LET’S NOT SINGLE OUT CERTAIN BUSINESSES

Re “We can’t dine in, but we can still support San Diego restaurants this holiday season” (Dec. 24): As a restaurant owner, I appreciate you encouraging people to order takeout food and to buy gift cards. But as an owner who has already been through prior shutdowns, I also know that the effect of this one will be devastating on restaurants and on their employees.

I have several thoughts on Judge Joel Wohlfeil’s decision to allow indoor and outdoor dining. First, the Court of Appeals has not ruled that his decision is “folly,” as you state. The court has merely stayed the enforcement of the decision until hearing the case on Jan. 19.

Second, Judge Wohlfeil’s decision relies heavily on the statements of Dr. Wilma Wooten — the county’s chief health officer — that indoor and outdoor dining, with proper safety protocols, do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19. To quote her: “[P]enalizing sectors like restaurants and gyms for the case increase is wrong. Closure of indoor restaurants during wintertime will move people into homes and encourage high-risk gatherings.” Judge Wohlfeil based his decision on evidence.

Third, the state’s chief health officer, Dr. Mark Ghaly, has stated that the purpose of shutting down outdoor dining was to keep people home and was “not a comment on the relative safety of outdoor dining.”

Lastly, I am deeply concerned that restaurants are being singled out for punishment while large businesses and restaurants at Indian casinos conduct business as usual.

DePhilippis