Paternalism (aka in government: We Control the Vertical, We Control the Horizontal.)

There is a reality show called something like “Parking Wars”, where they showcase the public servants in Philadelphia writing tickets, booting cars, and towing cars for parking violations and expired permits/licenses. The scenes at the impound lot are shocking: indifference by the fine public servants, demand for large sums of cash for parking and licensing violations, and plenty of bulletproof glass, locked doors, and armed cops in abundance.
Just the name of the show tells you everything you need to know.

(g) Customer access. By no later than January 1, 2021, the Department of Licenses and Inspections shall promulgate regulations to provide for the use or removal of any physical barrier that requires the persons serving the food in any establishment required to obtain a Large Establishment license, as provided in subsection (4)(a)(.1), either to open a window or other aperture or to pass the food through a window or other aperture, in order to hand the food to a customer inside the establishment.

That’s my own emphasis (bolding) in the quote, btw.

Anyway, some establishments might be able to keep their protection but others would not. No potential for favoritism there.

Oh, and 2021? Gosh, all the existing businesses might well have moved away by that date, in anticipation of the danger, and be already sold to Friends Of The Council, and the regulations could then be allowed to die quietly.

[Lastly, and as an aside, an aperture to hand food to persons outside the restaurant would still be OK under the above wording, so, should this bill pass, we might expect to see customers inside having to go outside to get their food and bring it back inside to eat.]

In the 1970s while living in the Detroit area I had a summer job at a company that made plenty of these windows. There wasn’t a bank, mom-n-pop convenience store, or liquor store in certain areas that didn’t have these windows…and for very good reason.

The Philadelphia city council will be smart to not vote against acrylic windows in businesses. As an aside, I wonder if any of the Philadelphia city offices that accept cash will remove their bullet-resistant windows, if they are present.

I haven’t visited the Philadelphia City Council while it’s in session. Judging by their concerns, I would guess I can wander in without any sort of security precautions being taken, or ring the doorbells of the council members who are proposing this bill and be ushered in immediately. What am I saying? Surely their doors are unlocked!

Bob