ENCINITAS, Calif. (KGTV) -- Encinitas will suspend sidewalk and street permits for restaurants violating public health orders, the city’s mayor announced Thursday.
Mayor Catherine Blakespear said the city’s code enforcement will first contact local businesses to “seek voluntary compliance.” “Those who don’t comply will have their permit to operate in the city’s right-of-way revoked,” she added in a posting on her website.
Currently, restaurants are only allowed to operate for take-out.
The county also plans to add 10 officers to its compliance team due to the “high number of violations and calls from residents.”
“Cease and desist orders are issued against establishments that continue violating the health order,” Blakespear said.
“I also have enormous empathy for our small businesses during the pandemic. It’s heartbreaking to see restaurants working so hard to claw their way through a few more months of survival,” she continued.
The announcement was made after San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order Wednesday calling for those violating public health orders to be held accountable.
ABC 10News reached out to restaurants in downtown Encinitas. Michael Curran, an attorney representing some of the restaurants sent ABC 10News this statement on the issue that said:
"We represent dozens of restaurants in Carlsbad and Encinitas downtown and all of our restaurants are staying open as part of a constitutionally protected peaceful protest against arbitrary and unconstitutional government shut down orders that are not supported by any facts, evidence or science.
The same protest applies equally to any attempt by the city of Encinitas to retaliatory revoke the public permits granted to small businesses in Encinitas, particularly restaurants to operate in the streets."
