ST. PAUL, MN — In an effort to convince Governor Walz and his administration to stop looking for ways to punish local restaurants, State Representative Tony Jurgens (R-Cottage Grove) has penned a …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in, using the login form, below, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
ST. PAUL, MN — In an effort to convince Governor Walz and his administration to stop looking for ways to punish local restaurants, State Representative Tony Jurgens (R-Cottage Grove) has penned a letter with 50 other lawmakers asking the Governor’s Office to stand down.
Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) informed hospitality industry leaders of stepped-up compliance checks that could result in fines, forced closure, loss of liquor license, workplace investigations, and more. Previously Gov. Walz has stated that enforcement of state mandates and regulations were to be “educational” in nature rather than punitive.
Just last week, Hastings restaurant owners told me OSHA had entered their business and on their way out told them fines would be on their way,” Jurgens said. “Restaurant owners have been struggling since COVID-19 arrived and Governor Walz’s corresponding executive orders have limited the way they can conduct business.”
According to estimates from Hospitality Minnesota, just 2.3% of total state cases have been traced back to restaurants and bars, and there have been just over two dozen restaurants specifically identified as sources of outbreaks.
Jurgens said the letter urges Gov. Walz to “reassess the tone and approach your agencies are taking” with restaurants and bars, and urges state agencies to be partners rather than adversaries in efforts to combat COVID-19.
“Even worse news for bar and restaurant owners is that the Department of Labor operates under a different set of rules than the Department of Health,” Jurgens said. “A labor official could find something that the health department wouldn’t even be looking for, which could result in thousands of dollars in physical changes to the business.”
“We’ve seen a number of Minnesota restaurants and businesses close for good since March,” Jurgens continued. “Many others are just barely getting by. At some point, shouldn’t the Governor’s Office be working to help these people get back on their feet rather than trying to take them out at the knees?”
