Legislative Update
The governor announced phase 2 of his Stay Safe MN plan this week.
Phase 2, which begins June 1, focuses on restaurants, bars, and personal services like salons and barbershops. Restaurants and bars are allowed to open for outdoor dining only, with 6 feet between tables, no more than 50 people, and a party size of 4 total, or 6 if it's a family. Reservations are required, staff must wear masks, and customers are strongly encouraged to wear them also, especially when interacting with workers.
Personal care businesses like salons, barbershops, and tattoo parlors are allowed to operate at 25% capacity. Masks are required for patrons and workers, and appointments are required - no walk-ins.
Campgrounds and charter boats will also be allowed to operate. Campsite configuration must be socially distant, and charter boats must also allow for social distancing unless the occupants are a family.
A lot of the governor's new guidance is completely contradictory and has no clear basis in science. For example:
Big box stores have no limits on capacity indoors, but churches are restricted to 10 or fewer, salons and barbershops are limited to 25% capacity, and restaurants are still completely closed for indoor service.
Restaurant patios are allowed to serve 50 people, but outdoor church services are limited to 10.
Campgrounds are forced to remain closed until June 1 — and there's no explanation why they can't be open for Memorial Day weekend, just a week prior.
The governor clearly does not understand how we live life in our community. He clearly does not understand that his policies are absolutely killing our businesses and our way of life. One of our local businesses, struggling to make their sales tax payment, requested a payment plan from the Governor’s administration. If they wanted a payment plan, they would need to forfeit their liquor license. The government should be trying to help our economy, not hurt it.
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