A clash between the mayor of Washington, D.C., and a restaurant group over the city's ban on large gatherings is highlighting the tensions between government officials and businesses as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts life across the country.
When D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Sunday announced restrictions on restaurants and bars, many applauded the move as a prudent step to slow the spread of coronavirus. But one major restaurateur balked.
The Hill Restaurant Group, which owns seven eateries around D.C. including some popular Capitol Hill locations, vowed to defy the public health measure. Business would “continue to operate as normal,” the group said.
“We will not bow down to pressure from the Mayor’s Office or any group for that matter who covertly is attempting to shut us down,” read a statement...