Letters to the editor: Shutdown, reopen, social distancing
Shutdown
Everyone knows that the coronavirus dealt a deadly and damaging blow not only around the world but to our homeland as well. Hopefully, and one has to believe, we will recover. That said, was there a better way to handle the crisis and preserve the strongest economy known to man? Would our forefathers who won the west have opted to hunker and hide? Probably not.
It goes without saying that all the problem-solving wisdom, brains and ingenuity are not housed inside the domed walls of Washington, D.C., or the state capitols for that matter. To imagine that a one-size-fits-all solution tailored to fit New York City would work everywhere else is at best foolhardy. Maybe Fort Madison, Iowa, didn’t need to shut down it schools and furlough all its county employees. Perhaps Myrtle Creek, Oregon, or McCall, Idaho, given a chance, could have found a way to keep their businesses running and its restaurants open without compromising the safety of its citizens.
Clearly we are all in this together so why not seek a civil solution at a local level that is beneficial, less disruptive and not needlessly devastating?
Don L. Layne, Cascade
Reopen
Governor Little,
As small business and commercial building owners (me and the bank), I have supported your decisions on business closings due to the coronavirus. The extension to April 30 is problematic. Many small businesses are barely holding on, and it’s even more critical for non-essential businesses, especially restaurants and bars. A domino effect is about to happen. If these businesses close, the recovery will take longer with people unable to return to their previous employment, and will be forced to find new opportunities. Small business owners have their savings tied up in their businesses and they will lose everything. With real estate, a vacant building does not pay the mortgage, and it will take months to find a new tenant. So now you will have additional families who are on the edge of losing an investment and for most of us it is our retirement nest egg.
Please, come April 30, let the businesses reopen with the awareness of what needs to be done to insure the safety of our customers, and hopefully salvage our businesses, keep our loyal employees working, and the economy of Idaho vibrant.
Steve D’Avanzo, Meridian
Individual choice
When The Idaho Freedom Foundation announced they would reopen their non-essential business against Governor Little’s Stay at Home order, the press release from President Wayne Hoffman read: “We have learned about social distancing and how to implement it…we will take special precautions to protect the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions.”
The argument was: We are smart enough to stop the spread of COVID-19, we don’t need government to tell us what to do.
Imagine my surprise then when the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “Disobey Idaho” protest at the Capitol featured hundreds of protesters standing together without a single mask between them.
The protest proved that the people demanding the state reopen have no intention to protect those at risk of COVID-19. I would not be surprised if there is a spike in cases in the next few weeks as they get sick, and get others sick.
Ironically, their irresponsible actions will likely spread the contagion and may delay the state’s reopening.
Don’t be like Friday’s protesters: Stay home. Stay safe. And be smart when you go out in public. Wash your hands, wear a mask, protect others. If we all do this, we can reopen sooner, rather than later.
Lauren Ghazikhanian, Meridian