Are we truly in this together?

To whom it may concern, This letter is addressed “To whom it may concern,” because I am, quite frankly, alarmed that more people aren’t concerned by the following issues.

On behalf of all small business owners in Stamford, I am writing pertaining to the impossible — and improbable — “standards” the entrepreneurs of our state are being forced to uphold, all in the name of adhering to our civic duty in the war against COVID-19. We need a voice, and perhaps more urgently, we need to be heard, as we’ve long passed the point of dismay by the lack of regard for our existence in this pandemic.

I am the owner of three gyms in Fairfield County — all of which are independently owned with no corporate backing — and I would like someone to answer how I am supposed to continue to operate at 50 percent capacity, which has been the mandate for the past three months, only after having endured three months of being completely shuttered prior?

Please read that again and understand what is being asked of me — and so many others — to shoulder, all under the auspice of saying that we’re “in this together.”

To be clear, this letter is not a debate about the seriousness of COVID. Nor is it meant to be a political debate reflecting on the color of our state.

It is, however, meant to spark a conversation about leadership and how the characteristic, in its finest form, means that you cannot make decisions in a vacuum. Cause and effect — the very foundation of decision-making — means there are consequences to be had for every single choice, and this letter is sounding a longoverdue alarm that standards are being implemented with blatant disregard for the harm they will have over the long run.

There should be great concern for the fear factor that has been instilled in our residents. This troubles me not only as a business owner but as someone who has made a living out of advocating for people’s health. When the message “you are not safe” is continually delivered as a tactic to manipulate behavior, you create a society that exists out of fear not of unity.

And living in constant fear has effects on our immune system that no one seems to want to discuss.

We should also be concerned for the state of Connecticut. As the founder of a business that pays both copious sales tax and property tax to our state, I ask you to think for a second what will happen when these revenue streams dry up? At this point you should assume they will because business owners are tired, swimming in debt, and above all distrusting. So many promises have been made then walked back, all in the name of the greater good.

In sum, this is no longer the time to tell people to keep their heads up. Nor is it appropriate to ask for patience or to offer up some hollow, supposedly feelgood advice.

The damage has been done and walking it back is going to take years to undo.

The question is, Connecticut, what are you going to do?