Southwest Riverside County Lawmaker Fights For In-Person Dining

MURRIETA, CA — A Republican state senator from Southwest Riverside County, who has been highly critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health's safety mandates amid the coronavirus pandemic, has joined 10 of her colleagues in asking the state to allow the reopening of restaurants for in-person dining.

State Sen. Melissa Melendez (Lake Elsinore), who represents much of Southwest Riverside County and the Coachella Valley, is among 11 state senators from both sides who penned a letter to the governor in opposition of the ban on in-person dining in regions where intensive-care-unit beds are below 15 percent capacity.

As of Monday, Riverside County's capacity was zero, while the Southern California region was at 2.7 percent, according to Riverside University Health System data.

"We ask that you immediately reclassify the restaurant industry as critical infrastructure before more damage is done," the lawmakers said in their Dec. 11 letter. "As it is becoming obvious to Californians, these essential businesses do more than simply provide a place to eat. Restaurants are active participants in local neighborhoods, providing meals to senior citizens and working with food banks to feed families struggling to put food on their tables."

Restaurants are allowed to remain open under the state mandate, but for to-go and delivery service only.

Besides Melendez, the other petitioners were Sens. Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, Brian Dahle, R-Redding, Shannon Grove, R-Yucca Valley, Melissa Hurtado, D-Hanford, Brian Jones, R-El Cajon, Jim Nielsen, R- Roseville, and Scott Wilk, R-Lancaster; Sen.-elect Rosilicie Bogh, R-Rancho Cucamonga, and Assemblywoman Monique Limon, D-Santa Barbara.

"We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to reclassify restaurants as essential businesses and adopt the industry's protocols that would allow restaurants to operate safely," the letter reads. "The future of thousands of restaurants, their employees and the unique character of our local communities are dependent on the survival of this industry."

According to the lawmakers' letter, in 2019, 1.8 million jobs statewide were tied to the restaurant and food-service industry; roughly 60 percent of eateries are owned by people of color, and 50 percent are owned or partially owned by women.

The current restaurant restrictions are connected to Newsom's limited stay-at-home order issued Nov. 19, as well as the broader regional order he signed Dec. 3, citing rapidly escalating coronavirus infection rates.

"The bottom line is, if we don't act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed," he said. "If we don't act now, we'll continue to see the death rate climb, more lives lost."

Over the weekend, some mostly locally owned Southwest Riverside County restaurants/bars remained open to patrons, despite the order that requires them to serve to-go patrons only. Some gyms, hair salons, and other businesses are also remaining open, according to reports from Patch readers.

The lack of adherence comes following a blistering public statement from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who said his deputies will not enforce the state order.

From September 15 through December 9, county officials reached out to 65 businesses with advisory and educational outreach letters regarding non-compliance with coronavirus state and county public health orders, Brooke Federico, spokesperson for the county said.

Twelve businesses during that period received cease-and-desist letters; one temporary restraining order was granted by the court; and one preliminary injunction was issued by the court, Federico said.