"We are all living paycheck to paycheck. How can I not to fight for them?

By now, whether on social media or by word of mouth or via recent news, you have read or heard that Gallagher's Irish Pub and Shenanigan's Pizza has been open and according to the owner Kelly Erben " if a customer wanted to dine in, and they  could sit far away from another customer, she did not ask them to leave.

Erben still felt that way when I spoke with her after the Department of Health press conference. At that time, Governor Gavin Newsom had not issued the statewide stay at home executive order.

Even I noticed that the few places that were allowing this option weren't being beseiged by customers. Maybe one or two in a large dining space for hours. Some restaurants were asking people to wash their hands before they sat down.

There are mixed feelings among the community about the only takeout/dining option. There are many who agree with Ms. Erben's decision for many reasons. They didn't want to be quoted and harassed on social media.

Ms. Erben wants to provide a paycheck for her 20 employees and wanted to offer an option for her customers, some who can't cook at home or reheat food. This reality is something that Ms. Erben and a few other restaurant owners understand.

There are struggles that some in Humboldt cannot relate to or don't want to acknowledge. For reasons stated above, again, people didnt want to be quoted. Not everyone gets a steady paycheck or can apply for unemployment insurance or has the local support system.

Ms. Erben said she is frustrated with the lack of
leadership from the County Supervisors and Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman and the City of Eureka.

"Where is the Mayor? Why do we not have nightly updates from the City?" said Ms. Erben.

Ms. Erben and other business owners had to find out certain information for themselves. She reached out to a contact on the State Tax Board and found out she could get a two month extension for taxes due on the 24th.

"This affects the livelihood of 20 employees," said Ms. Erben. "We are all living paycheck to paycheck. How can I not to fight for them? One of my employees had to quit, leave and go home to family in South Carolina."

The Small Business Administration disaster relief site now includes Humboldt but is overwhelmed, and working slowly and crashing, said Erben. She is not the only business owner with that experience.

Related posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/03/confusion-about-messaging-from.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/03/i-have-been-trying-for-last-two-days-to.html?m=1