Written by Sidiqua Atira
COVID-19 has hit San Ysidro businesses hard. It’s estimated that about 103 businesses have closed thus far since the San Diego-Tijuana border was closed for non-essential travel.
With more than half of San Ysidro’s customers coming from Mexico, even the expected holiday revenue won’t be enough to remedy the economic plunge these businesses are facing.
Jason Wells, from the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, speculates that these restrictions have little to do with the COVID-19 and more to do with a pre-planned agenda from the Trump administration.
“The federal government has really left us hanging…This isn’t about COVID,” Wells said. “These restrictions have no basis on or impact on health and that’s been documented.”
While baselessly claiming that the administration has an ulterior motive behind closing the border, Mr. Wells neglects to mention the detrimental impact that Governor Newsom’s lockdown orders have had on businesses in San Ysidro and the rest of the state. Closing the border during a worldwide pandemic keeps every American safer, as it prevents infected people from other countries from entering the US. For Wells to have a problem with a border closure, but no issue with draconian lockdown orders from the Governor, shows that he is more focused on his disdain for the Trump administration than the actual problems in San Ysidro.
To attempt to replenish San Ysidro’s lack of clientele, however, Wells is using social media platforms to encourage northern San Diego residents to shop locally to help businesses survive through the pandemic. Of course, it is difficult for San Diegans to get out and shop in light of Newsom’s stay-at-home orders. including a nightly curfew of 10 pm.
Businesses are struggling, this is no time for Mr. Wells and those he is working with to be playing politics. If they are “doing everything that (they) can,” as he stated, then they should be fighting Newsom’s restrictions as well and not placing the blame solely on the federal government.
