Louisiana’s business lobbyists are cautiously optimistic about the reopening of some of that state’s businesses but feel more needs to be done. National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn Starns says operating at 25% of capacity is still a huge hurdle, and doesn’t believe employees should count against that number.
“It’s hard because that 25%, you are eating into that with staff even before you open to customers,” said Starns.
Massage parlors, spas and tattoo parlors will remain closed. Also interior mall stores can only offer curbside services. National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn Starns says why can casinos re-open, but not spas.
“We need to be looking into ways that we should be getting everybody open and not creating winners and losers in this and what we’ve done with this sort of restriction, continuing to keep some closed, is you are creating winners and losers,” said Starns.
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says he’s glad the beginning of the recovery has begun, but it’s a steep curve as over 300,000 are unemployed in the state.
“A closed economy is a broken economy and so we’ve got to get this thing going again. We’ve got to get consumer confidence back up,” said Waguespack.
Employees are required to wear face masks when they are dealing with the public and Waguespack says businesses are okay with adapting to guidelines aimed at mitigating the spread.
“If they can get access to PPE, they are glad to incorporate that into their business. We’ve been seeing many of the essential service business have been doing that for the last month at grocery stores and hardware stores and places like that,” said Waguespack.
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