I just met with the owner and manager of SNAP fitness in East Aurora and Orchard Park. This is a thread about their situation and the emails they sent to their most dedicated customers about "renting" out there gym in the face of a closed order from the state.

First, the manager and owner did not want their names published. They did not want this attention. They did not think any customers would leak the email to the press. But some did. They made the decision to let select members work out because they believe it can be done safely.

Financially, they are close to losing the gyms. The owner bought the gym in East Aurora the week the state ordered the red shutdown. Talk about bad luck. They are two women with 9 kids between them. Their livelihood was snatched away without any data supporting the state's order.

This is their mindset: Neither the state nor the county has supplied one chart, one dataset, one study that shows salons, gyms and personal care businesses are high risk. Yet the Karate centers can remain open? How can that be? How is that fair?

They did not qualify for any county grants because technically they are a "chain" even though it's a local woman who owns both gyms. The federal aid barely lasted a month during the first shutdown. They said their gyms are never packed, even when they are allowed to be open.

They don't want to be vilified for having one or two people working out in their gym at a time, while wearing masks, and asked folks to consider the dire situation that they are in. Landlord is still requiring rent to be paid. Utilities have to be paid. Taxes have to be paid.

When they were allowed to reopen earlier this year, she spent a few thousand upgrading HVAC system & putting in place other rules and guidelines that state/county required. To them, the gym was safe. They cleaned constantly, required everyone to wear a mask, even while running

The county health dept got wind of the email that invited some members to rent the gym out. ECDOH is investigating. "Under NY Forward & the microcluster zone designation, gyms are required to reduce their workforce 100%, and gym facility rentals are not allowed," ECDOH said.

I spent 2 hours with them. One person came in the gym during that time. He had a mask on. They said roughly 10 people at each gym, total 20, "rented" the gym out. The owner, who is an attorney, believes the state order does not prohibit renting a gym space out. County disagrees

They did not want to be recorded or to go on camera to tell their story. Again, they didn't want the spotlight on them and told me several times that they aren't trying to be like Athletes Unleashed.

The federal govt has not passed a 2nd stimulus bill. She got some the first time, but again, it lasted roughly a month. They are upset that nothing has been passed @SenSchumer and they want Congress members to know that this shutdown could potentially bankrupt them.

several times they both referenced their gym members as "family" and said they lost 70% of their membership after the first shutdown because govt leaders painted gyms as these scary, virus spreading businesses. But they followed all guidelines and precautions.

When we interviewed an infectious disease control expert, he said gyms are a "gray" area and that there is "very strong plausibility" that indoor restaurants are a "significant risk." read it here: https://www.wivb.com/news/closed-business-owners-want-to-see-the-covid-19-data/

The owner said she will be forming a private membership association that she believes will provide some leeway to allow some money to trickle in. But as Erie County's numbers continue to rise, the color red seems to be inevitable. And that may be the nail in the coffin.

Several times they referred to the state's orders as "contradictory" ie karate and dance centers can remain open but not gyms, salons and personal care biz? They are at a loss. "We have so few members left," the manager told me. "It's a lose lose."

They have contacted local and state reps, no one has gotten back to them. They do not believe they are putting anyone at risk. Both said they believe the virus is real. As the sign on their door reads: "2560 check-ins, 0 Covid cases" through 81 days of being open.

"No contact tracer has ever called us about a case," the owner said. They said the governor recently mentioned how small gathering spread accounts for 65% of cases & that gyms allowed to remain open have less cases, although he didn't provide any specifics. 100 gyms? 10? 1?

She said her gym is a "boutique gym" that is not very large, unlike other chain gyms that have huge spaces & more memberships at cheaper prices. With that said, she realizes that ECDOH may fine her or take some action. And she doesn't regret letting some customers in to work out.

The owner is scared a negative story would bankrupt her. I told her that we just released a list of businesses that got fined for Covid-related issues & that we typically write about these things.

But I gave her a platform to express her frustrations without judgment. A platform she did not even want. The door says "come see @markpoloncarz" and "support us @LtGovHochulNY" and "call us @NYGovCuomo" but the owner and mngr said they have been ignored.

Gary Grote, executive director of the Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce, told me they sent position statement to elected leaders & other folks. "With the regulations & restrictions the way they are, there's not much else we can do and I really felt bad for SNAP," Grote said

"They are getting hit hard but they aren't the only ones and it is just so devastating." His concern is if this shutdown continues thru rest of holidays, impacts to small businesses, especially in a red zone, will be crushing. If it extends into next year, potential disaster.

This is me talking now - I am not advocating for breaking covid rules. Of course I'm not. But I have been pushing our government leaders to be more transparent about data they use to make decisions. I have sent FOIL requests. Nothing. I'll keep trying. But that's SNAPs story