EDITORIAL
Posted April 14, 2020
This is a Station Editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, Station President.
This is an open letter to U-S President Donald Trump, and Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker, that's being sent to both electronically.
Mr. President and Governor,
We are not doctors and we are not political leaders, and we respect you as our elected leader but we are confused.
Every day we see our fellow state citizens filing for unemployment. Every day we see car dealerships and all small businesses wondering how to survive.
All because we are under the Illinois Governor's Stay at Home order, with limited exceptions.
All to slow the spread of the deadly COVID 19 virus, but at the same time destroying the very fabric of society.
What do we not understand?
Every day millions of your citizens are going to grocery stores. Before the virus, more people went to grocery stores on a daily basis than visited all other businesses in the state combined.
With the existing "stay at home" Illinois Executive Order set to expire on April 30th, why can't you direct Illinois residents to protect their health and use common sense to visit local businesses after that time? Why can't our car dealerships, furniture stores and local shops re-open at that time using face coverings and gloves? None of these businesses have as many as one one thousandth the visitors per day as a grocery store.
Yes – more stringent rules for restaurants. Yes more stringent rules for offices. We are not suggesting you open schools or places of mass gatherings.
But, Mr. President and Mr. Governor, it is time to understand that with the Illinois Executive Order expiring April 30th--with proper safeguards--our local small businesses are safer than the local grocery store. Let them save our economy – SAFELY.
And, a final thought. We are thankful in all ways for our neighbors who work day in and day out at our grocery stores and at the essential businesses in our community. We are beyond thankful for you = we blessed everyday for your presence and fortitude. Thank you and God bless you.
That's our opinion...we welcome yours. Our e-mail address is editorial-at-randyradio-dot-com.
