McClean County Board member Chuck Erickson struggles to understand Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s logic for handling the COVID-19 crisis the way he has.
“I think the governor should have called the state legislature back in session a long time ago and should have worked to get their approval for all the policy decisions he’s made,” Erickson told the McClean County Times. “Trying to do everything in this unilateral way has only made things more complicated.”
With the state now having finally moved into Phase 4 of the governor’s five-part Restore Illinois plan. Under Phase 4 guidelines, more businesses can open with fewer restrictions. Gatherings of up to 50 people and restricted indoor dining at restaurants are now also permitted. In addition, movie theaters, performing arts center, zoos and museums can reopen on a limited basis. But Erickson worries the damage may have already been done.
“I worry about the impact all of this will have on our small business industry over the long haul,” he said. ‘I worry how many of them will be able to survive. It’s really hard to run a business when you’re not being allowed to run it.”
Erickson argues the toll small business owners have been forced to carry is far heavier than most.
“It’s not fair that they’ve been forced to shut down while the big-box operations like Walmart were allowed to remain open and operating without fail,” he said. “Gov. Pritzker is earning the reputation of being very pro-big business and anti-small business. I guess it comes from him being familiar with big business and having no idea what small business owners have to go through. I guess it shows he’s out of touch.”
Erickson argues even now being in Phase 4 doesn’t do the state total justice.
“When you look at other neighboring states, we’re still handcuffed too much,” he said. “Down here in central Illinois we just got to Phase 4, but the numbers show we should have been there at least a month earlier.”
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