||| FROM JOE SYMONS |||

Given the Governor’s new announcement, will SJC take any steps to reduce non-essential travel? We are still in phase 2 where non-essential travel is prohibited. That said, there are basically no restrictions imposed by SJC re hospitality facilities and no enforcement of the definition of non-essential travel.

I have operated a licensed vacation rental for almost 30 years. My guests are exclusively from out-of-county locations. The hospitality industry is a COVID vector. I strongly urge SJC to significantly reduce the inflow of out-of-county visitors. One (surely seen as draconian) measure is to pull the plug, even if temporarily, on components of the hospitality ecosystem.

The easiest is to pull (suspend) vacation rental permits. We are, after all, in an emergency. Those who have existing reservations would be encouraged, or forced, to cancel them. Visitors should not be coming anyway; they are breaking the non-essential travel policy (I don’t know if it is enforceable by law, but I imagine it could/should be). Let’s not wink at this issue or shrug shoulders and throw up our hands. Existing commercial hospitality venues should have occupancy reduced to at least 50% or more. Random audits should be implemented and stiff fines levied and enforced.

How many new cases do we have to tolerate before we take action commensurate with the problem?


**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**