Scioto County Commissioner Mike Crabtree isn’t backing down on his stance about Ohio’s shutdown. “I have my own personal feelings about this and they’re not going to change.”
You’ll remember back in March, he strongly opposed the decision to shut down businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Crabtree said, ““That ain’t our fault. It’s those numbskulls at the State. They done everything wrong. Now, who’s gonna pay? They should come forward with more money.”
Here are is three main points he made today.
Paycheck to Paycheck
I asked the famously outspoken county commissioner if anything that’s happened in the last month has changed his mind. Ohio has come in far under the number of COVID-19 cases originally predicted. So far, there have only been six cases confirmed in Scioto County.
Crabtree said that he still thinks it is irresponsible to shut everything down without some kind of plan in place to take care of citizens. “This was something that was sprung on us at the last minute.”
He said he understood the stress of families who are forced to live paycheck to paycheck. “Back in the day, if you worked a job back in the private sector, you were expected to be there sick or well. Many times in my early career I worked when I was absolutely sick as a dog. I did that. Not because I didn’t know I shouldn’t have been there. I did that because I had to have that paycheck. A lot of people are in that position today.”
Stimulus Checks Won’t Solve Problem
The commissioner spoke of other unintended consequences of the shutdown, “We are also very well aware that the suicide rate is up 30% and people are dying of drug overdoses. One or two stimulus checks aren’t going to solve the problems of people who are out of work.”
He also predicted that the economic fallout would be long-lasting. “My prediction that this is going to affect the government and a whole lot of taxpayers for years.”
The Threat Is Real
Crabtree did clarify that he thought COVID-19 was a real threat. “I know how serious this thing is. We are all very well aware of the seriousness of this.” He went on to say that he doesn’t necessarily know what the exact right balance between protecting the health and protecting the economy might be.
“Do I have the answer? No I don’t have the answer but I have my own personal feeling about this and they’re not going to change.”
He said that the County Commissioners would continue to support the Governor and the President in any measures they took to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.