Calabasas Gets Tough On Masks And Parties

CALABASAS, CA — Coronavirus totals are rising quickly in Calabasas – in just over a week, the city reported 19 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number to 162.

To respond to rising cases and a number of complaints about residents refusing to wear masks indoors, the City Council voted unanimously to begin issuing $100 citations for people refusing to wear a mask starting Monday.

“We do not want to do this, but we have to start taking this mask order seriously,” Mayor Alicia Weintraub wrote on Facebook.

The act enforces a March emergency order, which says that “any person shopping or working at a grocery store, restaurant, or other essential business or service within the City of Calabasas shall wear a face covering while they are at the location.”

The order also empowered local businesses to refuse admission to anyone not wearing a face covering.

Weintraub confirmed to Patch that no citations have yet been issued for not wearing a mask. She also stated that citations will only be given to people not wearing masks in a public indoor establishment, or if they get closer than six feet to another person while outdoors.

Weintraub said that police would give a verbal warning before issuing a citation. The citation fee will increase by $100 for each infraction.

Weintraub also announced that deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department have the authority to break up large gatherings without warning. Previously, deputies warned people to leave before they shut parties down and told hosts it could not happen again.

“The warning period has ended and the Sheriff understands that all parties are to be broken up immediately,” Weintraub wrote. “Under the Calabasas Municipal Code, the Sheriff is allowed to end any unruly gathering, defined to include any gathering that threatens public health.”

The new zero tolerance policy comes in response to a large Saturday party hosted by 23-year-old YouTube star Jake Paul in Calabasas. Paul faced a social media backlash after he posted footage of the raucous party, which included hundreds of guests standing in close proximity to one another.

NEW: The mayor of Calabasas & neighbors tell me they’re outraged after they say YouTube celebrity @jakepaul threw a massive party at his mansion on Saturday. They call it irresponsible, selfish, & say it’s businesses & workers who pay the price for this w/ lockdowns. 10pm @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/COiVleuDH2
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) July 15, 2020

Weintraub reported getting numerous noise complaints, and told Fox 11 News that she and “everyone who saw the video” were “outraged.”

“They’re having this large party, no social distancing, no masks – it’s just a big huge disregard for everything that everybody is trying to do to get things back to functioning,” Weintraub told Fox. “It’s really just a party acting like COVID does not exist – it’s acting that businesses aren’t closed.”

Weintraub vowed that nothing like this will happen again. She posted that the Sheriffs would shut down “any gathering that threatens public health.”

The Malibu-Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department was unavailable for comment.