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Page A-12 Shelton-Mason Journal — Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020
MacEwen, Sheldon stress need for special session
by Jush'n’ Johnson,”
just/n@masoncounty com
State Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-
Union, has been calling for a spe-
cial session of the Legislature since
June to help Washingtonians deal
with the fallout of the pandemic.
MacEwen, in a Monday email to the
Shelton—Mason County Journal, re-
iterated that call in the wake of Gov.
Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 restrictions an-
nounced Sunday. V
“Once again the governor refuses
to include the Legislature,” MacEwen
wrote. “He did not give any heads—up
notice and doesn’t provide an opportu-
nity to give relief ideas for employers
and employees. Instead, he is heavy-
handed and imposes restrictions with
no'avenue for relief.”
State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch,
agreed with MacEwen that a special
session is needed immediately to deal
with health and financial matters, in-
cluding help for small businesses.
Sheldon, in his 31st year represent—
ing the 35th Legislative District — a
span that includes working with five
governors, wrote in an email to the
Journal that he doesn’t expect Inslee
to call a special session before the Leg—
islature reconvenes in January.
“Several other governors have had
special sessions during this period af—
ter the general election and before we
convene on the second Monday in J an-
uary,” Sheldon wrote. “It would not be
unusual to have a special session in
cases of emergency, especially a public
health emergency.
“I’ve been to Olympia over 30 times
for special sessions regarding issues
such as the (Seattle) Mariners base—
ball team, Boeing and a variety of
other reasons. This pandemic and the
fiscal ramifications are certainly more
important and pressing than the other
two special sessions I mentioned.”
MacEwen wrote that the sooner the
state deals with budget issues and re-
lief measures, the more effective it will
be.
State budget forecasts from the
Washington Economic and Revenue
Forecast Council released in late
September project a budget shortfall
of more than $4 billion. The number
was down from a projected shortfall
of nearly $9 billion earlier in the year,
but with businesses once again grap-
pling with restrictions, that number is
expected to grow again.
The latest restrictions that went
into effect at midnight Tuesday for
most businesses and Wednesday for
restaurants ban indoor dining and cap
retail stores at 25 percent of building
occupancy.
“Businesses are rightfully worried if
they will survive the next four weeks,”
MacEwen wrote. “I encourage the gov-
ernor to engage with the Legislature
immediately.”
MacEwen wrote that he has four
bills nearly ready to go that would as—
sist small businesses over the next few
months as they deal with the fallout
from the governor’s orders.
Among the bills are a proposal to
suspend business and operations tax
collection for COVID-19-affected busi-
nesses until April 1, and then not levy
interest or penalties as payments are
made over three months.
MacEwen’s other proposals would
provide a COVID-19 B&O tax credit
for fourth quarter 2020 liability to
COVID-affected businesses, assure no
rate increases for unemployment in-
surance for businesses affected by the
pandemic and allow business license
renewals to be deferred to June 1.
MacEwen also wrote the Legisla-
ture needs to look at immediate prop-
erty tax relief.
“I- think that Rep. MacEwen has
outlined a very reasonable package
of bills that could be addressed im—
mediately,” Sheldon wrote. “Here in
Mason County, we need to adhere to
the principle of wearing masks when
around the public and disinfecting es-
pecially our hands. I don’t go out much
right now, but in severalstores I have
been visited locally I still see people
not wearing masks. This is not accept-
able. We can all get through this if we
stick together and work hard, I know
a few friends who have contracted CO-‘
VID—19 and they have been severely
impacted.” -
;
Impact: Ownersexpress gratitude for community suppOrt
Blondie’s Restaurant is one of numerous businesses affected
by new COVID-19 restrictions. Journal photo by Lloyd Mullen
continued from page A-1
my wife and I now, We won’t have to do
any layoffs, because we already let go of
everyone. We had four full-time people who
are all unemployed, and I don’t know what
theYll do when their unemployment runs
out.”
Leilani Turner reported that Sisters Res-
taurant is shifting from in-person dining to
takeout “and some delivery” between a.m.
to 2 p.m., with its banquet room finally re-
opening to serve espresso to go.
“I haven’t been able to use my banquet
room since this whole thing started, but I
_ was still paying rent on it,” Turner said. “I
just pray this won’t end us. I’ve never been
so stressed out in all of my life. This has
hurt me, emotionally and money-wise.”
Turner described herself as “very upset”
with Gov. Jay Inslee and “very angry” with
the process and the fallout of his COVID-19
response so far.
“I feel like our voices were not heard,”
Turner said of herself and her fellow res-
taurateurs, adding that she expects the lat-
est restrictions to be extended. “We’re just
trying to survive. Especially since I’ve got a
seven-year lease, it’s very scary.”
Linda Jones of Blondie’s Restaurant
takes pride not only in having such loyal
customers that a number of them have their
own plaques, but also in providing one of
the few social outlets during this pandemic,
p especially to relatively isolated groups such
as seniors.
“We’ve had folks come to town to buy
groceries, and this is where they came for
breakfast and lunch,” Jones said. “Every-
body knows everybody here.”
Jones hasn’t been able to rehire the em-
ployees she’s lost in the wake of the state’s
first round of COVID restrictions, and her
remaining staff has had to learn to do each
other’s jobs so they can ring up customers
and bus tables.
But like her fellow restaurateurs, Jones
must meet her monthly obligations in rent,
water, sewer and garbage expenses, in ad-
dition to paying for security cameras.
“And we do everything right, from wear—
ing our masks to disinfecting all our sur-
faces to taking all our employees’ temper-
atures in the morning,” said Jones, who
echoed a statistic cited by Shelton-Mason
County Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi
McCutcheon: Restaurants have appar-
ently contributed only one-half of 1% to the
spread of COVID.
While Jones offered a less-than-favor—
able assessment of the governor’s response,
she praised Mason County and its residents
for supporting each other through this pan-
demic.
Jodi Pittman of the Cabin Tavern Bar &
Grill is also shifting from indoor dining to
takeout, but will also offer outdoor dining.
' “This has just been devastating to our
local businesses,” Pittman said. “We’re just
hanging on by a thread. I’ve got people help-
ing out here on a volunteer basis.”
Like Jones, Pittman’s concern over her fi-
nancial outlook is leavened by- her gratitude
toward the “amazing” surrounding commu-
nity, whom she commended for “pulling to-
gether in a time of need.”
COVID: New restrictions scheduled to last until Dec. 14
continued from page A-1 sess ongoing coronavirus transmission. museums are
required to close.
“A temporary pause on certain activ—
ities is difficult, particularly around the
holidays, which are already a stressful
time. My wife, a nurse, and I are do—v
ing our part by spending Thanksgiving
alone, even though we would rather
celebrate with our family. These sacri-
fices are hard, but can be meaningful.”
In a 4 pm. Tuesday email release
from Mason County Public Health, the
county had six newly confirmed cases
of the novel coronavirus. As of Tuesday,
four people were .hospitalized and 10
people have died from COVID-19 in the
county. .
In the past 14 days, 94 cases have
been reported, giving the county a rate
of 145 cases per 100,000 residents. Cas-
es per 100,000 is key indicator used by
the state Department of Health to as-
According to the department, Mason
County has a population of 64,980 resi-
dents.
Other new restrictions included in
Inslee’s orders require that profession-
al services close offices to the public
and require that employees work from
home when possible. Those remaining
open are restricted to 25% of building
capacity. Business meetings are pro-
hibited.
Religious services are limited to the
lesser of 200 people or 25% indoor ca-
pacity, and attendees must wear facial
coverings at all times. Singing, choir,
band and ensemble are prohibited.
Wedding and funerals are limited to
no more than 30 people, and receptions,
wakes or similar gatherings in conjunc-
tion with the ceremony are prohibited.
Movie theaters, bowling alleys and
Sporting activities, including youth
school and club sports, are limited to
outdoor training for intrasquad prac-
tices only. Masks are required for ath-
letes, coaches ' and volunteers.
“The commission, Public Health and
our community partners stand ready to
assist businesses and individuals im-
pacted by the freeze and will continue
to provide relief through our available
CARES Act funding,” Shutty wrote.
“It is time for state and federal elected
officials to put politics aside, provide
needed relief and join us in this fight
we cannot afford to lose. Working to-
gether, we can control the virus, final-
ize and distribute a vaccine, and recov-
er economically.”
Primary, secondary and higher ed-
ucation schools are exempt from the
new restrictions and will follow cur-
rent guidance. Nearly all are already
instructing remotely.
In response to the restrictions, the
City of Shelton announced Monday
that it would close the Shelton Civic
Center to the public and all nonessen-
tial city employees would begin work-
ing from home through at least Dec. 14,
when Inslee’s order is set to expire.
On Friday, Inslee issued a COVID—19
travel advisory recommending that all
persons arriving in Washington from
other states and countries, including
returning residents, self-quarantine for
14 days. The advisory does not apply to
individuals who cross state or country
borders for essential travel.
The state encourages residents to
stay home and in their region and avoid
nonessential travel.
The full order can be found at
coronavirus.wa.gov.