By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 24, 2020 | “What was Governor Kemp thinking?”
Brack, dressed for Covid-19
That’s what we are hearing from normal, everyday citizens, about Governor Brian Kemps’ surprise and sudden decision to open up some sectors of the economy. Many feel that the governor acted prematurely in making this move, especially when there is little evidence that Georgia has reached its peak in COVID-19 infections. The governor showed little evidence that the state has peaked in more virus cases.
And, of all areas to open, why open up places where people come into close association with one another, even touching either each other or items touched by others? Those businesses the governor opened up include: gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, and massage therapists.
“OK, everyone,” the governor seems to be saying, “It’s OK now to go out and get yourself a tattoo!” In COVID-19 times?
Kemp
One candidate said of the governor’s action: “Brian Kemp is once again putting lives at risk here in Georgia.”
If you are going to try to jump-start the economy and seek more people working, why not open businesses that produce products, and do not have so many ways for people to be in intimate human-to-human contact?
Consider, too: open up larger firms first. Bringing back into the working pool the larger companies and their bigger work forces would be a stronger and more major boost to the overall economy than the smaller types of service firms the governor approved re-opening. These firms do not have a large number of people working with them.
Another question that people are asking is why the governor made a singular decision with little input from others at all. The governor had even created a group of people to advise him on pandemic matters. He did not even take the time to communicate with these people he had selected for a special advisory panel concerning the virus. His order to re-open certain small businesses were a surprise to those who were serving on his panel.
Earlier Governor Kemp was slow in closing down businesses; now he appears to move too quickly in re-opening some. Even the president of the United States questions his actions.
Governor Kemp had come under fire from mayors of Georgia cities in not moving fast enough to close down businesses. This time around the governor steps forward and opens up firms across the state without sending even a simple notice to these mayors. You can just see them also scratching their heads, asking “What is the governor doing?”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms put it this way: “There’s nothing essential about going to a bowling alley.”
Another omission: standing side-by-side with the governor when announcing which businesses could reopen were Lt. Gov. Jeff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston. The announcement was done in a partisan manner. Not included in the announcement was a single Georgia Democrat. In a time of crisis for the state, and at a time when our state needs non-partisan government because of the hard times brought on by the pandemic, here the governor ignores the minority party….to his avail.
We are in uncertain and unusual times. Our state government seems lost in its focus on the problem, first moving too slowly, and now apparently moving too quickly. What was the governor thinking?
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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