PA Gov. Tom Wolf (right) today at a virtual speech and press conference
Gov. Tom Wolf today struck back today at “cowardly local politicians” who want to open their economies “prematurely,” accusing them of “surrender” in the face of a “deadly” enemy.
Wolf made his remarks during a virtual press conference following a weekend during which the commissioners of several central PA counties, including Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon and York, said that they would move unilaterally into the less restrictive “yellow” category, perhaps as early as this week.
“These are politicians who were elected to serve their fellow citizens,” Wolf said. “Others are business owners who have chosen to serve their customers by putting them in harm’s way. These folks are choosing to desert in the face of the enemy, in the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning and that we must win.”
This week, 13 counties in southwest PA will join 24 other counties in the northern areas of the state to move into the “yellow” category, which allows for greater movement and business openings. All of the Harrisburg area remains in the most restrictive “red” category.
For one, Jeff Haste, chairman of the Dauphin County board of commissioners, on Friday released a letter accusing the state of heavy-handed tactics and urging Wolf to allow “businesses and communities to reopen.”
“For centuries, our people and businesses have shown they can adapt to changes to survive and prosper,” Haste stated. “They cannot, however, do a thing when a dictator and an unelected secretary place them in lockdown.”
Some local district attorneys also have said that they would not prosecute violations of state-mandated business closures or stay-at-home orders.
Both Wolf and Haste cited the “progress” made in PA in tamping down the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the state has successfully “flattened the curve,” or the rate of infection. They also both said that the state, through its business closures and stay-at-home orders, in place since late March, prevented the health care system from becoming overwhelmed.
But they interpreted this progress in very different ways.
Haste cited it as a reason to reopen, in addition to minimizing further harm to businesses and the community.
“I trust and have faith in the great people and businesses of Pennsylvania to operate in a manner that protects those of our population in harm’s way and allows our residents to go back to work, enjoy their communities and have a quality of life,” Haste stated.
Wolf, though, said that loosening restrictions “prematurely” would amount to “surrender” and endanger lives. He also called Pennsylvanians “heroes” for agreeing to upend their lives to help prevent the spread of the virus.
“These heroic acts deserve to be met not by surrendering, but by staying the course,” he said. “And that’s what I intend to do.”
He also said that business owners who follow the commissioners and open before state guidance allows could face penalties, such as losing liquor licenses, health certifications and certificates of occupancy.
“Finally, the politicians who are encouraging the people they’re elected to lead to quit the fight are acting in a most cowardly way,” he said. “This is not the time to give up. This is not the time to surrender. This is the time to rededicate ourselves to the task of beating this virus.”
