Mayor Garcetti Admits that LA’s Reopening ‘Happened Too Quickly’

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti seemed to take a shot at county and state officials on Sunday night, in an interview with Jake Tapper at CNN. Garcetti told the news organization that “he agreed” with people who say that reopening large sectors of the LA economy in late May and early June “happened too quickly,” allowing for the massive community spread and spike in COVID-19 cases now seen in Los Angeles County and beyond. Garcetti was firm in adding that decisions on reopening are largely county and state affairs, and that localized mayors “often have no control” in deciding what opens up and what doesn’t — though as mayor of the second-largest city in America Garcetti has certainly been a voice in the room for those conversations. Now, as LA and surrounding counties see a massive jump in total positivity rate and hospitalizations compared to a month ago, Garcetti added that he “on the brink” of working with those same county and state officials to institute a new, more sweeping round of lockdown

And in other news:

• ‘I’m risking my life,’ reads this LA Times op-ed from a restaurant server in Los Angeles. It’s harrowing stuff from a front-line worker afraid of serving customers during the pandemic, while also worried about what happens when the government money runs out.
• Santa Barbara County classic the Hitching Post II has discovered at least one positive coronavirus case among employees, so the wine county restaurant is shutting down until close to the end of the month.
• The Badmaash crew is now selling pre-packaged drinks in addition to awesome Indian food and lots of wine. The oat milk chai and others can be found at both restaurant locations as well as at sandwich spot Wax Paper.

• Chef Bruce Marder is switching things up in Santa Monica, says Toddrickallen, with plans to open a new spot called Baja Norte.
• Teddy’s Red Tacos has a new location, opening at the edge of East LA and Montebello. The address at 6438 Whittier Blvd. features a big all-patio seating arrangement.
• Chef Sang Yoon is still in R&D mode for the reopening of Helms Bakery. Check out some of his team’s recent creations over on Instagram.
• Go Get Em Tiger is still opening coffee shops, this time completing the team’s long-awaited West Hollywood expansion. The space is open now.