Of the exactly 500 complaints registered with Jefferson County Public Health over business non-compliance during its recent mask mandate, inspectors only issued two “written notices” of violation.

A CORA filing by Colorado Covid Watch, a citizen watchdog group of journalists and medical professionals, returned a spreadsheet with a list of citizen complaints from November 24, 2021 to January 18, 2022, with fitness centers, grocery stores, and one hardware store chain racking up the most reported violations.

One of the two “written notices” were given to VASA Fitness at 8055 W Bowles Ave in Littleton after 15 complaints, and the other to Green Mountain Ace Hardware, 12305 W Alameda Parkway in Lakewood after 28 complaints.

VASA Fitness locations in Jefferson County had a total of 40 complaints, 24 Hour Fitness had 27, and Chuze Fitness had 16. For grocery stores, King Soopers locations had 36 complaints, with Safeway and Natural Grocers earning many as well.

Sample complaints (see spreadsheet) include:

King Soopers, Lakewood: “I am a 72 yr. old female with asthma and I am now having to go back to ordering my groceries online. The last two times going to the store in person several customers were walking around with no masks. The employees I spoke with said there is nothing they can do and one said “I am not the police” and walked away…Please enforce the mandates for our safety as I have first hand knowledge of what it feels like when you literally can’t breathe.”

Natural Grocers, Evergreen: “For perhaps the 30th time in a row during the pandemic, zero enforcement of unmasked customers…going around nearly brushing up against masked customers, telling them to “go fuck yourself” and “stay home” when you ask them for 6 feet of space. Spoke to manager, told me corporate policy isn’t to do anything.”

Safeway, Evergreen: “Many maskless shoppers and staff told me he wasn’t authorized to enforce it. I have cancer and need essential businesses to enforce mask mandates.”

Safeway, Lakewood: “My 21 month old high risk granddaughter, whom I help care for, has heart and kidney conditions and Covid will kill her if she gets it. Therefore, when I go into my Safeway… and come across 10 people without masks on making purchases and no one is asking them to put on a mask, I am furious. When I ask an employee or manager why, I am told they are not allowed to confront people or ask them to put on a mask. Why do we have mandates with no authority to enforce the rules. Why are businesses like Safeway…allowed to break the rules without repercussions? The only thing that makes them comply is a financial loss.”

Gourmet Meat and Sausage Shop, Lakewood: “At least 5 employees working behind meat counter none wearing masks….”

Little Caesar’s, Littleton: “No one wears a mask. Currently left because once again no staff is wearing one. One of the kids looks sick and coughing all over food.”

Chipotle, Arvada: “There is a mask mandate and more than half of the people in the restaurant don’t have a mask on. I’m immune compromised and something needs to be done when these business refuse to abide by the public health order.”

Yardhouse Restaurant, Lakewood: “Manager told the customers they will not be enforcing the mask mandate because Jeffco will not do anything about it.”

Chuze Fitness, Westminster: “I explained that I have a have a medical condition…They said they will not enforce the mask mandate beyond making sure someone has a mask with them as they check in.”

Chuze Fitness, Westminster: “As a doctor, I am fully aware of how dangerous and prolific Coronavirus transmission will be indoors at a gym where people are breathing heavy and very close to one another…Belligerence and defiance have completely taken over and now; with NO Social distancing or additional spacing of equipment; each morning I work out I find myself THE ONLY Member wearing a mask at this facility…Maybe if this business were shut down for 2 weeks, its patrons would recognize they need to still take this mandate seriously.”

24 Hour Fitness, Arvada: “This is my 3rd filing of a complaint on thos gym. Many people inside the gym working out with no mask…I received a email on December 9th that JCPH would follow up with this business but have not received any update and there has been no improvement and appears to be worse in spite of also speaking with the manager. There is no sense in a mask mandate if the mandate is not going to be enforced, it only appears to be a joke amongst most people.”

VASA Fitness, Westminster: “This location is willfully and knowingly completely disregarding the standing public health order. I was told, ‘we are not enforcing the mask order until we get fined for not enforcing it.’”

Move Dance Space: “I just visited this dance studio to attend an event with about 100 people and the studio was not enforcing the Jeffco mask mandate. The owner and several volunteers for the event were not wearing masks and told visitors they were not required.”

SW Plaza Mall, Littleton: “Not only is no one not doing anything about it, a security guard there didn’t even have her mask pulled up and she walked right by unmasked customers and said nothing.”

Hammer Down Firearms, Lakewood: “They have a big sign on the door that says NO MASKS and keep their door locked. If you knock and are wearing a mask, they hastily turn you away.”

Home Depot, Westminster: “Almost anywhere I go in Jefferson County is not enforcing mask wearing.”