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80-plus business groups blast COVID restrictions as discriminatory

Compass Cafe in Carlsbad.
In this photo from 2019, diners and their dogs enjoy lunch at the Compass Cafe in Carlsbad. County Supervisor Jim Desmond recently posted a video of himself interviewing the owners of the restaurant, which still is serving tables despite a health order allowing only delivery and take-out.
(Eduardo Contreras/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A Carlsbad City Council member called county Supervisor Jim Desmond a “public health hazard” for highlighting restaurants defying order

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More than 80 chambers of commerce and business associations from throughout the county and in other Southern California communities are sending letters to state and local elected officials protesting the latest COVID-19 restrictions as discriminatory toward small and minority-owned businesses.

On the other side of the argument, Carlsbad City Councilwoman Cori Schumacher called county Supervisor Jim Desmond a “public health hazard” after he posted videos of himself at two Carlsbad restaurants that were serving customers indoors in violation of a health order restricting service to take-out only.

With the local death count from COVID-19 increasing and hospitalizations rising in recent weeks, the state has enacted a regional order that restricts restaurants to take-out only and limits the number of customers at some businesses.

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Having experienced similar restrictions earlier this year, many businesses have said they can’t weather another shutdown, said Oceanside Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Ashton.

“The entire business community, regardless of size, is suffering right now, unable to operate at full capacity,” read the Dec. 8 letter addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, members of the state Senate and Assembly and other state officials.

“While we are fighting for all our members, we are especially concerned about our most vulnerable, small businesses,” the letter continued.

Ashton, who recruited other chambers to sign the letter, said small businesses have been disproportionately harmed by the new mandates, with businesses owned by minorities and women hit particularly hard.

The letter cites a Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research report that found the overall number of active business owners in the nation fell by 22 percent from February to April, while the number of Black-owned businesses fell 41 percent and female-owned businesses fell 25 percent.

Local groups signing the letter included chambers of commerce from Carlsbad, La Mesa, Lakeside, Vista, San Marcos, Fallbrook, San Diego East County, Santee, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach and Poway. Chambers from outside the county included Greater San Fernando Valley, Corona, LAX Coastal, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Studio City, Torrance, Pleasanton, Brea, Hesperia, Lancaster, Rancho Cucamonga, Dana Point, Duarte, Fortuna, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Ashton said almost every business owner abided by the orders when they were first implemented in March, but this time is different.

“One of the things that’s most frustrating is that many of our restaurants spent considerable money for outside dining to comply,” he said. “They bought tents and tables and canopies, only to be shut down.”

He also said business owners he talked to are very concerned about their staff members losing their income, especially during the holiday season.

The letter was mailed to state officials last week, and Ashton said organizations that signed on were expected to each send it to their city and county elected officials Monday.

“We just hope to make a difference,” he said.

In Santee, the Chamber of Commerce CEO said businesses in her city also have been hurt by the latest order.

“Community is everything, yet Santee is no stranger to struggle during these times,” she said. “We need everyone to help our businesses bounce back, especially those at the top.”

On the same day businesses were contacting their elected officials to protest the health order, Schumacher blasted county supervisors for appearing sympathetic to businesses violating the order.

Schumacher wrote in a press release that Desmond was encouraging people to defy public health orders by posting videos of himself speaking with restaurant owners who continued to serve diners inside at a time when only take-out is allowed.

“He is actively endangering lives and the long-term economic viability of our city by continuing to post up videos to social media giving the green light to other businesses to ignore public health orders,” she wrote. “Jim Desmond is a public health hazard.”

In an emailed response to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Desmond wrote he was not encouraging anyone to violate the order.

“I care about working people in Carlsbad and the opportunity to safely provide for their families, especially during the holiday season,” he wrote. “I have never condoned or incited businesses to defy the governor’s health order. I’ve simply encouraged those who are left with no other choice and decide to stay open, to follow all safety protocols to keep their employees and customers safe.”

Desmond had posted videos online that showed him speaking with people at The Compass, https://fb.watch/2nr0sp8FVm/, and at Senor Grubby’s, https://www.instagram.com/p/CIyXBfAj7xv/.