UNDATED (WHTC-AM/FM) – Three members of the Lakeshore’s legislative delegation to Lansing didn’t take long to criticize Governor Whitmer’s extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order.
It wasn’t that Representatives Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) and Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Twp.), or Senator Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) were opposed to continuing this COVID 19 preventative measure from April 13th to April 30. Rather, all three lawmakers were unhappy that their recommendations that some of the restrictions be eased for economic purposes were apparently dismissed out of hand.
“Unfortunately, after hearing the governor’s decision to place more restrictions on businesses and declare a ‘stay at home order’ until April 30th, it appears she has no plans to get Michigan back to work,” Meerman said in a statement. “She’s not listening to business owners and the working people of Michigan who want to go back to work. She continues to use this public health crisis as a political audition for her aspirations to become Vice President of the United States. I am ashamed and extremely frustrated with the lack of flexibility the governor has shown in allowing businesses, who can operate safely, go back to work. No discussion. No plans.”
“I requested that she consider west Michigan businesses that can function while maintaining safe distances. She did not listen, she even made things more restrictive,” Whiteford said in a Facebook post. “I am heartbroken for the loss of life because of this virus, but many Michiganders are losing everything because they aren’t considered essential by this Governor. I’m praying for the end of this suffering.”
Victory said in a statement, “Earlier this week, my legislative colleagues and I put our faith in Gov. Whitmer and extended her emergency declaration until April 30, but it appears our faith was misplaced. When she reissued her ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ order until April 30, she did so with the caveat that we will not go back to normal operations on May 1 and did nothing to address many of our businesses currently in danger of permanent closure. She explicitly failed to make any amendments that would allow our greenhouses and outdoor-related industries to operate in any capacity.
“Allowing our greenhouses to sell flowers, shrubs and saplings safely via curbside pickup and online ordering will not only save an entire industry from certain bankruptcy, but it will also greatly improve the mental health of every Michigander sheltering in their home. If all you see out your window is overgrown lawns and barren flowerbeds, ‘staying home and staying safe’ will become more and more daunting and depressing.”
In the statement announcing the extension, the Governor’s office said, “Under the new order, all public and private gatherings among persons outside a single household remain temporarily prohibited. Though Michiganders may leave the house to get groceries or needed supplies, the new order encourages people to limit the number of household members running errands to the maximum extent possible. As before, people may engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, or any other recreational activity, consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside a person’s household and with other restrictions imposed by prior executive orders. The order clarifies, however, that travel for vacations or for any other purpose is prohibited.”
