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So the city of LA yesterday issued a new stay-at-home order and it is one of the most confusing pieces of local government legislation I have ever seen. Let's take a look, shall we? (a thread) https://laist.com/latest/post/20201203/new-safer-at-home-order-garcetti-los-angeles
The order directs all Angelenos to remain in their homes and avoid all public and private gatherings with anyone outside their own household. Makes sense. 
It also says essential businesses -- health care services, food retailers, gas stations, auto repair, banks, hardware supply stores, handyman services, laundromats and a few others -- can stay open. Got it.
Then the confusingly worded order also says all travel "on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit is prohibited." Wait... what????
How am I supposed to access any of the aforementioned essential services? Fly by jetpack?
How am I supposed to access any of the aforementioned essential services? Fly by jetpack?
On top of that, the 12-page stay-at-home order listing all the stuff you can't do devotes nearly 9 pages to all the exceptions for business, recreational and religious activities. That's A LOT of exceptions.
These exceptions include...
Music, film and television production -- that can continue
Phew! Thank god the She's All That reboot won't be delayed! https://abc7.com/union-station-covid-testing-feature-film-production-la-filmla/8404667/
Music, film and television production -- that can continue Phew! Thank god the She's All That reboot won't be delayed! https://abc7.com/union-station-covid-testing-feature-film-production-la-filmla/8404667/
Gyms and fitness facilities -- they can operate outside at 50% capacity.City parks and trails -- they're still open although playgrounds and most city "sports facilities" have also been ordered to closeAuthorized youth sports leagues -- those are still going on.
Golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts -- they can stay open if they adhere to county health guidelinesHair salons, nail salons, tanning salons, barbershops and tattoo parlors -- they can continue to operate indoors at 20% capacity
It's not like L.A. officials have access to an armada of lawyers and public policy experts who could've written a clear and sensible stay-at-home order that doesn't contradict itself. That would be unpossible!
The cherry on top of this sundae is that as of this morning, the city of Los Angeles was still going to issue parking tickets. While we were all supposed to stay at home.
The LA City Planning Commission is meeting this morning. One of the items is "creating provisions for parking restrictions amid a local emergency order declaration," so maybe they'll decide it's a Very Bad Idea to tell people to stay home then issue parking tickets when they do.
As a final note: When governments create rules this confusing and poorly thought out, they can't act surprised if people don't follow them.
You wanna erode trust in public officials? Bravo. This is the perfect way to do it.
You wanna erode trust in public officials? Bravo. This is the perfect way to do it.
