PEORIA, Ill. — When will Peoria fully reopen for business? At this point, it looks like May 30. That’s the end date of Gov. J-B Pritzker’s extension of the current stay-at-home order.
At-Large City Councilman John Kelly wants Peoria businesses that have been deemed non-essential to be opened up, with all the COVID-19 precautions in place.
“Have the stores have hand sanitizer, available masks if people don’t have masks. You know that sort of thing, I think we can get back to business. Prolonging this, I think, serves very, very little,” Kelly said.
Kelly told WMBD’s Greg and Dan, the large box stores are selling items Peoria’s smaller non-essential businesses can’t right now.
“I was in Bushwhacker (in Junction City) recently. The only things they are allowed to sell are bikes. Everything else is non-essential. But, you can go buy the same items in Target or Walmart.”
WMBD’s Greg and Dan asked Kelly if he would open Peoria’s non-essential businesses in defiance of Gov. Pritzker’s executive order.
“Well, I don’t know about defying the governor. I want the governor to do it for gosh sakes. And, I don’t know why he will not.”
Kelly said prolonging Illinois’ current stay-at-home order through the end of May is serving very little purpose, and is hurting businesses the longer it goes on.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl last Friday announced a phased plan to reopen his city, which is allowing certain non-essential businesses like spas, hair salons, gyms and retailers to reopen.
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