Levittown-area lawmakers have signed letters asking the state to permit retail stores to open for curbside pickup.
The letters were separately sent by Democrats and Republicans.
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“We believe that permitting curbside pickup will help get our economy moving again, without jeopardizing the progress that we have made to slow the spread of the virus,” the letter to Gov. Tom Wolf from Democrats reads.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Democrats asked the governor to allow curbside pickup statewide, including areas like Bucks County, which remains in the COVID-19 reopening plan’s “red” phase that mandates the closure of nonessential stores.
The letter points to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s action to allow retailers to open for curbside pickup of goods.
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State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat from Lower Makefield, held a virtual press conference about the request of the governor on Tuesday afternoon. He called allowing curbside pickup a “necessary step to support small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, noting the success of curbside pick-up for restaurants and other essential businesses.”
State Representatives Tina Davis and John Galloway, both Democrats who represent the Levittown area, said they signed onto the letter by the Senate Democratic Caucus.
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“At this point, we can open additional sectors of the economy while continuing to flatten the curve as long as social distancing and good hygiene is practiced, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is used,” Davis said.
Galloway stated: “It’s time to get our economy moving again. Our small businesses can have curbside pickup while using the tools and practices that will protect the public health.”
The two said in a statement that reopening retail businesses for curbside pickup would help owners and employees.
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On Wednesday morning, Republican state representatives from the Philadelphia region, including State Rep. Frank Farry of Langhorne, asked Wolf to allow curbside pickup from retailers so people can “start earning a paycheck.” They called the reopening with safety measures a “win-win.” ”
“We need to stop choosing winners and losers and allow those who can operate safety within state and federal guidelines do so,” they wrote.
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The Bucks County Republican Committee on Twitter called out Santarsiero for not supporting a number of bills that would reopen some businesses.
“His actions speak louder than his words – he is putting his own politics before Bucks County,” they said.
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The state House of Representatives Republican caucus on Tuesday criticized Wolf for vetoing plans that would give car dealerships, garden centers, hair salons, and nonessential manufacturing the choice to reopen.
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