Legislator hears stories of hardship from local job providers

State Rep. Julie Alexander is speaking out about the governor’s continued extensions of her ban on indoor restaurant dining and sharing the stories of Jackson County restaurant owners.

“The governor’s decision to stifle local job providers with no apparent end in sight causes continued uncertainty,” Alexander said. “We have no reason to believe she will not extend her ban again after Feb. 1. Restaurant owners and workers are desperate for a real plan from our governor that gets them back to work serving their communities.”

Alexander also maintains that local restaurants know how to ensure a safe dining experience and that patrons can use their own judgment considering the seriousness of the virus and taking into account the precautions that are right for them.”

The representative said stories of hardship are everywhere and it’s important to understand the impact the ban is having on restaurant owners and employees in the community.

“As a Jackson restaurant owner since 1976, I value my more than 80 dedicated employees like family,” said Dale Stevens, owner of Hunt Club in Jackson. “They are struggling to exist with this latest two-month shut down that was supposed to be a ‘pause.’ We are grateful to our loyal customers for their takeout orders and the generous tips they leave the staff so they can pay their rent and put food on their own tables.”

Stevens, and many others, feel they are being unfairly singled out by the governor’s orders.

“Our bar and restaurant industry has been gutted by the decisions of our governor and her administration,” said Rick Wilson, owner of Shamrock Bar in Jackson. “We are losing businesses and employees who can no longer take one step forward and two steps back.”

Matt Dunbar, owner of Shorty’s in Horton, said the future of Michigan’s restaurant industry is bleak.

“The virus has been used as a political weapon, and restaurant workers are pawns in the game,” Dunbar said. “The governor is out of line. No single official should ever have this much unilateral power. Our system has three branches of government. The governor must work with the Legislature who represents the voice of the people.”

Steve Rose, owner of Napoleon Café in Napoleon, said his restaurant is part of the community, and when it is closed, the community suffers.

“Our restaurant has been shut down or restricted from inside dining for 10 months. The financial strain on our family has been tough, but the strain on our employees has been even worse,” Rose said. “We were averaging 26 employees and now we have just seven doing only takeout orders, but they are not making enough money to pay their bills. Our dishwasher has Down syndrome and wants desperately to return to work. He calls every day wanting to know when he can come back. We also often serve truckers looking for a place to stretch their legs and leave their vehicle for a while. Under the order, they cannot do that in our restaurant.”

Alexander continues to urge the governor to follow in the footstep of the majority of other states that have allowed restaurants, bars, and other businesses to reopen in person service.

“I demand more accountability from our governor. She must listen to the people, allow their voices to be heard and allow them to reopen safely,” Alexander said. “At the very least, she owes the industry and its more than 100,000 unemployed workers a clear and transparent plan and assurance that she will follow through on the expiration of her orders.”