Posted on 12/06/2020 6:45:48 AM PST by george76
Group says protests will continue every Saturday until COVID-19 restrictions are loosened in Routt County..
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Members of the group Save Routt County, many of them restaurant workers, protested local restrictions put in place to combat the spread of COVIDS-19 that they say will lead to many local businesses demise.
The protesters gathered at the Old Routt County Courthouse Saturday for what was billed as a non-partisan message that was indeed almost entirely absent partisan messaging.
“It is not a partisan group here at all, the founding members of this thing, the initial group, there is Democrats, Republicans, Independents,” said Jim Hansen, a chairperson with Save Routt County. “We just want to open up the county.”
Protesters held signs that read slogans like “Unemployment is a public health crisis,” “All jobs are essential,” “Defund Routt County Commissioners” and “Restaurant lives matter too.”
Protesters rallying against local COVID-19 restrictions held signs and cheered as passing by cars on Lincoln Avenue honked in support on Saturday. (Photo by Dylan Anderson) Protesters cheered as cars driving down Lincoln Avenue honked in support, with even a Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firetruck blaring on it’s horn as well.
Hansen said they will protest every Saturday at the courthouse until restrictions in the county are loosened. Level red restrictions put in place by state officials in November closed restaurants, forcing them into a takeout only model they say is not enough.
But Rachel Jacobson, a chairperson with Save Routt County, said it is about more than just restaurants, but about freedom.
“We’ve kind of lost all of our freedoms. So we’re trying to save our county from losing all of our freedoms,” Jacobson said. “I think it is up to you and me to make your own health decisions.”
There is quite a few people here and a lots of honks from cars going by. A Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue Fire truck drove by blaring on the horn in support. pic.twitter.com/YtMIzNDgbe— Dylan Anderson (@DandersonJour) December 5, 2020 Many of the protesters were without masks, exercising what they say are their personal freedoms. The group was handing out masks branded with Save Routt County and encouraged people to do what they felt comfortable with.
Many in the crowd were restaurant employees that said they just wanted to be able to go back to work. Amber Maisel, a bartender at O’Neil’s Tavern and Grill, said she came out to protest because she is struggling, wants to work and does not want to see local restaurants die.
“I’m a single mom, I was bartending, and I am now trying to live for me and my son off of a couple hundred dollars a week,” Maisel said. “I just want people to have the option of going out and either putting themselves in a position which might have consequences or not, and choosing to stay home.”
Joe Campbell, the executive chef at Mambo, Besame and Yampa Valley Kitchen in Steamboat, said that from his experience, a restaurant is one of the safest places people could go, and he felt his restaurants were a safe environment when they were open.
Joe Campbell, an executive chef at several restaurants in town including Mambo Italiano, said restaurants were one of the safest places people could go during the pandemic because of their rigorous cleaning protocols. (Photo by Dylan Anderson) Outbreaks in restaurants have led to fewer cases than in other settings, according to county data. There have been three outbreaks in each restaurants, congregate living and from personal gatherings since the start of September. While the outbreaks from personal gatherings led to 24 cases and in congregate care led to 33 cases, restaurant outbreaks have only led to 11 cases.
Campbell said he doubts some of the retail stores are cleaning as much or allow as much space to social distance.
“Those places people are going in there, touching shit and putting it back on the shelf, they are bumping into each other. That doesn’t happen in the restaurants,” Campbell said. “They are not sanitizing all their products on their shelves, wiping everything down every 30 minutes. We think it is unfair and that we are being singled out.”
He said that restaurants cannot survive on anything less than 50% capacity and still that would be tough. Many protesters acknowledged the seriousness of the virus but felt things had gone too far and that restrictions are hurting more than they are helping.
When level red restrictions were put in place on Nov. 20, the county had just reported 92 more positive cases of COVID-19. At that point health officials said it would take a few weeks to see any indication in the data about whether the increased restrictions were working at slowing the spread of the virus.
Last week was the first week since October where new cases were less than the week before, and between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1 there were 86 new cases.
But protesters want them to be loosened now, closer to what was in place in the county this summer.
“We would like them loosened, we need to be looking at every aspect of it,” said Rachel Jacobson, a chairperson with Save Routt County. “We need to be looking at how we can make us as a community more successful.”
Jacobson said the focus is all about the fear around COVID-19, but other things are important too. She pointed to suicides, which Routt County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Harrington noted are up in the county at the public health meeting on Wednesday with six this year compared to 4 in 2019. She also pointed to increases in domestic violence and mental health calls.
“There are a lot of other things that we are kind of ignoring,” Jacobson said. “This virus is real. It is here, but I feel like there is a better way to deal with this that can accommodate all people.”
A protester holds a sign reading, "We are all essential!" on Lincoln Avenue on Saturday, part of a rally against local COVID-19 restrictions that protestors say are killing local businesses. (Photo by Dylan Anderson) She said she would support most people live their lives somewhat normally while putting increased emphasis on protecting more vulnerable people.
Sherry Carrier, who is retired and of higher risk of the virus, said the pandemic has been really tough and she is missing leaving her house.
“I cry a lot, and I’m home alone a lot,” Carrier said. “We don’t go anywhere, because we’re older and we have existing conditions and we have been told to stay home, it is time to open up.”
Carrier said she feels a plan where people at lesser risk have less restrictions imposed on them and the more vulnerable would still take precautions would be more fair to people that need to work to support themselves.
“We need to consider the vulnerable, work and see what we need to do for them, but also think about everybody else,” Jacobson said. “There are so many people out of work right now and there are so many restaurants on the verge of closing. What are we going to have left after this?”
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
Ping
Democrats’ constant violation of their own Lock-down Orders becomes so obnoxious that even CNN is forced to report on it..
And when the thugs say no, then what?
Pope frank will not be pleased with CV19 protestors.
They aren’t respecting rules that cost other people their jobs to obey them, it’s las if you’re sitting in the water and some rich people on the yacht say, “don’t worry, we’re all in this together, while you are in the water, treading water for your life.
If they successfully seize power, they have no intention of ever relinquishing it.. Fourth Turnings..
Those on the verge of gaining power want to rule over you. Freedom, liberty, free speech, and the 2nd Amendment are considered dangerous by these tyrants.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/jim-quinn-warns-how-fourth-turnings-roll
With the continued lock downs to kill off the rest of small business for the great reset, Yellans words not mine. Andrew Wilkows program this week. She said the US treasury will offer low income business loans as well as grants to blacks, minorities, women, transgender and gay and lesbians, WHITE PEOPLE NEED NOT APPLY! to restore small business on a more equitable and acceptable playing field. So in essence we will destroy you your investment, your family and your life and use your tax dollars to fund others to take your place
Long past time to tell the Gov & associated idiots to shove their degrees up their collective Obamaholes.
If they try to shut the restaurants down, we KNOW where the politicians live
Let them fear like those Seattle & Minneapolis city residents do.
Perhaps it’s time for a few governor’s houses to - er - self incinerate.
Go to the Governor’s Mansion or the State Capitol.
Oops, that’s “decrees”, not “degrees”.
Although, given that most of them have law or other marshmallow degrees, perhaps that word fits also.
Democrats’ Coronavirus ‘Hypocrisy’ Is ‘Even Worse Than the Anti-Maskers’..
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3912283/posts
The protestors need to be able to explain why the prevention is worse than the disease. Merely demanding “freedom” alone won’t work.
The irony here is that illegal aliens are typically given a free ride in the Colorado resort areas, the undocumented are needed to work in the hotels.
One without a license might run a stop sign and hit another auto; with no injuries or other serious violations, local LE will often look the other way and make sure they don't have to walk to work or home in the snow.
Austin, Texas mayor: told the proles to stay home while he was vacationing in ( video from ) Cabo, Mexico at the same time - zooming around in a private jet ( not worried about global warming, either ).
Because rules are only for little people.. is every single democrat a hypocrite ?
The COVID “pandemic” is a LIE.
It’s time to recognize all the other scams by the government while we’re at it.
The push back is only just beginning.
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