BOZEMAN, Mont. – After the Gallatin County Health Department won their lawsuit against the Rocking R Bar, who was defying their order for bars and restaurants to close at 10 PM and many folks are upset with the decision.
The whole reason why the Gallatin County Health Department issued the mandate for restaurants and bars to close at 10 PM was due to the sharp rise of COVID-19 cases. The Rocking R Bar was defying that order, staying open till 12:30 AM, and their reasoning behind them staying open was pretty sound. Sadly though, the judge chose the side of the Gallatin County Health Department.
So here’s the thing, I don’t think shutting the bars and restaurants down at 10 PM was smart at all. The Gallatin County Health Department wants to protect people from COVID-19 but the problem is that all of the restaurants and bars were all following the protocols beforehand. People had to be seated at a table, they had to wear masks when entering a businesses and tables not bigger than six.
The problem with the 10 PM mandate is that this has caused many restaurants and bars to shorten their staff due to the hours. This is causing more unemployment to our area where the service industry has been ravaged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That is hurting many folks who depend on busy bar nights to make rent in the high cost Bozeman.
If the Gallatin County Health Department really wanted to make a difference they should have instituted a fine for those who have house parties with more than designated group number. That would have actually help people accountable but the Gallatin County Health Department overlooked that and decided to punish restaurants and bars that have been following the rules every day.
