Senator Miner Questions Governor’s Secretive CT Reopening Benchmarks; Cites Likely Damage to Businesses and Residents From Phase 2 ‘Stagnation’

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Craig Miner (R-30) wrote to Governor Ned Lamont questioning his administration’s benchmarks used to make decisions through executive authority, including when he will relax Phase 2 restrictions to limit further damage to the business community and private residents.

“The fall season is upon us in this portion of the State with evening/early morning temperatures currently in the 40s in my district. As temperatures like this become the norm, restaurants will not make it through Christmas if only allowed to operate at 50% indoor capacity,” Sen. Miner wrote, outlining the dire situation facing many restaurants and small businesses in the State.

“It is clear that your daily focus is on the State’s public health situation, given your new order that assesses fines for non-mask compliance and gathering size violations. With that said, how can you continue to turn your back on businesses across the state that have been hemorrhaging money since last spring? Isn’t your administration, under its executive authority, obligated to inform the public what public health benchmarks are behind your decisions to keep us stagnated in Phase 2?” he added.

Sen. Miner’s Full Letter:

September 15, 2020
Governor Ned Lamont
Office of the Governor
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Governor Lamont:

I am writing to you today to address the glaring absence of public information regarding the public health parameters that you and your administration have used to keep Connecticut residents “locked-down” under Phase 2 of your Reopen Connecticut Plan. Unlike the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 (May 20, 2020 – June 17, 2020), you have yet to provide residents and businesses in this state with the benchmarks that your administration has set in order to begin Phase 3 of the plan.

In light of your secretive approach to this information, I have serious concerns for both of the aforementioned constituent groups. Regarding the latter—local businesses—our constituents are very concerned for their survivability under Phase 2 restrictions. I am certain that your administration crafted these restrictions, allowing for outdoor dining and a 50% limit on indoor dining, with the intent that outdoor dining will limit the public health risk while assuaging the net losses of restaurant owners.
The fall season is upon us in this portion of the State with evening/early morning temperatures currently in the 40s in my district. As temperatures like this become the norm, restaurants will not make it through Christmas if only allowed to operate at 50% indoor capacity.

It is clear that your daily focus is on the State’s public health situation, given your new order that assesses fines for non-mask compliance and gathering size violations. With that said, how can you continue to turn your back on businesses across the state that have been hemorrhaging money since last spring? Isn’t your administration, under its executive authority, obligated to inform the public what public health benchmarks are behind your decisions to keep us stagnated in Phase 2?

I certainly do not expect everyone to agree with each decision we make. What I am saying is that to the extent that your decision-making parameters are well-defined and publicized, everyone would know when we are approaching the trigger permitting Phase 2.5, Phase 3 and so on. Under the current situation, information shared by your office might lead a reasonable person to believe that we should have already moved to Phase 2.5 or Phase 3 given death rates, hospitalization rates and infection rates. Why are the underpinnings of these decisions held in such secrecy?

Thank you for listening and for your attention to help the business owners and residents of Connecticut.

Sincerely,

Craig Miner

cc: Paul Mounds, Chief of Staff