Cities & Counties Send Video Message to Governor and Community

Benton County, Franklin County and the Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Prosser, Richland, and West Richland collaborated with Visit Tri-Cities to have a video message to the Governor produced. This video message is a follow-up to joint letters sent by both the cities and counties in recent weeks expressing strong disagreement with the added restrictions and closures of business announced by the Governor on November 15.

As stated in the letters, our local business community has been very successful in implementing high-level safety protocols. The information from local and state health officials, and from the Governor himself, is that the surge in infections is primarily attributed to social gatherings where individuals are not adhering to masking and social distancing protocols – not from controlled businesses environments where safety protocols are followed.

Many of our local business are on the brink of closing permanently due to previous and prolonged mandates. Unlike most areas in the State, some of our businesses were only allowed to reopen or expand their activities in October, just 1 month prior to the Governor’s new restrictions. Business closures mean lost jobs. The impact on employees and their families can be devastating, both financially and on mental health during the holidays.

As demonstrated in the video message, the Cities and Counties support a continued partnership with the State in promoting safety protocols in our community. The request is for the safe re-opening of our businesses at the previous Phase II level.

Please visit the following websites for additional information:

• Benton County: www.co.benton.wa.us
• Franklin County: www.co.franklin.wa.us
• City of Pasco: www.pasco-wa.gov
• City of Prosser: www.cityofprosser.com
• City of Kennewick: www.go2kennewick.com
• City of Richland: www.ci.richland.wa.us
• City of West Richland: www.westrichland.org