Quincy Reporter

Conservative activist Mecki Kosin doesn’t see how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can think what he’s pushing in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 is actually in the best interest of the state.

“Another shutdown like the first one will change this state in ways where it may never be the same again,” Kosin told the Quincy Reporter. “If the governor keeps on this same track, he will completely destroy our small business industry.”

Citing rising infection rates, Pritzker recently moved to reenact COVID restrictions in at least 24 counties he warns could soon spread to other parts of the state, triggering the ire of many small business owners still struggling with the effects of his earlier shutdown orders. With a Facebook page dedicated to businesses planning to defy his order already created and launched, the governor is now threatening to send the Illinois State Police to the regions where restaurants and bars are deemed to be in violation.

“I’m not surprised to see things having come to this,” Kosin added. “For so many, this is about survival and people trying to maintain their livelihoods, something the governor doesn’t seem to be too concerned about when it comes to small business owners.”

The owner of a travel agency, Kosin argues small business operators like her clearly have the law on their side.

“The courts have already told him and ruled he can’t continue to do this,” she said. “His ability to render executive orders on the situation was over a long time ago. He can’t just keep making legislation all on his own without anyone else having a say. It’s just not fair and only leads to more of the suffering we’re seeing every day.”