I sit on the City Council in Alpharetta. We’re fortunate because we have a large business economy. Well, we used to. Pre-COVID-19, our daytime population would double in size. We make decisions based on what is good for businesses and what is best for our residents.
I learned recently that you can do the right thing as a leader and still be absolutely sick over the decision. Deciding to restrict some business was agonizing, and still is. Our council unanimously and justifiably restricted how some could operate. Sheltering in place, many can’t operate at all. Moms and dads who owned businesses found themselves in harm’s way. Property owners and tenants who carry IOU’s, suddenly had few customers to serve. Employees who paid their way through school by working in restaurants had nobody to serve. In two weeks, the unemployment numbers shot up in this country. It keeps me up at night to know I contributed to that number. It keeps every elected official up at night. On both sides.
I heard from a resident who was stuck in India, desperately trying to get back to his family — with no flights available. Imagine your small-town city councilman trying to connect him to the black hole of Congress or the U.S. State Department. Can you imagine relying on the federal government to get you home? Overnight, international travel halted, and the economy turned off. I hear from people wondering how they’re going to make payroll. I’ve seen furloughs, and layoffs; and it will certainly get worse.
At the same time, it’s simple to run to your political battle station. Everyone looks for someone to blame. It’s easy to side with, or against, Gov. Kemp or Atlanta Mayor Bottoms. They’re both leading how they see best. They’re both probably right about some things, and they’re both certainly wrong about others. And neither of us or them know what those things are yet. It is social media’s desire for you to pick teams and toe the partisan line.
But in our hardship, there is opportunity. It takes people from every side to wake up in the morning and make this state special. No politician has the answer, and neither does a business owner. This country is in a tough spot and there are a lot of people who are justifiably scared. All while the storm rages.
The Republicans didn’t give you COVID-19, and the Democrats won’t cure it. It’s a complex issue that needs people from every level of government, epidemiologists, business, and every patron of those businesses to be creative, together.
If you have good ideas that can help our struggling economy, call your elected officials. If you have a good idea for the business on Main Street, reach out. Or if you can, buy something. If you see a medical professional, say thanks. Most of us have been around long enough to know that the best this country has to offer is seen during distress, difficulty, and uncertainty.
Love your neighbors, pray for your elected officials and local businesses. Nobody knows what they’re going to do. But when we figure it out, it’ll be because everyone pulled in the same direction. We need you now more than ever. All of us do.
Ben Burnett serves on the Alpharetta City Council.
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