SLO County won’t start its re-opening plan this weekend
Many parts of the state of California will take the first steps toward reopening their economies this weekend — but San Luis Obispo County’s recovery roadmap will not be kicking off.
According to a county news release, though California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to issue an executive order this Friday allowing some retail businesses to partially reopen, the order will not authorize San Luis Obispo County to begin its reopening plan.
The county announced on Friday its roadmap for how it expects to reopen its local economy. Called the START Guide, it specifies that in its first phase, stores, salons and restaurants would all reopen with some safety modifications.
In contrast, the state’s plan only allows some retail businesses like bookshops and clothing stores to begin offering curbside pickup and deliveries — something many smaller SLO County businesses have already implemented.
“It’s unclear whether the state will give us the latitude to move forward in our own measured way with the approach outlined in our START Guide,” County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein. “This is very disappointing because our community is ready to move forward. We continue to advocate and plan for local control and will revise our START Guide, as promised.”
According to the release, the county can’t start its phased reopening plan until three things happen: first, the state must lift of modify its shelter-at-home order; then, it must also allow for local control; and finally, the county must issue another executive order moving to Phase 1.
“We appreciate the state’s efforts to move toward reopening, but we would like authorization to move forward with our approach as outlined in the START Guide,” county administrative officer and emergency services director Wade Horton said in the release.
%20Cropped.jpg)