Businesswoman Natali Mishali, 30, says that she’s spent over $20,000 in legal fees in a bid to open up her store in Los Angeles, despite the city shutting it down in early April and charging her for violating the public health order.
According to <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-29/will-prosecution-of-tobacco-shop-for-violating-coronavirus-lockdown-go-up-in-smoke">The Los Angeles Times</a>, Mishali is the owner of a downtown smoke shop that also sells groceries, snacks, and cleaning supplies, in addition to the tobacco products people typically associate with smoke shops.
While the variety of offerings appears unorthodox, the store’s proximity to downtown makes it accessible to the local homeless population, which consists of about 6,500 people across the entirety of downtown, according to <a href="https://www.lahsa.org/data?id=13-2019-homeless-count-by-community-city">2019 data</a> from the LA Homeless Services Agency.
“We are an essential business,” said Mishali, who showed the LA Times a copy of her 2018 food market retail-permit receipt. “Some might not like the tobacco aspect of our business, but if we have the permits and we sell food, we should be allowed to be open.”
In public health guidelines published on March 19, the <a href="http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1070029_COVID-19_SaferAtHome_HealthOfficerOrder_20200319_Signed.pdf">county indicated</a> that stores selling groceries and cleaning products would be deemed essential. However, the county has since published <a href="https://covid19.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/HOO_Safer-at-Home-Order-for-Control-of-COVID_04102020.pdf">revised</a> definitions saying businesses that just happen to sell pre-packaged food are not essential. 
“The city insisted on shutting us down, and we spent the last three weeks just working and doing everything we could to get back open,” said Mishali, who says officials kept visiting her store, despite repeatedly finding that she was in compliance. “We got our confirmations from the county, and we did everything we possibly could to have an answer for anything the city could throw at us.”
While the store is currently open, the news agency reports that Mishali still has an arraignment date for early July, and could face up to six months in jail or have to pay a $1,000 fine for violating the public health order.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ca-governor-lays-out-4-stage-reopen-plan-months-before-churches-gyms-sports-hair-nail-salons-open">said Tuesday</a> that retail businesses can expect to open within the next few weeks for curbside pickup, as part of a phase 2 re-opening initiative. But phase three, which covers “higher risk work places” such as nail salons and in-person religious services, may not begin for “months.”
In a lawsuit filed against the governor and Los Angeles County officials, seven other business owners have accused the government of causing potential irreparable harm to their livelihoods, reports <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/small-business-owners-file-suit-gov-newsom-ca/story?id=70365949">ABC News</a>.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve got small businesses that have been effectively put out of business or forced to close literally without rhyme or reason,&#8221; Mark Geragos, lead attorney for the case, told the news agency.
&#8220;Our country was built on the premise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and today in 2020 those freedoms are being stripped away from law-abiding citizens and businesses, without rational thought or a rational basis,&#8221; he said. 
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Los Angeles Store Owner Says She’s Spent $20,000 In Legal Fees In Fight To Stay Open

American Reporter Arrested By Russia Charged With Spying

Inflation, Immigration Most Important Issues For GOP Primary Voters: Poll

WATCH: Good Samaritan Chases Fleeing Drunk Driver Who Killed Cop, Pins Him Down

Marianne Williamson Teases 2024 Biden Primary Rematch

ABC News Producer, 37, Died From Choking While Drunk, Medical Examiner Says

TV Journalist Arrested For ‘Disorderly Conduct’ At Train Derailment Press Conference

News and Commentary

COVID

Los Angeles

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News and Commentary —

Los Angeles Store Owner Says She’s Spent $20,000 In Legal Fees In Fight To Stay Open