Local Restaurants Mostly Silent on Proof of Vaccination Status

If you have recently dined out, you may have been asked a simple question. Can you provide proof of vaccination? 

In the City of Los Angeles, proof of COVID-19 vaccination must be shown at indoor restaurants, gyms, entertainment and recreational facilities, personal care establishments and some city buildings.

The Los Angeles City Council’s requirement went into effect Nov. 8. On Nov. 29, enforcement measures began. 

Random Lengths News set out to learn just how the local restaurants are dealing with the new law. The response was, well, untelling. Other than one restaurant, we did not hear from any of the independently owned and operated establishments we contacted.

Buono’s Pizzeria

Frank Buono, owner of Buono’s Pizzeria on 6th Street in downtown San Pedro and on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach replied enthusiastically to this request. Thank you, Frank.

Buono reiterated that his establishment is required to check the vaccine status of its patrons if they are eating inside. Outside, they do not have to check. Buono said 90% of his customers are “good.” The other 10% get mad and leave.

Buono said he does not appreciate being the “police” for the unvaccinated but he always invites them to eat outside, where heaters are lit to help keep his customers comfortable. He noted, when people are coming for take-out, the restaurant doesn’t have to ask for proof of vaccination.

When asked what help his business has received from the County of Los Angeles to implement these rules, Buono said on their last inspection someone asked him how he felt about having to ask for proof of vaccination. Buono only said that he is not going to share what his answer was with this reporter. Aside from that, he said there hasn’t been any help.

The Other Side of The Pond

A quick check, after talking to someone who recently returned from Paris, France, confirmed that the city of lights has streamlined this process for restaurants to expeditiously check customers’ vaccination status and move hungry clientele to their tables.

In Paris, restaurants have an app they can download which allows them to scan the QR code of the clients vaccination status, and then they can tell if it’s valid or not. If it’s valid, they can enter. If it’s not valid, they cannot serve them. It would seem that in LA County — in the country — the technology to do this is available. However, the key is having widespread support and cooperation for the digital technology that could help those who greet and want to serve their customers at the hundreds of great restaurants Los Angeles has to offer.

This is a straightforward way for restaurants to confirm vaccination status and get on with the business of serving customers. To ask about this,  RLN contacted both the County and the City of Los Angeles and the Economic Workforce Development Department in response to the city’s direction, but otherwise, did not hear back before press time.

For now, Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office said that Los Angeles City Council authorized the Department of Building and Safety to issue administrative citations to businesses that violate the ordinance, which will include a $1,000 fine for a second violation, $2,000 fine for a third violation and a $5,000 fine for a fourth and subsequent violations.

Advanced Enough

Upon bringing this process used in Paris to the attention of Frank Buono, he retorted, “We would love to think that we are so advanced, we’d provide that … but we have to use our voice.”

The pizza man said this sucks and he and his employees are tired of it. He noted most people are polite and they understand. Buono said if people are dining in, he asks for proof of vaccination 100% of the time.

It remains to be seen if LA is going to skate by this process, or if a significant enough portion of Angelenos can support restaurants that want to share their hospitality and exciting cuisine with the customers who love to frequent them.