Name: Restaurant group sues Colorado health department over limits on dining capacity
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Restaurant group sues Colorado health department over limits on dining capacity

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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis makes a point during a news conference on the state's efforts against the new coronavirus Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)A group representing more than 200 Colorado bars and restaurants filed suit against the state health department Tuesday, arguing against state capacity limits set to combat the spread of COVID-19, the owner of one member tavern said.Chris Fuselier, owner of the Blake Street Tavern, said the Tavern League of Colorado filed the lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in Denver District Court.Attorney Jordan Factor confirmed that the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Denver District Court. It asks&nbsp;a judge to stop — by order of injunction — the state from enforcing capacity limits.The group then filed an amended complaint Wednesday to stop , said Executive Director Stephanie Fransen Hicks.“We have yet to see any data that supports this type of drastic action. This week’s decision is an unwarranted blow to an industry already struggling to survive. You will see additional business attrition statewide should this order remain in place,” Fransen Hicks said in a written statement.My Restaurant is a member of the Tavern League, a group of 200 CO Restaurants and today we filed a Complaint re capacity limits. Tomorrow, we are filing an Amended Complaint + Motion for Temporary Restraining Order re arbitrary Order re 10 pm last call for drinks!— Chris Fuselier (@ChrisJFuselier)Colorado restaurants are , whichever is fewer.Polis aired his frustrations with partiers drinking in social settings after a state report found that the 20-29 age group is leading the spread of infection in Colorado. Overall virus cases and hospitalizations have about doubled in the past two weeks.But Fuselier called the new order arbitrary. He said the order is devastating to restaurants and said Polis “continues to blame restaurants for COVID-19 problems without any data or science.”The Blake Street Tavern can seat up to 900 people but under the current limits it’s restricted to a mere fraction of that, Fuselier said. The state’s capacity limits aren’t a good one-size-fits-all option.“We’re getting killed,” he said.And now Polis’ order will take the other leg out from underneath restaurants, Fuselier said. Already they’re at diminished capacities but to shrink their hours as well is a bridge too far.“We’re in such bad shape, the timing couldn’t be worse,” Fuselier said.Conor Cahill, a spokesperson for Polis said the governor believes these steps are critical to keep the economy reopening and to prevent the virus from gaining ground in Colorado.“These are challenging times and no one wants Colorado’s small businesses to bounce back stronger more than the Governor,” Cahill said.“The fate of our state in both virus suppression and economic recovery is largely in the hands of Coloradans,” Cahill added. “It’s important to reduce our social interactions, remain six feet from others whenever possible, and wear facial masks when we’re in public.”Fuselier has been active on Twitter, championing the restaurant and service industry, calling for Polis to impose a statewide mask mandate and applauding the governor when he did so last week. But still he said more time should have been allowed after imposing the mask mandate before putting new regulations in place.&nbsp;Victory! Colorado Governor Polis issued a State Wide Mask Mandate! viaThank you to all for putting up with my rants about not implementing a State mandate the past several weeks until today!— Chris Fuselier (@ChrisJFuselier)Thanks for reading!Get unlimited access to enjoy this article and moreAlready a subscriber? LoginView more on

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis makes a point during a news conference on the state's efforts against the new coronavirus Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)A group representing more than 200 Colorado bars and restaurants filed suit against the state health department Tuesday, arguing against state capacity limits set to combat the spread of COVID-19, the owner of one member tavern said.Chris Fuselier, owner of the Blake Street Tavern, said the Tavern League of Colorado filed the lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in Denver District...

Restaurant group sues Colorado health department over limits on dining capacity

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