Greetings all.
I wish I had better news to share.
The Covid-19 virus attack on the world has changed so many things in our lives we cannot count them. Beyond the very real health risks and concerns for the well-being of seniors and those with compromised health, we have all made changes in how we interact with others. “Social distancing,” a term we never heard of until a few weeks ago has become our watchword.
Minnesota has allocated over $500 million in the fight, for hospitals, food shelves, housing, extra services and more. Fortunately, Minnesota has one of the lowest death rates of any of the states, certainly a tribute to all of the efforts of the Governor, the Department of Health, and thousands of front line workers and first responders.
To date, the Governor has issued 33 Executive Orders, which have the force of law. He has been rightfully worried about if we will have enough hospital beds and if we can somehow slow down the progression of the Covid-19 virus. We have been successful, much to his credit.
It is now time for Phase II. Without delay.
Those orders have resulted in the closure of many thousands of Minnesota businesses. Some presented dangers in promoting the spread of the virus, like crowded bars and restaurants. However, many of the closures of businesses considered “non-essential” were unnecessary to fight the spread of Covid-19, as they were already were by their nature safe places to work and do business.
I have been pushing for the last 3 weeks for those safe businesses to be allowed to reopen. Last week, Senators Hoffman and Jensen joined me in writing an OpEd in the StarTribune suggesting to the Governor that it was time to open these safe but non-essential businesses: More thoughtful lockdown rules could spare us loss and suffering, 3/30/20.
Tuesday night, I sent Governor Walz this private text:
Dear Tim,
Please let safe businesses open, not just “essential” ones. Anoka and many cities like it are dying. Small-town legacy businesses are at risk. They can and will serve people safely given the chance, but well may be gone forever if they cannot reopen now.
The deficit will be even greater if they cannot contribute their micro-economies to our state. If many of them go under, families will be in true peril and your vision of One Minnesota will be more like One-Half Minnesota for a long time to come.
Nobody wants that.
It is in your hands. You have accomplished what needed to be done for Phase One. Now we can move into the Next Day mode. People can still mostly stay home when they can. They are now choosing quite wisely.
Please let Anoka come back to life. And a thousand cities and towns like it.
A true One Minnesota Together.
Thank you.
Jim Abeler
Yesterday’s announcement was expected to include the reopening of many businesses, golf courses, and others that could be run safely. Instead it extended the Stay at Home order to May 4 and allowed almost no businesses to open. Except landscapers.
People have called me in tears. People who work at or own some of these shops, offices, salons, and others. They had hoped that they could open Monday to begin to rebuild their broken operations and get back on track to pay the rent, property taxes and serve their customers and clients again.
“No,” came the flat answer from the Governor.
The process he is starting to develop will take time, likely weeks to put into place. Moving at the speed of government.
I am so sad for the citizens of Anoka, and beyond who are watching their dreams fade as they fear the collapse of their livelihood and family’s security. They don’t have the luxury of weeks.
We have to open these businesses that can be run safely and help to restore the financial strength of our downtowns and fabric of our towns.
I suggest you write the governor yourself and express your personal concerns. Tell him I sent you. Here is the Governor’s contact information, https://mn.gov/governor/contact/.
Senator Jim Abeler
612.245.3764