While big box stores are thriving our main street small businesses are dying
Friends,
Yesterday, Governor Walz announced an extension of the Stay at Home order until May 18th, along with a modification to the policy on retail stores. Beginning May 4th, retail and other non-critical businesses may begin offering curbside pick-up. According to the governor, this will allow up to 30,000 more Minnesotans back to work.
I am extremely disappointed that the governor continues to treat our local retailers differently from the big box stores that have been allowed to continue operating throughout this crisis. Our local businesses should be entrusted to protect their customers and employees just like the big box stores are. All these restrictions on smaller retailers are forcing more people to the big box stores, thus putting more people together.
You can see this depicted in these pictures: a full Wal-Mart parking lot & an empty main street. So the question I have and the question I keep hearing from all of you: what exactly this is doing to slow the spread of this virus? Cramming everyone into one or a few stores flies in the face of their own stated goals for social distancing.
This is unacceptable and we need to get Minnesota open! Not only is this killing Minnesota's economy, not all experts even agree what we are doing is effective. For a different perspective, see Professor Knut Wittkowski with a different perspective on what we should be doing to combat COVID-19.
Because of this unfair treatment, it shouldn't be surprising the overreach by the governor has resulted in law suits filed by small businesses who are being treated unfairly. Our small businesses cannot be expected to continue to face the brunt of the economic hardship from this pandemic.
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