#NJ town pulls license of gym that repeatedly defied COVID-19 lockdown

A New Jersey town has voted to rescind the license of a local gym that repeatedly refused to adhere to the Garden State’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The Bellmawr Borough Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night to pull the plug on Atilis Gym following a months-long standoff that has seen the gym’s owners repeatedly reopening despite being arrested and hit with fines, the Star-Ledger reported.

The decision came during a social-distanced, one-hour council meeting — with the gym owners remaining defiant, calling it “a clear political move.”

“Zero evidence was put forth to support the claim that @atilisgymbellmawr poses any threat to the public,” co-owner Ian Smith said in a Twitter post after the meeting. “When asked, they ignored the request to hold off on the vote until evidence can be put forth.”

“Our fight does not stop here,” he wrote. “Please share and repost. Let’s hold these politicians accountable for their actions.”

But local and state officials have repeatedly warned the gym that it could not reopen amid the spread of the virus because doing so poses a health risk and defies Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order.

The state Attorney General’s Office last week recommended $10,000 daily fines and imprisonment if the stubborn business owners don’t let up.

“Atilis Gym’s brazen conduct is abhorrent to an organized judicial system, jeopardizes the public health and safety of New Jerseyans, and must not be tolerated,” the AG’s office told the Star-Ledger. “It is clear that additional sanctions and relief are necessary to coerce Atilist Gym’s compliance with the court’s order.”

Smith and co-owner Frank Trumbetti were arrested last month for repeatedly reopening for business.

Undeterred, they literally kicked their way back into business earlier this month, knocking down a barrier blocking the door while supporters cheered them on, then posting the stunt on Instagram.

The duo sued the state and Murphy in May, only to have a judge deny their bid to reopen amid the COVID-19 restrictions.