Good First Step, But More Needs to be Done

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement today regarding the Baker-Polito administration’s easing restrictions on florists, allowing them to partially re-open in time to sell flowers for Mother’s Day. Under the administration’s new rules released on Monday, florists and other businesses can take online and over the phone orders but are still prohibited from in person or curbside orders. All orders must be touch free.

“Yesterday’s announcement by the Baker-Polito administration is good news for Massachusetts small business florists and their workers, but it’s only a first step. Florists are struggling from a lack of sales during Easter along with the loss of business from wholesale cancellations of corporate events, weddings, and graduations.  The administration needs to continue to ease restrictions and allow more small businesses to start to safely serve their customers with curb side pickup and eventually in store retail pickups,” stated Paul D. Craney, spokesperson for Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Massachusetts economy. The administration needs to continue to show it has faith in the people of Massachusetts. The administration has done a wonderful job of explaining social distancing and enforcing It. The time is now to allow these small businesses to follow these lessons while they safely bring their businesses back to prosperity.  We want to be part of the solution,” concluded Craney.

According to last week’s Massachusetts unemployment numbers, nearly 900,000 workers have filed for unemployment since March. That is nearly 1 in 4 workers, or the equal to the population of 7 of the state’s 14 counties. Nearly 27,000 workers file for unemployment each day. According to the Retailer’s Association, Massachusetts has one of the strictest executive orders limiting commerce for small businesses in the country.