Today’s updates discusses a proposal from the National Restaurant Association to Missouri lawmakers and St. Louis officials offering PPE to small businesses for reopening. Additionally, this update discusses an order issued by a district judge regarding a lawsuit filed by St. Louis area businesses wanting to reopen and a new lawsuit filed by the St. Louis County Counselor regarding a gym defying the stay-at-home order.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
- Bars and restaurants in St. Louis have been allowed to sell take-out cocktails during the pandemic. Now, the National Restaurant Association has asked Missouri lawmakers to make the change permanent. This proposal comes just days before the House and Senate adjourn for the year. The Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association objects to the measure, stating “slid[ing] something in like this with no public input makes for bad public policy.” For more information, visit https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-restaurants-lobbying-to-make-to-go-cocktails-a-permanent-menu-feature/article_72cf9409-3445-559d-b2c9-7b662e600a39.html.
RESOURCES
- St. Louis city officials announced that upon application, the city will provide personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, to small businesses prior to being allowed to reopen. Once a business applies, the equipment will be available as soon as Thursday. An eligible business is one located in the city with no more than 10 on-site employees. For access to the PPE request form, visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/communicable-disease/covid-19/economic-recovery/restart-pack/index.cfm.
EMERGENCY POWERS
- Last week, a district judge for the Eastern District of Missouri denied business owners a temporary restraining order that would have allowed their businesses to reopen. Judge Stephen R. Clark stated, “Government authorities must have the ability to maintain public health and safety in times of great crises such as these.” However, Judge Clark did not completely dismiss the complaint either, allowing it to be argued at a later date. The memorandum and order can be read here.
- Fitness gym House of Pain, with locations in the St. Louis western suburbs of Maryland Heights and Chesterfield, reopened its doors, defying the St. Louis area’s stay-at-home order. As a result, the St. Louis County Counselor filed suit earlier this week, alleging that the state constitution and laws “empower county health officials to enforce restrictions on businesses to protect the public health.” More information can be found here.
HeplerBroom attorney Emilee M. Bramstedt contributed to this blog post.