UCSF medical professionals call on California to open the schools



Medical professionals in California are calling on state schools to reopen this February, arguing that the risks posed to children by social isolation are greater than the dangers of COVID.

A group of 30 University of California San Francisco medical professionals led by Dr. Jeanne Noble, the director of COVID response and a professor of emergency medicine at UCSF, have written an open letter urging state officials to open the schools by February 1.

"Long term closures have a detrimental, measurable impact on children and adolescents," the letter states.

California schools closed last March at the beginning of various state governments' responses to the coronavirus pandemic across the nation. More than 5.7 million K-12 California children, nine out of 10 of whom are public school students, were sent home for what initially was said to be two weeks to slow the spread of the virus.

Nearly a year later, Dr. Noble says there is an ongoing mental health crisis for children caused by the social isolation of lockdown policies. She explained why she's calling for the schools to open in an interview on Fox News Monday, saying, "There really is a mental health crisis among our youth from this lack of socialization and in-person education. And that was really the impetus for our letter, to bring attention to this other half of the equation," Dr. Noble said. "We focus a lot on the COVID risks of going back to school, risks for teachers and students, but we don't spend a lot of time talking about the mental health damage that's ongoing."

She reported CDC data that shows there's been about a 24% increase in ER visits for mental health reasons for children under the age of 11. For kids 12 and up there's been a 31% increase. Dr. Noble said local data in California "mirrors those national trends."

"In our children's hospital of Oakland we have something called, 'Ask Suicide Questions," where all kids coming into the ER are asked about recent thoughts of suicide," she explained. "Back in March, we had 6% of 10- to 17-year-olds reporting recent thoughts of suicide. That number had increased to 16% by September."

Children are suffering from more mental health issues than just thoughts of suicide.

"In the ER a lot of kids are coming in with signs of distress, so not just thoughts of suicide," Dr. Noble said. "That's kind of the tip of the iceberg. Those are the worst-case scenarios. We have kids who are cutting, who have become very anxious about going out of their homes, new social phobias, new eating disorders. Just a lot of signs of mental health distress that we're seeing in the ER."

"We have data about how we can return kids to the classroom safely," she added, explaining why now is the time to open schools.

"We closed our schools back in March because we assumed COVID was going to be like the flu, that kids would be the primary drivers of this pandemic, that they would get sick more often and transmit more often than adults. Now we know that we were wrong. Kids are less likely to get COVID, less likely to get sick, and less likely to pass it on than adults are," she said.

"If we knew in March what we know now, I don't think we would've closed our schools," Dr. Noble added. "And we have good data about safe school reopening. North Carolina just released a large data set: 90,000 kids K-12 back in school, 10,000 teachers. There were only 32 school-based transmissions of COVID during a 9-week period. Those are really tiny, reassuring numbers."

"So now that we know that kids can return to the classroom safely, it's time to get them back to school."

California liberals extend Bay Area 'stay-at-home' order indefinitely



California's Bay Area has had its share of COVID shutdown woes and controversies — and the hits just keep on coming. Now the region's residents will be under an indefinite stay-at-home lockdown order.

What is happening?

No one will forget Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's hypocritical decision to dine at a Napa wine country restaurant in the northern part of the Bay Area while businesses in his state were suffering due to coronavirus restrictions and families were being told not to gather for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

And the day after Newsom pulled his stunt, San Francisco's own Democratic Mayor London Breed was caught dining in the same restaurant despite having previously admonished her subjects to curtail their activities and "do their part" to stop the spread of the virus.

Two weeks after those left-wing politicos were caught betraying their own instructions to Californians, the Golden State announced it would be locking down again with new regional stay-at-home orders.

The new lockdown orders forced more people to stay at home, business owners to close their shops, and sports — even without crowds — to be canceled or moved. The San Francisco 49ers were forced to play the remainder of their home games in Arizona because Santa Clara County, in an effort to try to meet state standards under the lockdown mandates, banned all contact sports.

Now things are getting worse for folks in the Bay Area: State officials announced over the weekend that the region's COVID lockdown orders have been extended indefinitely, KNTV-TV reported.

With a continuing surge in cases, state public health officials declared citizens must stay home except for work, shopping, or other activities deemed essential until the region's projected four-week ICU bed capacity is at least 15%.

The Bay Area's most recent four-week ICU projection is 3%, according to the Contra Costa Herald. The region's current actual ICU availability is just 0.7%, the state's COVID tracking page said.

The region's counties currently have wildly varying ICU capacity — but they're all in under the same lockdown order.

In Sonoma County, KNTV said, ICU capacity is 27.6%. Interestingly, the county is experiencing almost double the rate of cases than before the stay-at-home order was first implemented.

But the ICU situation in Santa Clara County is a different story. The ICU capacity is at just 6%.

Leaders in both counties are seeking ways to both "slow the spread" and get their economies rolling again.

"Sonoma County residents and businesses have endured so much over the past year, and I know that everyone is anxiously awaiting the time when we can finally return to a sense of normalcy and safely reopen our economy," Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, told KNTV. "While we are hopeful that the vaccine will soon provide the means to end this pandemic, the virus is still raging through our community. We are asking everyone for a little more patience while we slow the spread and work through our vaccine distribution plan."

Officials from Santa Clara County told the outlet, "With the current surge of COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations, the County expects to be under the restrictions of this State order for some time. Tt is more critical than ever to stay at home, wear a mask if you must leave home for essential activities, and keep a distance from those outside your households."

LA county health experts urge extreme precautions amid unprecedented COVID-19 spread: 'Assume that this deadly invisible virus is everywhere'



Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week that Los Angeles County residents should follow new, even more strict guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to tamp down the community spread of the deadly virus.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently announced a new stay-at-home order affecting all individuals living in California due to the spike in coronavirus cases.

What are the details?

In a Tuesday report from the Los Angeles Times, Ferrer said that people run the risk of contracting COVID-19 by just leaving their homes.

"Everyone should keep in mind that community transmission rates are so high that you run the risk of an exposure whenever you leave your home," she explained. "Assume that this deadly, invisible virus is everywhere, looking for a willing host."

The Times reported that "the risk of getting coronavirus in Los Angeles County has never been greater" with approximately 1 in every 5 residents testing positive for the virus.

"The anticipated surge from the winter holiday gatherings is done," Ferrer added. "And tens upon tens of thousands of people are paying the price with new COVID-19 infections. The increases in cases are likely to continue for weeks to come, as a result of holiday and New Year's Eve parties and returning travelers."

Ferrer isn't the only one urging residents to hunker down for the time being.

"We are in the midst of an unprecedented and dangerous surge," Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said. "Despite what protesters claim, this is not a hoax."

What else?

New suggestions to prevent the spread include not ever removing face masks while working or shopping for groceries, to avoid gatherings with people not in your household, to wash and sanitize your hands on the hour, to take a break from in-person shopping, and more.

"It's better to be lonely than to be sick. It's better to care for others by following all the rules than to end up passing along the virus to someone who gets hospitalized or even dies," Ferrer added.

The Times reported that the county is now averaging 184 deaths per day over the preceding week, which equates to a COVID-19-related death every eight minutes. As of last week, the county was also averaging about 13,500 newly confirmed cases per day.

Anti-mask protesters storm LA County stores: 'People die, your father's not special'



Anti-mask protesters in California staged demonstrations against coronavirus safety restrictions at several stores in Los Angeles on Sunday, leading to some violent altercations, drawing police attention, and involving plenty of shouting.

Videos of the protests were shared by Beverly Hills Courier writer Samuel Braslow on Twitter, who documented the protesters as they began demonstrating at a Century City Ralph's grocery store and moved on to the Westfield mall.

In the first video, an unmasked man walks into the grocery store as another masked customer recording with his smart phone repeatedly asks him to put on a mask and warns "you're gonna get sick." Other shoppers shout unintelligibly in the background.

Today, a group of anti-maskers protested at Ralph’s and the Century City shopping mall. Lots of angry confrontation… https://t.co/lSQYiCJmZY
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609726551.0

Some violent altercations broke out as the protesters were met with opposition from shoppers.

One woman who refused to wear a mask at the Ralph's grocery store claimed that a masked customer hit her and in response she attempted to ram him with her shopping cart and shouted at him. She was later seen kicking the man.

As the shopper was checking out, the anti-masker kicked him. “Some guy take care of him out there, come on patrio… https://t.co/8uNOLY4cNQ
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609726608.0

Another protester called a shopper a "mask Nazi" and insisted he didn't need to wear a mask because he had tested negative for the coronavirus.

One protester suggests he doesn’t need to wear a mask bc he tested negative. He calls a shopper a “mask Nazi.” https://t.co/UFMBb78tcu
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609726644.0

The maskless protesters then moved on to the nearby Century City Mall, where they entered Bloomingdale's and other stores. Store staff unsuccessfully attempted to make the protesters leave. LAPD reportedly arrived at the scene but did not attempt to remove the protesters from the premises.

The protesters chanted "no more masks!" as they moved throughout the stores, which are privately owned.

Content warning: Rough launguage

The group of about 20 circulated around the 3 floors, chanting “no more masks,” and “fuck communist China.” https://t.co/zhq7ka3jiL
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609727549.0

At one point the demonstrators erupted into impromptu dance, singing "YMCA."

The anti maskers have a little dance party on the floor of @Bloomingdales, dancing to the MAGA version of YMCA. https://t.co/3qEBPYrHvv
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609727573.0

Other videos show the anti-mask protesters having verbal confrontations with food court employees, and in one video police stepped in when one shopper allegedly pushed a protester on camera. Officers later told Braslow that no charges were pressed.

The protester reviews footage of the incident with police. It seems to show the shoppers putting their hands over o… https://t.co/S7qzTXb7G0
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609730139.0

One woman who said she is a doctor shouted at the demonstrators, saying that her mother is in the hospital with COVID. A protester responded, "people die, your father's not special."

A woman who said she’s a doctor yells at the anti-maskers that her mother is in the hospital with COVID. A proteste… https://t.co/x0jMcVVkft
— Samuel Braslow (@Samuel Braslow)1609730163.0

Another reporter at the scene, Emily Holshouser with CSUN-TV, said that the police who were present at the demonstrations explained that they did not intervene save for some "brief altercations" because they did not want to escalate the situation.

As the event was ending, the new L.A. County COVID numbers came out. 12,488 new cases, 91 new deaths, 7,544 hospitalizations.
— Emily Holshouser (@Emily Holshouser)1609728056.0

Holshouser noted that the latest COVID case numbers for L.A. County show 12,488 new cases, 91 new deaths, and 7,544 hospitalizations.

YouTube screenshot

California COVID revolution: 'If we can't work, he can't work'



A California restaurant owner has gone viral for his actions after blocking in a health inspector's vehicle after the inspector threatened citations for being open amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the details?

In video obtained by the Daily Caller, Carlos Roman — owner of Bread and Barley in Covina, California — can be seen arguing with a police officer who is called to his restaurant after he moved his vehicle to block in a health inspector's car.

The unnamed health inspector reportedly arrived at the restaurant, took photos of patrons dining outside the restaurant, and allegedly told Roman that he would be issuing a citation related to COVID-19 restriction orders.

According to KCBS-TV, the incident took place last Sunday outside the Covina restaurant when a health inspector came to enforce coronavirus guidelines at the restaurant.

"A citation from the health department said the inspector found two customers dining outside, which goes against current protocols," KCBS reported. "Roman says they were on a public bench, and not his property."

"We weren't going out. We weren't serving them," Roman told the station.

Roman, who adamantly refused to move his vehicle after the confrontation with the inspector, said that if he and his employees could not work, the health inspectors would not be able to work, either.

"This isn't about me," he said of the closures. "They can't pay their bills. The cook just had a baby. He's with his family right now."

The officer on the scene told Roman that a tow truck was on its way and would remove his truck from the premises if he refused to let the health inspector leave.

According to the Daily Caller, "The officer told Roman 'it wasn't [the health inspector's] fault' and that he was following orders from his supervisor."

The officer also told Roman that his blocking the inspector's vehicle "is not the way to settle things." Roman ultimately moved his vehicle, but not before advising the officer and the inspector that he is desperate to feed his children.

"We're all in this together, we'll just all starve to death and die," he said.

What else do we know about Roman's situation?

KCBS reported that Roman invested thousands of dollars in his restaurant by opening an outdoor patio when outdoor dining was still permitted in Los Angeles County and even began digging into his own personal savings account to pay staff and serve customers.

"I think we have entered into the realm of a lose-lose situation," he admitted.

A GoFundMe page to benefit Roman's restaurant and employees has received more than $32,000 in donations at the time of this reporting.

In a statement, the Covina Police Department said, "The peace was kept and Mr. Roman's vehicle was moved from the roadway, allowing the health inspector to leave. We have no information on citations or fines issued by L.A. County Health Inspectors as they are a different entity."

The L.A. County Public Health Department has not responded to the Daily Caller's request for comment at the time of this reporting, but KCBS reports that Roman is facing two $500 fines for failure to comply and interfering with the health officer.

Restaurant Owner Blockades Health Inspectors Car After Receiving Citation For Outdoor Diningwww.youtube.com

Beverly Hills restaurant passed out invites to a speakeasy-style New Year's Eve party despite pandemic. Then the cops found out.



A Beverly Hills eatery popular with actors and other celebrities that has previously complained that COVID restrictions are hurting California restaurants reportedly planned to host a "discreet" New Year's Eve party amid the COVID pandemic.

When authorities caught wind of the speakeasy-style event, they took steps shut it down, the Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend.

What happened?

Indoor and outdoor dining are currently verboten in Los Angeles County, which includes Beverly Hills.

But evidently, that was not going to stop La Scala, an upscale Italian restaurant "known for its chopped salad and famous customers," the Times said.

According to the paper, the eatery was slipping secret invitations to the edict-breaking event into customers' take-out bags.

Pictures of the fancy invites, which asked recipients to keep the shindig on the down-low, naturally were quickly posted to social media for the world to see.

The reported notes quietly dropped into folks' dinners noted the current state of the restaurant environment in L.A. County, beginning, "Welcome back to the 20's Prohibition: Speak Easy — New Year's Eve Dinner."

The letter went on to gauge recipients' interest in the illicit affair. "We are considering taking reservations for New Year's Eve Dinner. Inside. If this is something you'd be interested in, Please let us know as soon as possible," the note said. "If enough interest we'll contact you back to secure a reservation."

The note urged recipients to "Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends."

Merry Christmas everyone! La Scala’s Beverly Hills location is tucking these invitations to an indoor New Year’s Ev… https://t.co/3xw0vmrDSI
— Alissa Walker (@Alissa Walker)1608927309.0

Several people who posted the images of the invites were quick to alert the local authorities, which led to local officials working to put the kibosh on any sort of nefarious repast.

A spokesman for the City of Beverly Hills told the Times that local authorities contacted La Scala to remind the management about the county's current dining proscriptions.

Several social media users reportedly tagged the Beverly Hill Police Department to make sure they were aware of the scofflaws who dared to consider doing something to attempt to save their struggling business.

The BHPD thanked concerned citizens for making sure the department was aware of the rumored speakeasy event and assured them that "Code Enforcement is aware and will be handling this matter."

@GottaSaveBucky @awalkerinLA Thank you for tagging the BHPD. Beverly Hills Code Enforcement is aware and will be ha… https://t.co/97SadTB8AC
— Beverly Hills Police (@Beverly Hills Police)1608954163.0

The Times said it attempted to get a comment from La Scala, but received no response.

This speakeasy party wouldn't be the first time the restaurant has taken an anti-lockdown stance.

On Sept. 14, La Scala posted a complaint to Instagram about Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman's COVID restrictions and their impact on local businesses.

"Hey @lesterfriedman_bh @bh_chamber you're hurting our Restaurants! WTF!" La Scala posted with a pair of graphics calling out the mayor and complaining that "now we can't even have our umbrellas that have been up & approved for 18 years!!"

The restaurant added the hashtags "#YouSuck" and "#BeverlyHillsLeadershipSucks."

Kat Von D leaves California over ‘tyrannical government overreach’



Kat Von D, famed entrepreneur, tattoo artist, and star of the hit show "LA Ink," recently announced on social media that she is ditching the Golden State and relocating to Indiana due to "tyrannical government overreach."

The 38-year-old mother of one, whose full name is Katherine Von Drachenberg, made the move official on Saturday when she posted a picture outside her new home on Instagram, with the caption, "Vevay, Indiana here we come!"

Just two days before, she explained in a Facebook post that she doesn't have plans to sell her Los Angeles home or business yet, but said that government overreach in California drove her to seek a small town where she can one day retire.

"With all that has been taking place in California, with terrible policies, tyrannical government overreach, ridiculous taxing, amongst so many more corruption, we just felt the need to plant roots in a small town where there is nature, where my son can be free to play, and where we can eventually retire one day," she wrote.

"So, no, I'm not closing my shop in LA. We aren't selling our home. But [we] will eventually be spending more time in beautiful Indiana once I finish doing some remodeling on our new historic house," she continued.

According to the Daily Mail, Von D plans to open "a little tattoo shop" in the small Indiana town.

California politicians, including Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, have come under fire this year over their implementation of stringent coronavirus lockdown orders — and, in some cases, their subsequent refusal to follow the guidelines themselves.

The orders have in many cases been unfairly applied and have disproportionately affected bars, restaurants, and small retail shops such as salons and tattoo parlors.

A petition to recall Newsom is picking up steam as the Democratic governor faces intense backlash over the restrictions and an emerging unemployment scam in the state.

While Von D became famous as a tattoo artist on "LA Ink," she also has significant business and entrepreneurial credits under her belt, having started a popular makeup line for Sephora, as well as a clothing line. She has also been instrumental in organizing a number of prominent music festivals.

California judge rules San Diego strip clubs can stay open during lockdown, delivering blow to Newsom



A judge ruled Wednesday that two San Diego strip clubs can remain open during California's coronavirus lockdown, which could potentially lead to restaurants reopening their doors.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was dealt a loss by a San Diego Superior Court judge, who ruled against the California governor's executive order that shuttered strip clubs.

Newsom issued a regional stay-at-home order on Dec. 3, which would "require bars, wineries, hair salons and other nonessential businesses across five areas to close for three weeks once a region's intensive care capacity falls below 15 percent," according to NBC News. Restaurants could continue to offer takeout and delivery, but live adult entertainment was ordered to shut down.

The owners of Pacers Showgirls International and Cheetahs Gentlemen's Club in San Diego rebelled against Newson's executive order and stayed open.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a cease-and-desist letter to both businesses on Friday that they were violating the Democratic governor's lockdown order. Becerra, also a Democrat, threatened legal action if the establishments did not comply.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil issued a nine-page preliminary injunction that permitted the strip clubs to continue operating.

Wohlfeil ruled that San Diego County had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that the strip clubs were increasing the spread of coronavirus.

"Accordingly, the court finds that Plaintiffs have been devoid of Covid, have done nothing to contribute to the spread of COVID, and have honored their representations to [Executive Director of the City of San Diego's Human Relations Commission and International Affairs Board] Dr. Joel Day and the County," Wohfeil wrote.

The judge ascertained that both clubs operated for five weeks during the pandemic, and instituted safety measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. The establishments maintained a distance of 15 feet between strippers and tables, required employees to wear face masks, and did not permit more than one stripper per stage at a time.

Judge Wohlfeil added that the ruling for strip clubs also applied to "San Diego County businesses with restaurant services," making them exempt from shutdowns.

The judge stated, "Any governmental entity or law enforcement officer are hereby enjoined from enforcing the provisions of the cease and desist order, or any related orders including the State's Regional Stay Home Order, that prevent 1) plaintiffs from providing live adult entertainment; and 2) San Diego County businesses with restaurant service, such as plaintiffs' establishments, from continuing to operate their respective businesses, subject to protocols that are no greater than is essential to further defendants' response to control the spread of COVID."

On Wednesday, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said, "A judge just ruled that he could not find a connection between restaurant services and the spread of COVID. He has directed the county to allow businesses with restaurant services to operate their business safely and responsibly."

Steve Hoffman, an attorney for Cheetahs, said, "Cheetahs and Pacers will continue to operate in a manner that takes all appropriate and essential measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time providing a means for their staff to earn a livelihood."

Newsom's office reacted to the judge's ruling by telling Newsweek, "While we are disappointed in the court's decision today, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Californians. Our legal team is reviewing options to determine next steps."

The judge's ruling could provide a way to open restaurants in California.

As of Dec. 15, all but three counties in California were labeled as experiencing "widespread" COVID-19 outbreaks. In California's tier system, counties that are labeled as having widespread coronavirus outbreaks must close bars and breweries that don't serve food and restaurants are permitted to be open with outside dining only with modifications.

Adam Carolla calls for California Gov. Gavin Newsom to be recalled, shreds state lockdown



Outspoken comedian and radio show host Adam Carolla said that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) should be recalled over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said that Californians should stand up for their rights and blasted the notion of continual coronavirus-related lockdowns.

What are the details?

In video footage captured by TMZ, Carolla indicated that Newsom is akin to some sort of self-appointed king and that Californians should balk at his never-ending COVID-19 restrictions.

"We talked to the comedian Tuesday in Burbank, CA, where he was about to head into a restaurant his friend owns for a little sit-down mean ... almost out of protest, it seems," TMZ reported. "It's pretty clear ... Adam thinks the new shutdown orders are ridiculous, and he explains why."

In his remarks, Carolla said, "F*** Newsom. F** that idiot."

"I don't know who Newsom thinks he is. He's not a monarch. You can't shut down society. You gotta offer some proof why it's dangerous," he said. "And by the way, sheep: Wake up, sheep. It's not Newsom, it's all the sheep who listen to Newsom."

Carolla also said that he thinks a recall movement against Newsom is gaining momentum.

"It'd be nice. ... I think it is gaining some ground because he's an imbecile and he's incompetent and he's running this state into the ground," he proclaimed. "Listen. We should recall him and just replace him with one of those plastic owls that they put on top of restaurants so seagulls don't s**t on the roof. And we would be much better off ... with no replacement than with Gavin Newsom."

Los Angeles-based TMZ reported, "Might sound crazy, but the petition already has more than half the necessary signatures needed to get the issue on a ballot soon — and word is Newsom's camp is nervous."

(Content warning: Rough language):

'Are you gonna pay my rent?': California restaurant owner explodes at health dept. workers citing him for defying closure order



The owner of a restaurant in Ventura, California, exploded in anger at a couple of health department workers who issued him a citation Monday over his refusal to close and thus "breaking" the "law."

A news outlet's video camera was already at Nick the Greek for an interview with owner Anton Van Happen — and it picked up the highlights of him reading the riot act to the officials enforcing far-left Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's new COVID-19 order requiring restaurants to serve only takeout and delivery.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

"Are you gonna pay my rent?" Van Happen hollered at the officials.

"Are you going to pay my rent ? says owner Anton Van Happen of 'Nick The Greek' to public health inspectors issuing… https://t.co/OLzzco4hR5
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1608005773.0

One health department worker accused the restaurant owner of "not following the rules" — stemming from Van Happen's protest last week inviting patrons to sit at tables outside the restaurant after receiving their takeout orders.

"I followed the rules! I continue to follow the rules and you guys still, time after time, are giving me citations, telling me I have to close my business! What about my employees?" Van Happen asked the visiting health department workers.

The worker noted that "there is a law that you're breaking right now by operating without a permit."

"Because you guys put this closure on my restaurant!" Van Happen shot back. "So you guys yourselves are creating your own rule. And you're giving out citations for your own rule that's created. It's not by law that you cannot sit outside and eat; that's not law."

The other worker told Van Happen that his restaurant "is already closed. The permit has been suspended."

Here is the moment public health issues Anton Van Happen the owner of 'Nick The Greek' in Ventura a citation for re… https://t.co/8t5ahy2ylV
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1608007522.0

Some bright spots

It was looking pretty bleak Monday, but amid the fiery confrontation there were at least two bright spots.

First, a customer standing just outside the restaurant's doorway boiled over in frustration at the health department workers and told them to leave.

"Why aren't you guys at Costco right now? There's 500 people inside Costco!" the customer yelled. "There are 100 people inside Walmart! What are you doing? Just get out! No one wants you here! Go away! Nobody wants you here!"

The customer's gesture earned him a round of applause from those within earshot:

"Why aren't you at Costco right now, there's 500 people inside Costco" a customer of 'Nick The Greek' says to publi… https://t.co/vrcb2uA1kS
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1608006802.0

And then there was this cool moment:

After the public health inspectors left Anton's restaurant 'Nick The Greek', someone who was watching my livestream… https://t.co/UTeK7j3BWK
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1608008103.0

Anything else?

KEYT-TV spoke to Van Happen last week after he staged his outdoor seating protest.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

"I am trying to start something where all restaurant owners are going to wake up," he told the station, adding that "my calling is to all the other restaurant owners to open your restaurants. If we all open up, they can't do anything."

Downtown Ventura restaurants defying stay-at-home orderyoutu.be