Gov. Newsom’s Decision to Reopen Low Risk Businesses Could Lead to Some Pasadena Businesses Reopening

Clothing stores, bookstores, music shops, sporting goods shops florists and other low risk businesses may soon reopen in Pasadena.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Steve Mermell asked the council to provide him direction on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order that could allow those low risk businesses to open.

“I’d like to move forward with allowing these small businesses to open back up,” said Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton.

Newsom is scheduled to provide more guidelines on reopening those types of businesses on Thursday. The council could not vote on the item since it was not agendized.

However it was clear that a majority of council members do favor reopening low risk businesses.

Mayor Terry Tornek said he did not think the council would object if the county health officer and the city’s public health director favored the low-risk businesses opening.

The businesses could only perform curbside service.

It is not known if council would have to vote or if the council’s Safer at Home order could simply be amended to allow the shops to do business.

“Let’s let them do that,” said Councilwoman Margaret McAustin. “The goal is to get the businesses open in a way where the customers feel safe. It’s something we can facilitate on the ground locally.”

No decision was made on Monday.

Councilman Victor Gordo called on staff to analyze the order and bring it back to either the council or send it one of the city’s committees.

On Monday, the council voted to restart committees and the matter could before the EDTECH committee which is chaired by Gordo.

Mayor Terry Tornek has already met with some business associations to discuss how the city will reopen.

Tornek said that although all the right questions are being asked right now he does not have all answers,

“I do know based on what’s happened with the essential businesses that are open now, that there are going to be issues in terms of the number of people in the establishment, the social distancing between the customers — you know, putting blue tape on the floor to keep people six feet apart, having hand sanitizers, having masks for employees,” Tornek said.

“There are a couple of pretty easy to predict requirements for these businesses and they should be making those arrangements now so that when the, when the flag comes down and they’re allowed to open, they don’t start to hunt for blue tape.”

All but essential businesses have been closed since mid-March when state and local orders mandated people stay in their homes until the order is lifted.

If businesses do open on Friday, it will be the first easing of the order since it was put in place.

Businesses can start reopening Friday if new physical-distancing measures are implemented.

“As early as by end of this week, you will have the capacity as retailer to begin to reopen for pickup: clothing, bookstores, music shops, sporting goods, florists as Mother’s Day approaches and other sectors within that retail sector,” Newsom said.

Newsom said that particular areas have the right not to comply with the order.