© Reuters/Gabriela BhaskarCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom
Newsom announced the "public education campaign" during a Monday press conference and unveiled some of the billboards, which include messages about remaining six feet apart and wearing masks. "I wanted to connect more to the cause of education," Newsom said, adding over $80 million has gone into this campaign and more than 1,000 billboards will be erected in the state.
Newsom has faced serious criticisms over his leadership during the pandemic to date, especially lockdown orders in California which have kept many small businesses closed, but allowed other operations such as film and television production to continue.
Newsom came under fire recently for breaking his own Covid-19 restrictions when he attended a dinner that included multiple households, something he has advised people against during the holiday season. Photos from the event also showed those in attendance not social distancing or wearing masks.
His 'education' announcement also comes on the heels of new stay-at-home orders being put in place for the San Joaquin Valley and much of Southern California, including Los Angeles.
California has recorded more than 1.3 million positive Covid-19 cases, as well as over 19,000 deaths from the virus.
Comment: Commentary from the gallery was not appreciative of Newsom's dictatorial billboard campaign. Here's what they had to say: What $80M might have done for the people worst hit by the economic disruption just boggles the mind to be spent on billboards! Dividing the costs out per billboard: $80,000 ea.