Current Events > The Ohio health department is being sued by Ohio amusement parks

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https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/06/05/cedar-point-kalahari-kings-island-sue-ohio-department-health-reopen/

By Rachel Vadaj | June 5, 2020 at 7:01 AM EDT - Updated June 5 at 7:01 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Ohios three largest amusement and waterparks are suing the Ohio Department of Health to reopen, claiming the department has no constitutional authority to keep their businesses closed.

The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law filed suit on Friday on behalf of Cedar Point, Kalahari Resorts, and Kings Island to instruct the Ohio Department of Health to discontinue enforcing its criminalization of Ohios amusement and water parks, as implemented through the Director Dr. Amy Actons May 29 order.

The Complaints also argue that the amusement and waterparks are being unfavorably singled out by having to remain closed while businesses with similar features, including pols and large crowds, are allowed to be open.

The 1851 Center also pointed out that Gov. Mike DeWine announced the opening of many like-kind businesses on Thursday, but did not include amusement and waterparks on his list.
The Ohio Constitutions protections apply to all, including those businesses that the states highest public officials view as non-essential.

The Governor and his Health Director must end their unnecessary and unconstitutional assault on Ohioans businesses and traditions, explained 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson. We and our clients remain committed to ensuring that these arbitrary policies never again recur.
The cases are pending in the Erie County Courts of Common Pleas with Judge Binette, and the Warren County Court of Common Pleas with Judge Oda.
Copyright 2020 WOIO. All rights reserved.

It is ridiculous that everything else can open but not amusement parks or water parks. The bullshit rules cannot be legally enforceable.


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Mr_Karate_II posted...

It is ridiculous that everything else can open but not amusement parks or water parks. The bullshit rules cannot be legally enforceable.

How would amusement parks and water parks work with social distancing?

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IdiotMachine posted...

How would amusement parks and water parks work with social distancing?

Cedar Point and Kings Island said they'd figure out a plan about social distancing. You have no more of a chance of getting it at an amusement park than you do at anywhere else

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

Cedar Point and Kings Island said they'd figure out a plan about social distancing. You have no more of a chance of getting it at an amusement park than you do at anywhere else

So they wouldn't do anything.
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Mr_Karate_II posted...

You have no more of a chance of getting it at an amusement park than you do at anywhere else

Literally thousands of people sit in that one seat of the roller coaster train a day. People are packed when waiting on lines (of an hour or more).

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Bio1590 posted...

So they wouldn't do anything.

I didn't say that now did i?

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IdiotMachine posted...

Literally thousands of people sit in that one seat of the roller coaster train a day. People are packed when waiting on lines (of an hour or more).

I will take my chances. The CDC isn't even sure the virus can be transferred onto surfaces.

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Assuming they did open, would they have enough daily customers to make a profit?

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

I will take my chances. The CDC isn't even sure the virus can be transferred onto surfaces.

Sure, you can take your chance, but you taking that chance affects others, those who do not want to take that chance.

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

I will take my chances. The CDC isn't even sure the virus can be transferred onto surfaces.

You should change your prefix to Prof. or Dr. seeing how you're such a science and disease expert now.

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mrgoatthief posted...

to be fair to amusement parks, theaters are being allowed to reopen and their business model is just as terrible for spreading in a pandemic.

Disagree, because you can easily have social distancing policies in place for theaters. I don't know how the hell you would do that on a roller coaster train or a water park.

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@CedarPointcp

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

I didn't say that now did i?

Nope, but it's the implication of their words.
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If you go to Cedar Point at the height of the summer, most rides have insanely long lines as it is... if you force them to social distance, I'm not even sure how you manage that, because people would just be lined up down the midway and everything. >_>

PROTIP: I always go in like May before school is out or September after it starts again, on a weekday, and there is like no one there. >_>

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

I will take my chances. The CDC isn't even sure the virus can be transferred onto surfaces.

So where does the virus go if someone coughs or sneezes directly on a surface? It just disappears?

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Why not have the government just permanently close and demolish the parks already. Thats whats going to happen anyways because theyre unable to re-open to generate revenue.

Can we open now
No

When can we open?
I dunno lol

How will we continue our business
How about you dont

but
How about you go f*** yourself, its for public safety.

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Waterparks specifically don't seem to be a good idea.

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Cinemark movie theaters and Golden Corral restaurants are still voluntarily closed in Ohio.

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Mr_Karate_II posted...

Cedar Point and Kings Island said they'd figure out a plan about social distancing. You have no more of a chance of getting it at an amusement park than you do at anywhere else

Figuring out a plan and having a plan are two different things. Honestly they probably should stay closed if months into a pandemic they still haven't even figured out a plan.

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iPhone_7 posted...

but
How about you go f*** yourself, its for public safety.

This but unironically.

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TroutPaste posted...

@CedarPointcp

i just heard yesterday that ohio is allowing cedar point to open right now but they have to take the necessary precautions. correct me if i'm wrong

So lets say these places open at 20-25% capacity and manage to make a profit still..doesnt that just prove theyre normally running at a ridiculously marked up profit margin at 100% capacity?

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CedarPointcp posted...

i just heard yesterday that ohio is allowing cedar point to open right now but they have to take the necessary precautions. correct me if i'm wrong

I don't know, I've moved away from Northern Ohio in the past few years

Could use a nice ride on the Raptor and Millennium Force

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thronedfire2 posted...

So lets say these places open at 20-25% capacity and manage to make a profit still..doesnt that just prove theyre normally running at a ridiculously marked up profit margin at 100% capacity?

Do consider that a lot of these places have to make extra money during the summer because they're literally closed for a third to half of the year. Even if they're able to turn a profit at 25% capacity by shutting some stuff down, they probably won't be able to make enough money to cover their offseason.

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TroutPaste posted...

I don't know, I've moved away from Northern Ohio in the past few years

Could use a nice ride on the Raptor and Millennium Force

when's the last time you've been there? i love that place

thronedfire2 posted...

So where does the virus go if someone coughs or sneezes directly on a surface? It just disappears?

It'll stay there as long as the water hasn't completely evaporated.

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Hold up hold up hold up

TC was one of those people who would shit on people for wanting things to open up regardless of if the state allowed it or not. Now because he can't go down a water slide he has changed his mind.

CedarPointcp posted...

i just heard yesterday that ohio is allowing cedar point to open right now but they have to take the necessary precautions. correct me if i'm wrong

They're not allowing Cedar Point to open. The governor excluded amusement parks with his announcement yesterday

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Sewage posted...

Hold up hold up hold up

TC was one of those people who would shit on people for wanting things to open up regardless of if the state allowed it or not. Now because he can't go down a water slide he has changed his mind.

Mr_Karate_II
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Mr_Karate_II posted...

The CDC isn't even sure the virus can be transferred onto surfaces.

Actually they are sure, they just no longer think it's the primary way this virus goes from person to person.

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Sewage posted...

Hold up hold up hold up

TC was one of those people who would shit on people for wanting things to open up regardless of if the state allowed it or not. Now because he can't go down a water slide he has changed his mind.

No I'm not. Don't assume shit about me.

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s0nicfan posted...

Do consider that a lot of these places have to make extra money during the summer because they're literally closed for a third to half of the year. Even if they're able to turn a profit at 25% capacity by shutting some stuff down, they probably won't be able to make enough money to cover their offseason.

Cedar Point and Kings Island are both owned by Cedar Fair which is one the largest amusement park companies in the world. If they're worried about going under they have other problems.

Pretty sure they should have insurance for this.
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Bio1590 posted...

Cedar Point and Kings Island are both owned by Cedar Fair which is one the largest amusement park companies in the world. If they're worried about going under they have other problems.

Pretty sure they should have insurance for this.

Most business interruption insurance doesn't include viral reasons.

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At this point they might as well just open everything up. Social distancing is hardly being practiced anymore. America doesn't understand moderation.

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IdiotMachine posted...

Most business interruption insurance doesn't include viral reasons.

If the people who ran Wimbledon were smart enough to get it added after SARS then there's really no excuse for a billion-dollar company to not have it either.

That being said, they could easily argue it's the Governor and Health Department forcing them closed. Would they win? Guess that depends how compelling a case they could make.
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CedarPointcp posted...

when's the last time you've been there? i love that place

Shit, maybe 10 years

But I had been there almost annually as a kid

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Bio1590 posted...

If the people who ran Wimbledon were smart enough to get it added after SARS then there's really no excuse for a billion-dollar company to not have it either.

That being said, they could easily argue it's the Governor and Health Department forcing them closed. Would they win? Guess that depends how compelling a case they could make.

It was the governor and health department keeping them closed.

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The governor caved LOL

https://fox8.com/news/governor-dewine-casinos-racinos-amusement-parks-and-water-parks-can-reopen-in-2-weeks/

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ExtremeLuchador posted...

Cinemark movie theaters and Golden Corral restaurants are still voluntarily closed in Ohio.

Damn it, now I can't eat at Golden Corral. I'm sad.

I love Kings island, its been my go to park since geauga lake closed. Still wouldnt go this year if they were allowed open though, or any of our usual festivals or fairs for that matter.
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OgesMC posted...

I love Kings island, its been my go to park since geauga lake closed. Still wouldnt go this year if they were allowed open though, or any of our usual festivals or fairs for that matter.

you think kings island is better than cedar point?

CedarPointcp posted...

you think kings island is better than cedar point?

Kings Island ain't got shit on Cedar Point. Cedar Point has the better coasters or a better version of what KI has. The new coaster at KI is identical to Millennium Force at Cedar Point and the trains look so stupid plus it's shorter.

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They should still sue the health department and the governor to prevent this from happening ever again.

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mr karate you plan on going to cp once it opens? there is no date set yet right for them to re open?

CedarPointcp posted...

mr karate you plan on going to cp once it opens? there is no date set yet right for them to re open?

They can open as of June 19th but they have to get workers and train them plus get everything else ready. I'd say at least 3 weeks til they can open and hell yeah I'm going once i see how they're gonna enforce social distancing. There is no way you can stay 6ft apart in line or on a ride, they shouldn't make you wear masks the entire day when it's gonna be hot out. That's just asking for people to pass out or get heat stroke. Masks should be optional unless you're in a store

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oh so cp wanted to open even sooner than 2 weeks , and were pushing for it right?

Mr_Karate_II posted...

There is no way you can stay 6ft apart in line or on a ride, they shouldn't make you wear masks the entire day when it's gonna be hot out. That's just asking for people to pass out or get heat stroke. Masks should be optional unless you're in a store

Imagine risking your life for a fucking log ride. Yikes.

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CedarPointcp posted...

oh so cp wanted to open even sooner than 2 weeks , and were pushing for it right?

I don't know all the details but i know they didn't like what the governor and the health department were doing. I do know they did hire a lot of people back in march probably a lot of locals. Wonder how they're gonna handle employee housing.

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