Key West Lou / BAR OWNERS WIN AGAIN

The Key West City Commission met last night. Changes in rules intended to protect against coronavirus were adopted. Overall, a win for bar owners and restaurants.

There is the old saying that a squeaky wheel gets the oil. So it was last night.

There were about 40 demonstrators outside City Hall carrying signs supporting open bar seating. Some, a removal of the requirement to wear masks.

I assume that certain bar owners did their lobbying for liberalization of the rules.

From my perspective, the City Commission did bad and good.

The Commission voted to allow bar counters in restaurants to open. Open seating permitted. With restrictions. Groups of 6 seated at bars are allowed with 6 foot social distancing between the groups. Food must be ordered. No drinking without eating.

Who enforces the new rule. Prior to last night, police and code enforcement officers were the enforcers. No more. Now it is the bar owner.

Is the buck being passed here? Concededly not a pleasant job.

Failure of the bar owner to enforce the new rules can result in being closed down for up to 10 days in the first instance. A second time and the penalty is extended for up to 30 days.

I disagree with permitting the bars to open as indicated. Coronavirus is no where under control. Allowing drinking and eating at the bars means more customers. The additional customers will primarily be those driving down for a few days.

Recognize that it is impossible to wear a mask while eating and drinking.

Labor Day weekend a few days away. There will be an onslaught of tourists. Guaranteed a couple of weeks down the road and coronavirus cases in Key West will be on the rise.

Face masks. The Commission delayed loosening mask restrictions for 61 days.

Such will not make much difference. The tourists who have been visiting recently generally disregarded the mask wearing rule. Probably will continue to do so.

One hundred eighty thousand plus have died in the U.S. Key West will make a significant contribution in sick and dead in the second half of September.

The History Section in today’s Key West Citizen made mention of a Carnival Stag Show involving the Navy which resulted in a sex orgy in 1953.

Search as I could, I could find no additional details than those set forth in the Citizen.

The event was called a Charity Carnival Stag Show. It took place 9/3/53.

Whatever occurred had to be flagrant. The Secretary of the Navy gave reprimands to Admiral Irving T. Duke and Lt. Commander Benjamin Berry.

No rest for the alleged “wicked.”

It was reported ICE worked hard in arresting illegal immigrants in July and August. Two thousand were arrested. The largest sweep during the Pandemic.

Two thousand a large number to be apprehended over a 2 month period. Where were they confined during processing? Had to take several days or longer. Was any protection provided to protect them against coronavirus?

The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. A President’s health is of extreme importance.

Recall last year when Trump was suddenly taken to Walter Reed Hospital. Whatever the purpose, he was in and out in less than a day.

The public has never been told what the President’s problem was. The public has a right to know. Especially if Trump’s cognitive abilities were impaired.

The issue as to what was wrong has resurfaced. Yesterday, Trump in a tweet denied having “mini-strokes.” No one said he had mini-strokes. Trump was the first to even use the term as he did yesterday.

Trump apparently refuses to let us know. However, he did have the White House physician issue a statement. The White House physician is considered the Physician to the President. His name Dr. Dean Conly.

Conly wrote yesterday that the President was “healthy…..I expect him to remain fit to execute the duties of the Presidency.”

A California State Judge issued an opinion affecting those applying for admission to University of California schools. The decision to the effect that SAT and ACT tests could no longer be used in determining admission.

The decision’s reasoning was that the tests disadvantaged low income students and students with disabilities.

The decision bugs me a bit. I and many I know come from “low income” families. Many with disabilities. Like blind. We made it. Those deprived today can make it also.

Not even 7 this morning and today’s blog done. Woke around 2 and could not sleep. Did my research and then grabbed some sleep. Up and at the blog itself at 6. Done!

The reason I am an eager beaver with today’s blog is I have a doctor’s appointment later this morning.

Tomorrow more testing. A 2 1/2 hour one at the hospital. Hope I can get tomorrow’s blog out.

Enjoy your day!

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