Democratic Lawmakers Push Wolf To Open Curbside Sales

HARRISBURG, PA — Democratic state lawmakers from Bucks County were among those urging Gov. Tom Wolf to allow curbside sales at all of the state's retail stores during the coronavirus shutdown.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and representatives Tina Davis and John Galloway signed a letter sent by the Senate Democratic Caucus to Gov. Wolf, who is also a Democrat.

Get the latest updates on coronavirus in Bucks County by signing up for Patch news alerts.

Santarsiero called the request "a necessary step to support small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic" and noted what he called the success of curbside pickup for restaurants and other essential businesses already allowed to do so.

In the letter, legislators contend that Pennsylvania's 18 counties still in the most restrictive red phase of Wolf's reopening plan are moving close to the less restrictive yellow phase. They say businesses are ready and able to take the steps necessary to open safely while continuing to curb the spread of the virus.

They noted that neighboring New Jersey allows for curbside pickup.

"At this point, we can open additional sectors of the economy while continuing to flatten the curve as long as social distancing and good hygiene is practiced and personal protective equipment is used," Davis said Tuesday.

Davis and Galloway said sacrifices made to protect vulnerable populations during this pandemic has led to "grave economic insecurities and hardship for many in Bucks County."

"It’s time to get our economy moving again," Galloway said. "Our small businesses can have curbside pickup while using the tools and practices that will protect the public health."

The letter was announced on the same afternoon that Wolf vetoed three coronavirus-related measures passed in the Republican-controlled state legislature. Those bills would have opened businesses like barbershops, car dealerships and salons, allowed counties to make their own coronavirus reopening rules and permitted real estate sales and other legal services to resume.

Davis and Galloway both voted for the real estate bill, House Bill 2412.

Wolf, however, did sign into law a bill sponsored by Bucks County state Rep. Perry Galloway, D-Yardley, that will allow restaurants and hotels to sell to-go cocktails for curbside pickup.

The political maneuvering comes amid a backdrop of mounting frustration for business owners in Bucks County and elsewhere throughout the state.

A gym in Wrightstown has reopened, defying Gov. Tom Wolf's stay-at-home and business closure orders. And other local business owners are saying they'll have to close forever if they're not able to reopen their doors soon.

Some business owners in Bucks County were threatening to reopen in spite of the orders.

Meanwhile, Bucks officials were working to help business owners holding the line. On Monday, county commissioners announced a $6 million Bucks Back To Work Small Business Grant created to help local businesses struggling during the shutdown.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania