By Rich Larson, News Director
The Dakota County First Circuit Court has found the Alibi Drinkery of Lakeville to be in contempt
of court and has imposed a $3000 fine for every day that the establishment remains open for in-person dining during the State ordered shut down.
Attorney General Keith Ellison filed suit on behalf of the State of Minnesota against Alibi Drinkery and owner, Lisa Monet Zarza, who also owns The Alibi at Froggy Bottoms in Northfield, after Zarza re-opened her Lakeville establishment on December 15th, in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order banning in-person dining due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Dakota County first issued a temporary restraining order against Alibi Drinkery, and just last week replaced the Restraining Order with a temporary injunction. Zarza said when she re-opened her establishment that she believed the Governor’s order violated her Constitutional rights to own and operate her business.
The Court saw things differently.
In his decision, Judge Jerome Abrams wrote, “This Court’s Orders and the Executive Orders were issued for several purposes, including preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, to protect the capacity of our health care system. The increased hospitalizations due to the virus place an extra burden on hospitals and emergency rooms such that hospitals may not be able to provide care for other, non-COVID emergency health needs. Each day that the Defendant remains in violation of the injunction, the health and welfare of the public are at risk and are being irreparably harmed.”
The Court also denied Alibi Drinkery’s motion to dismiss the temporary injunction.
Governor Walz has announced a loosening of the shutdown restrictions beginning on Monday.
Capitol Riot was unprecedented in American history
Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol Building on Wednesday, interrupting a joint session of Congress as they worked to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the recent presidential election. In what can only be described as a riot, the President’s supporters broke through barriers and windows, invaded the Senate Chambers and the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and caused all members of Congress to take cover in secure areas. One person, Ashli Babbit of San Diego, California, was shot and killed by Capitol police, and three other members of the invading group died of “medical emergencies,” and a Capitol policemen died yesterday from injuries suffered during the uproar.
Professor Christopher Chapp, Chair of the St. Olaf College Political Science Department, said that Wednesday’s events were without precedent in this country.
“I don’t think there is a good comparison. Not only based on what happened, which is people storming the capitol in insurrectionist-like fashion and violently occupying the space, but also that a sitting U.S. President egged it on. He really stirred this up. And not just at the rally beforehand, but in the weeks and months leading up to it.”
In the wake of the riot, calls began to emerge yesterday for Vice-President Pence to muster the Cabinet for the ability to remove President Trump from Office under the rule of the 25th Amendment. Speaker Pelosi and presumed incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined in those calls, saying if the Vice-President did not act, Congress would begin a new impeachment process. Professor Chapp said that while the power for such things does exist, he doesn’t see enough agreement between Republicans and Democrats to accomplish either maneuver.
“The other argument that I’m seeing is another impeachment, which would also prevent him from holding Federal Office, if he were to be impeached again and convicted. Y’know, there are thirteen days left, by my count. Whether or not any of this happens will be interesting. Given the amount of gridlock in Washington, I’m somewhat skeptical that either of those things is going to happen. But because there are Republicans and Conservatives who are talking about both of these things, it does reveal some emerging riffs in the party.”
Chapp also said one of the interesting things about this particular moment is the fracture he is beginning to see in the Republican Party. He said there are two distinct caucuses that have emerged within the GOP, one populist group devoted to the values espoused by President Trump, and the other a more traditional group with classic conservative values. Professor Chapp said those two factions have some fundamental differences and it will be interesting to see how the party tries to heal itself, and maybe more importantly, where Republican donors decide to allocate their funds.
In all cases President-Elect Biden’s mandate is to work to bring the full country back together. Professor Chapp said “there is a lot of healing that needs to be done in this country.”
Mayor Pownell lays out priorities for the year
And Mayor Rhonda Pownell has outlined her specific goals for 2021 and for her second term as
mayor. In an open letter posted on the City’s website yesterday, Pownell said she is expecting to work on big picture vision for the city this year.
Among the items the city will be looking at is City Comprehensive Plan. This is the document, the mayor said, that serves as the “blueprint” for community planning, offering stated goals and values on all aspects of the city from utilities to housing, to transportation to, of course, economic development. Typically, a city will revise the Comprehensive Plan every ten years. The last time Northfield did so was in 2008, so, the mayor said, it’s time to take a look.
She also said that the city’s Strategic Plan, last updated in 2017, was also on the docket. A step below the Comprehensive Plan, the Strategic Plan focuses on the next three to five years offering some more pointed guidance in accordance with the City Charter and the Comprehensive Plan. The mayor said the revised plan should “clearly articulate the priorities, goals, and initiatives to be worked on.”
Overall, the Mayor struck an optimistic note in her letter. She called 2021 a year of recovery and “re-establishing a path forward.” Offering a quote from Yogi Berra, she wrote “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there.”
