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Mark2 -> RE: Festival Jerez (Mar. 17 2021 19:56:46)
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It has been interesting to see who has been allowed to operate and who hasn't. I own a flooring company, and we are considered essential by the city of San Francisco. I've had contracts with SF international airport that called for emergency response, but my view has always been that there is no such thing as a carpet related emergency, so I was a bit surprised we were allowed to operate. Essential to change out your carpet? Really? Not that many clients wanted work done last spring and summer. Fall and winter weren't any better. And this year we are down 50% vs. YTD last year. I think it could be some time before things return to pre covid levels. I'm fortunate in that I've been very conservative with cash flow, so my company is going to survive.
OTOH, flooring companies in some other states were ordered to close, but they let Home Depot stay open, and sell flooring. Flooring dealers in those states protested, and at least one state decided HD could still stay open but not sell flooring. That is crazy. Other states never ordered flooring stores to close, and many outfits that focus on residential business had a good year as homeowners stuck at home wanted to fix up their spaces.
Shutting down restaurants has been life changing for many, including a buddy who owns a wholesale food distribution company-his primary clients are restaurants. Many restaurants, including some large chains will never recover. The iconic Cliff house in SF has closed, the park service, who owns the building, couldn't come to terms with the operator who leased the building for over 40 years. I don't know how they expected him to pay rent when he couldn't open.
My full time musician buddies-I have no idea how they are eating. Just wiped out, and who knows when that will become a viable profession again.
OTOH, I've managed to avoid contracting the virus for a year, as have most of us, so it's difficult to second guess decisions made by officials who, in fairness, were guessing and hoping themselves. But, as far as protests, I think the government should have enforced the same restrictions on all public gatherings, regardless of the reason for them. There needs to be equity in enforcement of the law, or the public will continue to lose respect for it. Personally, when I see the governor of California ignore a law he doesn't agree with, I feel like I have the same right.
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ORIGINAL: Escribano
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Go to a grocery store but not a restaurant?
Grocery stores are rather important in a lockdown, restaurants less so. Protest is enshrined, concerts less so.
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