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Los Angeles County reinstated a mask mandate for indoor public places on Saturday night in response to the Delta variant spreading throughout the region, leaving business owners outraged and exhausted by the mixed messages.
“Starting at midnight Saturday, it’s a reality. So everyone in LA County, whether you are vaccinated or not, must wear a mask if you are indoors. So this is now our reality. , our new reality. ”Angela Marsden, owner of Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in Sherman Oaks, Calif., told Fox News. The restaurant owner has turned heads and hearts with her viral video criticizing California’s double standard on its COVID restrictions last winter, and once again said she is choosing to stand up for her community against government excesses.
The reverse of the policy comes despite the fact that 61% of the county’s residents are already fully vaccinated.
“We basically had a month of total freedom to be able to be inside and not have to wear a mask,” she said.
In many ways, California is the zero point for government messages on the COVID-19 vaccine, as officials continue to plead and urge their constituents to save their lives and the lives of others. But Marsden said the response many of his customers have to ever-changing regulations is confusion and angst.
“It creates anger. It creates confusion. And, you know, the funny thing is that it creates more hesitation about vaccines, in my opinion,” she said. “I don’t understand the inconsistency, the confusion and the fear-lure that is primarily used by our leaders.”
COUNTY MASK MANDATES: GOVERNORS REFUSE TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES FOR THEIR OWN STATES
Marsden recounted numerous conversations with other restaurant workers in which they said they believed the decision to force vaccinated citizens to mask themselves undermines confidence in their effectiveness. One described having had panic attacks at the possibility of not being protected; another expressed anger at not knowing what to think about the threat of contagion.
“It was so filled with angst, frustration and confusion, without any clarity,” Marsden said,
She added, “Everyone is very volatile. People are nervous like I’ve never seen them before.”
Distrust of vaccines is not only to blame, but also the rising inflation rates seen across the country. Even though businesses are open at full capacity and at regular hours, that does not make up for the staggering amount of lost revenue during the pandemic. Marsden said most restaurants are breaking even or suffering losses despite the lifting of restrictions in recent months.
“If we could sell our businesses today, we would, but there is nothing to sell,” she said.
It has also been difficult to hire new hands, according to Marsden.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF WILL NOT APPLY NEW MASK MANDATE: “NOT SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE”
“We can’t make people work,” she said, explaining how many of those who previously worked in kitchens and dining rooms have moved on to corporate positions where remote working is possible. Those who apply but ultimately postpone the job offer tell Marsden they will simply wait until the pandemic has completely subsided before returning to work, complaining about the county’s renewed mandate on the masks.
To add insult to injury, those who come to work earn between $ 13 and $ 14 an hour under California’s minimum wage law, allowing servers to earn an average of $ 80 to $ 100 an hour. the hour with tips.
“My employees make more money than I do,” Marsden said.
The shock wave of the pandemic continues to have ripple effects on seemingly every individual and every industry, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, open or closed; but many, like Marsden, believe the path to relief is not paved by government interference.
” I do not understand why [the government] I can’t make up my mind! “Marsden said.” I want them to stop interfering in our affairs and for us to make our own decisions. ”
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Despite fears of another shutdown, Marsden chose to persevere in tangoing government messages and renewed restrictions.
“I love my staff. I love my business,” she said. A handful of employees have been at Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill since the late 1970s, and Marsden said she considers them family.
For Marsden, hope lies in his community.
“If more of us are sticking around and trying to make changes, it’s [going to happen,]” she said.
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