Milwaukee Getting More Aggressive On COVID-19 Order Fines

For months Milwaukee officials have said they were taking an education-first approach to enforcing the city’s Moving Milwaukee Forward Safely health order.

Businesses found to be violating restrictions on capacity, distancing, mask-wearing or other COVID-19 related violations were given a warning letter.

Since July 27th, the city issued 62 warnings. It’s only cited two businesses. Now that’s going to change. The city will skip the formal warning letter.

“The educational period is over,” said Mayor Tom Barrett in a press briefing Thursday afternoon. “People are either with the program or they’re not with the program.”

Milwaukee Health Department officials have had a problem getting compliance from many businesses, they said during a briefing Thursday morning before a Common Council committee. Barrett singled out bars in his remarks.

But bars haven’t been the dominant business type getting warning letters. According to a city report, warning letters have overwhelmingly gone to gas stations and their attached convenience stores.

The reason for that might be the manner and hours the city’s health inspection staff operates.

The city’s inspection staff operates in a reactive matter. It responds to citizen complaints. It also doesn’t go out after 10 p.m. because of staffing shortages and safety concerns. Inspectors are always sent out in pairs.

The fines, which apply only to businesses, carry a maximum penalty of $500. That’s also been an issue when the city has levied the fines.

That amount hasn’t been enough to stop some businesses, said deputy health commissioner Claire Evers. She said they view it as the cost of doing business.

The city levied three citations totaling $1,500 against Fiesta Café, 1407 S. 1st St., on August 6th. Previously a breakfast-centric restaurant, the business added a nachos stand and two-story outdoor bar this summer. A city report says they violated restrictions on mask-wearing, distancing and capacity.

Trinity Three Irish Pubs, 125 E. Juneau Ave., received two citations totaling $1,000 on October 6th for violating the city’s mask mandate and for failing to comply with distancing requirements. Trinity, which has a city-approved health plan, is allowed a higher capacity limit.

Evers said the city would begin forwarding violations to the council’s Licenses Committee. She said the health department was also exploring changes to the order to increase fines based on capacity or other size-based factors.

Common Council members, including Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, encouraged the health department to leverage the Milwaukee Police Department to better enforce the order. Lewis said a bar in her district was routinely packed.

The city is in the process of potentially changing its Moving Milwaukee Forward health order. Changes are expected to be announced next week.

Both the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County are seeing record levels of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, even as the county has dropped from first to 12th in the per-capita rankings of COVID-19 cases in the past month. Wisconsin reported record highs for single-day cases, new hospitalizations, active hospitalizations and deaths related to the pandemic this week.

Violations of the city’s health order can be reported by calling 414-286-3674 or emailing cehadmin@milwaukee.gov. According to a city statement, complaints will remain anonymous.

Warning Letters

Business name, address, date issued

• McDonald’s – 1614 E. North Ave. – 7/27/2020
• Oklahoma Oil Mart – 5912 W. Oklahoma Ave. – 7/27/2020
• Sunrise – 2879 N. Weil St. – 7/30/2020
• USPS – 3600 N. Holton St. – 8/3/2020
• Milwaukee Pedal Tavern – 820 S. Water St. – 7/31/2020
• Gold Diggers – 4750 N. Hopkins St. – 7/31/2020
• Pita Palace – 789 W. Layton Ave. – 8/3/2020
• Ace Market – 5035 W. Center St. – 8/4/2020
• Center & Sherman Tobacco and Food – 4320 W. Center St. – 8/4/2020
• Center Street Food – 4630 W. Center St. – 8/4/2020
• Jay’s Food – 4402 W. Center St. – 8/4/2020
• Fiesta Café – 1407 S. 1st St. – 8/4/2020
• Jo-Cat’s Pub – 1311 E. Brady St. – 8/7/2020
• Popeye’s – 7458 W. Appleton Ave. – 8/7/2020
• JJ Fish & Chicken – 6005 W. Appleton Ave. – 8/10/2020
• Penz Mart – 1225 W. Lincoln Ave. – 8/12/2020
• BP Lisbon – 5505 W. Lisbon Ave. – 8/12/2020
• Cermak Fresh Market – 1236 S. Barclay St. – 8/14/2020
• Fast N Friendly – 311 W. Locust St. – 8/14/2020
• Midget Foods – 2500 N Booth St. – 8/19/2020
• Clarke Foods – 832 E. Clarke St. – 8/19/2020
• Best Petroleum – 575 W. Becher St. – 8/20/2020
• China Gourmet – 117 E. Wells St. – 8/20/2020
• Garfield’s 502 – 502 W. Garfield Ave. – 8/20/2020
• Gene’s Supper Club – 4323 N. 60th St. – 8/22/2020
• Courtside Pub & Grill – 9012 W. Silver Spring Dr. – 8/22/2020
• Toast – 231 S. 2nd St. – 8/24/2020
• Hook Fish & Chicken – 2604 W. Capitol Dr. – 8/24/2020
• Taqueria La Guelaguetza – Food Truck – 8/24/2020
• Beto’s Pizza – 1234 S. Cesar E Chavez Dr. – 8/24/2020
• Family Dollar – 7924 W. Burleigh St. – 8/25/2020
• Taqueria El Paso – Food Truck – 8/25/2020
• Buck Bradley’s – 1019 N. Old World Third St. – 8/28/2020
• Speedway – 3869 S. 84th St. – 8/31/2020
• R&R Liquor – 8333 W. Morgan Ave. – 8/31/2020
• Best Quality Furniture Store – 1233 W. Vliet St. – 9/1/2020
• Anytime Fitness – 1555 N. Water St. – 9/4/2020
• Lareno’s Hot Dogs – Food Truck – 9/8/2020
• Riverfront Pizzeria – 509 E. Erie St. – 9/9/2020
• The Fatty Patty – Food Truck – 9/11/2020
• Mr Taco – Food Truck – 9/11/2020
• Taqueria Acapulco – Food Turck – 9/11/2020
• Ouzo Café – 776 N. Milwaukee St. – 9/11/2020
• Hot-dig-a-dee Dog – Food Truck – 9/11/2020
• Wacky Wieners And Sausages – Food Truck – 9/11/2020
• Mike’s Mobile Auto Repair – 3951 N. 75th St. – 9/11/2020
• La Carreta Vieja – 1339 W. Greenfield Ave. – 9/11/2020
• Snifters Tapas and Spirits – 606-610 S. 5th St. – 9/12/2020
• Walker’s Lounge and Events – 626 S. 5th St. – 9/12/2020
• AA Mart – 1401 W. Mitchell St. – 9/14/2020
• Speedway – 959 W. Lincoln Ave. – 9/15/2020
• McDonald’s – 920 W. North Ave. – 9/16/2020
• Domino’s – 7131 W. Capitol Dr. – 9/16/2020
• Petro Mart – 3425 W. Oklahoma Ave. – 9/17/2020
• Junior’s Cocktail Lounge – 3300 W. Lincoln Ave. – 9/25/2020
• Mr. J’s Lounge – 4610 W. Fond du Lac Ave. – 9/25/2020
• CS Foods – 6300 N. 76th St. #K8 – 9/30/2020
• North Port Liquor Store – 3876 N. Port Washington Ave. – 10/5/2020
• Trinity Three Irish Pubs – 125 E. Juneau Ave. – 10/2-4, 2020
• Walker’s Point Mobile – 605 S. 1st St. – 10/13/2020
• McDonald’s – 1940 S. 14th St. – 8/27/2020
• Irgens Partners – 833 E. Michigan St. – 10/14/2020