CA City Goes Fully Tyrannical, Builds Fence Around COVID-Defying Restaurant to Shut it Down
Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill is making headlines once again for its defiance of coronavirus restrictions.
The Burbank, California, restaurant had a fence placed around it on Saturday by the city after numerous actions taken to stop its operation had failed.
Tinhorn Flats currently has $50,000 in fines against it for continuing indoor dininng when it was banned, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In addition, the Los Angeles County Health Department revoked its health permit, and the city revoked its conditional use permit in March, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
This morning a fencing company, escorted by Burbank Police Department, started installing a fence around Tinhorn Flats restaurant. https://t.co/5B8bwyHPgb pic.twitter.com/97BfOUkAqo
— InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) April 10, 2021
The owner is standing firm against the local government, as he believes that the actions are baseless.
“Show me one shred of evidence how I am endangering the public,” Baret Lepejian told the Times.
From earlier today: Lucas Lepejian, 20, saws off the padlock to Tinhorn Flats, with a small crowd cheering him on. He later tells me that the decision to do so was made by him, his sister and his father (the owner).@BurbankLeader #burbank #tinhornflats pic.twitter.com/RgAFdkajjz
— Christian Leonard (@xianleonard) March 31, 2021
His son, Lucas Lepejian, was arrested for trying to remove sandbags that had been placed as a physical barrier to prevent patrons from entering.
Arrested and cited for the third time, Lucas Lepejian the server. First two arrests below. Tinhorn flats Gavin Newsom #WearAMask #HealthcodeViolations #COVID19 #Burbank pic.twitter.com/jcP51ChFkP
— Martin Graf (@MG44Graf) April 6, 2021
The reaction from the city of Burbank seems to be blown out of proportion, as customers are ultimately the ones making the decision.
And the restaurant clearly has some support.
A couple dozen people sat on the patio, chanting “Tinhorn Flats” and “USA.” I do want to note that outdoor dining (and indoor dining) are currently open in L.A. County – it is this bar specifically that has been shut down. pic.twitter.com/Gtq0CoiuIK
— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) March 31, 2021
Burbank is apparently trying to make an example out of the restaurant as a way to stop other businesses from going against protocols, but it comes across as counterintuitive and medieval.
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By going as far as to put up a barricade, which ended up making news, it makes Burbank look like the perpetrator, not the other way around.
Many have rallied outside of the restaurant in support, only drawing more negative attention to the city and lockdowns in general.
@adamcarolla @markgeragos they have now fenced off Tinhorn Flats pic.twitter.com/2t5Mu6zphu
— Izzy Presley (@realizzypresley) April 10, 2021
In Los Angeles County, indoor dining is now allowed at 50 percent capacity after months of closures.
California Gov. Newsom has set June 15 as a reopening date for the state, according to CBS, with a mask mandate presumably still in place, but the Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill still has fighting to do.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
