The pandemic is hurting everyone — including small Texas businesses

By The Star-Telegram

April 23, 2020 5:00 AM

A sign hangs outside Arlington’s The Tin Cup, a panini shop, advertising they are open amid the coronavirus pandemic. The sign was created by Arlington-based Main Street Signs and Graphics and handed out for free to locally owned eateries to support their business. James Hartley jhartley@star-telegram.com

Not like the rest of us?

I find it very curious that Mayor Betsy Price can get a rapid coronavirus test simply because she was exposed to someone who tested positive, and everyone else must exhibit symptoms. (April 22, 1A, “Mayor Price is negative for coronavirus, but will quarantine”)

I guess rank still has its privileges.

- Robert Hankins, Arlington

Appreciation for Price’s leadership

Mayor Betsy Price has done a wonderful job in the pandemic. Stay-at-home works for me and my neighbors. We also wear masks and are social distancing.

I am glad your COVID-19 test came back negative. Fort Worth loves you.

- Katherine Ledesma, Fort Worth

Don’t force me to reopen

I own a small, non-essential retail store that was forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been trying to get unemployment, a small-business loan or food assistance, but no luck.

My landlord, utility providers and everyone else I owe have still been asking for their money. I do not have much to rely on and soon will be forced to defy government leaders and reopen my store.

This is not what I want to do, but without help, I will have no choice.

- Glen Blevins, Hurst

Are those deaths worth it?

Whenever we can hold in-person funerals again, can we send Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to every funeral of people who died of coronavirus? (April 22, 8A, “Lieutenant governor doubles down on economy, coronavirus”) He can then express his gratitude for the sacrifice of those who died in front of those who grieve for a life lost.

He should do this at his own expense, of course.

- Patrick Harris, Fort Worth

Also not a mathematician

Last week we saw Dr. Phil McGraw, who is not a medical doctor, argue against the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic by saying that 40,000 people a year die from car wrecks, but we don’t shut down the country.

Car wrecks aren’t contagious. The comparison to this pandemic is ridiculous. More than 46,000 people have died in a couple months. If this pattern continues the rest of the year, that would be half a million dead.

- Darrel Palmer, Fort Worth

Thank goodness for responsibility

We’ve seen more than 46,000 deaths from COVID-19. It would have been worse, but decent Americans are staying home. Now, President Donald Trump’s cultists are marching around with their ARs, demanding the country reopen based on paranoia and conspiracy theories.

There are so many things that could have been done nationally to reduce the virus’ impact, but Trump refused to take responsibility for anything. He sure has blamed everyone he could think of, though.

- Faith Salfen, Arlington

I’ll be backing Trump again

The irrational division among Americans over President Donald Trump is never going away. The depth of hatred for the man is irrational. I don’t love the guy or even like how he behaves at times. I often think there are better ways to do things, but the actions and words used against him are simply insane.

I could never vote for Joe Biden. So, once again, the lesser of the evils is Trump.

- Peter Stern, Driftwood

Kennedy is wrong about QAnon

Again, a Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer grossly misjudges President Donald Trump’s dedicated followers, the QAnon group. (April 19, 1B, “QAnon conspiracy fantasy creeps into state politics”) Like so many journalists, Bud Kennedy is afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome.

- Don M. McComas, Granbury