Letter: Disappointed in Chamber’s Fourth of July decision

I was always under the impression that the local Chamber of Commerce was an advocate for local businesses. I no longer retain that illusion.

It is beyond comprehension that the Chamber’s Board would cancel their festivities for the Fourth of July in such a premature and high-handed fashion when evidence suggests that changes are in the offing for loosened restrictions by nearby counties in both Oregon and California within the next few days.

Seems to me some pretty sensible solutions have been offered in those nearby counties to mitigate any potential threat from the COVID-19 virus.

The Chamber, being an organization to promote the county’s businesses, should know that the summer months provide a majority of the income for many small businesses and allow them to survive through the winter months.

By making absolutely no effort whatsoever to allow for some sort of Fourth of July celebration and now with the Del Norte County Fair’s potential loss, just what kind of magic wand is the Chamber going to wave to rescue this summer and very likely summers yet to come?

It pains me to say this, but in a recent conference with the Chamber Board, those that bothered to attend, regarding the possible delay of their actions, I have never seen such a public display of disrespect directed at a member of the business community who has faithfully supported this Chamber for many years.

No business that exists in this community should be OK with this kind of behavior out of their Chamber of Commerce. There are very definitely several members of the Chamber’s Board that should be tendering their resignations as fast as they can be written.

As a citizen of this County, I am appalled by the behavior I witnessed by some of the members of the Chamber’s Board and suggest that certain members of that Board review what it means to be an adult in a polite society.

Samuel Strait

Crescent City