Anoka Times

Sen. Jim Abeler gave an update on the coronavirus pandemic status in Minnesota, urging the governor to let safe businesses open to save dying cities in the state. 

"Please let safe businesses open, not just 'essential' ones," Abeler said to Gov. Tim Walz in a private text. "Anoka and many cities like it are dying. Small-town legacy businesses are at risk. They can and will serve people safely given the chance, but well may be gone forever if they cannot reopen now."

Ordering thousands of these non-essential businesses to close wasn't necessary in stopping the spread of the coronavirus, especially when many of the businesses are considered safe, Abeler said in his statement.

"Some presented dangers in promoting the spread of the virus, like crowded bars and restaurants. However, many of the closures of businesses considered 'non-essential' were unnecessary to fight the spread of COVID-19, as they were already were by their nature safe places to work and do business," Abeler said in his statement. "I have been pushing for the last three weeks for those safe businesses to be allowed to reopen."

On April 8, Walz issued an announcement that was expected to reopen many of these businesses, Abeler said in his statement. But to his surprise, the governor instead extended the state's stay-at-home order, Abeler said. 

"Instead it extended the stay-at-home order to May 4 and allowed almost no businesses to open. Except landscapers," Abeler said in his update. "People have called me in tears. People who work at or own some of these shops, offices, salons and others. They had hoped that they could open Monday to begin to rebuild their broken operations and get back on track to pay the rent, property taxes and serve their customers and clients again."

But instead the governor told them "no," Abeler said. 

Restoring closed businesses that are safe to open will help to restore the economy, Abeler said in his statement. But the process that the governor has in place will make it so reopening businesses and restoring financial strength will take weeks. 

"I am so sad for the citizens of Anoka, and beyond who are watching their dreams fade as they fear the collapse of their livelihood and family’s security," Abeler said in the update. "They don’t have the luxury of weeks."

With the help from Senators Lyman Hoffman and Scott Jensen, Abeler is writing an OpEd for the StarTribune, which will urge the governor to open safe, non-essential businesses, according to Abeler's statement.