N.J. Gym Owners Arrested After Defying Governor's Covid Order

[demmiblue]

Source: Bloomberg

Two men were arrested Monday after police found their New Jersey gym open, the latest in their months-long series of challenges to Governor Phil Murphy’s closing of such businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Ian Smith, 33, of Delanco and Frank Trumbetti, 51, of Williamstown each was charged with fourth-degree contempt, obstruction and violation of a disaster-control act. They could get fined as much as $1,000 and sentenced to six months in jail.

The men have become fixtures on Fox News, raising more than $100,000 for their legal defense by arguing that enthusiasts of bench presses and elliptical machines should be free from public health orders, and that Murphy’s emergency measures are ravaging small businesses.

Murphy’s approval has jumped during the pandemic, with polls showing broad support for his coronavirus steps even as unemployment hit a record high and the state faces an estimated $10.1 billion revenue shortfall through June 2021.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-27/n-j-gym-owners-arrested-after-defying-governor-s-covid-order?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_medium=social&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

[pandr32]

1. Good

People die because of the willful indifference of others.

[Sherman A1]

2. Good

There should be consequences

[iluvtennis]

3. Glad they were arrested. Wish the fine was more than $1000. nt

[Rebl2]

13. They should lose

their business license to operate. Until there are really strong consequences, either large fines or loss of business licenses, the businesses that refuse to abide by the rules will keep doing the same thing.

[iluvtennis]

16. + agree with the suspension or loss of biz license. nt

[HotTeaBag]

4. I have a friend that owns a gym in New Jersey

and it's really unfortunate that he'll probably end up going out of business because gyms will be one of the last places to open.

I suppose the overall saving grace for gyms might be that because of their monthly membership model once they are allowed to open they can start charging again even if very few people actually go - most people with memberships don't use the gym anyway.

[tenderfoot]

5. One of the owners has a past DUI that caused a fatality

https://patch.com/new-jersey/cinnaminson/owner-nj-gym-defied-murphy-opens-drunk-driving

BELLMAWR, NJ — The owner of a South Jersey gym that reopened this week in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphy's stay-at-home order spoke about his 2008 drunk driving conviction Wednesday morning.

Ian Smith, co-owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, took to Instagram to address rumors of his drunk driving conviction that have come about amid the gym's reopening on Monday and Tuesday. (See video below)

In 2008, Smith was sentenced to more than five years in prison for causing a crash that killed a Galloway teenager, according to nj.com. He ran a stop sign and killed 19-year-old Kevin Ade.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. Well, it is a shame that this is happening to gyms, etc. but every business is suffering in...

some ways, due to the lack of foot traffic in their stores, due to the lack of business caused by shopper anxiety and angst. This is an unusual series of events (the CV and the totally incompetent actions on the part of the rump administration to attempt to handle the epidemic (it's not by any measure)). I wonder just how many lawsuits will these gym owners incur, if (and when, it's just a matter of time I think) being open during such perilous times, and clients die?

[Yeehah]

8. I agree it's a shame

because gyms are businesses that actually help people be healthy. But not in a pandemic. Many gyms will close because of this damned virus.

[SWBTATTReg]

10. I wonder how many of these gyms have disaster insurance, w/ the CV? Would their insurance

cut in when the cause is the CV? My heart does go out, but you know, a gym is a place full of grunting and heavily breathing persons (in my case it would be), working out, not probably a safe environment in anybody's book.

It seems like a total revamping of the premises would be needed, i.e., isolate each workout station into its own room, after each use, have the stations wiped down or sprayed down, repeat. Sounds very expensive, but perhaps may be only way to stay open?

I do have my own workout stations at home, I got for my bad back, and it helps a lot, but not everyone can afford such things either or have the necessary room either.

[Historic NY]

7. Even been in a gym...

you know what I mean. Its not so much the grunts, the sweating , etc. its the accumulation of droplets all over the place. If they won't wear masks in stores then they won't here. The lazy people barely wipe down stuff, and your packed in to banks of machines that don't allow for social distancing. I for one don't want to be an experiment at my age. I ordered a commercial treadmill that will be here Friday factory direct, got tired of waiting on various places the sell them. No shipping charges and no taxes a 500 saving. Now I can hide out downstairs with my 55 in TV.

The number one problem is ventilation!!!

[iluvtennis]

17. Well said and congrats on your commercial treadmill and 55" TV - love it. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

9. These anti-maskers have been continually in the news here in Philly since we do S. Jersey's media

Atilis Gym owners arrested for violating N.J. coronavirus orders

by Ellie Rushing, Updated: July 27, 2020- 12:29 PM


The owners of Atilis Gym were arrested Monday morning and the entrance to the Bellmawr gym was boarded up, putting a temporary end to the months-long standoff between the defiant business’ owners and the State of New Jersey. Ian Smith, 33, and Frank Trumbetti, 51, were charged with fourth-degree contempt, as well as obstruction and violation of a disaster control act, both disorderly persons summonses, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the gym about 5 a.m. to arrest the owners when they continued to operate their business after a judge issued a contempt order against them on Friday. The two refused to leave the gym when asked, leading to the charges, the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. Smith and Trumbetti have since been released.

“After Atilis Gym refused to comply with multiple criminal citations and Superior Court orders, including a contempt-of-court order issued Friday, today law enforcement entered the premises to ensure closure of the gym and to abate the public health risks,” said a spokesperson for Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “As the attorney general previously said, the state wishes it had not come to this, but the gym refused to comply even with a contempt order.”

Trumbetti said that while he and Smith were at the police department, they watched the entrance to the gym get boarded up through their Ring doorbell camera.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/atilis-gym-bellmawr-arrested-coronavirus-phil-murphy-ian-smith-frank-trumbetti-20200727.html

[Aviation Pro]

11. Buff Dudes, close the gym, sell your equipment and call it a day.

This is not a hill you want to die on because the Rona gives zero fucks about small businesses.

[RainCaster]

12. Six months in jail would be good

They can work out like the rest of us do. Separately.

[3Hotdogs]

14. 'bout time.

[BadGimp]

15. The thickheadness of these two is staggering.

If I had been watching FOX News I might have known who they are