Los Angeles, C.A. – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said earlier this week he is prepared to take drastic measures against LA businesses that refuse to comply with official orders to close for the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We won’t tolerate the selfish behavior of a few who unnecessarily put our community at risk,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a press release on his mayoral website. Additionally, the mayor stressed that his “Safer at Home” emergency shelter-in-place order would be strictly enforced. These businesses could also face misdemeanor charges for violating his emergency orders.
“We’re still getting reports each day of non-essential businesses continuing to operate as normal. This behavior is irresponsible and selfish,” Garcetti said in a briefing earlier this week. “You know who you are. You need to stop it. This is your chance to step up and shut it down, because if you don’t, we will shut you down,” he added.
He also urged citizens to report any non-essential businesses that are still operating as usual during the lockdown.
The mayor’s order requires LA residents to stay at home except for in a number of situations, including to get food, health or medical necessities, as well as to care for children or adult relatives, friends and people with disabilities, according to the mayor’s office. Nonessential businesses include bars, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, salons, and gyms.
In order to enforce the program, Garcetti announced a program to send city workers and volunteers he calls “business ambassadors,” to check on businesses who refuse to comply and urge them to close down voluntarily. Refusal could result in the ambassadors reporting the situation to prosecutors and police.
Los Angeles County has had at least 13 deaths and 799 cases of coronavirus authorities said Wednesday. That’s out of at least 2,665 cases and 58 deaths reported across the Golden State.
“I know we’re all anxious to return to our routines — to see the people we love and visit the places that make this city home,” Garcetti added via Twitter. “But please take this health pandemic seriously — stay home and practice physical distancing. Every single choice you make could save a life or risk one.”
I know we're all anxious to return to our routines –– to see the people we love and visit the places that make this city home. But please take this health pandemic seriously –– stay home and practice physical distancing. Every single choice you make could save a life or risk one.
— MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) March 24, 2020
Garcetti also responded to President Trump’s hope that the American economy could be “open” again by Easter, saying that he didn’t believe Los Angeles would be back to normal so quickly.
In an interview with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer on Tuesday, the president said while he has enjoyed attending church online amid the coronavirus pandemic, his administration is working toward a very optimistic deadline so people can start fellowshipping physically again.
“Look: Easter’s a very special day for me. And I see it sort of in that timeline that I’m thinking about. And I say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have all the churches full?,’” he said, noting how church services have been restricted by social distancing orders. It’s safe to say that’s what we all want; a return to normalcy and our country back open for business
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