‘Miscommunication’ prompts temporary shutdown at El Azteco West

Carryout service to continue this week after officials close rear bar

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THURSDAY, Dec. 17 — Health officials said confusion and miscommunication led to the temporary closure of El Azteco  in Lansing this month. But after conforming to health standards, the locally owned Mexican restaurant won’t be facing any lingering consequences.

Bobbie London, owner of El Azteco, 1016 W.  Saginaw St., had just finished a frustrating confrontation with customers who  refused to wear masks when a woman walked inside and announced that she was with the Ingham County Health Department.

“She wasn’t my usual inspector, so I didn’t recognize her,” London said.

The inspector, Sue Scheurer, had been called in on the evening of Dec. 4, a Friday, to investigate reports that the popular westside eatery had been violating state emergency epidemic orders — allowing guests to dine in an enclosed patio portion of the restaurant that didn’t quite fit current health standards.

Four guests were waiting in line for the patio bar when Scheurer arrived at 6 p.m., she wrote in her report. Scheurer’s report also stated that El Azteco’s five overhead garage doors encasing the patio were closed and that guests inside — and in line — weren’t safely socially distancing.

Indoor dining is prohibited in Michigan until at least Sunday  under state orders. London told Scheurer that her usual inspector confirmed that the rear bar qualified as acceptable outdoor seating during the pandemic. Scheurer disagreed and tried to explain the rules to London.

But London “did not pay attention to what I was saying,” Scheurer wrote in her report.

Customers started making comments. Scheurer retreated to her car to call her boss, Roderick McNeil, director of environmental health at the Ingham County Health Department. Customers chanted “lock her out” as Scheurer left the building — later approaching her while inside her car.

Soon, Scheurer’s car was surrounded by customers taking photographs, shouting and shining lights. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said that type of hostility that Scheurer had experienced is only an example of that greeting health officials across the state and country.

McNeil told Scheurer to shut the place down.

Soon, McNeil called Vail. Vail then dialed Lansing Mayor Andy Schor. Schor made a call to Police Chief Daryl Green. And Green called in his officers — a round robin of calls all geared toward allowing the Ingham County Health Department to execute its cease-and-desist order.

Two officers were dispatched to El Azteco shortly after 6:30 p.m. Body cam video of the encounter was released Thursday morning and can be seen here, here, here and here.

Scheurer went back to her car, retrieved her county-issued identification, and soon the restaurant was given the order to shut down. Health officials on Monday issued clearer guidance on what's considered acceptable outdoor dining under MDHHS orders:

Those areas are defined as “a space enclosed fully or partially on the top, and enclosed fully or partially on more than one side.” Temporary structures like tents, canopies or rear bars with bay garage doors are considered indoor seating unless they’re “open on three sides,” orders state.

El Azteco’s rear bar is now closed. London had carryout service back going by Monday. 

Vail labeled it all a “situation of miscommunication.”

“I told Rod to get with them Monday morning and get them open again,” Vail said.

McNeil also met with his team and issued clarified guidance on outdoor dining rules. London also agrees it had been an issue of miscommunication, compounded by stress, that resulted in this month’s brief stand off and shut down. And she’s embarrassed it happened, she said.

“I try really hard to do everything right,” London added. 

London has also been busy confronting Stand Up Michigan, a conservative movement that encourages businesses to ignore epidemic orders and stay open. The group recently sent out a list of businesses that were ignoring rules. London wasn’t pleased to see El Azteco on the list.

“I’ve called them. I’ve emailed them. I am not part of any of that. I want nothing to do with it.”

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  • Sainthomer

    This gestapo activity is reflective of Nazi Stasi. The government has no rights to make laws preventing people from gathering. They are engaging in foul play per our constitution. If this were fair play why does it feel so wrong. The medical mafia has been given a free pass by The City Pulse by not challenging the narrative. Idiocracy-itis is the prime affliction being spread by keeping citizens misinformed.

    Friday, December 18, 2020 Report this




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