Posted on 05/10/2020 3:56:05 PM PDT by lightman
Its deeply disappointing and downright dangerous that some members of York County political and business leadership, including some paid by the very taxpayers that they should be protecting, are essentially encouraging York County business owners to defy the governors orders and open.
This irresponsible defiance by some of our leaders puts business owners, their clients, their customers and the entire York community at risk of further spread of COVID-19, a deadly virus that has already killed 13 of our neighbors and sickened more than 700 York countians in recent months.
This is a time when leaders must have the courage to protect our community. It is not a time to cite a specious study thats clearly intended to sway public opinion away from the interests of health and toward the whims of large corporations that disingenuously claim they represent small business owners.
More: York County DA wont prosecute nonessential businesses for violating shutdown order, tells police not to cite them
More: Study: 30% of York County businesses could fail in coronavirus fallout
Health comes before profit. Our small business owners know that, and theyre adhering to guidelines even though its painful. The York County Economic Alliance and other business proponents should not be sacrificing small business owners by encouraging them to open, just to shield and/or justify the opening of large corporations.
Conversely, the economic alliance should be directing its full energy to assisting small business owners, those who are truly vulnerable, in developing innovative solutions, including e-commerce and other creative options.
Leaders should not be slyly encouraging these vulnerable small business owners to defy the governors order, an act that will, among other things, result in the nullification of many small businesss insurance policies. These policies will not cover small businesses while operating illegally under an emergency order that was legally (and courageously) extended by their governor.
Leaders encouraging small businesses to defy the governors orders will unfortunately be leaving these businesses open to prosecution by the state. Theyll also be leaving them open to slip-and-fall lawsuits not covered by insurance thats been cancelled due to illegal reopening. Small business owners will also be potentially vulnerable to wrongful death suits brought on by families of patrons who contract the virus.
Or are local leaders intending for these businesses defying state orders to have every customer sign a disclaimer prior to entering the store, a statement indicating that they understand they are violating state law and disregarding the urgent guidance of health experts? Maybe just a quick form that mentions they might be made gravely ill and could possibly die, and that they might make others potentially gravely ill and/or dead by violating the order? Will the disclaimer also note that each patron waives their right to sue if a box falls on their head or they trip down the front steps? Will there be a notary set up outside the store, just so it holds up in court for the two-to-four people per day who actually show up with the confidence to shop?
Studies have shown an overwhelming majority of citizens nationwide from both parties (74 percent of Republicans and 94 percent of Democrats, per The Economist) do not think we are ready to start reopening. Those citizens are united in their strong belief that stopping the spread of the virus is even more important than resuming business activity.
Is it worth incurring all of this liability, given that most people will not be shopping or otherwise visiting businesses that open before its safe? Most people are barely comfortable visiting the grocery store once a week at this point, let alone entering a nonessential business where the owner was cavalier enough to open against orders and against health advice.
Any patron will be thinking the obvious: A business owner who is cavalier enough to violate the governors order and open too soon is also likely among those who have put themselves and others at risk by failing to wear masks, failing to social distance, failing to wash hands and failing to take other safety measures.
Its also worth adding that, by pushing to open too soon, local business and political leaders are actually delaying the restart of the economy, because reopening too early will cause even more people to become infected and die. A recent Wall Street Journal headline put the issue in stark relief: Officials Warn of New Coronavirus Surge As States Reopen. Its also worth noting that York Countys number of infected citizens continues to increase every day.
Most people understand that whats right, in this case, might not be convenient. But like Gov. Tom Wolf, they are willing to do the difficult thing because the difficult thing is the right thing to do.
We just need York County leaders to catch up to that reality and stop bowing to a vocal minority. Any antics pulled with reopening early are really just going to have the opposite effect as more people contract the virus. Most importantly (and its sad that this even has to be stated), we should be protecting citizens instead of putting them at risk by prioritizing the profit of York Countys largest businesses.
Bill Swartz is a resident of Spring Garden Township.
Somebody PLEASE get this onto 4Chan
Ping
How many paychecks has this Swatz clown missed?
L
York County PA population: 449,000.
700 infections. .0015%
300 deaths. .0006%
L
There is no science saying that the lock down is helping. Experts are on both sides. And the mathematical models that got us in this mess were off by a magnitude. The governor does not have the right to lock everyone in their homes and choose which businesses to open.
Judging from his address...not many.
Coupon clipper.
William H Swartz III,
1063 Wyndham Dr,
York PA 17403
(717) 725-0035
The most wealthy and exclusive area of the entire County.
Bill Swartz was a 2013 Green Party candidate for District 95 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[1] Swartz serves on the executive board of Better York and is a member of the York Rotary Club.[2]
Leaders should not be slyly encouraging these vulnerable small business owners to defy the governors order, an act that will, among other things, result in the nullification of many small businesss insurance policies. These policies will not cover small businesses while operating illegally under an emergency order that was legally (and courageously) extended by their governor. Leaders encouraging small businesses to defy the governors orders will unfortunately be leaving these businesses open to prosecution by the state. Theyll also be leaving them open to slip-and-fall lawsuits not covered by insurance thats been cancelled due to illegal reopening. Small business owners will also be potentially vulnerable to wrongful death suits brought on by families of patrons who contract the virus.
The "Insurance Industry" and ambulance chasing trial layers are trying to promote fear and prolong the panic.
Looks like a nice pad. Nothing to keep him from staying home for as long as he likes.
Good sleuthing.
The irony is that he is from one of York’s “old money” dynasties.
Isn’t PA the state ‘blessed’ with health director who pretends he’s a woman?
Yup.
Governor Tommie the Commie and the Tyrannical Trannie aka Dr. (Dickless) "Rachel" Levine.
link
please
Screw you.
Lurker, those are rates, not percentages. The percentages are 0.15% and 0.06% respectively.
We locked down. So we didn’t see 2 million dead. If we did nothing in March, we might. Want to take that bet?
Yes. Freakshow Levine.
My point still stands.
L
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