A consortium of Republican and Democratic caucuses have lobbied Governor Tom Wolf to allow retailers across the commonwealth to reopen and provide curbside pickup services.
In a letter sent to Wolf from the Southeast House Republican Delegation, representatives argue that big-box retailers and state-run wine and spirits being allowed to provide curbside pickup while small, mom-and-pop stores continue to remain closed is unfair.
“These businesses deserve the same opportunity as their competitors,” the letter reads. “We need to stop choosing winners and losers and allow those who can operate safely within state and federal guidelines to do so.”
“Curbside pickup is safer and will begin to allow these retailers to move their products, earn money, and perhaps hire back some of their employees,” the letter continues. “It is a win-win for everyone.”
The letter is signed by 14 state Republican representatives across the region, including Todd Stephens, whose district covers Montgomery Township, as well as Horsham, Upper Dublin and Lower Gwynedd townships.
In a similar letter signed by nearly 60 Democrat representatives, members of the Northeast, Southeast and Philadelphia delegations—including local representatives Steve Malagari and Liz Hanbidge—urged Wolf to follow New Jersey’s lead in allowing for curbside pickup at all retail locations across the state.
“[We] believe that certain steps can now be taken to open additional sectors of the economy in a way that is consistent with the goal of mitigation,” reads the letter. “[Curbside pickup] could be done consistent with all necessary health protocols as is currently the case with curbside pickup of food and alcohol.”
In announcing the move on Facebook, Malagari said the push for curbside pickup is a good step to get more local businesses to reopen.
“Curbside is just one step where I think we can all agree that our local businesses could reopen and operate safely,” Malagari said.
Numerous businesses across the state were forced to close in mid-March due to Wolf’s order to shutdown all businesses deemed “nonessential.” In the weeks and months since the closures, the state legislature has approved a series of bills aimed at reopening those businesses, but nearly all of them have been vetoed by the governor.
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