UPDATE: After significant public outcry, Nebraska Crossing Outlets owner Rod Yates pushed back the public opening of the mall one week. That said, it now plans to open Friday, May 1. Despite Yates' claims, it is not and will not be safe to reopen the mall for anytime soon- indeed, the next few weeks are expected to be Nebraska's most deadly.

Yates asserted that it was never his plan to reopen Nebraska Crossing on April 24. Employees of the mall confirm that this is untrue and such behavior continues a "disingenuous" trend exhibited by Yates that disregards employee safety. This reversal, though far from a total victory, demonstrates that actions such as signing and spreading this petition can help achieve our goal of keeping the mall closed until public health experts deem it is truly safe to open.

Again, this petition asks that Nebraska Crossing remains closed to the public until health experts determine that the mall can reopen safely. It asks that this delay be carried out either by mall leadership or through action by Governor Pete Ricketts.

Please take a moment to reach out to the following individuals:

• Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates: (402) 332-5650 // info@nexoutlets.com
• Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts: (402) 471-2244 // https://governor.nebraska.gov/contact-form
• Nebraska state senators: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_list.php
• Senator Deb Fischer: (202) 224-6551 // https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/?p=email-deb
• Senator Ben Sasse: (202) 224-4224 // https://www.sasse.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-ben
• Representative Don Bacon: (202) 225-4155 // https://bacon.house.gov/contact/
• Representative Jeff Fortenberry: (202) 225-4806 // https://fortenberry.house.gov/contact-me/share-your-opinion?zip5=68516&zip4=&time=1587995711149557697
• Representative Adrian Smith: (202) 225-6435 // https://adriansmith.house.gov/contact

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Nebraska Crossing Outlets owner Rod Yates has announced that the Gretna mall will reopen as novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths rise in Nebraska.

Yates' decision has made headlines across the United States and around the world for its disregard for public and worker health. This response is unsurprising, given that coronavirus cases and deaths in Nebraska are expected to peak during the first week of the mall's reopening. Yates claims that thermometers and plastic shields will be enough to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the reopening. Public health experts agree that this is false, not least because 25% to 50% of individuals with coronavirus do not show any symptoms, rendering the thermometers highly ineffective.

Reopening the mall is a decision the president of the Nebraska Hospitals Association called “irresponsible,” outlet workers said made them feel like "guinea pigs," and the Douglas County health officials declared would lead to outbreaks. 

As the reopening of the Nebraska Crossing Outlets directly endangers public health by offering inadequate safeguards and unattainable promises of security, this petition demands that its stores remain closed until public health experts determine that they can reopen safely. It also implores Governor Pete Ricketts to step in if Yates does not amend his course of action (it should be mentioned that the Governor’s own “Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy” decree states that “no nonessential errands” should be occurring. Nearly every store at Nebraska Crossing can reasonably be considered nonessential).

Photo credit: Justin Wan, Lincoln Journal Star