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Florence Restaurant Owner Wants State To Revise How It Applies COVID Restrictions

A Florence restaurateur is petitioning Governor Kate Brown to change how COVID-19 risk is assessed across Oregon.

Jordan Stone owns the Waterfront Depot.  He argues that imposing restrictions based on zip codes versus counties would better help smaller, less densely-populated cities that he feels are at less risk of spreading the pandemic. 

Stone says Florence has seen roughly a tenth of cases as seen in Lane County’s more populous Eugene/ Springfield area.

“For the businesses to be facing the same restrictions as places that have experienced far worse, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me," Stone told KLCC.  "And so I felt that because the data is available on a zip code basis, then determinations could be made to continue to be safe.  Especially in those places where it’s most needed but also allow businesses to have a shot at surviving the winter.”

At last check, Stone’s online petition was nearing 1300 signatures since he launched it at the start of the month.

Governor Brown’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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