The pier itself, one of the LA area’s most recognizable landmarks, is still going strong, however, packed with tourists and residents, many of whom are maskless and stay significantly less than 6ft apart. To date, nobody has shown much interest in policing them – much less closing the place down.
To many, it is indicative of inconsistent and illogical applications of anti-Covid strictures by political leaders facing pressure from a variety of unions and industry lobby groups.
Why else, residents say, would a high-risk venture like in-person grocery shopping be allowed to keep going while other, seemingly low-risk ones like children’s outdoor playgrounds have been padlocked and wrapped in police caution tape? How, before the latest emergency, could gyms and nail salons be allowed to open while schools, even ones with large playing fields and outdoor corridors that could host open-air classrooms, remained closed?
“Everyone in LA must stay home,” one local news site deadpanned, “unless you need to golf, go Christmas shopping, or shoot a music video.”