Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez introduced a motion Wednesday that would require "eligible" individuals to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination before entering indoor venues in the city.
According to Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, who co-introduced the motion, the indoor spaces affected by the motion would include restaurants, bars, retail stores, gyms, spas, stadiums, concert venues and movie theaters. Eligible individuals would need to have received at least one dose of the vaccine before being able to enter.
City News Service reported that Martinez said, "Enough is enough already."
"Hospital workers are exhausted, moms who have put aside their careers are tired, and our kids cannot afford the loss of another school year. We have three vaccines that work and are readily available, so what's it going to take?"
In a social media post, Martinez added, "So many Angelenos stepped up and did their part. They shouldn't be penalized with closures by those unwilling to do theirs."
Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas expressed his support for the motion in a post shared on social media. He said, "It’s time to act. Plain and simple - vaccinations are the only way out of this pandemic and we must work together to get it done."
Ridley-Thomas introduced a motion at a City Council meeting last Wednesday to require city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The motion is similar to New York City’s recent announcement that the city would require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for anyone trying to enter restaurants and indoor gyms. However, L.A.'s motion would go even further, applying to retail locations as well.
Alongside the motion, the City Council plans to ramp up vaccination efforts. The councilors cited the county's public health figure that 71.7% of L.A. County residents aged 16 and older have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
"Hard-working Angelenos, their customers and the general public deserve to be safe in public spaces," O'Farrell said, according to the news service. "The vaccines are our most effective form of protection, and the time to act is now."
If the motion is approved, the city attorney will draft an ordinance with recommendations on how businesses would comply.