Finish this sentence, “snitches get ____.” In Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s words, “rewards” would fill in the blank as he’s encouraging people to rat on others who aren’t following the city’s stay-at-home order.
It’s a lot different from the saying we grew up knowing but apparently since the “safer at home” order in California was instituted, Los Angeles city officials have received multiple reports about businesses violating the order.
“If any non-essential businesses continue to operate in violation of the stay at home order, we’re going to act to enforce the safer at home order and ensure their compliance,” he said, according to CBS LA.
“You know the old expression about snitches, well in this case snitches get rewards,” Garcetti said. “We want to thank you for turning folks in and making sure we are all safe.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Garcetti said business ambassadors had visited 540 businesses that had not complied with California’s Safer at Home order. Of those businesses, 144 were visited by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department to ensure compliance with the order.
Only four businesses have been referred to the city attorney’s office for misdemeanor filings.
Just as an update on coronavirus’ impact on LA, Garcetti says the city saw an 18% increase in coronavirus cases — 215 additional cases for a total of 1,386 — and Los Angeles county saw a 23% decrease in available hospital beds over the past two days.
“Your decision to stay home may mean that there’s one less person who needs a ventilator we do not have,” Garcetti said. “And bringing case and death numbers down won’t just happen because of physical distancing and isolation, but also because of testing.”
The city has conducted more than 10,000 tests, including 1,623 on Tuesday alone.
Roommates, what are your thoughts on Los Angeles’ new measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus? Let us know.
