By Rich Larson, News Director
With the Alibi Drinkery in Lakeville continuing to operate in violation of the Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place since November, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the situation will be resolved in the courts.
Joining Jeff Johnson on the KYMN morning show yesterday, the Attorney General said that the restrictions imposed by Governor Walz are meant to save lives, and it is his job to enforce those restrictions.
“The restrictions on in-house dining, those restrictions are in place to promote health and safety, to stop transmission of a lethal disease, and to make sure that we protect people’s lives.”
The Alibi Drinkery in Lakeville, owned by Lisa Monet Zarza who also owns Froggy Bottoms in Northfield, opened on December 15th, for full-service, on-site dining with no requirements that patrons wear masks, in defiance of the state restrictions. Ellison has sued a handful of establishments who are offering in-person dining and not adhering to capacity or mask restrictions in violation of the Governor’s executive order, winning temporary restraining orders against many, and in the case of the Alibi, he has received a temporary injunction against the establishment and Zarza. These establishments are no longer in defiance of the Governor’s order, he said, but they are now in violation of specific court orders as well. Moreover, he said, there is a much more fundamental principle in play here.
“The civility and the good order of our whole society is primarily based on the people’s belief in the rule of law. If people don’t believe in the rule of law, and they believe in the rule of themselves and whatever they want to do, then yeah, it’s hard to enforce that. There aren’t enough external tools to make people do the right thing if they don’t want to. And thank God that there are enough people out there who say ‘You know, this could be really dangerous to my staff, to my patrons, and I’m going to abide by the law.’”
Ellison said he is committed to enforcing the restrictions in whatever form they take, because Covid-19 is a disease that people die from. He said it is also important to note that, by far, the vast majority of bars and restaurants have followed the restrictions.
“Just remember, there are about 10,000 restaurants and 1,500 bars in Minnesota, and we’ve only had to take about 10 folks to court. So, overwhelmingly, people are putting their customers first, they’re putting their staff first. But there are some who are not. In those cases we have to bring the attention of the court to the situation. And every single case.”
Noting that if local law enforcement does not assist in the enforcement of the restrictions, they are “not doing their sworn duty,” he said it’s the courts that have the power to levy fines on businesses, and even padlock them if necessary, and it’s the Minnesota Department of Public Safety that can suspend or revoke a local liquor license. At the end of the day, he said, businesses that operate outside of the law will have to answer for their actions.
“I hope that people go back to the bars and restaurants of our state. I want them to be successful, and I support them whole heartedly. But we’re dealing with a deadly virus here, and that’s what motivates me.”
The Attorney General said he was hopeful that the worst of the pandemic will end sooner than later, pointing to the vaccine, and a new administration with a more pointed plan to battle the virus. For now, he said, whatever the restrictions, he has great support for the businesses affected, but we all need to remain vigilant for the time being.
Governor Walz announced yesterday afternoon that restrictions on in-person dining and occupancy numbers will be loosened beginning on Monday.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Attorney General Keith Ellison can be heard here.
Ole Ave project has support with the city
George Zuccolotto and Jami Reister became the newest members of the Northfield City Council on Tuesday night. Mayor Rhonda Pownell said that she was both excited about and proud of the new councilors after their first official council meeting.
“I remember over twelve years ago, and I was reminiscing with some of my other council colleagues recently about just being so nervous on that first time. And they did just fabulous. They just made it look like it was a piece of cake. I was like, ‘Man, you’ve got this thing down already.’ They’re fantastic, and they are going to bring just wonderful perspectives to the council.”
During Tuesday night’s meeting, the council took up discussion of the St. Olaf College Ole Ave housing project. Despite that project being met with real scrutiny by both the Planning Commission and the City Council, it did receive overall support during the meeting. Administrator Ben Martig pointed to some commitments the school has made about lighting that shows St. Olaf is earnest about working with the city to make the project work for everybody.
“One example that several of the councilors commented was positive was, there have been some concerns about lighting, and how much light might be shedding out into the neighborhood. St. Olaf was sensitive by creating a buffer area between residences and this development where there is space. Our code does have lighting regulations that include things like forcing the light down and not having it go off into the neighborhoods. But there were some people interested in further enhancements, kind of ‘Dark Sky’ goals related to the intensity of the lighting or the hues of the lighting. And St. Olaf has voluntarily come forward and made adjustments [in that area].”
Mayor Pownell said about the debate over the number of parking stalls the project should include that this is just one small detail in a very large project that the city is excited about.
“It’s just one step in the process. They are doing a great job, and I really appreciate that they’re bringing students back on campus and that they’re providing quality and safe housing for the students to live in. It’s a great project.”
Tuesday night’s meeting was just the first step in the process of issuing a Conditional Use Permit for the project. A vote on the CUP is set for February 16.
The full conversation with Mayor Pownell and Administrator Martig can be heard here.
