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-Editorial
Imperial Valley cities, chambers of commerce, and other agencies have signed on to a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom supporting the request to the governor by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to advance the state to Expanded Stage 2 and allow counties to determine when it is safe to open businesses.
The letter was put together by the Imperial Valley Business Recovery Task Force in response to the county’s request sent this week.
The task force wrote that “Imperial County is a unique border community, and our geographic location makes it extremely difficult to meet current reopening guidelines.” The letter notes: “Not only does Imperial County border Mexicali, Mexico, a Baja California city of more than 1 million residents, but we also border the state of Arizona — a state that has opened up all businesses.”
The letter calls upon the governor to allow counties to make determinations regarding reopening. “Our county’s unique geographic position is a good example of why a one-size-fits-all state guideline for emerging out of the pandemic can be unjust.”
The task force also told the governor that its “message has been that every individual and business must be accountable to follow COVID 19 health guidelines.”
Signing on to the letter were the cities of Calipatria, Brawley, El Centro, Imperial, Holtville, and Calexico as well as chambers of commerce from Westmorland, Brawley, El Centro, and Imperial. Also, the Imperial County Farm Bureau, Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Imperial County Workforce Development Board, and the Small Business Development Center.
