(Annie Black) – While most of Nevada’s elected elites have been mute in questioning Gov. Steve Sisolak’s judgment in shutting down the entire the state, many Nevadans themselves are speaking up.
Here’s what the governor angrily declared in a press conference on Friday…
“This directive grants local governments the authority to impose civil fines & revoke licenses of businesses that do not shut down. If businesses defy this order, it could be treated as a criminal act.”
Here’s an email I received from Jeff Hoyt, a small business owner in Mesquite, who the governor threatened to turn into a “criminal” …
“I do not think the Governor has thought through the impact his order is having.
“It seems most think a small business closing means the owner will have to forego the $5,000 or so of monthly income from the business. The reality is that when revenue goes to zero, the business is losing money that has to come out of the owner’s pocket.
“My gym makes about $40,000 a year. Each day I am closed I lose about $1,000. Getting a government check for a thousand bucks does little to help. Add to this that perhaps half my members will be losing their jobs and my losses will be much greater.
“It would be easy for me to just comply with the Governor’s order, but on behalf of all of those who are being crushed by this I feel compelled to speak up.”
And Mr. Hoyt’s not alone in speaking up. Here are just a few of the Twitter responses to the governor’s shutdown order on Friday…
+ @billyg1987: “There has been 18,000 deaths this flu season alone already 18,000!!! And your going to practically close down all businesses, businesses that hard working families have spent their entire life building and you’re going to close them because supposedly two people have died”
+ @atlas_2323: “Sounds like you’re using fear to do what you want. Of closed cases the recovery rate is 90% & current active cases 95% are mild.”
+ @BAMAPERRY: “Sounds like a power grab to me. Will government employees stop being paid like the private ones?”
+ @PeterBasham1: “are you waiving all business related taxes while the business is shut down? Also, will the state be paying the rent for affected businesses?”
+ @GreenalchSr: “How about our bills?????????”
+ @CaCalkins: “So how am i going to pay my bills now? Or take care of my 2 year old son? My rent is due by the 5th. I’m pretty sure more homeless people will not flatten the curve.”
+ VegasStrong702: “My complex just alerted everyone that rent will be late by 5:01 PM the 2nd”
+ @DanniSimmxo: “Love you. But what about rent?”
+ @HamanClara: “you’ve done nothing to protect renters from eviction, most won’t have money to make up the rent they can’t pay, you’ve done nothing on unemployment to give employees 75% or 100% of their wages. and I voted for you.”
+ @BabieLuuccyy: “Stop rent, stop bills until we can return to work!”
+ @theKatrinaM: “You can’t expect us to not work and pay rent. You NEED to cancel all rental payments from being collected.”
+ @Jessehp2: “We’re not generating any income like you are. You don’t care about our mortgages otherwise you’d mention it and recognize our fears and you would address them. When this is over the banks will foreclose on us because politicians (you included) are in their back pockets.”
+ @NatSecHoya: “Why on earth is construction an ‘essential’ business, Mr Governor!??”
+ @Gphillips821: “If you want the spreading to stop & people to stay home, why haven’t these huge construction jobs been shut down? We’re talking about 1,000’s of workers risking their family’s health/lives everyday they show up at work. Construction is NOT ‘essential’ sir. Not right now it’s not!”
+ @AnnieOa43018503: “Then why keep construction going? The people in the offices. What’s their guidelines? They are all in a building with no outside air, and most are out and about to places. Guess the office staff doesn’t matter as long as your stadium is being worked on.”
+ @dmeares84: “Does this mean you’re finally going to take a stand and provide specific direction for nonessentials with city, county and state workers who are nonessential”
And this note to the governor by Michele Mueller, posted on his Facebook page, nicely sums it all up…
“I think your statewide shutdown is heavy-handed and will ultimately do more harm than good. If you are taking such a drastic step, I think you should call a special session of the legislature to ensure that all of the people of the state are represented in such a decision.
“I think you underestimate the ability of people to take common-sense measures in their own enlightened self-interest. There is enough information in the public realm that people are educated about what they should and shouldn’t do and will act accordingly.
“Your policy assumes we are all children who cannot fend for themselves. It also assumes that everyone in the state needs to be treated the same, from Las Vegas to the rurals.
“This is unnecessary, dangerous, and will be economically disastrous to the state unless you reverse it soon. Reverse this decision and call a special session of the legislature to discuss it and pass whatever legislation will benefit ALL of the people of the State.”
These are all legitimate points, questions and concerns by Nevadans that Gov. Sisolak has not addressed.
But where are our legislators? Why aren’t the people Nevadans elected to represent them in Carson City asking these questions and demanding answers?
The Nevada Legislature – The People’s Branch of Government – “may, upon a petition signed by two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the Legislature, convene a special session for a specific purpose without action by the Governor.”
Enough is enough. If the governor won’t call for a special session, it’s time legislators did so themselves.
Annie Black is a Mesquite City Councilwoman and Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 19. You can get more information by visiting www.electannieblack.com
