Meanwhile in California…
Tag: california
Compare and contrast…
California’s Health Secretary Concedes There Is No Empirical Basis for the State’s Ban on Outdoor Dining
This week a Los Angeles County judge ruled that a local ban on outdoor dining at restaurants, ostensibly aimed at reducing transmission of the COVID-19 virus, was “not grounded in science, evidence, or logic.” Around the same time, California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly admitted that the same thing is true of a state ban on outdoor dining that currently applies to all of Southern California, including Los Angeles County. Ghaly said that ban, which is one of many restrictions that are triggered when a region’s available ICU capacity drops below 15 percent, is “not a comment on the relative safety of outdoor dining” but is instead aimed at discouraging Californians from leaving home.
“The decision to include, among other sectors, outdoor dining and limiting that, turning to restaurants to deliver and provide takeout options instead, really has to do with the goal of trying to keep people at home,” Ghaly said during a briefing on Tuesday. He noted that “we have worked hard with that industry to create safer ways for outdoor dining to happen.”
HOLLYWOOD DEPLOYED LOBBYISTS TO WIN EXEMPTIONS TO STRICT CALIFORNIA LOCKDOWN
LAST MONTH, California Gov. Gavin Newsom was caught violating his own warnings against multiple households dining together indoors. The Democratic governor was spotted at the French Laundry, an exclusive restaurant north of San Francisco, where he was celebrating the birthday of longtime friend Jason Kinney.
The dinner controversy was more than just an opulent display of political double standards — it also highlighted the backroom efforts to maintain special treatment during the pandemic. Kinney, a veteran political operative, is a lobbyist for a number of interests seeking to shape the rules governing life under the pandemic, including what kind of economic activities are deemed essential in order to stay in business.
The inside track may have paid off. One of Kinney’s clients, Netflix, has been allowed to continue to operate during the latest round of forced closures that began last week as intensive care hospital capacity has dwindled across the state.
The entertainment industry has been given extensive leeway to operate during the pandemic, even as California now faces a stay-at-home order. The state has deemed the television and movie production industry as “critical infrastructure” and has allowed Hollywood studios to continue filming projects, including in Los Angeles, which is facing the most strict lockdown order.
California megachurches rebrand as ‘family friendly strip clubs’ to protest state’s Covid-19 restrictions
Two megachurches decided to open Sunday services with some safe-for-work joke stripteases, in a cheeky protest against California’s closing down of churches due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while letting strip clubs stay open.
Before the start of Sunday’s sermon, pastors at two churches opened with short burlesque dance routines, taking off their jackets and even throwing their ties into the cheering audience.
“Strip clubs (Not Churches) are exempt from the Covid lockdowns, and are deemed essential by our governor!” said senior pastor of Awaken Church Jurgen Matthesius on Instagram. “So we decided we are NOW Awaken family friendly strip club!” he quipped.
The pastor then rolled with the joke, clarifying, “we strip the devil of his hold, power & authority over people’s lives!”
Los Angeles County suspends outdoor dining amid coronavirus surge
Los Angeles County is suspending outdoor dining for the foreseeable future as coronavirus cases surge in the region and across the country.
The order from the public health department will force restaurants, wineries and breweries into a takeout and delivery-only model for the first time since May. It will remain in effect for at least three weeks, though it could last longer.
If cases keep rising, the county will impose even stricter rules, including a “targeted” stay-at-home order for three weeks. Residents are currently urged to stay home as much as possible.
Public health officials made the announcement on Sunday, and the order will be effective on Wednesday.
California Exempts Hollywood Movie Studios From COVID Lockdowns, Restrictions
In the aftermath of getting caught red-handed violating his own travel and gathering restrictions, California Governor Gavin Newsom has exempted an entire industry’s workforce from those restrictions citing them as “essential workers.” But are they, really?
Newsom was recently forced to eat crow after attending a friend and political adviser’s 50th birthday party at a swank, upscale Napa County restaurant for a $400 a plate dinner. Newsom apologized after being publicly humiliated by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Astoundingly, Newsom then refused to intervene when many in his own State Legislature opted to attend a summit produced by a San Diego firm that violated the travel ban in place to host the summit in Maui, Hawaii.
Newsom has issued a new round of COVID-related restrictions, including a stay-at-home order, a curfew, limiting the size of private venue gatherings, and travel bans.
However, for some unknown and suspicious reason, the whole of the entertainment industry is exempted from the restrictions, covered under Newsom’s exemptions clause.
Californians say “NOPE” and take to the streets after 10 p.m. in defiance of Newsom’s corona curfew
Caesar Gavin Newsom, Ruler Of All Of California (May He Live Forever), issued a decree a couple days ago implementing a curfew which requires all of his subjects to remain in their homes from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until further notice.
Corona, apparently, is especially active after dark, or something.
Last night was the first night of Caesar’s curfew. And a whole bunch of Californians said, “I am sorry but this is ‘MERICA and we are ‘MERICANS and thus are allergic to tyranny.”
They took to the streets at 10:00 p.m. and protested all night…
Orange County Sheriff: We’re Not Responding To Calls Over Masks, Gatherings Under Newsom’s Lockdown
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes announced Thursday that his deputies are not responding to calls over masks and social gatherings under Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest stay-at-home order.
Newsom issued a new partial lockdown order scheduled to take effect on Saturday night to combat the coronavirus. Barnes responded to the announcement by saying that his already stretched department would not rigorously enforce new regulations over masking and crowd sizes.
“Earlier today, the Orange County sheriff’s department became aware of a limited Stay at Home Order that Governor Newsom’s office ordered to go into effect on Saturday, November 21 at 10 PM,” Barnes said in a statement. “Throughout the pandemic, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has taken an education-first approach with regard to the public health orders. We are currently assessing the action by the governor. At this time, due to the need to have deputies available for emergency calls for service, deputies will not be responding to requests for face-coverings or social gatherings-only enforcement.”
California Set to Reopen Strip Clubs Before Churches
A California judge ordered San Diego to reopen strip clubs even as local officials crack down on churches.
San Diego Superior Court judge Joel R. Wohlfeil ordered the state to end any actions that prevent the clubs from “being allowed to provide live adult entertainment,” according to the decision. The owners of two strip clubs argued that their business is legally protected speech guaranteed by the First Amendment—the same argument that churches have been making about their own services.
The judge’s decision is not final as that in a full hearing, which will occur at the end of the month, but it temporarily allows the strip clubs to reopen for indoor services, as other institutions close. In their legal complaint, strip-club owners argued they have complied with social distancing requirements. They also warned that another shutdown would mean financial ruin. The judge temporarily sided with them.
Religious-liberty advocates said that the case could pave the way for lifting coronavirus restrictions against churches. Paul Jonna, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, which is representing churches challenging the restrictions, expressed confidence that this decision bodes well for the churches. If strip clubs are entitled to constitutional protections, then churches are as well, he told the Free Beacon.
Hellbound and Down 
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