Small businesses now come in two types: essential and non-essential For essential businesses such as restaurants, it is possible to provide support by ordering takeout or delivery. For non-essential businesses such as Sara’s marketing firm, clothing stores, jewelers and so on, they continue to be left on their own.

Small California businesses were struggling well before the coronavirus pandemic with taxes, fees, business regulations and minimum wage increases. Add to this increase costs and decreased revenues, we have a recipe for economic catastrophe.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have paid little attention to our federal deficit for decades. The Fed is printing money and Congress is spending trillions of dollars. Is more spending the answer or is reopening and deregulation the way to go?

Trillions should have been invested to forestall and respond to pandemics. More humans have died from contagious diseases than in wars. Viruses ready to "jump" from animals to humans could kill everyone. Yet, despite the current pandemic, even the money appropriated by Congress this year (to be borrowed) is overwhelmingly for special interests - not a new plan to deal with diseases or pandemics. Part of what needs to change is a world economy more sturdy than the current HOUSE OF CARDS. Going back to "business-as-usual" with kill millions more persons in short order and perhaps the entire human race in the years ahead.

"with taxes, fees, business regulations and minimum wage increases."

The fringe always forgets the ridiculous cost of rent in this area. As it relates to take out only, labor is a variable cost. Rent is the killer.

Rent and other costs will drive 60 to 70% of the restaurants out of business, if they are stuck doing take out only, according to the local study released yesterday.

See ggra.

It is vitally important to support small businesses or they will die. Please stop shopping on Amazon or at big box stores like Costco if you can instead buy from local small businesses. It may take a few more minutes or cost a few dollars more but it is worth it.