The news – first reported statewide by The Canary – that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is once again closing bars and limiting restaurant capacity to just 25% is not going over well, as expected, with business owners or local elected officials.
On Wednesday, Wolf ordered all bars in Pennsylvania to close. Drinks can only be ordered with meals. And restaurants must limit themselves to 25% occupancy, down from the 50% limit originally set in his color-coded phased coronavirus reopening.
Bars and restaurants were only allowed to start inside service back on June 19 in Schuylkill County. That’s when we were moved to the green phase of that reopening plan.
“We’re f***ed,” one business owner told us quite frankly on Wednesday when they learned the news.
Less than a month later, some have to close their doors again. And restaurants will have to severely alter their business operations and do it in a hurry. Wolf gave less than 9 hours notice on these changes going into effect.
State Sen. Dave Argall (R-29, Schuylkill and Berks counties) says the actions Wolf took today “could be the final stake in the heart for many small business employers and thousands of employees in the small town which I represent.”
King Tom the First of His Name
Argall says Wolf doesn’t understand rural Pennsylvania, including Schuylkill County. And his actions today prove that.
“We heard it firsthand during my four Policy Committee hearings in the last few weeks: Rising numbers of COVID 19 cases in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia do not mean the Governor should hurt restaurant and bar employees in Sinking Spring, Womelsdorf and Shenandoah,” Argall says. “This further ruling by the Governor—who continues to act like King Tom the first, without the approval of the House, the Senate, our local governments, or the public could be the final stake in the heart for many small business employers and thousands of employees in the small towns which I represent.”
State Rep. Mike Tobash (R-125, Schuylkill and Dauphin counties) says, “Wolf’s statewide restrictions contradict the statement he made earlier that local leaders would be allowed to make COVID-19-related decisions.”
Tobash adds, “I am frustrated and disappointed. The economy continues to decline, and the governor will not allow the doors of business to stay open. Our workers will have to tap into their saving accounts if they have any funds remaining. The governor has once again ignored the voices of the people and refused to work with their representatives.”
ALSO READ:
- Pennsylvania Restaurants Going to 25% Occupancy, Bars Closing at Midnight
- Just Like That, Schuylkill County Mask Watch Group is Finished
- Stop Wearing Masks Alone in Your Car, State Says
Image: License purchased via Depositphotos.com
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Rob
July 15, 2020 at 7:52 pm
People, everyone, including all polititions that truly don’t get it like Argall need to keep in mind that it is not about destroying anything. We still have a global pandemic disease spreading and killing people. That should remain the most important priority in everyones thoughts. These closures are intended to protect everyone. It has nothing to do with any other intension. It is what Tom Wolf swore to do for us when he recited the oath of office.
PTFloridians
July 15, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Ohhhhh…O..K..
What do you do for a living?, Mr. Rob?
Brooklyn
July 15, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Rob is drinking Wolf’s koolaid.
Mark
July 15, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Well said. Some of the people on here are far right nut jobs. The Qanon types. They need to get their medication adjusted.
Just sayin
July 16, 2020 at 3:38 pm
Agree with you Mark
Mark
July 15, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Well said. Don’t let these people get to you they’re just far right nut jobs with a total disregard for public safety. Wouldn’t want to hurt POTUS’S economy. Doesn’t matter. He’s going down in flames! Biden 2020!
Zille
July 16, 2020 at 11:19 am
Maybe you should try going to work, Mark, instead of collecting. Do you think a VIRUS is going to back its’ bags and just leave….seriously….why aren’t you afraid of the flu that kills thousands every year? Is it okay that people who have the flu have a total disregard for public safety?
Doug T
July 17, 2020 at 3:25 pm
Are you talking about the piece of shit (Biden) who can’t complete a sentence without F–king it up. The Dumocrats sure picked a gem for president. He’s in politics for 40 years what has the dementia old man done?
Doug T
July 17, 2020 at 3:31 pm
yea Mark I remember Hilary had a double digit lead going into election day. How’d that work out for you?
Zilee
July 16, 2020 at 11:16 am
You, sir, are uninformed. The recovery rate is extremely high. If my husband can go to work every day, working with over 500 people, and everyone can go grocery shopping, then it is NOT the Bubonic Plague. I have spoken to medical professionals who have said this is way “overblown” and ALL of the FACTS are not being reported. If you want to stay and hide in your house, so be it. If I want to go to a bar, store, etc., with a mask, then so be it. FEAR makes the BEAR bigger than he is!
Doug T
July 17, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Hey Robbie Boy let me guess you probably work (or should I say put your time in) for the State. Your pay and benefits keep on coming. I know 1 thing your not an English teacher with the way you spell. Maybe I will live long enough to see the revolution.
Rob
August 18, 2020 at 8:42 pm
No, Dougie. I do not work in any government related field.
Roxanne Dombrosky
July 15, 2020 at 9:20 pm
Rob, look up the definition of pandemic vs endemic. Even if you can find a way to believe that the numbers are reported correctly, they do not support the term pandemic. The cases are in pockets. Schuylkill County shouldn’t be treated the same as Pittsburgh and Philly. Also, these are cases, some asymptomatic, not deaths.You should also ask yourself why does Wolf feel it’s ok to have a drink at a table with a meal, but not at a bar? I think hes afraid that if we meet our friends for a beer, we’re gonna start discussing his tyranny.
Rob
August 18, 2020 at 8:40 pm
I am aware and already know of those facts. On the subject of the virus I have been sharing that even if the infection numbers are not being shared honestly the amount of cases isn’t even 5% of the worlds population and less than 2% of the United States population (last I calculated it whicb was a month or 2 ago).
No. It isn’t a pandemic. I would love to see a public poll results that ask if anyone personally kmows somwone who was infected. I don’t intend to accuse, but I do have consideration that any source of media can be manipulated, faked. After all a lot of it is paid for.
And that consideration raises questions. Questions that may never be answered.
Dave
July 16, 2020 at 6:44 am
Educated people don’t live in constant fear. It constantly amazes me that people don’t want to learn.
No one knows
July 16, 2020 at 12:43 pm
I’m not anyone who hasn’t lost a loved one to this is going to care… Wait until you loose your wife or kids then tell everyone how your upset you are you cant go sit at a bar.
Dave
July 16, 2020 at 4:38 pm
I’m sure some of you watched Wolf’s press conference yesterday. He blamed everything on every thing he could think of. I-95, route 15, not wearing masks and social distancing, Floridians, Baltimore, is there no end? Disturbingly, the virus is doing the thinking for him, by his own words. That scares the hell out of me. just some thoughts I had.
Andrea Markiewicz
July 16, 2020 at 5:08 pm
GO TO WORK AND STOP BEING A BUNCH OF MISINFORMED TWITS. WOLF HATES THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP, THAT IS WHY HE CLOSED ALL OF PA. THANKFULLY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM FROM THE BRITISH WERE NOT A BUNCH OF SPINELESS NITWITS. OH AND THE PLANET WILL NOT END IN 9 YEARS LIKE AOC AND BIDEN THINK PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF AND READ THE BIBLE, ONLY GOD KNOWS WHEN THE END WILL BE. GOOGLE LIES, CNN LIES PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES GO TRUMP!!!!!!!!!
Daniel Brassingtin
July 16, 2020 at 9:40 pm
If people would wear their god dam mask maybe we would not be closing down again , but no, cry it’s my right not to wear one, give me a break you cry babies, wear your mask