Business owners call for support, dissent
About 100 people gathered at the Vacaville Creek Walk Saturday afternoon for a rally organizers said was meant to support small businesses, give owners information on how to stay open despite COVID-19 and, essentially, bring the community together.
While some business owners did share moving stories of how new health protocols have affected their lives, the Unite Solano event was also at times political, a rallying cry for dissent and ultimately divisive.
Morne Van Stade of Journey Coffee talked about his initial success story, moving from South Africa 16 years ago. He spoke of opening his business, of “living the dream that my ancestors talked about,” of feeling thankful and blessed.
But COVID-19 hit him hard, he said, as he followed every guideline despite losing more than $ 150,000 in sales. And, he worried about his customers, staff and family, of keeping everyone afloat. He eventually came to the realization, he said, that there
is no health emergency. So, he will fight.
“Journey has a mission just like your business has a mission,” he said. “Stand up for the mission and the rights you have in this country.”
Juan Desmarais of Primo’s Barbershop spoke of losing his license for staying open when the state ordered him to close. He called the requirement a “money and a power grab” and asked small business
owners to rise up.
“Let’s do this together. Move forward together,” he said.
Danny and Diane Jackson of The Brass Tap also spoke of struggling to care for themselves and their staff. The current health order, Danny said, is not a lawful order.
“We are allowed to disobey an unlawful order,” he pointed out.
Chrissy Helmer of Eco Chic said the community and its leaders “need to have a backbone for small businesses.” She called those hesitant to be out and about without masks “afraid” and told them to “stay home,” described some community members as “communists” and “snitches” and likened the plight of small business owners to having “yellow stars” on their shirts, a reference to the Jewish people targeted during the Holocaust.
There were also references at the rally to creating a new California, waving of flags honoring President Donald Trump and calling the current health crisis not a serious one.
Mayor Ron Rowlett, reached by phone after the gathering, said he supports small businesses and wants them to do well.
“But we also want everyone to be safe,” he emphasized.
So he’s pushing to disconnect Vacaville from the Bay Area regional counts regarding ICU bed availability and aims to create protocols that will keep businesses open.