shaw avenues. After pictures of the visit were posted on social media, several accused Newsom of dining indoors, an allegation his office denies.

The governor’s office denied he dined indoors, an account confirmed by Los Amigos’ owner.

“He showed up at a restaurant and he never ate there. We just haved a talk with him,” Los Amigos owner Ricardo Flores said.

Newsom visited Los Amigos to met with a business that received a state grant.

“The governor stopped by this small business to highlight that the owner received a California Relief Grant. An additional $2 billion in state funding for small businesses was made available to provide grants of up to $25,000 to help entrepreneurs hurt by this pandemic. The governor did not dine in this restaurant,” Newsom press secretary Daniel Lopez said.

The post included two pictures. One featured entertainer George Lopez, who accompanied Newsom to both the news conference and Los Amigos. The image shows a mirror reflecting what appears to be a set table in the background, behind the two men.

Flores said staff set up a table to provide water and ice.

“We even offered a bottled water and he (Newsom) didn’t want to take it,” Flores said.

Indoor dining is not allowed under state and local emergency orders because of the pandemic. Newsom faced heavy criticism for eating at the fancy French Laundry restaurant in Napa in November. He apologized for violating his own standards.

The French Laundry mishap energized an ongoing effort. Organizers say they are on the verge of having the amount of necessary signatures to qualify the recall on the ballot.

Faulconer, Others Accuse Newsom of Violating Indoor Dining Ban

Kevin Faulconer, the Republican former mayor of San Diego running for governor either in recall election or in 2022, pounced in a news release.

“Apparently incompetent elitist Gavin Newsom is still failing to live by the COVID-19 restrictions his administration has put in place,” Faulconer said, referring to a Tik Tok video. “He did this even though Fresno is in a purple tier county where indoor dining is banned. This comes after his infamous French Laundry debacle. Apparently, Newsom didn’t learn his lesson from the backlash he received after his hypocrisy was exposed.”

John Cox, another Republican pledging to run for governor, also criticized Newsom.

“It’s a pattern. Different rules, exception, and hypocrisy by the political elites. There’s no reason indoor dining should not be open statewide,” Cox wrote on Twitter.

A video, shot live and posted on the Facebook page of  conservative Fresno activists “The Oreo Express,” shows Newsom entering the restaurant and his entourage leaving approximately 41 minutes later.

Celebrity chef Andrew Gruel, a critic of Newsom, also jumped on the governor on social media.

“California is the only state where indoor dining is banned. Industry gutted. It’s an explosive topic. Newsom holds an event INSIDE a restaurant, posts video, and group is “dining/drinking” (see pic) – people are actually saying this is OK? If it’s ok for them then open it all up,” Gruel wrote.

Lopez Enjoyed Los Amigos

Los Amigos posted on its Facebook page that Lopez “tried our food in our outdoor patio after an anterview [sic] and he loved it!.” The text accompanied a 14 second video of Lopez endorsing the restaurant.

Lopez stuck around to eat in the outdoor patio after the governor left.

“He left a $400 tip,” Flores said.

DON'T MISS

Braves’ Jurickson Profar Hit With 80-Game PED Ban

DON'T MISS

Watch: City Demolishes Historic Chinatown Building to Make Way for Housing

DON'T MISS

The Mystery of Melania Trump’s Wedding Dress and an eBay Sale

DON'T MISS

Heading to Sierra? Prepare for Heavy Snow

DON'T MISS

Mexican National Caught in Fresno County Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

DON'T MISS

CA Snowpack Is Near-Average. What Does This Mean for Water Supplies?

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani Adds Another No. 1 to His Resume: MLB’s Best-Selling Jersey

DON'T MISS

Tush Push Is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings

DON'T MISS

U.S. Bank Executive Terry Dolan Dies in Plane Crash Near Minneapolis

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Will Review Billions in Funding for Harvard

UP NEXT

Watch: City Demolishes Historic Chinatown Building to Make Way for Housing

UP NEXT

The Mystery of Melania Trump’s Wedding Dress and an eBay Sale

UP NEXT

Heading to Sierra? Prepare for Heavy Snow

UP NEXT

Mexican National Caught in Fresno County Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

UP NEXT

CA Snowpack Is Near-Average. What Does This Mean for Water Supplies?

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Adds Another No. 1 to His Resume: MLB’s Best-Selling Jersey

UP NEXT

Tush Push Is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings

UP NEXT

U.S. Bank Executive Terry Dolan Dies in Plane Crash Near Minneapolis

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Will Review Billions in Funding for Harvard

UP NEXT

Former MLB Pitcher CJ Wilson of Fresno on New Torpedo Bats: ‘Still Room for Innovation’

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Heading to Sierra? Prepare for Heavy Snow

2 hours ago

Mexican National Caught in Fresno County Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

2 hours ago

CA Snowpack Is Near-Average. What Does This Mean for Water Supplies?

3 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Adds Another No. 1 to His Resume: MLB’s Best-Selling Jersey

3 hours ago

Tush Push Is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings

4 hours ago

U.S. Bank Executive Terry Dolan Dies in Plane Crash Near Minneapolis

4 hours ago

Trump Administration Will Review Billions in Funding for Harvard

5 hours ago

Former MLB Pitcher CJ Wilson of Fresno on New Torpedo Bats: ‘Still Room for Innovation’

5 hours ago

Man Arrested After Shooting at Fresno’s Switch Nightclub

5 hours ago

Who Is Fresno’s ‘Fake’ ICE Agent? He Speaks Up

6 hours ago

Braves’ Jurickson Profar Hit With 80-Game PED Ban

NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay for performance-enhancing drug use. Major ...

1 hour ago

Jurickson Profar
1 hour ago

Braves’ Jurickson Profar Hit With 80-Game PED Ban

2 hours ago

Watch: City Demolishes Historic Chinatown Building to Make Way for Housing

Photo of First Lady Melania Trump
2 hours ago

The Mystery of Melania Trump’s Wedding Dress and an eBay Sale

2 hours ago

Heading to Sierra? Prepare for Heavy Snow

Miguel Obed Romero Reyes, 25, of Sinaloa, Mexico, pleaded guilty Monday, March 31, 2025, to trafficking more than 200,000 fentanyl pills after authorities seized the drugs during a traffic stop on Interstate 5. (DOJ)
2 hours ago

Mexican National Caught in Fresno County Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

3 hours ago

CA Snowpack Is Near-Average. What Does This Mean for Water Supplies?

3 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Adds Another No. 1 to His Resume: MLB’s Best-Selling Jersey

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the goal line Tush Push play during the NFL championship playoff football game against the Washington Commanders, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP File)
4 hours ago

Tush Push Is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend