Commentary As Orange County eateries begin reopening their doors for indoor dining, a Newport Beach restaurateur is reflecting on “inhumane” treatment of the industry during the pandemic. Newport Beach Councilmember Noah Blöm said state-mandated closures have led restaurant owners to become disillusioned as “many people that weren’t ready to retire or would’ve never thought about selling their business” were forced to do so. The owner of Costa Mesa’s Arc Food & Libations and Newport Beach’s Arc Butcher & Bakery recalled how fellow business owners “went from having a busy restaurant to an empty restaurant.” Blöm, who was elected into city council last November, said he was motivated to enter politics after witnessing how the state shutdowns were impacting his 16-year-old son, and those in the hospitality industry. The Beginning California’s restaurants were ordered shut last March after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus a pandemic, and the state entered its first lockdown. Prior to the pandemic, Blöm recalled 2019 and …