Milwaukee issues $235K in COVID-19 violations, unclear who will enforce payment
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in citations were dolled out by the Milwaukee Health Department to businesses that violated COVID-19 safety guidelines during the pandemic but it's unclear if the city will ever collect all of the money.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in citations were dolled out by the Milwaukee Health Department to businesses that violated COVID-19 safety guidelines during the pandemic but it's unclear if the city will ever collect all of the money.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in citations were dolled out by the Milwaukee Health Department to businesses that violated COVID-19 safety guidelines during the pandemic but it's unclear if the city will ever collect all of the money.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in citations were dolled out by the Milwaukee Health Department to businesses that violated COVID-19 safety guidelines during the pandemic but it's unclear if the city will ever collect all of the money.
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In one case, a small corner bar on Milwaukee's south side, that is only open three nights a week, received $3,000 in fines for face mask and capacity violations.
La Farandula's owner, Daniel Nungaray, said before the bar's COVID-19 safety plan was approved, it was only allowed to have 25% capacity inside.
La Farandula fits 30 people maximum, so factoring in Nungaray, an employee and security guard, it could only allow four customers inside.
Nungaray said he remembered one night in February when a health inspector told him he was violating mask and capacity rules.
"He just walked me through what we can and cannot do because our safety plan was not approved yet," Nungaray said. "He just told me, 'Make sure you get that approved, but either way, we're still going to write you these citations.'"
La Farandula is one of more than 80 businesses cited during the pandemic for COVID-19 violations.
According to the Milwaukee Health Department, it issued nearly 150 citations through April, which totaled more than $235,000.
Some places were issued massive fines in the span of a few nights.
New China Buffet on South 27th Street received more than $12,000 in fines.
The restaurant declined to comment on its citations.
Skybox Sports Bar on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive received more than $11,000 in citations, according to the health department.
However, the owner told WISN 12 News the city attorney does not have any record of half of those fines.
Vibe Lounge on North Teutonia Avenue received more than $15,000 in citations.
The owner declined the opportunity to comment for this story.
The bars with the most expensive list of citations were Juniors Cocktail Lounge on Lincoln Avenue and VIP on South 1st Street.
Both businesses were slammed with $26,500 in fines.
The city revoked Juniors' license because of additional neighborhood safety and nuisance concerns.
VIP posted a statement on its Facebook page saying it was shut down until further notice.
The business did not respond to WISN 12's requests for comment.
Currently, it's unclear who will hold every cited business accountable for paying the fines.
The city's licensing committee said it reviews each situation on a case by case basis.
The health department said once its inspectors write the citations, it was out of the department's hands and up to the city attorney's office.
City Attorney Tearman Spencer however told WISN 12 News it was not up to him either.
"If these businesses cannot pay these fines, do they get shut down," asked WISN 12 News' Caroline Reinwald.
"We do not (promulgate) the laws here, with what happens, so I can't tell you that," Spencer said.
"Some of them were received in March or April, some of these citations, and those particular citations haven't been logged yet with the city," Reinwald said. "Is there a disconnect between the health department and the city attorney's office?"
"I think there's a disconnect with that statement," Spencer responded. "We are understaffed, so when something gets sent over it's not getting turned over that fast. It's not just here. We have a court system that's gone virtual. Things are not moving at the pace they were pre-COVID. So to even address those, I think it's premature at this point."
Spencer and Nick Kovac on the licensing committee said the violation fines will still be owed to the city, even though the city is lifting COVID-19 restrictions on June 1.
Nungaray said the health department never warned him before issuing his bar $3,000 in citations.
He is due in court later this month to address the fines.
Nungaray said he plans on asking the judge to lower them, but will pay, even if the judge denies his request.
"It's like getting a parking ticket that you do not deserve, but it is what it is. I don't want to have a dispute with them and risk them closing down my business," Nungaray said.
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