COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Newsom Issues Executive Order Protecting Renters and Homeowners
Arcadia Officials Ratify State of Emergency Declaration
Page 3
Page 2
Go to SanBernardinoPress.com for San Bernardino Specific News THURSDAY, MARCH 19 - MARCH 25, 2020
Local. Relevant. Trusted.
Since 1996
VOL. 8, NO. 12
COVID-19 CHANGES THE WAY WE THINK AND ACT Life’s restricted, schools and restaurants are closed, and our reality has altered Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
S
cores of schools and businesses through Los Angeles County are being forced to shut their doors due to the coronavirus, Covid-19. Many businesses are furloughing some staff in the wake of the outbreak that has affected every one of us in some shape or form. Life as we knew it has changed dramatically, at least for the foreseeable future. There are active discussions within the Trump administration to encourage a possible “curfew” across the nation in which non-essential businesses would be encouraged to close by a certain time each night in response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to CNN. However, on Tuesday, Trump said he didn’t expect a nationwide shutdown or any shelter in place orders. Governor Gavin Newsom called for a directive Sunday, that seniors and those with chronic medical conditions isolate themselves “in attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.” Newsom said Sunday he was “directing all bars, pubs and wineries in the state to close while also calling for new restrictions on restaurants as the country grapples with the growing COVID-19 pandemic.” Newsom made the announcement during a press conference shortly after several states ordered all bars and restaurants in their states to close or only do take-out orders. The California governor said that restaurants would be allowed to remain open but would be required to reduce their capacities and maintain measures to ensure social distancing among customers. While Newsom’s press conference put some panic in local restaurants and pubs in the San Gabriel Valley, there was no official mandate to close until Monday when Los Angeles County ordered the closure of bars, gyms, and entertainment centers, and restricted restaurants to just take-out or delivery service.
Pasadena Police Department officers donned special face masks and had hand sanitizer on hand as they took question cards from the public at the special Covid-19 meeting Tuesday morning. - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
This Covid-19 decree is a particularly hard pill to swallow for Pasadena restaurants as only a few months ago they were bombarded with the minimum wage issue that forced many to change their hours of operation. British pub Lucky Baldwin’s owner, Peggy Simonian, remains cautiously optimistic about the future during this outbreak but is naturally upset about the misinformation and the
emergency directive from the city manager, Steve Mermell. We spoke to Simonian Monday afternoon. “It has been chaotic and super stressful. Everyone has many questions and I simply do not have answers, as this is changing every day, every hour. It is very difficult to even plan what to do when authorities send out public messages to close restaurants and bars … but
still support local businesses by ordering take out? Isn’t this a mixed message of sorts? Still bring in staff and have everything available to go — and sit and wait for orders — that is not my business model. The restaurant business is the hardest hit in this situation, and especially when it employs so many people in this SEE COVID-19 PAGE 4