AnonymousBy an edhat reader
I found this message to be interesting, to say the least, and am curious what other readers think. This was sent by local gym AC4 to its members on July 17:
Dear Member:
We have received confirmation from the County of Santa Barbara that the recent mandated closure also applies to Private Key Clubs. Consequently, we are no longer able to provide club access for members. We apologize for this inconvenience. Additionally, there will be no August 1st billing.
At this writing there are 51 known cases of Covid-19 in Santa Barbara (population of 90,000) and 7 cases known of Covid-19 in Goleta (population 35,000). These are known cases (not hospitalizations, which is a far lower number). These numbers represent a relative average since the go ahead to reopen one month ago. To say there is no sense to the current mandated closure for the County of Santa Barbara is an understatement. To say that the arbitrary application of this closure makes no sense (liquor stores and cannabis stores remain open) is a gross understatement. Studies conducted in Europe show no evidence that Health Clubs have been a source of virus transmission (for clubs observing proper protocols). In fact, those who are the healthiest, are the most resistant to infection and prolonged illness. Exercise and proper nutrition are the only natural ways to boost your immune system. Of course, for others in the highest risk categories of our population (e.g., aged with heart disease, obesity, or diabetes), they should take every precaution and avoid public places.
If you are concerned about the shutdown of our economy, millions of people losing their jobs, their businesses, their retirement, the additional 8 trillion in debt that we are leaving our children and grandchildren, and the out of control hysterical media narrative driving our public policy, then we encourage you to contact your elected officials.
We will be in touch as we have more information regarding permission to reopen our business.
I support the gyms right as a business to remain open. And free and independent citizens can choose to enter, or stay home. The government is wrong all the time, and just because the government makes a rule, does not make it right or fact. Be skeptical. Covid is real, and we should all be wearing masks and taking precautions, but Covid is also being used as a political tool to distract and manipulate. Small Businesses are the victims of that. We all need to support small business however we can right now. And not secretly turn each other in, like the op did here, by posting this businesses newsletter to a website. I take issue with the fact that citizens are turning on each other by secretly and anonymously turning each other in to authorities and media for breaking the “Covid rules.” This is what they do in China and other oppressive places. Secret police and citizens turning each other in. We do not want that type of society here.
At this point, SACJON, it’s all about politics. And the nerve of a business owner to request that customers communicate with state and county leaders if they object to the political decisions made by said leaders. If one is in a high risk and vulnerable group or lives with such a person, don’t go to the gym. If not, you should be able to go to the gym with reasonable precautions. The goal to sit at home until the virus no longer exists is absurd. If you think there’s no damage sitting at home, you are naive. That’s the point made by the American Academy of Pediatrics recently.
At this point, SACJON, it’s all about politics. And the nerve of a business owner to request that customers communicate with state and county leaders if they object to the political decisions made by said leaders. If one is in a high risk and vulnerable group or lives with such a person, don’t go to the gym. If not, you should be able to go to the gym with reasonable precautions. The goal to sit at home until the virus no longer exists is absurd. If you think there’s no damage sitting at home, you are naive. That’s the point made by the American Academy of Pediatrics recently.
MARV – sadly, yes. This virus turned political when republican leaders, including the president, convinced their people that it was nothing but a “liberal hoax.” Now, wearing a mask is the sign of a “snowflake liberal” or something ridiculous like that. My feeling is that businesses would do best for themselves to keep out of politics or other divisive issues such as the virus has sadly become. As for me thinking there’s no damage just sitting at home, I’m not sure where you got that. I have been saying from March to go outside, go to the beaches, the parks, etc and exercise! Do it, but do it safely. That means, no indoor gyms, yoga, etc just as no indoor bars, restaurants, etc. I’ve been outside either at the beach or fishing or both probably more than before Covid. No, unfortunately taking the side that this is overblown and some kind of “hyteria” indicates a lack of respect for a global pandemic that is affecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. I think that is wrong and I would not support a business that took that side. How is that different from conservatives refusing to support businesses that show any support for controversial liberal agenda items (eg, planned parenthood, illegal immigration, etc)?
I’d quit the gym.
Other gyms have gotten smart and moved a lot of their weight room weights/machines, cardio, etc outdoors so members can still workout outside. Since this will be the norm for at least the short foreseeable future, it makes sense to make the move outdoors and continue to let their members workout should they choose to.
The gym could open their business, albeit limited in function, by moving some or all of their equipment outdoors. Since this is going to be with us for a while, gyms would be smart to move stuff outside so that they can operate and remain open, rather than having to deal with constant openings and closures and re-openings depending on the state mandates at any given time.
It seems like a certain percentage of the population on both sides refuses to listen to logic or reason. For some, that manifests as being loudly (and ignorantly) anti masks. But on the other side you see the extreme position of seemingly wanting everything to shut down and stay shut seemingly forever. Both positions are ridiculous. As Dr Fauci has said…wear a mask! But he’s also said this thing isn’t going away…it’s here to stay. So there is seemingly an obvious middle ground that the vocal few on either side refuse to accept and allow. WEAR A MASK AND RESUME LIFE. Covid-19 is here to stay… it’s a game changer… but it’s not a game ender. Take precautions. Wear your mask in public places. But for most of the population…go back to school. Open up bossiness. Life goes on. Don’t listen to the anti mask crazies…or the close everything and hide forever nuts…
Great…you get that option! I on the other hand would join that gym as I appreciate their passion (side note: I have absolutely no interest in gyms).
GREAT LETTER!! SPEAKS THE TRUTH!! GOOD JOB STANDING UP TO THE LIBERAL MOB
Jeez how unprofessional, not to mention another way of pushing sales onto potentially new members.. Just do a search of the top local gyms and see how they’re responding to covid, then compare, then determine if AC4 is being completely honest or just showing desperation through which ultimately shows weakness of a business. That’s what I would do… I don’t know about everyone else
they are not wrong, but not a great idea to send this to customers randomly
Check your Caps Lock. It looks like it is stuck ON.
Trump said they were UP 21%. Biggest increase in history! What gives?
Sounds like the owner is pushing his political agenda to his members before taking his ball and going home.
A big problem is that the rent is $10,000 per month for a nail salon. Not the cause of this problem, just an impediment to the permanent solution, going forward. $10,000 lost rent ad infinitum doesn’t sound much like a winner, either. Maybe “The rent is too damned high!”
Duke likes getting his opinion in there whether he has a dog in the fight or not.
Duke said he doesn’t go to gyms, but has 12 comments on this thread. We get it brochacho.
A-1595626078 – the surge has absolutely NOTHING to do with the increase in testing. positive cases would be registered regardless if they tested more or less. regardless if they test people with symptoms or not. this is not a comparison of positive vs negative. this statement is the most aggravating thing out of this. Testing does not = a surge. 33% increase in testing. yet %140 increase in cases. how does that math match your narrative?
untrue, I understand what it is to live in a society with lots of people. and realize that the effect of my choices have an impact on everyone else. sometimes things are enacted that look out for the betterment of the WHOLE not the few. Whos gona run your business if you get sick, whos going to serve your customers if your staff gets sick. whos going to buy your goods if your customers get sick. So keep your “people that obviously dont have a business….. ” to yourself, im fine with this. and have mad changes to my business model to accomodate. all the while realizing that in the end I might not make it. because the rest of the population is more important than my paycheck. peoples lives are more important than the dollar.
Slow day at the office! Though to be honest I do enjoy reading (and responding) to wildly hypocritical posts. You sat this one mostly out…what do you got to add to this one mate? Anything beyond telling a business owner to not say anything political (or at least not politically inline with the vocal mass)?
If NOT wearing a mask were punishable by an increasing fine per subsequent violation, followed by jail, THAT would be taking the science seriously! Not doing that while there was widespread indifference and disregard of the “requirement” to wear masks in public is why we are where we are again today, and worse than before.
Sounds like the owner is fed up with this. As are many other shutdown business owners that were going above and beyond protocol to keep their doors open and make a living just to get shutdown again. Good for him to not be afraid to voice his opinion in a time of cancel cancel culture unless you agree with us BS. I’ve got your back AC4.
Except I read the article. NO ONE that went to the gym tested for COVID before or after the experiment, so no transmission was possible in the gym. Unknown if gym transmission is better or worse based on the science in the article,as I read it. Am I missing something?
So what? I see no problem with the owner voicing their Constitutionally protected opinion. Don’t like it? Cancel your membership. Not a member? Then don’t concern yourself with it.
I’m disturbed by this business owner essentially correlating working out in a gym as a way to combat COVID-19? Misinformed and dangerous. Indoor gyms with sweat and spit flying around is NOT SAFE.
Sounds like it’s time to switch gyms. Pretty financially irresponsible for a business to jump into the politics of this given the huge divide between opinions. They must be very confident in their financial situation to ostracize an undoubtedly large portion of their clientele.
Switch gyms because the gym is angry that they can’t open their business?
Whereas one can sympathize with this business owner, his “message” is ignorant and irresponsible. But, times like these separate the exceptional from the common.
Here is where the government needs to step in and soften the blow to business sectors that have/will be destroyed by this pandemic. The cost of many, like this business owner, going down the drain will be much higher in the end unless measures are taken NOW. The fallout from this nuclear pandemic will only amplify with time. Pay now or pay more later —
Really misinformed opinion by this gym. NO, thanks, I will not be going to gyms until this is over. Not worth it.
Except that AC24 is correct. This IS a political issue and the ever-changing “mitigation rules” are not based in science.
Even if the number of infected people is ten times higher than what is reported by SB Public Health (which BTW IS a reasonable *assumption*), it still means that the chances of you, any of you, bumping in to someone with COVID is about 1 in 8,000 encounters. At the gym with maybe a dozen people there, that’s 1 in 100,000. So, lock em down! Studies out of Europe confirm that the risk at gyms, using proper hygiene protocols, is actually exceptionally low, approaching zero, and less than population random testing. One article is cited below. Do your own research. There are more. You are not going to find covid-sick people at the gym. They can’t breathe well, remember? The asymptomatic people—distancing, good air circulation, wiping down equipment, hand sanitizing—standard protocols work fine. Gyms that provide outdoor exercise areas, they should be give a gold star. Not closed down.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/it-s-safe-go-back-gym-if-there-s-little-covid-19-around-study-suggests
It actually reads as pretty informed and intelligent. If we are going to celebratedemand businesses take political stands…can we really condemn one for putting out a message with stats to their paying customers showing how ready they are to open(and how beneficial they think being open would be)?
The people that want everything shut down obviously don’t own a business and understand the financial ruin of paying for a commercial lease and having no income. They aren’t doing enough for us. Many businesses owners would be okay for shutting down if government helps us with our financial burden of being shut down. My hair salon friend shut down bc his rent is $10000 per months, shut down 5 months is $50000 in debt just to rent. You don’t recover from that. You want us shut down make sure they take care of the small businesses, if they down their won’t be jobs for so many people to come back to.
I’m just gonna keep beating a dead horse and say once again that what I see on that closed-off section of state street is SB south county’s own elephant in the room when it comes to high-risk behavior yet the city seems to be so happy to let it persist.
M-cubed – exactly. The main reason for this new surge was due to indoor bars/restaurants/parties, etc opening up too soon. It’s pretty well established. Even though outdoors, not many are following the distance guidelines down there. Just wear a GD mask folks! What is it going to hurt you?
I have not seen anyone explain why gyms are particularly dangerous wrt COVID. Hint: they are. Go do your homework and then come back and we’ll talk.
Agree 100% SBONAVIA .
Hopefully a gym open under the CoVID pandemic will provide Darwin awards to its members.
GYM owners…”adapt or die” whining about how you think this is all so unfair is really tone deaf. Tell that to the family members of the 144,000 people who’ve died since March. If your operation is purely indoors with recirculating air and people are sharing equipment it’s common sense that it’s risky. No one wants to see anyone’s business fail, but more than that no one wants to see people die from Covid. When gyms are given the “green light” to fully open indoor operations it gives people a false sense of security. Just like bars opening… If you can’t shift your gym operations to A temporary outdoor setup or offer your members outdoor boot camp, yoga classes etc. then maybe you should reconsider the business you’re in. I’ve seen other gym owners handle this situation like rockstars. I’m not saying it’s easy but if there’s a will there’s a way.
Shout it from the Rooftops QUASIBEST !
I belong to 2 gyms. The owners went to extreme lengths to make certain the gyms were completely sterilized all the time. Everyone wore masks and stayed more than 6 feet apart from each other. They had scheduling set up so that there was never more people in the gym than that would prevent social distancing. There were many times when there was only a handful of people in the gym at all. The equipment was wiped down and sterilized before and after each use, and the club owners went through the club and sterilized everything several times a day on schedule. It was so clean and sterilized you could almost eat off the floor. Honestly, you couldn’t catch a virus there even if you wanted to. And there was certainly no ‘spit and sweat’ flying around, at all. Quite the opposite. All the patrons cared very much for their health and the health of others and took the precautions very seriously. You would have a far greater chance of catching a virus visiting your local grocery store. With all these safety precautions in place, the gyms should very much be allowed to open back up. YES, regular exercise is a key factor to maintaining health. There were certain classes I took there that I actually need for certain health conditions I have. My prayer is that reason will prevail, and the gyms will open up again soon.
I support the gym owners right to air his opinion. In fact, I’m glad that he did. It allows me to make an informed choice with my consumer dollars. We all have a choice on how we spend our discretionary income.
I do not believe that we should have a choice, however, to protect or not protect ourselves and each other from getting Covid19. I am a nurse at Cottage and see it’s systemic and devastating effects on all ages/stages. I believe that we have the moral obligation to do the right thing for each other.
What is glossed over too often is the truth of the matter: Covid19 molecules are not just droplets (large molecules capable of traveling about 3 feet and dropping with gravities assistance), they also come in very small sizes (down to .125 micron) which make them airborne. The masks we wear around town can not compete with airborne particles. Sure, everyone at a gym can wear N95’s (keeping 95% of airborne particles out) and clean the equipment between each use, but if we can’t get our neighbors to actually wear their masks correctly, not under their noses or around their necks, how can we expect them to wear an N95 effectively? And then there is the reality of using essential PPE that perhaps ought to be saved for those on the front line, at greatest risk of infection.
I do not want any establishment to have to close right now, and my heart goes out to those struggling with the economic realities of Covid 19. But, as a nurse and Covid 19 caregiver, it would be amoral and against the very core of what I practice to put dollar sign on any life.
I care for each of you as if you were my mother, brother, or best friend and the fewer of you that we need to treat, save or fail and lose, the better off we all are.
I love you on both sides of the mask divide and treat you as equals when you are in my care. But in my heart of hearts, I wish that we could blur the lines just a bit more and present a united front on preventing Covid 19 transmission. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can support our local establishments for the sacrifices they have reluctantly but willingly made for our community.
FYI:
Check date of message then go to Santa Barbara DPH and look at the states on covid 19.
Additional:
On the date of the letter there were confirmed cases of:
562 SB City
101 Goleta City
29 IV
77 unincorporated goleta
88 unicorporated so coast/carp/summerland/montecito