Highland mayor implores Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to rethink COVID-19 restrictions

Highland Mayor Joe Michaelis has joined other city leaders in writing to Gov. J.B. Pritzker imploring him to rethink the state’s approach to the coronavirus, and asking for funds to help impacted businesses.

Michaelis posted a copy of a letter dated Friday on Facebook, addressed to Pritzker and citing his “grave concern” about the impact of the heightened restrictions on businesses in his community.

“Our citizens and business owners have been brave and resourceful in facing the challenges put before them during this unprecedented event,” he wrote. “But bravery and resourcefulness will only allow our businesses to survive for so long. I believe it is time to rethink how we as a state are addressing the coronavirus crisis.”

Michaelis wrote the current approach is focusing on businesses, when the real focus should be on individual behavior. He has spoken of this in the past, with public pleas for residents to take the threat of the virus more seriously. He had asked residents to tell him directly if they saw a business not using masks.

Last month, Highland City Hall had to close after a city employee tested positive. It reopened about two weeks later. The Highland school district has also had an employee test positive, though school was not yet in session.

But the restrictions on local businesses only drive residents to other communities, Michaelis wrote in his letter to Pritzker, which he believes will exacerbate the spread of the virus.

“This unintended consequence is and will have the exact opposite effect of the intent of the current policy,” Michaelis wrote.

Michaelis included in his letter a request for additional funds to be made available through the Business Interruption Grant program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus. That program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and its first phase issued $60 million in grants to 2,600 businesses.

The letter was posted on the city’s Facebook page Friday.

This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 1:00 AM.