Ensuring our safety isn’t political. It’s pro-business.

I’m disappointed to see that the state and municipality will not require masks and, instead, are relying on everyone to use personal responsibility when they visit local businesses. From my experience as an owner of four Anchorage restaurants, this policy, or lack thereof, is not working. This walking down the center and not taking a side puts my staff and those of other businesses at risk. The state and municipal websites post health information from medical experts which includes, very specifically and prominently, that wearing a face mask is one of three critical ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Why does the government get medical advice, present it during press conferences, but then not follow it?

While we are getting messaging that we want the economy to open back up, as a business we are not given the teeth of government policy to do it as safely as we should. People want to go to establishments where they feel safe. I hear every day of guests who are reluctant to return to dining out. Help us make it safer for them and our staff. My team, and all workers who interact with the public, see hundreds of people per day. This is dramatically different than the person who goes out occasionally to get groceries, dine out or shop at the hardware store. The number of extended interactions most people have with others is minimal relative to people working with the public daily. Now we have travelers arriving, which adds even more risk to our situation.

The majority of our guests either bring a mask or cheerfully put one on that we provide. We ask that they wear it whenever they are not at their table, such as when moving to and from being seated, and to and from the restroom. When they are seated at the table, guests are free to keep their masks off. But with every rule, there are people that bristle at the idea that a rule exists in the first place. It would be easier to enforce and to take the conversation out of our hands by having masks mandated. We don’t want to debate our guests about the science. We don’t want guests yelling at us “I guess you don’t want my business.” Yes, of course, we want your business. We’re grateful for your business. We desperately need it. But we’re walking a fine line of ensuring our staff is safe at work and welcoming guests back to help keep our businesses afloat.

Our staff, who are doing their jobs professionally and mostly cheerfully, are stressed and physically uncomfortable behind the masks. But the vast majority of them see it as a necessary tool keeping themselves and our guests safe. Some of our team are immunocompromised or have family who are. Some have elderly parents at home. Some are just plain anxious about the thought of getting sick themselves. Listening to disrespectful people hassle them about wearing a mask is disheartening and upsetting.

To keep us all safe is the most pro-business thing you can do. We literally cannot afford to let this passive approach be all that’s going to be done. Rolling back because of a second wave is going to be damaging to our economy. And it’s exhausting to be on the front line of this battle while government officials “hope” everyone does the right thing. Don’t use us to make public policy. The people of Anchorage and of Alaska look to our elected officials to protect citizens and maintain healthy communities. Sixteen other states have taken a firm stance on this issue, and it’s time for ours to do the same. Don’t let politics play any role in this. Follow the direction of our medical community, be decisive and mandate masks.

Laile Fairbairn is an owner of Snow City Cafe, Spenard Roadhouse, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse and Crush Bistro. Mayor Ethan Berkowitz is an investor in three of the four establishments.

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