The forced shut down of businesses and churches has had and continues to have a serious negative impact on our local economy and mental health, as well as a negative financial impact on the hard working business owners who are doing their best to support themselves and to be productive in our society.

The government and health units should not have the authority to choose which businesses are important or essential. There is also no evidence that these businesses being forced to close or operate at limited capacity are dangerous or a risk to public health in any way, in fact the small business owners are more diligent in cleaning and sanitizing.

Business owners do not want government loans or more debt or handouts, they want to be left to operate and earn the income they generate and to be productive and continue to be essential in the communities they operate in.

Let’s have our collective voices heard to let government and health units know we support our local businesses in continuing to be open and that each and every one of them is essential and important to the people in the communities in which they operate. 
Restaurants need to be free to open in a safe manner, our gyms need to be open to allow individuals to have an outlet which is vital to our mental health. Our churches need to be fully open now more than ever for the people to be able to attend and to share in their beliefs that are essential to them. There are many concerns with our collective health and many of these areas of concern are being ignored. Public health and government officials whether elected or hired need to know that each and every business is important and essential to someone, our churches are important and essential to many and that we can be open and responsible both at the same time.