Mayor Kate Snyder Wants to Change Course and Follow Governor Mills’  Reopening Plan Rather than the City’s. Smart Woman!

The City of Portland has tweaked again – this morning was the latest tweak.

The Mayor has decided to allow small, very small businesses – like barber shops and hair salons – to reopen this Friday, May 1st rather than allow non-essential businesses to provide curbside pickups as decided as its most recent remote meeting.  That decision came after a large number of small businesses complained to the city council when they were not permitted to sell their products curb-side as are essential businesses.

This latest tweak came because yesterday Governor Janet T. Mills announced her plan to safely and gradually allow small businesses to reopen – beginning on Friday May 1st.  That is Stage 1 of her four part plan – with all of them to fall into place, assuming there is no spike or surge in the number of coronavirus cases confirmed in the state.  The Governor’s plan is based on safety rather than essential vs. non-essential criteria.

In today’s tweak, Mayor Kate Snyder said that she will be asking the Council to consider repealing the city’s Stay at Home Order and replace it with Governor Mills plan as outlined yesterday in a press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic.  That request by the Mayor will come on Monday, May 4, 2020 – that is unless there is another tweak in the meantime from city hall.  Let’s hope not.

Please see the previous post herein on the Governor’s plan to gradually reopen the state’s economy beginning Friday, May 1st.