Libertarian Douchebros Gonna Libertarian Douchebro

I’ve always thought the South Park guys were idiots, but this is just ridiculous. As you may have heard, long after lovingly skewering the terrible but iconic Mexican restaurant/childhood playhouse Casa Bonita, most certainly without caring about the restaurant’s intellectual property, they bought it and are reopening it as both still a childhood playhouse but also with better food.

So you might think given this history, they would be cool with other artists using that IP that they so long ago ripped off for their own artistic purposes. But nope! They are going to be huge assholes instead!

The e-commerce site Etsy has reportedly been sending cease-and-desist letters to artists that have been selling work relating to Casa Bonita, according to the Denver Post.

Casa Bonita LLC has been reporting some artists work as infringing on their trademark which has resulted in Etsy taking action and shutting down listings that feature the distinct pink building that houses Casa Bonita.

Artist Paul Heaston noted on Twitter how technically the show South Park which was created by the new Casa Bonita owners Matt & Trey featured an “unauthorized” cartoon depiction of Casa Bonita and called it “so crappy” that they are taking action against artists.

No word if additional artists will receive cease-and-desists or if Casa Bonita will change their views on artists using their likeness for artwork or merchandise but we will see what happens!

What we can also see happening is that said libertarian douchebros are already treating employees so badly that they are revolting.

On Wednesday last week, 50 Casa Bonita employees gathered for an all-hands meeting and delivered a letter of demands to owners and “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, according to a statement from the employees, which was released on Wednesday afternoon.

The staff was notified just days before the Lakewood landmark reopened on June 23 for a series of soft openings that higher-ups had decided to eliminate the option for customers to tip and instead offer workers a flat fee of $30 an hour. Casa Bonita originally was planning to pay bartenders $14.27 an hour plus tips, according to the employee statement.

The employee letter is asking the owners to revert to what was originally promised by ownership when they were hired months ago, and to clarify hours of operation, since there is no “clear pathway” to being open seven days a week, they said. They are also asking for access to health benefits; for transparency and two-way communication with ownership.

The collective dubs themselves #WeAreTeamCasa, and drafted the letter with the help of Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United — the nation’s first and largest restaurant workers-led organization. They gave ownership and upper management one week to respond, but according to the release, they have ignored the demands.

“There was a promise of lucrative business which would bring an incredible opportunity monetarily,” said employee Gayle Durr in the statement. “We have yet to see any of this lucrative business – despite people nationwide waiting patiently to finally see the inside of this Colorado landmark. We want to see Casa Bonita thrive, and if ownership/management cannot bring that about, then we will.”

Another employee, Michelle Mendenhall, said in the statement, “I’d gladly take minimum wage, with tips, so that our kitchen can receive better pay, give them the $30 they deserve it. We also need to see more operating hours so that we can all be offered benefits, as originally promised to us. Park County (Casa Bonita’s ownership entity) needs to remember we (the hourly employees) are the ones who love this place and will take care of it with joyful enthusiasm. In return, we ask them to see our humanity and let us earn a competitive wage with benefits.”

Oh, I really want to see what Parker and Stone do if the workers fully unionize with ROC.