By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
This week’s coronavirus news includes the extension of county and state “state of emergency” orders as well as the re-opening of some businesses. Area residents are also speaking out, talking about everything from their frustration with government control to heartache over the death of loved ones.
State Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, held a telecom town hall April 25 to gather comments and answer questions from area residents. Hundreds of people called in with two dozen or so asking questions during the 80 minute session.
Paquette said that the impetus for the telecom town hall was to give people the chance to say what was on their minds. “The legislature has not been meeting for three weeks but I’ve been on the phone every day,” he said. “I’ve been hearing from so many individuals and it’s invaluable to me to have voices heard.”
While many expressed frustration with the one-size-fits-all measures taken by the state government to stop the pandemic, others spoke of the toll the disease has taken on them personally.
For example a poignant moment came in remarks made by a Sodus resident. The woman spoke not only about the fear, anger and hurt she’s seen as people lose their jobs and livelihoods but also about her family’s experiences with the virus.
She reported to Paquette and those listening that two cousins were in the hospital with COVID-19 and their 96 year old father, her uncle, had died of the disease. “The disease happens fast and it is a very painful horrible disease,” she said. “Don’t think that it can’t affect you or your family.”
“We need to remember the second commandment, to love and treat your neighbor as you do yourself,” she added. “Help others stay safe and support local businesses. There are two sides to this and the truth is somewhere in the middle. This is an opportunity to rethink how we treat each other.”
Paquette said he’s looking to gather positive stories and try to help out wherever and whenever he can. “My staff and I will be following up with everyone who called,” he said. “It is so vitally important as we move forward in making decisions. Even if you’re angry or disagree, we want to hear from you.”
He hopes state officials can agree on an approach moving forward that addresses people’s concerns. “I want to make sure that the voices of people here are being heard and making sure that the governor is aware of people being hurt,” he said. “We should talk about how people can operate safely rather than non essential versus essential businesses.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order April 24 extending the state’s “stay home, stay safe” order until May 15 She also required people to wear face coverings when going into enclosed spaces outside their homes.
That order allowed some businesses and activities to re-open and Whitmer added to the list in orders in late April. She first allowed greenhouses, garden centers, landscapers and bike shops to get back into business and last week added construction and golf courses to the list.
The governor’s extension of Michigan’s “state of emergency” didn’t come without controversy. Republican legislators refused to vote to extend the emergency and threatened to sue Whitmer for abusing her powers. In response, she extended the state of emergency without legislative approval.
Whitmer has won at least one court case on the constitutionality of her executive orders. A Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled last week that while people’s constitutional rights are fundamental, they are subject to society’s interests, in this case society’s interest in remaining unharmed by the coronavirus.
In Berrien County, County Commissioners extended the county’s state of emergency to May 31. They first declared a state of emergency in late March. The declaration allows funds to be expended and disaster relief efforts coordinated. It also protects the county from being sued civilly and allows the county to receive federal disaster relief funds.
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