Santa Clara County is defending what some have called a "heavy handed" approach to enforcing COVID-19 safety rules during the pandemic.
Dozens of businesses and other organizations have been slapped with fines totaling millions of dollars.
From small flower shops to large churches, over 400 organizations have been fined by Santa Clara County's COVID-19 compliance officers. The penalties total $4.9 million. Many of the violations are for remaining open during the height of the pandemic.
“To be told, ‘well no, you’re not essential and we’re going to fine you’ – obviously, it’s really disappointing,” said Carson Atherley, assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in San Jose.
Calvary Chapel has to date racked up over $2 million in fines for holding in-person services and violating mask orders.
While the number of fines is more than in any other Bay Area county, Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams said health order violations are literally a matter of life and death, as well as fairness between businesses.
“So, having a small but meaningful civil enforcement program is just a piece of that overall effort,” he told KCBS Radio.
He said that only 3% of complaints against businesses have resulted in fines.
County Supervisor Cindy Chavez told KCBS Radio that their highest obligation remains making sure people are safe.
“I’m disappointed that so many of them chose to not support health orders, but to go over and above to put people in harm’s way,” she said.
Related
