LOS GATOS, Calif. – It has been more than two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some Santa Clara County business owners are sickened. Not by the virus, but by fines levied against them by their county government.
“They are unlawful. They are out of control. And they’re being lawless,” said Kelly Ranger of Los Gatos Massage & Cryotherapy.
Out of 20,000 county businesses, a half dozen owners still have active legal cases against them.
The county began assessing fines in 2020 for non-compliance with COVID health orders. The court could force the six hold outs to pay the county from over $13,000 to just under $3 million.
“I could put the money together to pay the county. But on principle I just think it’s so wrong,” said James Griffiths, owner of Salon Blu in San Jose.
He said he was slapped with fines for staying open – albeit outdoors – during the shutdown order.
The owner of the…
