Los Angeles County officials reinstated an indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status on July 17, a move designed to curb rising COVID-19 cases in the county that has delivered another bump in the road to recovery for businesses.
The mask mandate comes only about a month after L.A. County was reveling in low COVID-19 cases and eased public health policies that allowed businesses to operate more freely. The latest change marks another period of stop-and-go, particularly for the retail sector.
Ivan Volschenk is managing partner at Evolve Business Strategies, which manages the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. In an email to the Business Journal, he wrote that the chamber is asking people to adhere to the guidelines to control the spread so businesses can operate without any restrictions or regulations.
“We understand the frustration that both business owners and their customers feel towards wearing the mask and changing guidance, but this doesn’t stop a business from being able to operate fully,” Volschenk wrote. “We are continuously encouraging our residents to shop local and support businesses as much as they can during this time.” The mandate’s reception among Santa Clarita businesses has been mixed, according to Volschenk, who wrote that the chamber has heard from businesses that completely disagree with the mandate and from others that understand the need for it.
No matter which side businesses fall on, one common thread of frustration seems to be the rapid stop-and-go nature of changing public health policies. Such changes have become commonplace in the last year, as COVID-19 cases directly influence the extent to which businesses can operate.
Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, chief executive of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, said there is concern for businesses over mandates that arrive on short notice. She referenced how the latest mandate was announced about two days prior to the effective date.
“We could say it’s 48 hours. That leaves businesses with less than 48 hours to plan, prepare and develop a strategy for implementation of a new policy,” she said. Vanyek added that the chamber wants people to be safe and healthy, but that the quick policy changes are a mental and financial stress for business owners and employees.
The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce was one of five local groups that sent a letter of disproval about the mask mandate to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
In the letter, dated July 23, the five business groups stated that “Businesses were left with less than 48 hours to buy signage and change protocols for staff and customers. For many businesses in the county, the new mandate is sparking confusion – and potentially violent pushback – from customers.” ‘Roller coaster ride’ Mike Colonna, chief executive of Norms Restaurants, echoed Vanyek’s concerns, calling what the retail and hospitality industries have had to work through a “roller coaster ride.” Norms has a location in Van Nuys and another soon to come in Encino.
“The lack of notice has just been absolutely ridiculous. … It has just been tough on everybody,” Colonna said. “This back-and-forth is extremely stressful for small businesses.” He added that in addition to quick policy changes, businesses may already be struggling with managing razor-thin profit margins and costs regarding labor, food, sanitation and safety. According to Colonna, Norms’ staff have always masked up for safety.
Colonna, Vanyek and Volschenk all agreed that though inconvenient and concerning, the mask mandate is a manageable bump in the road for businesses. “If (there’s) one thing this pandemic has shown us, it’s the resiliency and adaptability of our business community,” wrote Volschenk. Although the new change is manageable, all three business professionals expressed concern at the idea of another shutdown in the county, which they see as a legitimate threat for different reasons.
Vanyek said the current mandate has pushed restaurants back to Doordash and other delivery services. “That doesn’t help the restaurant. If we have to go back to not having indoor dining, that doesn’t help the restaurant, especially as different communities and cities are taking away (temporary outdoor dining).” Colonna sees small retailers having a hard time surviving with another shutdown, compounded by government aid programs that have ended or will soon end.
“The common message between all of them is ‘Just don’t shut us down,’ which is not what we are seeing and what we are hoping won’t happen.” Volschenk said. “We are urging our full community to adhere to all the latest health guidance and we will hopefully control the spread and minimize the hospital surges and continue back to reopening California.”
Too Little Lead Time Given for Mask Mandate
