Persistent tourism in Sausalito irks virus-minded locals

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An ongoing influx of tourists in Sausalito through the coronavirus outbreak has produced a flurry of complaints about business practices and police.

At the town Council’s teleconference meeting on April 14, some residents asked why tourists are still visiting the city during the county’s shelter-in-place order.

“Lappert’s Ice Cream is open in downtown Sausalito and there are a great number of tourists who are out there and cyclists who are eating ice cream cones,” said Sandra Bushmaker, a former councilwoman. “Do we have any comments or guidelines because of this activity? It seems to be annoying the residents who want to do social distancing and are finding crowds on Bridgeway.”

Through the first week of the coronavirus shelter-in-place restrictions last month, Sausalito police received a small number of complaints that persons were congregating at restaurants and that shops hadn't removed their sidewalk chairs and tables, said John Rohrbacher, chief of police.


“Our officers are conducting foot beat patrols on a daily basis and spoke to each establishment that had a need to remove their outside chairs and tables or otherwise make sure they are unavailable for seating,” Rohrbacher said. “They were all cooperative, including Lappert’s.”

Police Capt. Bill Fraass has been among the staffers conducting the foot patrols. He said there were continued complaints about food establishments, however when officers arrive they did not observe any violations.

He said it’s difficult to say just how many complaints they’ve received, but persons who report businesses could possibly be driving by and don’t get yourself a full view of what’s going on inside.

“Predicated on what we’ve seen through patrols or giving an answer to certain calls, we’ve had remarkably few violations.” Fraass said. “The kinds that people did have were handled by warnings and education. In the beginning there were some violations, but people have been following the county’s health order since that time.”

The virus order allows a food establishment to use as long as it only sells takeout orders and customers practice social distancing of 6 feet, he said.“I don’t think that’s just how that is operating,” said Joan Cox, an associate of the council. “There are persons lined up, entering the store purchasing wares at the counter.”

Rohrbacher said police have not issued any citations to customers or business proprietors.

“Simple warnings have already been sufficient,” he said, “but we are poised to issue citations to the ones that usually do not heed our warnings.”

He said complaints mostly centered on reports of folks standing outside shops, or employees or customers not wearing masks.

“It was not necessary of employees to wear face coverings until Wednesday,” Rohrbacher said. “So I am not sure how exactly to comment on allegations of violating a regulation that did not exist.”

Michael Lappert, the ice cream shop owner, said he cannot stop the nice weather or people from visiting Sausalito, but he and other restaurant owners have already been following the order.

“I know every restaurant owner in this town and we are all complying,” said Lappert, a former Corte Madera town councilman. “We are doing our best. It costs money to most probably. I’m losing profits but I really do it because people have to have money. We will have our employees working there as long as we are permitted to give them income.”
Source: https://www.marinij.com

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