Gilroy needs to start prepare for the long road of recovery as businesses are allowed to re-open

Photos by Robert Airoldi
The Gilroy Premium Outlets have been closed since March 17, severely impacting the city’s sales tax revenue.


An opinion of Gilroy Life

The financial health of local businesses has been hit hard with the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order imposed in mid-March by the county’s Public Health Department. It was followed soon after by a state-wide order by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The drastic action of putting a brake on public interaction has saved thousands of lives. Yet there are no objective benchmarks showing when it might end so that communities can begin the process of “re-opening.” Millions of people are losing their jobs. Families are being separated. The crisis has taken a heavy toll on the economic health of cities throughout California, the nation, and the world. The devastation will be felt for years to come.

Los Angeles County extended its stay order through the month of July, an indicator that shelter-in-place might last through much of the summer and into the new school year. Regardless how long it lasts, it is vital for Gilroy and Santa Clara County leaders to start now in planning for the eventual recovery. In late April, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to create a comprehensive plan that would serve as a roadmap laying out how and when to start the process of peeling back restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It reflects a similar statewide push to create clear public health requirements that need to be met to ease the restrictions that have shut down businesses, schools, and public gatherings.

County of Santa Clara Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody announced amendments May 18 to the county’s order to let some businesses resume operating, so long as they take social distancing and other COVID-19 measures. Under the new order, starting May 22 retailers will be allowed to open for curbside/outdoor pickup. The supply chain for those retail establishments will also be allowed to reopen.

Gilroy needs to start preparing for the day when businesses are allowed to re-open and the long road of recovery to the South Valley economy. Here are some actions that might help

  • Developing draft guidelines based on the current county protocols for essential businesses.

  • The city can begin working with the Chamber of Commerce to develop a draft as a starting point for local businesses.

  • The city can work with the Chamber to develop a “shop local” campaign to encourage residents to support stores and restaurants.

  • Promote curbside pick-up as well as in-home delivery for all retail through both local action and legislative advocacy.

  • Work with the Gilroy Visitors Bureau to support a strategic plan and branding campaign to promote the city to visitors.

  • Possible closure of select side streets in the downtown district to allow for outdoor dining and outdoor retail operations.

For the plan to succeed, the city will need to partner with other organizations including the school district. If the coronavirus crisis in mid-August prevents children from returning to their classrooms, parents who work will be forced to stay home or find daycare. That will slow down the economic recovery.

It has been more than two months since the restrictive health order was initiated. This drastic action seems to be working. As of Friday May 22, 2,492 county residents have been infected and 138 have died. The lives lost are tragic, but the numbers would have been considerably higher if society had carried on a business-as-usual policy and the novel coronavirus had spread through much more of the population.

Before an aggressive re-opening of the local economy the county needs to ramp up testing capabilities so they are widely available to examine residents with symptoms. This should also include expansive testing in the county’s jails, homeless encampments, nursing facilities and other places where “accelerated transmission” might be a risk. A center is open at Christopher High School.

Once health officials determine the rate of transmission is low enough, the county will need to ensure the infrastructure and staffing is available for contact tracing. This will give a clear idea of who came in contact with those who test positive with the virus.

We encourage the public to contact the mayor and councilmembers with ideas to help in the revitalization of our local shops, restaurants, and industry.

During a crisis such as the public health challenge we now face, people need good leadership at every level of government, but especially at the local level. We need leaders who are proactive and taking smart steps to plan for the day when the spread of the disease slows enough for re-opening to begin. The speed of our economic recovery in the future depends on how we start preparing now to help our businesses get back to business.

Gilroy Life Editorial
Visit us