Do you remember your worst nightmare? Or have the details faded over time? The human brain is programmed to instinctively dissociate from trauma, a critical survival mechanism during and after horrific experiences. But we must fight this instinct to take mental flight if we want to do more than merely survive the nightmarish events of the last two years. We must relive — and learn from — our shared pandemic nightmare if we hope to thrive in an endemic California.
Let’s allow restaurants to continue activating public spaces and catering to the pandemic-altered preferences of patrons. California should permanently roll back regulatory barriers to alfresco dining, curbside pick-up and to-go alcoholic beverages. These are business-friendly, bipartisan-backed solutions that enliven our streetscapes and empower our pandemic-ravaged service industry.
Collaboration between employers and business organizations increased during the pandemic, strengthening grassroots advocacy groups such as BizFed to shine a brighter light on the needs of small business owners. This spurred pro-jobs policies that offered support where it was needed most. Some 93% of businesses in Los Angeles have fewer than 20 employees. Of those businesses, 55% are owned by women or minorities — the largest concentration in the nation.
Businesses were scapegoated and subjected to capricious closures during surges in local COVID-19 cases, despite inconsistent scientific evidence and a lack of supporting data. Responsible lawmakers and media outlets should get their facts and figures straight before stoking the flames of public paranoia. Public health emergency protocol should be crafted in accordance with publicly available data.