“I expect optimism in our future. We’re gonna come roaring back,” declared a triumphal California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his revised budget for the state.

As Newsom optimistically ticked off the billions being allocated from the state’s $76 billion budget surplus, he was asked if California might emerge from state-imposed Covid restrictions — known as the Blueprint for a Safer Economy — before his self-stated June 15 reopening date.

“We are still on track to get rid of the Blueprint by June 15,” he reported. “As we continue to vaccinate more and more people, it’s on par with our expectations to date,” Newsom continued, but noted vaccine uptake by the public has diminished slightly.

“If we continue to see these [test] positivity rates — 1.1% — the stability, no question, we will get there on or before June 15,” he said. “I’m confident of that.”

Mask Update: Governor Newsom says a meeting is scheduled with his administration,...