The mayors say their Pierce County cities are ‘vastly completely different from Seattle and Tacoma,’ and that their native small companies must be allowed to reopen safely.
Saying “one measurement doesn’t match all,” the mayors of Bonney Lake and Sumner are urging Gov. Jay Inslee to permit companies of their cities to reopen.
Situated in east Pierce County, the 2 cities have a mixed inhabitants of round 31,000. Nevertheless, Pierce County stays in Section 1 of the state’s four-phase approach to reopening because of the whole inhabitants.
In a letter to Inslee, Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson Jr. and Sumner Mayor Invoice Pugh write companies within the two cities can open “responsibly and safely” by following tips already in place by companies which can be already allowed to open. Small companies within the cities are “anxiously ready for the inexperienced gentle.”
“All of us are discovering the dearth of consistency between which enterprise are opened vs closed irritating and inequitable,” they wrote.
- Open companies instantly that may adjust to the well being and security necessities required of their business which can be already open. Enable the enterprise proprietor to determine if they will and are prepared to securely open.
- Proceed to encourage folks to comply with security protocols, together with social distancing and sporting a face masks or protecting when round others, and staying dwelling when not feeling properly.
- Encourage seniors and different at-risk members of the neighborhood to remain dwelling.
Nicole Wilsey, proprietor of Sparrow and Nightingale’s, a house decor and items boutique in downtown Sumner, stated she was glad to see the mayors attempt to assist small companies.
“Small enterprise, we’re taking the largest hit of anyone,” Wilsey stated. “For the mayors to go to bat for us is phenomenal.”
Mayor Johnson, of Bonney Lake, stated he has additionally heard from different small enterprise house owners.
“I’ve obtained loads of suggestions on that letter that loads of people are simply completely happy that cities are combating for his or her native economic system,” Johnson stated.
Pugh stated that he want to see the mayors in Pierce County work collectively.
“I respect Governor Inslee and all that he’s doing to attempt to navigate us by means of this,” stated Sumner mayor Invoice Pugh’s assertion. ” I’d prefer to see [mayors in Pierce County] working extra cohesively to ask the troublesome questions and discover some frequent floor to help Governor Inslee and assist our companies and our residents survive.”
The governor’s spokesperson Mike Faulk stated that for now, any exceptions to the state’s four-phased reopening plan shall be thought-about by county, and never by metropolis.
“Right now we’re contemplating county variances solely. As with all communications we get from counties and cities, we’ll reply to them instantly with extra info on why we predict that is essential to guard public well being.”
— to www.king5.com
