Santa Clara County officials say they issued more than $115,000 in fines over the weekend to businesses failing to comply with local Covid-19 health guidelines.
The county’s Business Compliance Unit, a division of its Environmental Services Department, visited 427 business sites and issued 181 violation notices during the Black Friday weekend, amounting to at least $115,000 in fines.
That total may increase until the cited businesses rectify the violations.
“As cases and hospitalizations continue to rise to new record levels, we need everyone in the community to do their part to protect the health of the community,” said Michael Balliet, director of the county’s Business Compliance Unit.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, officials warned that they would be stricter about issuing citations over the four-day weekend, typically a busy period of holiday shopping.
The county normally allows businesses up to 72 hours to fix compliance issues and avoid a fine. But this past weekend, officials waived that grace period to remind the public about the seriousness of public health mandates.
The most frequent violations cited over the weekend were failure to submit a social distancing protocol to county health officials and failures to post signage indicating social distancing protocol and maximum capacity.
Fines issued ranged from $250 to $3,750, according to the county.
Residents can report issues of compliance with local health guidance at scccovidconcerns.org.
“The county normally allows businesses up to 72 hours to fix compliance issues and avoid a fine. But this past weekend, officials waived that grace period to remind the public about the seriousness of public health mandates.”
Why not fine “strong mayor” Liccardo $1000 for violating a county public health order at a social gathering on Thanksgiving? Sara Cody has the authority and if she had any gonads, she would. He could easily and cheerfully pay the fine and at this point it would be good PR for both of them. It’s discouraging for county health officials to pick on small businesses struggling to survive.
Headlines: Bay Area facing a small business crisis!!!
Solution: Fine them $115K
you people are the dumbest on the planet
btw have you ever taken a psychology class, you know the one they teach the “SPE”
“The most frequent violations cited over the weekend were failure to submit a social distancing protocol to county health officials and failures to post signage indicating social distancing protocol and maximum capacity.”
So they cannot keep up with the constantly changing rules/policies/guidelines from the city/county/state, let’s hit them with a fine.
Things keep flipping back and forth, who knows what rules apply any given day of the week. Why are we penalizing businesses who can barely afford to stay in business?
The county’s Business Compliance Unit should be traveling around with the health department to fine all the individuals/patrons for not following the rules. Can’t we take this seriously? I mean, do these people *really* need to have an overpriced salad at santana row in the middle of a pandemic? Shame on them for putting the ‘small business owners’ at the row in such a vulnerable position.
SCC Resident
how do those jackboots fell, a little tight?