https://www.foxbusiness.com/li...reopening-gov-murphy

New Jersey gym owners celebrate reopening date after battle with Gov. Murphy

By Angelica Stabile | FOXBusiness

Published 8 hours ago

After a seemingly endless battle between Bellmawr, New Jersey’s Atilis Gym and the state government during the coronavirus pandemic, gyms will be allowed to officially reopen on Sep. 1.

Atilis Gym co-owners Frank Trumbetti and Ian Smith told FOX Business’ Neil Cavuto that even though this is a win, there’s still a long way to go.

“We still have a long battle ahead of us but it's a step in the right direction,” Smith said. “We have a lot of legal issues to resolve and some legal issues of our own with Gov. Murphy. But it's certainly a step in the right direction.”

The owners previously reopened their gym without consent from the governor who revoked their business license after months of pushback. Atilis Gym countered Murphy’s response by teaming up with U.S. Senate Candidate Rik Mehta and deeming the gym an official campaign location.

“Since they took our business license away from us, everybody comes in and signs up to be a volunteer for the campaign and we do different things throughout the day,” Trumbetti said. “And we allow everyone to exercise their rights while they are here.”

Trumbetti said the fine to operate without a license is approximately $15,497.76 per day which has come to nearly $300,000 in total.

Technically, since Atilis no longer has a license to operate, the gym is not included in the Sep. 1 reopening. But Smith said they will be open anyway.

“We're going to stay open,” he said. “We've suspended all commerce. We haven't charged any members since April anyway. This wasn't about just reopening the gym and making money. From the beginning, this is about taking a stand for what we believe are gross violations of due process and our constitutional rights… Gov. Murphy got his way and got us, quote, ‘out of business’ but we're still open.”

Gov. Murphy argued the reason why gyms have been extensively left closed is due to the high risk for coronavirus spread. Trumbetti commented that there’s no data to back up his reasoning.

“I think from the beginning it was just a joke,” he said. “They had... statements with no signs of data… Since June 16th, we've had over 28,464 visitors come to our site and we don't have a single case of COVID and we have not required them to wear masks.”

“I just hope that all the gym owners out there that have been closed… take the precautions that we've taken and they take it very seriously… and follow the guidelines or else they’re going to find themselves being made an example of,” Smith said.

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New Jersey gym owners celebrate reopening date after battle with Gov. Murphy

Joy oh Joy.

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Originally posted by smschulz:

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New Jersey gym owners celebrate reopening date after battle with Gov. Murphy

Joy oh Joy.

What does that mean?

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Originally posted by downtownv:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

New Jersey gym owners celebrate reopening date after battle with Gov. Murphy

Joy oh Joy.

What does that mean?

A little obtuse today are we?
It means: it is a good thing they are moving forward and opening.

Speaking of NJ, the state is raising the gasoline tax 10 cents because of loss of revenue during the shutdown.
Well duuuuuhhhh, what do these idiots expect when they keep people's businesses shut down and restrict or scare people to death over going out to eat and shop etc.???

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

New Jersey gym owners celebrate reopening date after battle with Gov. Murphy

Joy oh Joy.

What does that mean?

A little obtuse today are we?
It means: it is a good thing they are moving forward and opening.

No, just seeking your clarification. Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by tleo205:
Speaking of NJ, the state is raising the gasoline tax 10 cents because of loss of revenue during the shutdown.
Well duuuuuhhhh, what do these idiots expect when they keep people's businesses shut down and restrict or scare people to death over going out to eat and shop etc.???

It won't be just NJ. Most, if not all will need to come up with revenue to cover the losses from the shutdowns from Covid. We've already been hit with a big increase in next years property taxes.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by tleo205:
Speaking of NJ, the state is raising the gasoline tax 10 cents because of loss of revenue during the shutdown.
Well duuuuuhhhh, what do these idiots expect when they keep people's businesses shut down and restrict or scare people to death over going out to eat and shop etc.???

Government at its finest boys and girls. Yes, we put you out of work. Yes, we are keeping your kids out of school negatively impacting their lives. Yes, we've done almost everything wrong as it relates to this pandemic. And yes, after all that, we're going to extort more money from you to pay for our failures. And they wonder why people hate government.

1st day back in the gym (w/Masks)kicked my ass but I'll be back in full swing in a few days.
Thank you Gov Phil Murphy for allowing us to exercise our bodies, you scumbag! Every night I go to sleep and when I awake, I hope he didn't.

Seems the ppl of SF were screwed while the Gov kept their gyms open.

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/new...-gym-owners/2357438/

Bastards in the new jersey government are petty tyrants.

NJ gym famed for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders fined more than $1.2 million.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Jersey gym owner: ‘No plans’ to pay over $1M in fines for defying shutdown orders

The owners of a New Jersey gym who famously defied orders to close the fitness center during the coronavirus pandemic have now been hit with more than $1.2 million in fines — but are staying open as a “F–k you” to Gov. Phil Murphy.

The Atilis Gym in Bellmawr became an anti-lockdown poster child in May after it repeatedly refused to adhere to the Garden State’s orders to close.

Now, the gym has had more than 60 citations totaling more than $1.2 million — despite not having a single infection linked to the business after more than 83,000 visits in that time, one of the co-owners, Ian Smith, told Fox News.

Smith sent a clear message to Murphy and other state officials in a video shared by TMZ in which he vowed to stay open — filmed without a mask in the middle of his packed gym.

“Gov. Murphy will see this video and fine us $15k for it,” reads one of a series of flashcards a smiling Smith holds up in the video.

“But … free men don’t ask permission. Or for forgiveness,” it continues.

“F–k you, Murphy,” a male voice then says loudly in the video after Smith walks off camera.

Smith told Fox that the governor has “thrown everything he possibly could to shut us down.”


“He has arrested my partner and I, given us over 60 citations, some of them criminal. He fines us $15,497.76 per day for every day we’re in operation,” he said.


“Our fines are totaling over $1.2 million, but every single day, Frank and I open our gym,” he said.

He called the damage being caused to a small business “a complete tragedy.”

“I would go so far as to call it criminal,” he said.

“You are putting people out of business for good. You are making them reliant on big government. You are taking away their civil liberties under the guise of pretending like you care about public health.”

As well as keeping open when gyms had to be closed in the state, Atilis also defiantly refuses to mandate masks for its patrons.

“All of our other safety measures have kept our members safe,” he said, noting “83,000 visits and no outbreaks linked to the facility.”


Murphy’s office told TMZ it had “nothing to add.”

LINK TO STORY

quote:

Originally posted by tleo205:
Speaking of NJ, the state is raising the gasoline tax 10 cents because of loss of revenue during the shutdown.
Well duuuuuhhhh, what do these idiots expect when they keep people's businesses shut down and restrict or scare people to death over going out to eat and shop etc.???

Seems maybe three common patterns in raising taxes. First, people will change their financial matters to avoid taxes, the gov't doesn't collect as much as they planned. Second, the gov't will spend the money they hoped to get from the tax increase rather than what they really get, the deficit gets deeper. Third, the gov't often doesn't spend the new tax money for the intended purposes, they feed themselves and their cronies first.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Murphy’s office told TMZ it had “nothing to add.”

Pussy.

"Pussy" would be a playground word compared to what the people of NJ really think of this carpetbagging weasel.
Words used in the strongest measures.
But don't worry this prick will get re-elected easily. look for the Union Label

New Jersey Court Throws Out 80 Charges Against Brave Gym Owner Defying Gov. Murphy’s Tyrannical Lockdown Orders: “Suck My Dick Phil Murphy”

Ian Smith, co-owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, has achieved a monumental victory. A New Jersey court has dismissed all 80 charges against him, charges that stemmed from his bold decision to reopen his gym in direct defiance of Democrat Governor Phil Murphy’s tyrannical COVID-19 lockdown orders.

The saga began in May 2020, when Smith reopened Atilis Gym, challenging the Murphy administration’s mandates, which he and his supporters argue are unconstitutional and detrimental to small businesses.

The confrontation escalated in July 2020 when police officers forcefully arrested Smith after he continually violated the state’s shutdown orders.

A swarm of police officers burst through the door of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey arrested the owners for violating Governor Murphy’s authoritarian shutdown order.

“Well, this was a first,” Dowlen said in a Facebook post. “I stayed the night in the gym writing, my book clients Ian & Frank were just waking up, I’m gathering my computer & notebooks, just waiting for the guys to come out for a few final questions, and then a SWARM of Camden County Sheriffs & local Bellmawr police (with K-9 units waiting in a vehicle) come bursting thru the door….to me, sitting there, writing, by myself. First & foremost, the law enforcement officers were polite & respectful. Look for my video footage on national channels. And tonight/this morning, I am writing this new book chapter right now!!!”

The state’s aggressive response did not end with the arrest. In a controversial move, Governor Murphy and his administration seized $165,000 from the gym’s accounts—funds that Smith claims were amassed through donations and apparel sales to support the gym’s legal battles. This act was a punitive strike meant to cripple the gym financially and serve as a stern warning to others who might consider similar defiance.

“Governor Phil Murphy seized 100% of our assets today – $165k, all of which came from donations and apparel sales. This is done in the middle of ongoing litigation defending ourselves against these fines, our 80 charges, the revocation of our business license, and the unconstitutional health department shutdown.⁣ This was never about protection, it was always about control,” said Smith in a video statement in January 2021.

On Saturday, Smith announced that the court dropped all charges with prejudice. This means the state is utterly barred from refiling these charges against Smith and Atilis Gym, signaling a definitive victory for the small business owner and a stinging rebuke of Gov. Murphy’s authoritarian tactics.

Smith did not mince words, directly challenging Governor Murphy with a phrase that has since gone viral: “Suck my dick Phil Murphy.”

Smith released the following statement on X:

4 years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gym in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to close small businesses in New Jersey.

The support we received locally, nationally, and internationally for our stand is something I will be forever grateful for.

With that being said, I am thrilled to announce that we have achieved a major victory in the long, hard fight against the State.

ALL OF THE 80+ municipal citations of violations of a governor’s order, public nuisance, disturbing the peace, and operating without a license against us have been dropped by the courts WITH prejudice. This means the State has NO ability to revist or refile these charges.

This victory opens the battlefield again and gives us options to continue to push back and bring justice to the treasonous actions of Phil Murphy and his lackies.

Again, thank you to all who supported us. We could not have done it without you.

Special thanks to our fearless attorneys – John McCann and Giancarlo Ghione. Some of the most high profile attorneys around the country ran from our case – knowing it would be a long, hard road and would make them a target of the stare. These two gentlemen stood with us through the darkest days of the storm, have not flinched, and never once cared about being in front of cameras to gain notoriety from their work.

More updates later.

Nobody is coming to save you, save yourself. Spit on your hands and hoist the black flag. No quarter.

Suck my dick Phil Murphy.

Excellent news. Thanks for the update.

That’s awesome!

Stood up to tyranny at great personal cost. And won. These folks are real heroes, afaic.

What level of courts did this have to go to??? 4 years to litigate MUNICIPAL VIOLATIONS?

That's one hell of an update, Para.
BZ, guys--and your lawyers too.