On March 23, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an order that “non-essential” businesses close and employees stay in their homes. While the Freedom Foundation takes COVID seriously and each death is tragic, the Governor’s actions are harming small businesses and the people they employ.
Two months later, these orders are still largely in place. And while the number of deaths associated with the disease has been reduced dramatically, Inslee’s edict is still killing businesses at an alarming rate.
Because the press and the Governor have largely ignored this fact, the Freedom Foundation believes it is important to chronicle the small businesses who have been forced to permanently close. See the current of list of small business deaths here.
Under the best of circumstances, small business owners assume an astonishing amount of risk, and to have their ability to reach customers, perform services or sell products taken away is a severe injustice. Many who start businesses borrow against the value of their their home, vehicle or other assets.
The Governor doesn’t seem to care that forcing small businesses to close is putting people out of work, impacting tens of thousands of families who depend upon these jobs.
Over the next few months, the Freedom Foundation will update the list of businesses sadly forced to permanently close because of the Governor’s actions. Unfortunately, this is an ever growing and changing list. If you know of a business closure, please let me know.
The Freedom Foundation thanks the folks who created the Facebook page “Inslee’s List -The Dead Business Log” for their good work in helping to identify and recognize those businesses which have closed.
