Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Council may halt downtown car shows
POTTSTOWN » Upset at what they say are too many people attending events downtown without following pandemic protocols, the mayor and one borough council member have asked the council to vote Monday on rescinding permits for downtown car shows.
The subject, the topic of concern at last month’s council meeting, was raised again during the Aug. 5 council work session.
And, again, the people raising the concern were Mayor Stephanie Henrick and Councilwoman Lisa Vanni.
Henrick said after the Aug. 1 car show held on High Street by the Red Horse Motoring Club, she received “a barrage of emails” from people upset that so many attending the show were not wearing masks, as required by the health guidelines designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
“People were calling it ‘coronafest,’” Henrick said.
She praised those downtown businesses that are insisting customers follow the protocols and warned businesses that do not may be shut down by the health department.
“It’s a problem when the mayor is too afraid to go downtown and patronize a business,” Henrick said, adding that she is willing to “be the bad guy” and help businesses enforce the rules with their patrons.
“We want you to survive and we want all the businesses in Pottstown to stay afloat,” she said. “But you won’t make any money if you’re shut down.”
“It’s really upsetting that with some individuals, it seems like it doesn’t matter to them,” said Henrick. “It’s just like the signs that say ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service.’ It’s the same thing.”
At the end of the meeting, Vanni said she was “really disappointed” about people’s failure to wear masks at the Saturday’s car show.
“It does seem with certain groups we can’t seem to follow basic guidelines to protect other people.”
It’s not the first time Vanni has raised these concerns.
At last month’s council meeting, she said too many at the car show do not wear masks or practice proper social distancing and their actions pose a public health risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
Part of the reason for the confusion, Borough Manager Justin Keller said last month, is that Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has said that if you are outside, with the people you live with, and are staying 6 feet apart, masks aren’t necessary.
Chuck Harders, president of Red Horse Motoring Club, which hosts the monthly shows, said last month “We ask people to wear masks, but if the police can’t enforce it, it’s even harder for civilians like us to enforce it.”
The poster advertising the Aug. 1 car show downtown includes a request: “Please observe all health standards by bringing a mask and wearing the mask when you are within six feet of a nonhousehold member.”
Keller said it’s hard to know when approving street closures for such events if the organizers will enforce those rules.
“How are we supposed to enforce that when a permit is requested if we don’t know the organizers?” Keller asked.
“But we do know these organizers,” Henrick replied.
“After three months of watching this, they had their second chance and they blew it. It’s about nobody wearing a mask. Period. Full stop. This is the same problem I’ve brought up for last the three months. It was worse this past weekend,” said Vanni.
Henrick asked that the council have an item on the agenda for Monday’s meeting to rescind permits or approvals for gatherings of 250 or more and for the remaining car shows scheduled for September and October.
Vanni supported that request and Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. said as a result, the matter should be put on the agenda for council’s consideration.
Ironically, that same agenda includes a request to close High Street between Hanover and Charlotte streets on Sept. 12 for a large event, dubbed “First Responders Appreciation,” scheduled for 12 to 4 p.m.
Henrick said she does not believe a permit should be denied for this request, meant to recognize the efforts of emergency and medical workers during the pandemic.
“I’m fairly sure we can trust our first responders to practice social distancing,” she said.