Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti authorized the local Department of Water and Power to cut off water and power to households or businesses that are repeatedly violating the coronavirus health orders.
The measure enters into force on Friday night. If the Los Angeles Police Department arrives on the spot to verify that a large gathering is taking place at the property and if it turns out that these owners do not comply with the rules, the police will give notice and initiate a process to shut off the utilities within 48 hours, Garcetti said.
The Los Angeles mayor announced the new measure shortly after a deadly house party in the Beverly Crest neighborhood in Los Angeles. It continued past midnight on Tuesday and drew numerous noise complaints from neighbors.
It ended with a shooting that left one woman dead and four other people injured. According to the police, it was believed to be gang-related.
The mayor pointed out that the measure does not target the small and ordinary gatherings in people's homes. It is focused on the party-goers determined to break the rules, risking other people's lives. Garcetti labeled these parties "super-spreader events," attended by "super-spreader people."
Some Instagram influencers and YouTubers have filmed themselves hosting or attending parties at their homes in the area. Earlier last week, more than 100 local first responders went to a party in a Los Angeles bar with no masks and no social distancing. The bar commented that the party was meant to celebrate the first respondents' efforts to combat the virus.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said that California remains a "red zone," with at least 10% of the tests coming positive.
The director of the Los Angeles County Health, Barbara Ferrer, estimated that the positive coronavirus cases among young people aged 18-29 quadrupled between June and late July.
More than 530,000 people in California tested positive for coronavirus, the local authorities said, adding that 9,800 of them passed away. Nearly 40% of all the confirmed cases have been reported in the Los Angeles County area.
Los Angeles is not alone in dealing with large, unauthorized gatherings. Similar parties have taken place in wealthy enclaves across the country.
Most recently, David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, opened a drive-in concert that emerged to an electronic dance party with the stage name DJ -Sol in Hamptons, New York.
The New York State Department of Health is now investigating the organizers, the venue, and the city officials who authorized the event.
What do you think? Do you support or oppose the newly imposed measure in Los Angeles to deal with large parties?