Political figures and community members responded to those responsible for the threatening messages that a Texas food service establishment received after announcing its plans to continue to apply the COVID-19 mitigation protocols, despite the governor’s plans to terminate the regulations in the entire state.
Monica Richards, co-owner of the popular Mexican restaurant Picos in Houston, said The Washington Post that people sent “horrible” messages to the establishment via social media and over the phone, some of which threatened to report staff members to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“People don’t understand, unless you are in our business, how it was, how hard it was to go through everything we went through during COVID. For people to be negative with us for trying to stay safe, so that it doesn’t happen it doesn’t continue to happen , it just doesn’t make sense to us, “said Richards, one of the daughters of the founders of Picos, Arnaldo and Janice Richards, in comments to the Publish.
The newspaper report, published on Saturday night, elicited an immediate response from Texans, including Democrat Julian Castro, who served as United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017, under the administration of former President Barack Obama . He campaigned for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination during the most recent election season.
“Well, @JoaquinCastrotx, it looks like our state is still in the news today for all the wrong reasons,” wrote Castro on Twitter, retweeting the PublishPicos’ article on hate reactions to COVID-19’s ongoing requests for Picos and tagging his twin brother, Texas deputy Joaquin Castro, in a social media post.
Joaquin Castro represents his state’s 20th district in the United States House, encompassing San Antonio. The Democratic Congressman encouraged local employers to continue allowing employees to wear facial covers in the workplace at their discretion last week after Texas Governor Greg Abbott withdrew the mask’s mandate across the state.
The governor’s directive, which initially came into force when the Texas COVID-19 cases emerged in the summer, will formally end on March 10, when companies will also be allowed to resume operations at 100% of their respective capacities. Joaquin Castro joined several voices who criticized Abbott’s decision to terminate mitigation protocols against the advice of public health officials, calling the measure “reckless and dangerous” and suggesting that it was motivated by political goals rather than good. -being in the community.
Governor Abbott’s failure to listen to science and medical advice will cost Texans their lives.
This decision is reckless and dangerous – and a desperate distraction from abandoning the governor’s duty during power outages.
He’s putting politics above the people of Texas. pic.twitter.com/dMQI2c0e9K
– Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) March 2, 2021
Picos confirmed its intentions to maintain previously instituted public health orders aimed at reducing the risks of transmitting COVID-19, in a shared Facebook post the day after Abbott announced the revocation of the mask’s mandate across the state. As Abbott’s recent executive order states, companies can continue to apply masking requirements, as well as any other regulatory measures, as they deem appropriate in the future.
Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images
“With all of our hard work and combined community efforts, we will continue to maintain the distance from the tables and the appropriate social distance at Pico’s,” the restaurant announced on Wednesday. “We will require masks on all staff members and any customers who enter or circulate in our establishment without being seated. We think this decision is the best one to protect our employees and guests and we ask for your support to follow these guidelines during visits to we.”
The Houston restaurant saw a wave of supportive feelings emerge on social media after the Publish publication of Saturday’s report, with people praising the establishment itself, defending the continuity of the face mask protocols and condemning individuals who tried to terrorize the team with immigration threats.
Before there is any chance of making this country big, we have to start being good. Let’s start with the first steps of being better than we are today. https://t.co/ykgFtRX80a
– Melvin E. Edwards (@ edwards21228) March 6, 2021
Anyone who wants to put ICE at Pico’s (or at any other stellar restaurant in H-Town) does not deserve to eat that killer pibil cochinite, taste those smooth edges or never taste that unique green salsa again. https://t.co/yGyT1r9es4
– Josh Schaffer (@JoshSchafferLaw) March 6, 2021
“Absolutely on board with masks in restaurants !!!” a person tweeted, adding that Picos “rules”.
Another called the threats to the establishment “crazy” and noted that Picos “is a very good restaurant and they can do whatever they want”.
Co-owner and chief of Picos, Arnaldo Richards, acknowledged the show of support given to his restaurant in comments to the Newsweek on Sunday.
“Although we received some disappointing reactions, the community’s support was overwhelming,” he said. “We appreciate Governor Abbott’s position and will continue to maintain measures in place for the safety of our guests and staff.”