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Racine business owners claim denial of COVID-19 relief grant after `Safer at Home` protest
Racine business owners claim denial of COVID-19 relief grant after `Safer at Home` protest
RACINE -- After attending a protest in Madison, in opposition to Safer at Home orders in April, owners of a Racine business say they're being discriminated against -- planning to sue the city after not receiving COVID-19 relief grants. Denis and Dimple Navratil said they would've received $6,500 from the grants. They're now asking themselves, what was the cost of free speech?
Denis Navratil
The pandemic is been a plague on business for the owners of Dimple's in downtown Racine.
"When we had to close our store, it went 100% dry," said Denis. "That happened overnight."
Dimple Navratil
The Navratil family estimated a 50% to 60% drop in sales compared to last year -- the reason they jumped at the chance to apply for two rounds of small business grants in April and May for COVID-19 relief.
"When they told me there wasn't enough funds, it just didn't sit well with me," said Dimple. "I knew there was something else to it."
According to Mayor Cory Mason, Racine received 357 applications totaling almost $3 million in requests. He said $900,000 was given out to less than half of those who applied.
Denis Navratil said his business was flat out denied consideration for the grants because he attended the massive "Safer at Home" protest in Madison in April.
A car drives by as protesters against the coronavirus shutdown gather in front of the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 24, 2020. - Gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlors had a green light to reopen in the US state of Georgia on Friday as t …
"While the money was helpful, our main concern now is that we've been denied our First Amendment right to speak and assemble," said Denis. "That's just not right."
Mayor Mason issued this statement:
"He's being very unfair and very unjustice by using this against us," said Dimple.
Since reopening, the owners said they've followed all safety recommendations at the store, and now, they're meeting with attorneys to pursue a lawsuit against the city.
"We are talking about the right to speak and to assemble," said Denis. "I can give him a copy of the Constitution if he wants. It's right there."
It should be noted, Dimple Navratil is also a board member for the Downtown Racine Corporation. The store has been part of downtown for two decades.
FOX6 News tried to speak with Mayor Mason on camera Monday -- but he issued a statement instead.