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Show A-4 The Park Record Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 28-31, 2020 Mayor’s message frustrates Summit County Seniors The Senior Centers are closed, however, we are serving curbside meals at each center. The schedule is as follows: • North Summit- Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:00 pm-12:30 pm, 435-336-2622 • Park City-Mondays and Thursdays from 1:00 pm- 1:30 pm, 435-649-7261 • South Summit- Mondays and Thursdays from 12:00 pm-12:30 pm, 435-783-4311 Please call by 9:30 am on that day of scheduled lunch to reserve your meal. During this time of uncertainty, we want to make sure our seniors are not going with-out. If you are aware of anyone 60 years or older in need please contact Jessica Wilde, Senior Director, 801-644-1343. NO SENIOR LEFT BEHIND. CORONAVIRUS HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CDC clean your hands Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov. Comments seen as ‘tone deaf’ to those struggling JAY HAMBURGER The Park Record Park City Mayor Andy Beerman wants the community to take a moment to catch its breath amid the shutdowns forced by the spread of the novel coronavirus, a sentiment he outlined in recent remarks at a Park City Council meeting. He expressed a similar idea in a note to the community as concerns mounted, saying in a letter addressed to friends and neighbors that his advice is to “take a deep breath, soak it up, catch up on life, and take some time to reflect.” He called it a “pause” and said people can use the time “to catch up with family, call friends, get outdoors, or finish projects. This is a great opportunity to read that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand, or break out the paint set that’s been collecting dust on your shelf.” But there are many people in Park City struggling financially and reports of layoffs or reduced hours in various sectors with Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort closing during what is typically a lucrative stretch of springbreak ski vacations. The municipal government intends to address the sudden economic drop, but that work, officials say, must wait until after the acute issue of the spread of the sickness is under control. An economic resiliency task force was formed to begin crafting plans to boost business. In the meantime, Beerman said in the letter, “as I walk around my neighborhood (Old Town), I see locals everywhere. People are friendly, smiling, and, perhaps, strangely calm. It’s what a healthy community should look like.” On Main Street, numerous businesses were temporarily closed even before Summit County on Wednesday issued a stay-at-home order that went into effect on Friday. There were just scattered people seen on Main Street at many times over the last week. One of the businesses that has been closed is Flight Boutique, occupying a high-traffic location toward the middle of Main Street. The store closed on March 15 and there is no scheduled reopening. Three people were laid off, making them eligible to collect unem- JAY HAMBURGER/PARK RECORD Flight Boutique, which occupies a high-traffic location toward the middle of Main Street, temporarily closed on March 15 amid the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of the co-owners of Flight Boutique says she appreciated the sentiments in a recent message to the community from Mayor Andy Beerman but criticized the timing. ployment benefits. There are just the two co-owners left, and they are not earning anything since the revenue has dropped to whatever is earned from online sales, deliveries to homes and subscription boxes filled with clothes and other goods. Blaire Isleib, one of the co-owners, said the note from the mayor, coming as the conditions were quickly deteriorating on Main Street, arrived at a difficult moment. She described the note as “frustrating” and “all rosy.” “I do appreciate the sentiments. I think the timing is bad,” she said, adding that City Hall was not working with businesses through the middle of the week. She also said the letter from the mayor likely was not received well on Main Street even as she said she appreciates the underlying message from Beerman. The letter was “tone deaf” to the public, the service industry and businesses, Isleib said. “That’s not always the case for a lot of families in Park City,” she said about the advice the mayor offered in his letter. “... They are struggling. They just lost their income.” She said the Historic Park City Alliance, a group that represents the interests of businesses in the Main Street core, has been helpful with information about state-level assistance that is available. She is unsure what current role City Hall could have in assisting Main Street. Isleib said suggestions in Park City for businesses to seek state help conflict with the spirit of the community. “It’s not consistent with the Park City I grew up in,” she said. The mayor, separately, addressed a question from Isleib during a Virtual Coffee with Council event, saying he once led the group that represents businesses in the Main Street core and has been a Main Street businessman. He said his time on Main Street included the downturn after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and weak snow years. “I would hope that I have a grasp on it and an empathy for everybody, certainly. I make my living off of rental properties, which are all empty, and my commercial tenants are going to be given a rent abatement. So, I’m in the same boat as the rest of you,” Beerman said. |