Cafe El Dorado owner Cherie Baldridge waits on patrons of her Pleasant Valley Road diner Friday morning. With reports of El Dorado County coronavirus cases on the decline, Baldridge decided to open up despite the governor's orders for California residents to shelter in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Democrat photo by Kevin Christensen
News
Cafe El Dorado opens for dine-in; Sheriff not enforcing state orders
By Dylan Svoboda and Kevin Christensen
Staff writers
In defiance of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 safety restrictions, Cafe El Dorado was open for dine-in service Friday morning.
Cherie Baldridge, the diner’s owner, told the Mountain Democrat Thursday she had no choice but to return to normal operations.
“I will not survive another month,” she said. “This place is my livelihood and it’s being taken away from me.”
The owner said she was two months behind rent on her building at 5787 Pleasant Valley Road. Facing insolvency, Baldridge and her two employees decided this was their last resort.
The restaurant’s move challenges statewide stay-at-home orders and dine-in restrictions brought down by Gov. Newsom March 19.
And it doesn’t seem as if anyone’s stopping them any time soon.
Despite resisting state mandates, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said they don’t plan on forcing closure or penalizing local businesses for breaking the order — for now.
“(The Sheriff’s Office) is still focused on working with our business partners,” EDSO spokesman Anthony Prencipe said in a statement to the Mountain Democrat. “We will continue to educate them to make smart and responsible decisions for our community. Our goal is to not have to enforce the stay-at-home order through citations.”
Coronavirus concerns didn’t stop patrons from flocking to the cafe Friday morning. Minutes before the diner’s 8 a.m. opening, a handful of guests were inside waiting for the chef to fire up the grill. By 9 a.m., more than two dozen customers had the restaurant’s 11-table dining room at near-capacity.
Robert Rademacher of Cameron Park visited Cafe El Dorado for breakfast Friday morning with his 13-year-old son Eric. El Dorado County’s relatively low coronavirus case count — 44 confirmed as of Thursday evening — has left him unfazed by the virus circulating across the world.
“Every county is different and the situation should be treated differently for each,” Rademacher said. “If there was a higher rate I might feel differently in this county. If we don’t open up there might be a massive depression and bankruptcy. I don’t want that for the state or country.”
Linda Forni of El Dorado isn’t worried either. Inside the diner Friday, she told the Mountain Democrat that coming to the restaurant is a sort of pastime for her, and loneliness is starting to settle in for her and fellow seniors.
“My husband (Dennis) passed away in November. He and I came here often,” Forni said. “It’s good for my mental health to be around people and socialize. A lot of regulars are older men who are retired and can’t or don’t cook at home and don’t go out anyway to socialize. They come here and go home mainly and there is a low rate in the county so I don’t have concerns here.”
There was little mask-wearing and social distancing was at a minimum inside the small diner Friday morning. The cafe’s tight confines don’t lend itself to 6-feet social distancing standards, Baldridge said Thursday, but the restaurant is providing hand sanitizer on-site. Other than that, it’s “business as usual,” she said.
Though she’s pushing aside COVID-19 precautions, Baldridge is set for a financial boost she hasn’t seen in more than a month.
The restaurant has been open for take-out since the county and state stay-at-home orders came down March 19, but that hasn’t been nearly enough to cover expenses, she said.
“Take-out isn’t going to do it,” Baldridge said. “My regular customers don’t like take-out. They like to sit down, relax and eat the food here. So that’s what I’m going to let them do.”
The county’s stay-at-home order, which includes restrictions on dine-in service, expires Friday. But the state’s equivalent order remains in place indefinitely. Gov. Newsom said last week that California restaurants could reopen for limited dine-in service in “weeks, not months.”
Discussion | 68 comments
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Jackie JohnsonMay 01, 2020 - 11:37 am
Now serving Covid at table 5 now serving Covid at table 5.
ReplyCross OtterMay 01, 2020 - 2:04 pm
Watch out you little lamb....the sky might fall. Listen to your Tyrant in Sacto who orders your life and how you live it. Pretty sure HE is still getting paid while he continues to violate the Constitution.
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 01, 2020 - 2:16 pm
And yet you are still here..... You guys hate cali so muc than move to kansas.
ReplyEMay 01, 2020 - 4:31 pm
Maybe cross otter is like me and was born here? Why should we move to Kansas? If you want me to stay home you should pay my loss of pay for demanding a healthy person stay home.
ReplyMGMay 02, 2020 - 9:26 am
I agree with E, I was born and raised here. There use to be a time when California was a great state with the best schools in the nation. Such time has passed, but I still have much family here and getting older. Had I know what was going to occur, I would have moved when I was younger and didn't have a family established here. The younger generation is too quick to believe anything a politician or media tells them. Most consider Youtube as a credible source. Do some of your own research and think on your own.
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 03, 2020 - 5:33 pm
I was born here too. So what? I am over 60. So what? Man up you bunch of whiners, go out and eat at the cafe. The last time i ate there the service was a joke. The cook was on the backporch smoking a cigarette with his dog that was chained to the back door. A real class act. Not to mention the margarine being trampled through the dining room by the owner.
ReplyMATHMay 01, 2020 - 11:41 am
Owner thinks taking a couple more weeks off is going to be too stiff financially, wait until the lawsuit hits from the Covid-deceased patrons family.
ReplyMark McNultyMay 02, 2020 - 3:52 pm
Eldorado County has ZERO deaths after three months and less than 50 cases...do you really think lawsuits of a tiny restaurant are inevitable? Laughable, not to mention you can't be sued for unknowingly spreading a communicable disease otherwise every gay man spreading HIV would be sued.
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 03, 2020 - 6:33 pm
Ever person gay or straight who knowingly spreads hiv is subject to arrest. Lawsuits happen. The cafe owner by stating she provides hand sanitizer seems to be implying her restaurant is safe. Either way, she is responsible if someone gets sick at her place whether from covid due to poor sanitation, hep-a from an employee or food poisoning. Lawsuit or not, it will kill her business.
ReplyJames E. LonghoferMay 01, 2020 - 11:48 am
Is the Sheriff not going to arrest me if I don't have a driver's license? California Vehicle Code? Or, not arrest me if I murder someone? California Penal Code? I don't care, I'm just checking.
ReplyJames E. LonghoferMay 01, 2020 - 11:51 am
P.S. I have a valid driver license, and I have no plans to murder anyone. This information for my Republican friends.
ReplyAl BMay 01, 2020 - 2:03 pm
James Longhofer, I agree completely! If you or I didn’t do our jobs we’d be fired! We’ll remember Sheriff D’Agastino come election time! And as far as our low numbers.... why do you think they are low. Now idiots like this are going against the orders that have kept us safe..., watch them start climbing like they did in LA just 5 days after several open beaches were packed! What about this virus don’t people get?
ReplyMATHMay 01, 2020 - 11:57 am
There are a lot of con's propagated by the GOP, "law and order" is one of them.
ReplyEMay 01, 2020 - 4:34 pm
Yup, people like you fought for the British in the revolutionary war.
ReplyMATHMay 01, 2020 - 6:06 pm
Yup, people like you fought for Germany in WWII. Lost then, and would again.
ReplyMark McNultyMay 02, 2020 - 3:56 pm
You should probably study a history book if you think pro-liberty people would have fought for Germany in WW2...the NAZIs were socialists and advocated every position of the modern left...high regulatory state, nationalized mandatory education, socialized medicine, nationalization of labor unions, wealth redistribution, divisive racial rhetoric....sound familiar? It should, it should it's the same political platform of the modern left. The idea that fascism is right-wing is pure revisionist history and you bought it.
ReplyMATHMay 03, 2020 - 6:50 pm
Reading the Cry-Baby-Conservatism comments here is making me wonder if the movie idiocracy is a pre-democracy of Trump Land and his mind-numb followers. I’ll leave this here. https://www.vox.com/2018/7/9/17525860/nazis-russell-walker-arthur-jones-republicans-illinois-north-carolina-virginia..and some recreational reading. https://www.amazon.com/Old-Nazis-Right-Republican-Party/dp/0896084183 Trump and his followers are traitors to the Constitution.
ReplySheeshMay 02, 2020 - 11:18 am
Didn’t you hear? In addition to being a constitutional law scholar, our fine sheriff is a top notch epidemiologist.
ReplyEvelyn VeerkampMay 01, 2020 - 12:13 pm
"Funeral Directors in COVID-19 Epicenter Doubt Legitimacy of Deaths Attributed to Pandemic, Fear Numbers are 'Padded'" -- HERE
ReplyMATHMay 01, 2020 - 1:05 pm
And for those that prefer a smidgin of truth regard Trump Virus and death. “U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Is Far Higher Than Reported, C.D.C. Data Suggests”...... https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/28/us/coronavirus-death-toll-total.html
ReplyJellisonMay 01, 2020 - 1:56 pm
Another web site from the lunatic fringe. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/project-veritas/
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 01, 2020 - 1:56 pm
They may find a vaccine for covid, they may find a proven treatment for covid. Unfortunately there is no vaccine for willful ignorance or stupidity.
ReplyMGMay 02, 2020 - 9:33 am
Yeah, let's also ignore the anti-body testing Stanford, LA County and Germany have conducted showing more people have gotten over it than recorded. The actual tests and study brings down the mortality rate to somewhere between 0.1 to 0.3. This means that you have a survival rate well over 99%. But hay, you want to keep listening to the media that doesn't bring up this factual data, go right ahead and keep being scared.
ReplyDeanna WiseMay 04, 2020 - 2:02 pm
MG-Are you trying to let facts get in the way of using fear to institute tyranny? Wow.
ReplyOscar AintreeMay 02, 2020 - 4:18 pm
Pretty shocking to see this. Why didn't they set up tables outside in the parking lot? No one wearing masks. No one checking temperatures. No one asking if they had come into contact with someone with a fever. Did they even open the windows to let the air pressure drop? Small spaces with air conditioning allow the virus to float further than six feet. At least put up clear plastic barriers between tables. I don't see how this passes any department of health standard. Also, Trump is an illiterate.
ReplyLibertyMay 01, 2020 - 3:46 pm
Remember Lord Pampador's orders for liberals, stay home and continue being miserable, don't work and wait for your foreclosure notices, The orders for real rural GOP counties is the opposite whatever Newscum says. Also the place was packed and locals know to support our counties and ignore Bay area whiners and reject their values and fake boycotts. Most of them don't even live in the area and if they do they need to follow Pampador and go back home to the Bay.
ReplyAustimo 3000May 01, 2020 - 11:30 pm
The old saying “history repeats itself” will inevitably, and unfortunately, remain true. If there is one thing we can learn from our history its that pandemics destroy the economy, not stay-at-home orders. During the 1918 influenza pandemic, social distancing measures did work. Cities and states that acted quicker and more aggressively had lower mortality rates and lower cumulative deaths. However, some cities and states chose to lift those measures sooner than others and the virus came back in not just a second wave but in a third wave too. The data shows that cities and states that acted sooner, more aggressively, and waited longer before opening actually showed a faster economic recovery than those who opened sooner. Economic recovery can’t fully recover until the presence and the fear of the virus have been successfully mitigated. I know this sounds counter intuitive but the data shows otherwise. I understand the economic hardship as a result of the stay-at-home order, but it will only be worse and for much longer if you open too soon. The anti Newsom rhetoric I see on these comments just highlights the total ignorance of those espousing it. You may not agree with him on every policy, but you cannot ignore the fact that he is following the lessons learned from the last pandemic that hit our nation. Isn’t that what we want our leaders to do? He isn’t guided by emotion, he is guided by data. He has been very proactive, not just in his response, but also his foresight into working with banks and private business to allow for forbearances and other assistance statewide. This rhetorical nonsense about how he just wants to destroy the economy is astoundingly dumb. Yes, our numbers are low. There is a reason for it. This is because he acted the earliest and acted aggressively. We did flatten our curve, we should be proud. Let’s not flatten our economic curve for years when we only need to flatten it for weeks. If you want to open up you have to do it responsibly, all these people stuffed into a tiny cafe like this is just not smart. I hope these people realize that this narcissistic behavior is only going to make things worse for you and everyone else over the long run. I highly suggest that anyone who is actually interested in learning about history read these reports. If you don’t want to read these reports, then feel free to reply to my comment with the latest talking points and unproductive rhetoric so prevalent here already. Just know, history says you’re wrong. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3561560 https://www.stlouisfed.org/~/media/files/pdfs/community-development/research-reports/pandemic_flu_report.pdf
ReplyJames E. LonghoferMay 02, 2020 - 6:17 am
Well said 3000. It appears the mission of the Trumpsters is to cull the herd, and of course they believe they will not be among the culled.
ReplyMATHMay 02, 2020 - 9:03 am
And Trump Sheeple Crying “Fake News” in ....Three......Two......One.......Trump Followers have proven to be way to dense to respond to reality, would rather skirt any responsibility, hide their heads, and Cry “it’s someone fault! For my struggles!”, “I take no responsibility”. Breaking free from a Cult can be tough, let’s hope enough can by November 3rd.
ReplyLibertyMay 02, 2020 - 10:19 am
The numbers suggest an exposure track starting last fall when many became suddenly sick with very high fever and a flu like illness. This makes sense in a normal viral outbreak as thousands of Chinese nationals were flying in every day to the west coast. The two major studies out now from UCLA and Stanford suggest most in the state were exposed to the virus last fall and winter. Those that had no reaction or mild symptoms recovered and some of their plasma is now being used as a treatment in severe cases as are other anti-virals. Exposure to the virus is the immunity to it in most people, there are always variables, but delaying the exposure will likely prolong it. In the Swedish model the economy remained open, the vulnerable were protected the other Nordic countries used other methods and lock-downs and we are waiting for that data. The 1918 Pandemic is a different animal with a very fast and lethal spread and a fall wave, there is a huge difference between the onset time frame, in 1918 it went through areas and was gone in 6-8 weeks, there wasn't the testing available and bacterial pneumonia is suspect. The data on Covid is still coming in, if the line flattens as it is now, the immunity is progressing normally to this pathogen and economies can re-open with normal flu season precautions. As usual the order of people who are sick to stay home is common sense, locking down and destroying the economy and draconian travel bans are not. .
ReplyMATHMay 02, 2020 - 3:38 pm
Cry-Baby-Conservatism No. 43: When caught in a bold face lie, make up BIGGER lies to cover, and so on, and so on, and NEVER take responsibility - “I take no responsibility”. The Crying in the Country is stifling. A primary function of the federal Government is to attend to those issues that cross state lines. i.e., Covid-19. Trump should do his job and coordinate a proper nation-wide response that does not leave it up to the states. But the Cry-Baby-Conservatism pull to avoid all responsibility is strong and instead Trump washes his hands of his responsibility and kicks it to the States (all while his followers fall mind-dead in line). You can read this like a book. When the next wave of deaths hit, Trump will, yet again, shirk all responsibility and will blame the states while exclaiming LOUDLY that he and he alone knew the states were opening up too soon (Oh and he is mistreated in the press - a common speaking point of all tyrants). Trump is weak and uses bullying techniques to sooth his insecurities (not unlike his spray tan and come-over) preferring to cut the heads off those around him to make himself feel taller – a good Cry-Baby-Conservatist to say the least. So sad. I won't sit idly by while Trump and his followers rip this country from the people dreaming of their power hungry and greedy bed-buddy dictator friends Putin, Kim Jong Un and the like, continuing to be jealous of their system that has utterly stripped power from the people allowing those leaders to commit the deepest of deep atrocities. This end goal of Trump, the GOP, and his mind-dead followers to strip American Freedom must be stopped.
ReplyLibertyMay 02, 2020 - 5:49 pm
Every leftist comment is a "Cry baby" the type of logic you would see in a nursery room of babies, because there is no substance in it, just leftist TDS blather, the same thing over and over. The lack of knowledge about the government and the rights reserved for the states is staggering. The left needs to own what their liberal state governors are doing and how they think crashing the economy and putting people out of work, like Barry Hussein and Senile Joe did to millions is a winning strategy? For what? Poverty, homelessness, unemployment, govt. dependence, drug addiction, and a failed country. The left already tried it under Barry and Joe and they failed now they are trying a return of it using liberal governors shutting down economies with no science or data that justifies it.
ReplyMATHMay 02, 2020 - 5:53 pm
Cry Baby Conservatism No. 32: When your ignorance is fully exposed, double down on name calling, personal attacks and never-never-never take responsibility. After all, there will be a Democratic Administration some day that will come along and clean up Cry-Baby-Conservatist mess like we’ve seen over and over.
ReplyMATHMay 02, 2020 - 6:03 pm
Cry -Baby-Conservatism No. 32: When exposed as fully ignorant, double down on name calling, never take responsibility, and cry blame to others. Classic. Whoops, covers blown! Waaa, waaaa, *sniff sniff* need a hanky?
ReplyLibertyMay 02, 2020 - 6:33 pm
Do you hit the weed about this time every day in your parents basement? Your comments are as stoned and empty as your bong loaded brain. If you have nothing to say, go smoke another bowl or two. You can then follow your leftist leaders into oblivion and an unemployment train wreck life you had or still have under Barry and Senile Joe.
ReplyMATHMay 02, 2020 - 7:20 pm
Well, I’ve never tried weed, but I’m willing to learn. Maybe that’s why I can free think. What’s it like being unencumbered by the thought process snowflake?
ReplyDeeDee GneriMay 08, 2020 - 8:01 am
Well said Austimo 3000.
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 01, 2020 - 4:50 pm
Maybe Dylan could do a survey of landlords/business owners to find out how many landlords are evicting over nonpayment of rent. Was the cafe a good tenant? Was the landlord taking advantage of the situation to squeeze Cherie out because he had another potential tenant?
ReplyRobert KisselMay 01, 2020 - 9:44 pm
I actually ended up losing a "friend" on facebook over your article, Mr. Svoboda. Said "friend" had posted a link to it describing Miss (Mrs.) Baldridge as an anti-American and endangering people selfishly, and got ferociously angry at me when I investigated her and her business a little bit, for example, to determine the TAXES that the building pays to El Dorado County every year, and which, presumably, the owner relies on rent from Miss Baldridge to pay. Anyway, he got mad at me for being so politically incorrect, called me a snowflake, and severed contact. If I weren't all the way on the other end of the country, I'd drive by the El Dorado Café to try her eggs benedict, to celebrate. Best of luck to you, Miss Baldridge, and I do hope your struggle inspires lots of other people to fight for our lives.
ReplyMike JonesMay 02, 2020 - 6:40 am
Our sheriff is a hero to the unwashed masses and an embarrassment to those who can read and write. I have lived in this county for over 2 decades and inevitably those that rely the most on public assistance hold themselves up as the most patriotic and merican of us all.....the WalMart is a constant stream of obese rednecks with their camo and lark scooter riding wives....these people couldn't survive 2 days if the KFC and Buttercup Pantry closed, yet somehow they see themselves as the last vanguard of freedom. Trump and his fellow really must find it hard to keep from laughing as they lead these fools onto the next conspiracy.
ReplyHarriet TubmanMay 02, 2020 - 8:58 am
America was founded and built by risk takers. The most prominent and important people in our history took action over safety. When others sat down and his, they took a stand........ Shaming a restaurant in a county that has nearly zero active Covid-19 cases for serving breakfast is laughable. The risk is nearly non existent and far less than the risk of simply driving there. I applaud them for taking safe measures and being first to open up. "The person who risks nothing, does nothing"
ReplycfbMay 02, 2020 - 10:28 am
Ah yes, the rationalizations of people looking to get themselves and others killed. Yes, we've had low infection rates. Because we stopped packing ourselves into restaurants and beaches. Morons.
ReplyMelissaMay 02, 2020 - 12:28 pm
Totally irresponsible. Not even trying to social distance, wear masks or prevent their “customers” from catching this virus or spreading it. These folks gather together in close quarters and then go back out into the community and we infect others. I pray I am wrong - but I lost my healthy, non-senior, brother-in-law to this virus three weeks ago - and it’s no joke.
ReplyMark McNultyMay 02, 2020 - 3:50 pm
Live free, not in fear...good for them, and righteous sheriff.
ReplyJohn DeeMay 03, 2020 - 12:57 am
God bless our Constitution, and the sooner the due process, financial damage and other myriad lawsuits begin, the better in my opinion. Our airhead nanny governor shut down the entire state, as of today in El Dorado County there remains a grand total of ZERO deaths from coronavirus. It hasn't even amounted to a regular flu season! Whatever is beyond reactionary stupidity, our governor has discovered it.
ReplyMikeMay 03, 2020 - 4:00 am
FACT: Just As many people under 35 have died of the FLU as CV. Less than 1 in 50,000 ppl under 55 yrs old have died of CV. This is America. If your afraid, over 60, obese, diabetic, etc. Then stay home. Let everyone else get back to life before we destroy America for something that will effect less than 0.1% of our population. I’ll be at Cafe El Dorado the next chance I get to drop off a $20 for a cup of coffee and look forward to patronizing every small business I can that has the guts to stand up to tyranny.
ReplyDeanna WiseMay 03, 2020 - 1:32 pm
"If one factors out deaths in New York and the two states that surround New York City, and then factors out nursing home deaths using a 40 percent figure, the U.S. death count is in the neighborhood of 20,000." The article has a link to World Meter with raw numbers.------------https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/05/u-s-coronavirus-deaths-part-one-the-new-york-nursing-home-angle.php
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 03, 2020 - 9:49 pm
So people in nursing home are of no value? Hmmm reminds me of a saying the Khmer Rouge had.
ReplyDeanna WiseMay 04, 2020 - 2:09 pm
Try reading before responding. You might learn something that will assist in solving the problem. ........"I don’t mean to minimize the seriousness of this pandemic. New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey lives matter. So do the lives of people in nursing homes. And the loss of life among people outside of these categories continues to mount. However, the pattern of coronavirus deaths has been evident for quite some time. It should have better informed the response to the pandemic. Had it done so, the nation would have adopted a more targeted, less blunderbuss response, and the U.S. economy would likely be in considerably better shape."
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 04, 2020 - 3:58 pm
I don’t follow links any of you post. Your alt fact/alt reality blogs are a waste. I based my response on what you wrote.
ReplyDeanna WiseMay 04, 2020 - 5:35 pm
Your choice to remain uninformed and unable to discuss the facts. Your response is just more of the same old, same old hate conservatives and Orange Man Bad.
ReplyLibertyMay 04, 2020 - 8:50 am
Another local sit in diner has re-opened now and will join others to restore small business closures and start operating again before losses cause more disaster and unemployment. What people need to know is the response from liberal Governors is a planned-demic of govt. over- control not based on science or data. For example, it's pretty well known being out in the sun is not only good for you it's a virus killer, vitamin D is a virus killer and a way to prevent lung infections, shutting down public lands and parks and any other outdoor recreation sites was purposeful ignorance or deliberate malfeasance. Who's ever heard that being out recreating is now dangerous to health? Only brain-dead liberals can try this ruse and the fact is, many believe it because a liberal Governor said so. It's about as funny as finding out dog grooming shops are "essential" but hair cutting for people isn't.
ReplyMATHMay 04, 2020 - 3:20 pm
You sure hyper-focus on Governor Newsom. Elections have consequences. He won, get over it. You got NDS bad. Sad.
ReplyHawghaulerMay 04, 2020 - 9:36 am
Know your rights! https://www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law Summary: Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. For the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim. The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any. TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242 Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
ReplySergMay 04, 2020 - 9:40 am
I have a question for those opposed to her re-opening...... How is she supposed to pay her rent on both her business and her own home? I see so many slamming her for re-opening, yet zero solutions provided as to how she make a living and pay her bills. This goes for all other small businesses in the same situation. It's easy to sit on your high horse and demand that everything stay closed because of "risk" but then to not provide any solutions isn't helping. We already know that the Government stimulus package failed small businesses miserably. Very few actual small businesses (such as this one) are getting help. Both parties failed and all it proves is you can't really on the government to help you make a living. Being in that the government has failed to help so many small businesses continue to make a living, they then have no right to tell them they can't make a living. As for the "risk" involved with re-opening and COVID-19. Sure there is going to be some risk involved but not to the degree that many of you are hyping. She's not going to quote "get everybody killed" by opening her restaurant. That's ridiculous hyperbole and not based on any real data. We know through all of the recent anti-bodies testing that the real number of people that have contracted the disease is anywhere from 10X to 50X higher depending on the area tested. That also means the actual death rate for COVID-19 is much lower and in the 0.2 to 0.5% range. Worse than the flu yes and certainly even worse when you factor in how contagious this particular virus is. However is it worth completely shutting down society for months on end while destroying the economy for a disease with a 0.2 to 0.5% death rate? Is it worth putting thousands of people out of business and causing them to lose their homes? How is that good for their health by the way? For practically every species of animal (including ours) living life consists of "risks" even on a daily basis. You do what you gotta do to survive and in an economical sense we are now getting to that point (hence the reason she re-opened).
ReplyMATHMay 04, 2020 - 3:41 pm
Hi Serg, I like your comment. You ask “How is she supposed to pay her rent on both her business and ‘her own home?” I would respond as such….1) did she apply for PPP? That would pay her full salary and her employee’s full salaries for 2 months, plus 25%. (also, congress is thinking of making that tax free, so it’s would be a financial gain at least for 2 months), 2) Can she operate with social distancing rules? Even move tables outside to allow people to distance? 3) Can she offer to-go meals? 4) can she deliver food? 5) can she wear a mask? 6) my whole adult life I was told and heard you should have 3-6 months, preferably more, of liquid savings on hand at all times for emergencies, did she plan this way? I think some of the attacks you see here are stemming from the fact she does't seem to be even trying. Lastly, I agree that the government has failed this business, and I'm sure there can be situations where social distancing can't work. I guess it then comes down to a choice…..violate the rules (law?) to get what you want while risking the health of yourself and others, or shut down, take the hit and be safe. I will remember this ethical dilemma the next time I see a story about a homeless man steeling food.
ReplyTWMay 04, 2020 - 4:25 pm
MATH - I totally agree. We do not know her entire story - I do not know this business owner, and I am not here to judge, except that we have rules and phases for a reason. I've been closed for 6 weeks, and plan to be closed through June. The PPP (which just arrived) has allowed me to pay my employees and myself, along with unemployment. The EIDL grant has been a lifesaver. My landlord has been awesome, allowing me to defer rent, with no worry of eviction. I am not sure how any business can survive if they do not have a cushion. I planned accordingly because I knew we were going to have another Planned Power Outage. I am thankful that locals and tourists like my store, and I had a successful year in '19, so I took most of what I earned, and put it into my emergency savings. The Power Outages cost me tens of thousands in lost revenue last year. This SIP has made a HUGE dip into my financial world, but I am ok. I am high risk for COVID due to a previous lung issue, and I am in no hurry to reopen without following the phases. But what really worries me is that she is not using any kind of PPE, nor any social distancing that I can see. At the very least, please TRY to protect yourself and others. If we have a second surge, I know that we will have a lock down that will be more intense than what we are dealing with now. I do not think I can survive two SIP's along with a Planned Power Outage in one year. I wish her and her patrons luck. Meanwhile, I am going to get my shop ready to open safely, and respectfully, with the suggested phases. #PlacervilleStrong
ReplyMATHMay 05, 2020 - 9:53 am
TW, I’m sorry you have to go through all of this, it is no fun in any scenario. I applaud you for doing your civic and moral duty to take steps protect all of us. It is appreciated. As a business owner myself, I too have not opened the doors for many weeks, pay my employees full salary, and continue to pay outside services that aren’t even being performed. We are in this together and are stronger together. It is important to me to be part of the solution and not just cry foul and risk lives. I appreciate that you are being responsible and plan to open your shop when safe and ready. Be well. I plan to up my Main Street spending as soon as it’s safe.
ReplyMARY HAYESMay 04, 2020 - 2:20 pm
THE OWNER SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND FINED. AND THOSE STUPID ENOUGH TO EAT THERE EITHER HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THE CORONA VIRUS, IS OR SIMPLY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. DRIVING AN HOUR TO EAT AT THIS 3RD RATE JOINT? I’M THANKFUL WE HAVE AN INTELLIGENT GOVERNOR WHO IS NOT ABOUT TO RELAX THE RULES WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.
ReplyBradMay 05, 2020 - 11:15 pm
Mary, so nice that you are so willing to give up your freedoms (and probably have the money to stay inside). However, many of us don't feel the same. Sorry, not sorry. Many Americans actually understand our history and know that our freedoms are non-negotiable. No matter the reason. However, even if I bought the concept that "emergency situations" require extreme authority to take away our Constitutional rights (I don't by the way, and neither does the Constitution or Title 18 U.S. Code § 242 - Look it up), this is still not that type of situation. Even the *worst* models/predictions (which have all been wrong) showed early on that this WAS NOT AN EXTINCTION-LEVEL EVENT. And, that it was only fatal to an extremely small portion of our population (less than one percent on even the bleak models). Should those vulnerable stay indoors? If they want to, yes! But it should still be their choice, not the government's. In addition to all of this, many virologists and epidemiologists have stated that this "lock down" has actually just prolonged the pandemic because it has prevented "herd immunity" from developing. "Flattening the curve" was NEVER about stopping the spread--a misconception by many--it was only about not overwhelming the healthcare system by SLOWING the spread... NOT STOPPING IT. All models still predict that roughly the same number of people will still get infected anyway in the long run. So what the hell is going on? When you see a father get handcuffed and detained for playing with his young daughter in a public park (not near anyone), you have to ask yourself what we are really doing here. This is not a totalitarian state. This is the United States of America. We are supposed to have freedom and personal liberty, that can't be just taken away by the wave of one person's hand. Even it I wasn't convinced about the legality, it's still 100% un-American. It's wrong, and our economy is also suffering because of it with more people struggling to put food on the table for their families. Shame on you for your uneducated criticisms. Stop believing immediately everything the news tells you and do your own research.
ReplyDeanna WiseMay 08, 2020 - 9:39 am
Hear! Hear!
ReplyLibertyMay 04, 2020 - 3:43 pm
Today I saw a third diner open and serving to people and I'm sure there are more.The numbers for normal healthy people are you have a 99.9 to 99.7 chance of not being killed by this according to two major studies, Stanford, UCLA. You have a much greater chance of a car wreck or lightning. In this county there are very few cases and no deaths. Business owners will be advised to be smart and put up signs that ban business shut-down liberals as they are a greater threat to health and business than the virus.
ReplyCountJSMay 04, 2020 - 4:11 pm
This is selfish and dangerous, and the Sheriff is being an idiot for not enforcing. I am sorry - but if you do not have enough funds or access to credit to survive a 6-week shutdown, you should not be in business. simple. (dont give me the sob story of the government funds not being avail - if you were proactive, they were avail, same with PUA). Its funny how all of a sudden all of the right wing people have turned socialist. Remember, survival of the fittest? you guys love to carry that flag, unless it fits your narrative of being anti-government. Every business is going through this, but health wins over profit for the smart ones. The idea is to open slowly in phases. If we end up getting a surge of cases, we are going back to a stricter SIP. Suffer now, or suffer MUCH WORSE later. I do not respect this business, and we will not be patronizing her establishment. Yeah, Yeah, save me the 'stay home if you're scared' rhetoric - that is old news and dumb - just like you.
ReplyMATHMay 05, 2020 - 6:57 am
Like
ReplyJackie JohnsonMay 04, 2020 - 4:25 pm
All you whiny trumpsters are so filled with fear it oozes from your fingertips. You are so addicted to the drug of fear, tube dripped to you by your dealer the shyster Trump. You started getting hooked the day of the infamous elevator ride and your dose has been amped up since. From "Mexicans are rapist" to the point now where you all think that somehow the Dems and Libs, scientists and people with knowledge are the enemy of the state and you are so afraid(your personal demon) that you cannot accept even the most basic of sacrifice. You are still here so you didn't die in any of our wars, the greatest sacrifice. You cry over not being able to eat at a sit down restaurant, or go to a ball game etc. What none of you have complained about in your not being able to go to your jobs. All you do is fill your heads with more fear from a man who has been filling you with lies and fear since day one. That is the work of a wanna be dictator. He is the one you should be fearing.
ReplyMATHMay 04, 2020 - 4:51 pm
Jackie! You put a smile on my face and give me hope!!!!! :) Trump delivers hate and insults in all his speeches. He has divided our nation, and distanced himself from our allies, while touting the virtues of our enemies. I don’t want my President to side with a former KGB agent, I don’t want my President to side with brutal dictators against my own CIA, I want a President that sides with my Country! I actually looked up the dictionary definition of a terrorist and it matches Trump to a tee. Let's not let his slack-jawed followers defend the convict anymore and kick him out of office on Nov 3rd. Frankly, if that doesn't occur, I don't how we could have a country anymore. Can you even imagine a Trump that isn't constrained by needing to win an election to stay in power? We would all be toast.
ReplyLibertyMay 04, 2020 - 5:29 pm
All of the liberals TDS keeps all of the GOP majorities laughing in rural counties and we beat liberals at the polls every election. The poor liberals have to deal with Barry Hussein's and Senile Joe's gift of 3.7 million to the Wuhan virus lab that developed this virus. Good Luck! The liberals also have to deal with the draconian liberal business closing shut-down orders and the studies that show there was never a reason for it and the same for closures of public lands without a reason for it ever being stated and no proof being outdoors was "dangerous." People know that was a huge liberal lie. Today, it was announced Yuba-Sutter has re-opened their economies and people were out in droves to support them. Just like here. Liberals do have a choice to join other liberals where the live, like the Bay and the city of Davis and Sacramento. Living in a rural conservative county isn't advised for liberals as it's bad for their health and they just frustrate themselves with anger and TDS.
ReplyMichaelMay 05, 2020 - 9:31 am
Liberty, Wow, you don't sound completely insane at all.
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