Long Beach Councilmembers Mungo, Supernaw, Price Say It's "Urgent" To Tell Gov. Newsom To Let LB Retaurants Operate At 25% Indoor Capacity Despite Purple (Widespread Spread) Tier

+ Long Beach Councilmembers Mungo, Supernaw, Price Say It's "Urgent" To Tell Gov. Newsom To Let LB Retaurants Operate At 25% Indoor Capacity Despite Purple (Widespread Spread) Tier

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(Nov. 13, 2020, 12:35 p.m.) -- Despite COVID-19 cases spiking in adjacent OC (which several weeks ago let its restaurants re-open for limited indoor dining) and the prospect that OC could may be forced back into the "purple" (widespread spread) tier from its current (substantial spead) "red" tier as soon as next week, Long Beach Councilmembers Stacy Mungo, joined by Councilmembers Daryl Supernaw have added a last-minute Council item to the Nov. 17 Council agenda "to direct City Attorney to draft a resolution to Governor Newsom urging for the expansion of in-door dining at 25% capacity for all restaurants in counties within the purple tier and Direct City Manager and all appropriate departments to identify and participate in ongoing advocacy efforts currently underway, urging Governor Newsom and other relevant State agencies, on behalf of Long Beach and Long Beach based restaurants, to allow restaurants operating in "Purple Tier" counties to operate indoors at 25% indoor capacity."

The three co-agendizers say approval of the item is urgent "due to the ongoing financial impact to our restaurant industry." An accompanying statement (requires three co-agendizers to sign) is unsigned and undated online, leaving the public unable to independently verify when the three sought to place the item on the Nov. 17 Council agenda. (The City Clerk's office is closed for furloughs today (Fri. Nov. 13.)

On Nov. 12, Mayor Garcia -- who has no vote and is in lockstep with Governor Newsom on COVID-19 and other issues --Tweeted that he doesn't support a change in Sac'to's policy, "COVID19 is surging across the country and we are seeing more cases here across the state and LA County. Cities which had partially opened their restaurants indoors have now been forced to close them. Our approach has been steady and cautious and needs to stay that way."

COVID19 is surging across the country and we are seeing more cases here across the state and LA County. Cities which had partially opened their restaurants indoors have now been forced to close them. Our approach has been steady and cautious and needs to stay that way.
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) November 13, 2020

The three co-agendizers state in their agendizing memo:

[Scroll down for further.]

DISCUSSION:
There is no doubt that the COVID 19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on businesses throughout the City of Long Beach and in particular our local restaurant industry. The current state health guidelines prohibit opening Long Beach restaurants for indoor dining until the County of Los Angeles moves into the "Red Tier" as defined by the Governor's most recent health order.
Long Beach is a major urban city and considering our hospitalization and positivity rates, we are not dissimilar to cities in nearby communities that are in the red tier [substantial spread] based on their county designation. This reality has produced very unfair and illogical outcomes, given that businesses within 2 miles of each other, offering the same service and engaged in the same activities, are treated inconsistently.

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Currently, restaurants throughout Long Beach are prohibited from operating indoors, leaving outdoor and parklet dining as the only options. With the change in whether that we have already experienced, including high winds, rain and colder temperatures, and with approaching winter months, there will be even further declines in restaurant attendance given the outdoor dining constraints.
Other industries throughout the State, such as nail salons, hair salons and tattoo parlors, have all successfully advocated for exemptions or modification under the current State orders. Restaurants should be considered in this conversation.

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The Council hereby asks that the City Manager and his staff identify efforts currently underway throughout the State by the restaurant industry, weigh the efficacy of joining in such advocacy efforts and otherwise find ways to lobby the Governor and relevant State Agencies to seek similar exemptions including but not limited to allowing restaurants to operate at 25% indoor capacity while in the "Purple Tier". In undertaking this effort, the Council directs the City Manager to work with local restaurants, restaurant associations such as the LBRA and others, and other stakeholders to join in such efforts.
The Council is requesting a report back on December 8, 2020.
We further request that the City Attorney draft a resolution for Council's consideration urging the governor to consider allowing restaurants to operate indoors at 25% capacity for restaurants operating in a county that is in the purple tier.
FISCAL IMPACT Due to the urgency of this item, no fiscal analysis was conducted.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
Approval of this recommendation is urgent due to the ongoing financial impact to our restaurant industry.

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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

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