File this under “who made unelected health bureaucrats our rulers” coupled with a power-mad Governor that likes to disregard his own edicts.
Related: Available Now: Custom ‘Grok “I’ve Been Vaccinated” (Against Public Health Tyranny!) Buttons!
(Reformatted, emphasis mine):
LA court orders power cut at restaurant that defied COVID rules. So the owner bought a generator.
‘We are open and we will NOT comply
A Los Angeles County court authorized the City of Burbank to disconnect electricity powering a restaurant that refused to shut down in compliance with extreme pandemic-related restrictions. Tinhorn Flats refused to abide by a temporary restraining order issued March 8 that required the restaurant to remain closed because the restaurant violated COVID-19 restrictions, KTTV-TV reported. But the restaurant continued operations in defiance of the order.
In response, a Los Angeles Superior Court said Friday that Burbank officials could disconnect power at the restaurant.
In a statement issued by the city, officials hinted they may seek to lock the doors of the restaurant if the owners continue to operate their small business.
The statement said:
This morning due to Barfly Inc., Tin Horn Flats, continuing to remain open in defiance of the Temporary Restraining Order issued on March 8, 2021, the Los Angeles Superior Court authorized the City of Burbank to disconnect the electricity to Tin Horn Flats’ property after giving 24-hours’ notice. The court did not provide permission to padlock the doors at this time but continues to reserve such a remedy as a last resort.
Despite having no power, the restaurant has continued operations undeterred.
“The owner says they will continue to stay open and are currently using a generator as a power source,” KTTV reported. Indeed, the restaurant said in a Facebook post on Sunday, “We are open and we will NOT comply.”
The City of Burbank pursued litigation against Tinhorn Flats after officials discovered the restaurant was not abiding by the city’s COVID-19 restrictions last December. At the time, state and local restrictions prohibited indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurant co-owner Lucas Lepejian told KTTV he was not scared of city officials because he was operating safely.
“They’re coming after us for having 10, 15 people in a small environment. It absolutely makes no sense and [is] completely unconstitutional…I’ve got nothing left to lose,“
That’s the feeling of many small business owners to whom the “Government” have decided that they are non-essential. One-size-fits-all – no, not really. Large chains, big-box store companies have the size and wherewithal that Mom and Pop-sized eateries and merch sellers don’t have. Profit margins are razor-thin – mistakes are catastrophic in outcomes. Governments determined to keep them closed even when they follow the regs is a death sentence.
It sounds like Lucas Lepejian had no way out. Either open or die. At least the business would die. Knowing what it’s like to own a small biz in the past, a daycare under strict scrutiny, any change in govt peerage could have major ramifications (like simply not having a thermometer in an unused freezer) in what happened next.
At that point, your “baby” is at risk – you will do what is necessary to keep it going. After all, you have customers that need you, and you have employees that are depending on you (and unlike what most Socialists believe, biz owners DO care about their employees – to the point of forgoing any enumeration to make sure their paychecks won’t bounce – been there, done that).
He had nothing to lose – lose the business, lose the ability to provide for anyone. Frankly, I would have done the same thing. Govt shutting down my power?
“Hello, Generator Man? Yeah, today. Thanks!”
In a heartbeat. Like the Gym guys in NJ when the State swooped in and took their bank accounts.
The government doesn’t care what it does to the little guy.
