OTHER VOICES

Reopen themovies

I am the general manager of Bow Tie Cinemas in the Annapolis mall. I live in Anne Arundel County and have been in themovie industry for over 20 years.

As I read County Steuart Pittman’s commentary on keeping Anne Arundel County in Stage Two, I could not help but wonder when and if my movie theater will reopen (The Capital, Sept. 13 )? While my industry peers have been called back to work in nearby counties and the City of Baltimore, Anne Arundel County movie theaters remain closed, and I have been unemployed for almost six months.

Will a small independent movie theater company survive paying the rent with no income? To date, I have seen no mention of a plan to reopen cinemas in Anne Arundel County.

Personally, I am struggling with this closure. As a father of three with another on theway, this is a very difficult time for my family, but so too is it for my employees. How do I explain to my unemployed staff and their families, that everything at the Annapolis Mall can open except themovie theater? Howcan they go to a casino, or a house ofworship, or even a bowling alley, but they can’t come back towork at themovie theater?

Meanwhile, movie theater owners believe we can keep movie-goers and employees as safe or better than any of these other businesses and services.

There have been no reports of coronavirus transmission from a movie theater in the 46 states that have reopened theirmovie theaters.

I ask Mr. Pittman to take a look at CinemaSafe.org for our safety protocols and consider re-opening movie theaters asap. Bow Tie Cinemas employs over 100 people between our two Annapolis locations. We all desperately want to go back towork. Please help! JASONBAKER

Arnold

Fountain of bubbles

Put Boraxo in the Southgate fountain, it will quickly pop the bubbles when you get bored with all the foam (The Capital, Sept. 15).

Or, maybe we can turn the fountain into a giant bubble bath. What fun! JIMMARTIN

Annapolis