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This is no time to quit. But everywhere I look it seems like we’re losing the will to pull together and fight through this COVID crisis. Health officials begged us not to travel or gather in groups over Thanksgiving, but tens of millions did. The U.S. was setting infection and death records every day, yet many went on as if it were a normal holiday. Unemployment is spiking again, but neither federal nor state governments are acting with any urgency to help workers or businesses as a dark winter descends. Restaurants are so desperate for operating income that some are openly violating public health orders and allowing indoor dining. The coronavirus is far worse in scope now than it was in March, but back then we adopted a “can-do” communal attitude to attack the unknowns together. Remember virtual happy hours to buck one another up? Remember ordering out from local restaurants frequently, and tipping 40-50% of the total? Remember all of the attention and support being given to front-line medical workers? Now we have pleas from medical officials, pleas from businesses, pleas from workers – and little in the way of action. “It really is a desperate situation right now, and we don’t have that commonality, that passion, we had back in March to support businesses,” said Amy Sherman, who covers the restaurant and bar industry for MLive’s Michigan’s Best team. “We need to find it again, and we need to find some solutions immediately to help these people out.” Sherman joined MLive’s Behind the Headlines podcast this week, along with Taylor DesOrmeau, who covers state politics and policy issues for MLive. DesOrmeau points out that Michigan is distributing $10 million in federal CARES Act grants to small businesses, which sounds good – until he notes there are 870,000 small businesses in Michigan. “At $15,000 each, 666 businesses will get it,” he said. “So this is really just a drop in the bucket. It’s almost nothing for these businesses right now.” Congress has not approved a second wave of CARES Act money. Or Paycheck Protection Program loans. Or a second round of personal stimulus checks. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Legislature to approve a $100 million COVID relief plan, which includes stimulus money and extensions of unemployment benefits. But this week the Legislature was more preoccupied with hearings on accusations of fraud for an election that is over and certified. “In the spring, everyone was on the same team,” said DesOrmeau. “You just wonder if people are more divided now. … It’s becoming like everything in 2020 – more of a battle, and less of a team, and I think that’s really a problem.” And then there’s fatigue, which I get. I’m tired, and I know you are, too. I’m tired of working from home. I’m tired of canceling vacations and family gatherings. I’m tired of being vigilant. I’m tired of the drumbeat of bad news. I’m tired of sacrifices. But let’s have some perspective: World War II was four years of shared sacrifices; the Great Depression lasted a decade. We have to buckle down until a vaccine is in widespread distribution and the numbers of infections come down. Until then, stay home as much as you can, and wear a mask when you’re out. Order takeout from your favorite restaurants, and tip generously. Lobby your lawmaker – state and federal – to assist people and businesses that are suffering. And sacrifice now so we can get through this sooner. “We all need to dig deep, and find that strength we found in the spring,” Sherman said. “I’m there, too – I’m so tired of this, but we really have to rally as the state of Michigan we know. We’re so strong in so many ways, and we have to do it again.” This is no time to quit. # # # 🎧 To hear my conversation with Amy Sherman and Taylor DesOrmeau, click here. To hear all the stories behind the stories, click here and subscribe to our Behind the Headlines podcast. Editor's note: I value your feedback to my columns, story tips and your suggestions on how to improve our coverage. Let me know how MLive helps you, and how we can do better. Please feel free to reach out by emailing me at [email protected]. John Hiner Executive Editor Vice President of Content Mlive Media Group Download our Apps: Having trouble viewing this email? View in your browser. To ensure receipt of our emails, please add [email protected] to your address book or safe sender list. You received this email because you are a subscriber to MLive.com newsletters. Contact Us Download Our App Privacy Policy More Newsletters Unsubscribe 169 Monroe Ave NW #100 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |