People across the nation are debating the appropriate balance between economic and public health responses to the coronavirus pandemic, and a local version of the debate went public Sunday in Rapid City.
The Rapid City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would order many non-essential businesses to shut down as a means of slowing COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Dozens of people attended Sunday's meeting. Many tried to keep the recommended social distance between each other, while others stood outside the meeting room until it was their turn to speak.
Matthew Sullivan owns Juniper, a restaurant. He said curbside pickups and deliveries won’t be enough to save him if the city orders his doors closed.
“We also have bills, a loan payment, rent, etcetera. Are you going to pay these? If we have to shut our doors, are you going to pay for these?” Sullivan asked without a response. “Our employees, are you going to pay for their meals? Promise them a job after we’re done? Because we will be done if we have to shut our doors.”
The ordinance would limit restaurants to offering takeout, drive-through, curbside pickup and deliveries. Bars licensed only for on-premises alcohol consumption would have to close. Health clubs and theaters would also have to close, and various other categories of businesses would be affected.
Several business owners testified against the ordinance. But some people in the audience said a public health emergency should take precedence over other considerations.
Jennifer Albertson implored businesspeople and elected officials to put public health over economic concerns.
“I patronize a lot of small businesses in this community. Some that have spoken tonight. And I don’t want those people to lose their homes, their cars. I want them to be able to feed their kids,” Albertson said. “But the reality of this is, if we all die, you won’t have a business. If you subject your workers to coronavirus and they die, who’s going to come to work?”
The council voted 7-2 to approve the ordinance’s first reading. A final vote is scheduled Friday.
Mayor Steve Allender said Monday that the ordinance and the council’s consideration of it do not appear to be affected by an executive order issued Monday by Gov. Kristi Noem. The order contains COVID-19 response guidelines for cities. Noem said during a press conference that cities are free to take actions more stringent than the guidelines suggest.
