I live in NY and there are still restrictions on group gatherings (as of today, no more than 50 people). I am in the position to have advance notice of a planned gathering, hosted by a business, that will number over 4 times that. Our area of the state has had the highest percentage of positive tests almost every day since the 4th of July. I have been debating notifying the state via an anonymous complaint hotline and I am thinking it is the right thing to do. What would you do?
I don’t want to be the target of retaliation. So if there is no possibility of becoming the target, I would.
Do you think the state would do anything to stop it?
@TatinG They fined and closed another business locally for trying to have an event over the July 4th weekend, so I do think they would.
Wouldn’t the local police be interested? Forward the meeting info to an email address there? Perhaps you have a spam email address rather than your regular one, if you want to be anonymous. Or maybe they have an anonymous tip line.
No, minding your own business is something which is sorely lacking today. Social media has turned society into a tattle tale story hour in which people critique everything someone else does. Have you considered they are taking precautions? Can you imagine a scenario where it might work within the rules?
So, you want to turn in a business and have them closed down so that all the employees, who have no say in whether or not this event takes place, lose their jobs?
No, even if they are violating the number of people who can gather at one time, I would not notify anyone.
I think it is fine to anonymously notify the state and even the local police. Events like this could cause COVID to explode in your area.
If you think the reporting would slow the spread of the virus, do it. If I knew someone was setting fires in dry brush or firing a gun into the air on New Year’s Eve, I would report it. The possibility of causing injury is significant. Same with a big event now.
I would report. I hate the whole idea that an adult who is looking out for the greater good is some kind of tattle tale. This is not something that only affects those breaking the rules- it goes way beyond that for this. I would do it even if it couldn’t be anonymous.
I have done a little more investigation in the time since I originally posted. The number of guests exceeds the total number of beds at the local hospital by 25% so my issue is that they are putting the community at large at risk. I’m not sure how you can have a buffet dinner party with dancing for 200+ people in a confined space safely.
The previous event that was cancelled by the state was 400 people on a 100 acre farm where they could really spread out.
Email the company in question, express your concerns. Link them to the NY restrictions and reporting site. CC in a lot of the company emails. "Out of an abundance of caution" yadda yadda yadda.
I would report.
When is the event? Is there time to wait it out a bit and see if they get “found” through some other channel or come to their senses and make changes?
You could also call the hotline, not reveal identifying (to you or the business) info and ask them “if I knew of an event like this” what would they do? They may say nothing. They may say, we would want to investigate.
I personally don’t think it’s ok to pretend it isn’t happening. At the same time I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions or I’d be real sure I have definite info.
The people in the community who could potentially die if this event causes increased community transmission don’t have a say in it either.
This isn’t tattling on someone for some insignificant transgression; it’s behavior that can result in illness, potential long term disability, and death.
There are some states who are actually asking folks to report violations…and have a form to do so. I know here in CT, if someone sees something wrong at a hair salon or nail spa, they can report it anonymously.
I’d report it…if it’s a blatant disregard for the restrictions in your state.
I didn’t suggest it was tattling. OP asked if you would report the event, and I was explaining why I would not.
We have no idea if the company is forcing anyone to go. And as PP mentioned, they could very well be taking precautions to keep their employees safe. As adults, they have a choice to attend, or not. If they do not feel safe, they can choose to stay home. But if the company is reported, and is forced to close down, then the person who reported it, knowing that this would happen, is partly responsible. I wouldn’t be willing to do that.
I’d report it. And note that enforcement actions aren’t necessarily all or nothing.
Authorities would most likely just send them a letter or pay them a visit and tell them to reduce the size of the event. It seems highly unlikely that the business would get shut down for an event that didn’t even happen yet. If they went ahead with the event after official warning, then I could see them getting shut down for it.
200 people buffet and dance? Yes. I would report. That’s exactly the kind of event that spreads.
If it was 200 people getting together to produce Lysol, hand sanitizer, or disinfecting wipes (or Herb and Butter Rice A Roni, which I still can’t get anywhere), I would think a lot more kindly of the gathering than just getting together for a buffet and dancing.
OP out of curiosity, are you an invitee or did you hear about it through the grape vine?