Northridge Mall to step up COVID-19 protocols and enforcements following complaints

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

Increased monitoring and added COVID-19 guideline signage are some of the changes expected at Northridge Mall in Salinas after a City Council Member received complaints of guideline violations.

City Council Member Anthony Rocha says several community members and mall workers reached out with concerns of non-compliance of the face mask order and indoor dining.

With COVID-19 cases rising in Monterey County, City Councilman Rocha says retail stores are a good place to start cracking down on guidelines and enforcements.

After receiving the complaints, Rocha decided to drop by the mall and observe for himself.

“People removing their masks while they were eating indoors, certain areas, there wasn’t enough visible public health guidelines and it wasn’t always easy to comprehend," says Rocha.

Inside the mall, seating and eating areas are blocked off to the public but Rocha says the problem is when people walk into multiple stores, eating as they walk without a face mask on.

Northridge Mall General Manager Susan Causey says she has not received any complaints directly but after meeting with Council Member Rocha and the Salinas Interim City Manager, an agreement was made to address the issues and make changes, starting with more security monitoring.

"They just want to make sure that people are aware that their masks stay on all the time and they shouldn’t be lowering it to eat or drink inside the mall," says Causey.

To remind everyone, there will be more visible signs posting the guidelines.

Causey says signs with less wording and added graphics will be added for English and Spanish speakers.

Council Member Rocha says the objective is to avoid another shut down.

“My main goal is to make sure the mall could stay open but the only way we do that is if our cases go down," says Rocha.