Ariz. tip line gets complaints – about government
Arizona health officials are getting more than just hundreds of leads on their tip line and website for the public to report businesses that are not requiring masks or otherwise violating orders related to COVID-19.
They also are getting hundreds of complaints of government overreach and general blowback from people tired of accommodating the pandemic.
The Arizona Department of Health Services started the effort last week as hundreds of bars, gyms, movie theaters and water parks got the OK to reopen.
About half the 800 tips received so far are likely to be investigated by the DHS, depending on their severity. But about a quarter of them are complaints about the government, not businesses. And another 25% or so are about other types of businesses, which are not a priority at this time, according to the DHS.
“Your data is false and the CDC, whom you are to take your lead from, has stated so,” reads one complaint the DHS provided in response to an inquiry from The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. “Lift the oppressive orders and let us free!! We are NOT in a pandemic, people are not dying in droves as in the definition of pandemic death numbers. Release your stranglehold on our State!!”
The state did not provide The Republic with the names or information about people who contacted the tip line.
In counties where the spread of COVID-19 has gone from substantial to moderate, bars, gyms, theaters and water parks can reopen if they agree to follow strict state rules on occupancy, masks and other measures aimed at curtailing the illness.
“ADHS and our partners are taking this very seriously,” DHS director Dr. Cara Christ said Monday.
Complaints helped net at least two of the three bars that lost their liquor licenses indefinitely over the weekend when investigators with the state liquor board verified the businesses were not following DHS rules.
“Bottled Blonde/Casa Amigos/HiFi clubs in old town Scottsdale are literally letting people party as if there are no restrictions,” read a tip filed with DHS. “You need a mask to enter the clubs but once you’re in there is no enforcement. People are dancing, standing on tables, no social distancing. Partying until 2am and everyone is physically unable to control themselves.”
Bottled Blonde and Casa Amigos were the first two bars to have their liquor licenses revoked for not complying with the rules. A Tempe bar, Glow Shots and Cocktails, became the third.
Glow Shots was not serving food, which is required for bars to be open anywhere in the state at this time.
The DHS has not announced any violations by HiFi Kitchen and Cocktails.
Christ said law enforcement and tips to the complaint line led the investigations into the bars.
“We have had many businesses open successfully and identify best practices of implementing the requirements,” Christ said.
But operators working the phone lines and taking the electronically submitted tips also have heard complaints about how businesses should be open without such strict regulation.
“You are not the gestapo!” read one complaint. “Stop getting people to snitch!!”
Many tips are coming in for businesses like grocery stores, car dealership and others that are not following county mask requirements or keeping people physically distanced.
While the DHS will either investigate or call upon county health departments or the state liquor board to investigate complaints against bars, gyms, theaters and water parks, it is not taking such action on other businesses at this time, spokesman Steve Elliott said Tuesday.
One tip even came in for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that takes place at a church.