The Erie County Health Department slapped the owner of an Orchard Park gym where a protest against Covid-19 restrictions on businesses was held with a $15,000 fine.
Over the weekend, a video went viral that showed about 40 to 50 business owners and their supporters gathered at Athletes Unleashed on California Road Friday evening when a health inspector accompanied by sheriff's deputies arrived. The people inside the gym repeatedly told the county officials that they were trespassing and yelled, "Get out! Get out!" and the officials left.
Tuesday, a Health Department official returned with a letter informing the gym's owner, Robert Dinero, that he was being fined $15,000 – the maximum allowed under state law – for violating Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order prohibiting "nonessential" gatherings of more than 10 people. He was also cited for allowing people who are not wearing masks to come into his building.
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A man who identified himself as Dinero refused to accept the letter so it was taped to his front door, according to a Health Department spokesman.
Tuesday evening, Dinero appeared on Fox News with a crowd of at least a couple dozen unmasked people behind him and tore up the letter.
Meantime, a GoFundMe account had raised nearly double the amount of the fine by 2 p.m. Wednesday to support Dinero.
According to the letter that was given to Dinero, he can request a hearing regarding the fine which must be paid by Dec. 19.
Last week as the region's numbers of new Covid-1 infections and hospitalizations rose to record levels, Cuomo placed most of Erie County – including Orchard Park – in an orange zone, which meant that businesses considered "high-risk" for transmission of the virus had to close. That included gyms, hair salons, barbershops and other personal care businesses. Also, schools had to switch to fully remote learning and restaurants and bars were barred from serving customers indoors.
Maki Becker
