David Krupa wonders how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can expect small business owners to enforce policy he admits not even the government has been able to do the way he thinks is necessary.
“The mask mandate is not enforceable legislation, period,” Krupa told Chicago City Wire. “I don’t know what he really expects these owners to be able to do to change that.”
Pritzker is hoping to institute a rule that would allow business owners to be fined up to $2.500 for failing to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing. In defense of his proposal, Pritzker argues its enactment would make it easier law enforcement, local boards of health, school districts and the public to keep residents safe and free of the virus.
“I thought the mask mandate had been overturned through the lawsuit filed by Rep. (Darren) Bailey,” said Krupa, a former candidate for Chicago alderman. “I don’t believe that the governor should be fining businesses for something like that when they are already struggling as they are. He’s not doing them any favors.”
Earlier this year, Pritzker tried enacting similar legislation, but withdrew it before a planned Joint Commission on Administrative Rules hearing amid widespread criticism.
“I understand he wants to push small business out of the state with all his anti-business mandates, but this is just too much,” Krupa added. “You can tell they’re not a priority for him by the way he overlooks and excludes their needs at every turn.”
If the law passes, Krupa said there will be instant fallout from it.
“Many businesses have already been struggling and something like this just makes it harder for them to survive,” he said. “As tight as things are for many of them, being hit with a fine like this would probably spell the end.”
Alerts Sign-up