Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt starts a petition urging Governor Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when and how they reopen their economies.
Hewitt says the Governor’s preference to issue stay at home orders on a statewide basis is not working for areas of the state with low case counts.
“Rather than a one size fits all solution I am encouraging the Governor to let local leaders and buisiness owners as to how to best implement those guidelines,” says Hewitt.
The stay at home order is set to end April 30th, but New Orleans has already extended the order locally until May 16th.
Hewitt says the petition allows state residents to tell Edwards they want to see Louisiana implement President Trump’s plan for reopening locally.
“There has not really been much of an opportunity for local people to get involved and have their voices heard,” says Hewitt.
Edwards says he does not plan on allowing local parish governments to open before the stay at home order ends, or to allow some parishes to relax restrictions more than others.
“We are planning to move forward as we are able to if we meet the threshold criteria to move into Phase One,” says Edwards.
Edwards says as of now it appears some restrictions will be lifted statewide after April 30th, but he wants everyone to have their expectations properly set for what it will look like.
“Phase One is a very gradual easing of current restrictions. It is not like we are going to be opening and going back to where we were before,” says Edwards.
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