Nov. 14: Spectator readers have strong feelings about the COVID rule-breaking restaurant remaining anonymous
Tell us the name of the offending restaurant
What the heck is the big secret that the name of this restaurant is being kept from the public? I don't care who the next violator is, right now, I need to know who and where this current violator is. People are dying from this disease, we have a right to know and protect ourselves. This council will be famous for it's hush-hush way of dealing with big problems. Their heads are stuck in the sand, NOT ours. Tell us.
Linda Boughton, Hamilton
Identifying restaurant would be a deterrent
Why is the identity of the Stoney Creek restaurant that was recently reported in The Spectator as having been charged with numerous counts of flagrantly flaunting the COVID-19 laws, being kept secret from the public?
A big part of slowing the spread of the virus is informing the public of places and behaviours to avoid.
The business of the offending restaurant would undoubtedly suffer, if known, and that in itself would deter other violators. As it is, all local restaurants operate under a black cloud and patrons (possibly infected) are more likely to take their business (and virus) to nearby restaurants in Hamilton and Grimsby.
Geoff Curtis, Grimsby
Stop with this COVID secrecy
After a city official slammed a Stoney Creek restaurant twice in the past two weeks with a slew of broken COVID-related laws, it was unnamed. Why was this place kept secret? We are informed when a restaurant is fined due to failed health inspection. COVID does affect our health. Hamilton, you need to inform the public and stop this COVID secrecy.
Pamela Holland, Hamilton
Spec should identify the scofflaw restaurant
We recently read in The Spec that the City of Hamilton will not name a restaurant that blatantly committed all manner of COVID-19 offenses. Find that odd when they name SpinCo who were following the rules, Radius who were following the rules and various McDonalds, Fortinos etc. who also were following the rules, when they had outbreaks. But you break the rules, put numerous persons lives at risk and you are not named. Then we have The Spec who run the story, but they don't name the restaurant either. I think the city should rethink their privacy" policy, but I also believe The Spec should name and shame" the offending restaurant.
Terry Butlin, Hamilton
Tell taxpayers the whole story
When I read about public health not naming the restaurant that had total disregard for all the rules I was appalled. Locally there are 34 new confirmed cases of COVID and we rank just behind Halton. Why would they need a stern warning? Do the owners and management live in a bubble? On another planet? Even children who go to kindergarten know the rules. Don't warn them, fine them and the morons who patronized the place. But, most importantly shame them and let them know we are serious about this. Citizens have a total right to know what establishment this is. Every day I read where either a school, grocery store, fast food outlet, seniors residents have an outbreak, and they make no bones about giving the name and location. So how is it that our civil servants are NOT serving the public well by telling the taxpayers the whole story!
Maybe The Spectator should take it upon themselves to do some investigating - although I am sure certain staff there already know.
Bill Taylor, Hamilton
Secrecy is the worst of all options
Not naming the law-breaking restaurant is the worst of all options. It might protect their privacy, but it doesn't deserve protection. And the secrecy penalizes other restaurants who are trying to do the right thing. And it penalizes citizens who might be potential customers but will stay away because they don't know the difference between the good operators and the bad ones.
I understand the city now plans on changing this policy so that in future bad actors will be identified. That's good. But it should not have taken this outcry to make that happen.
Protection of privacy is fine, but when it comes at the expense of protecting innocent citizens who might contract this deadly virus, it is morally and ethically wrong. I would argue it also sets the city up to face lawsuits from people who were not properly informed.
Susan and Larry O'Reilly, Hamilton
Name the guilty restaurant
Reading how Hamilton looks like it is out of control makes one wonder why. School boards threatening closures, Chief medical officer warning dire days ahead, what is the city doing? Telling us an unnamed restaurant in Stoney Creek was in violation on four issues and they are still open. If these ignorant fools are allowing these things to happen, the best way to prove you are not playing games is to suspend their licences and lock the doors. If they don't care about their community, then we don't want them here. Name the restaurant so we as concerned citizens can stay away from these establishments.
Frank Delville, Hamilton
Province condoning bad behaviour
I think that the actions that occurred at this restaurant are wrong and will result in the worsening of this pandemic. Unfortunately it is obvious that our premier does condone this type of behaviour as evidenced by his inaction when Sam Oosteroff is guilty of the same type of misdeed.
Paul John Phillips, Dundas
We won't support Stoney Creek restaurants
Since we support several Stoney Creek eateries during this pandemic, we won't be supporting any after this fiasco. And that's not fair to those who follow the rules. We need to know who the perpetrator was.
G. Robert Warren, Hamilton