Representative Mike Steele Reflects on Phase In Approach

Representative Mike Steele weighed in on the phase in approach and on the swift rejection of the modified Phase 1.5 request submitted in a joint effort by Chelan and Douglas County Commissioners.

"We've worked really hard on a plan that we believe will keep consumers safe, we've gone through the process of thinking through this and having medical professionals involved in the process and we send it to you for consideration," said Steele. "And almost (it's) automatically rejected because we didn't meet the standards set up by the Secretary of Health and it is disappointing because we really put a lot of effort into that."

Steele's day job, with the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, connects him personally to the tourism industry and he shared his perspective on the phased in approach and the impact on businesses.

"The challenge - if you look at those phased approaches for areas like Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and Wenatchee that we know rely on tourism to drive the economy - if we can't get that non-essential travel piece that occurs in the third phase moved up in some way, there are very few businesses that can weather the storm that long," said Steele.

He noted it's key to remember not every business has landed grant money nor has every employee qualified for unemployment insurance. Steele added local business owners should be entrusted with the responsibility to be innovative with social distancing safety measures.

"My call to the governor and the secretary of state health has been, I want to do this as safely and appropriately as possible and I would just encourage you to trust the innovation of the entrepreneur," said Steele. "Our businesses have an inherent need to conduct themselves safely so their customers, the people they're relying on to generate revenue, aren't hurt or injured or become sick in some way."

According to Steele, the businesses he's chatted with across the 12th district are coming up with innovative ways to maintain social distance safety measures.