成人X站

On a typical Sunday, more than a hundred vendors, selling fruits and vegetables, candles and other homemade foods and crafts would line the streets of downtown Ballard for the neighborhood Farmer鈥檚 Market. But this Sunday, there were fewer than a dozen.

On Friday night, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan suspended the markets through April 13 in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The few remaining sellers either hadn鈥檛 heard the directive in time or were taking their chances.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a safety net,鈥� Carma McCloughlin told the Gee and Ursula Show on 成人X站 Radio.

As she stood under her tent, she pointed to her soaps and candles that have been her main source of income since she started selling at the Ballard Market in 2006. On any given day, she says she can count on a steady stream of sales.

鈥淩ight now, I have no idea where or how I鈥檓 going to make the money I need to support my family,鈥� McCloughlin said.

The next stall over, Saad Sidhu had already wrapped up for the day after selling all his frozen berries and jams made from his family鈥檚 farm in the Puyallup Valley. Although he鈥檚 doing okay now, he worries if the closure of the markets extends beyond April.

鈥淲e usually employ 40 to 50 people each spring and summer but if this continues, we would have to cut our workforce to make ends meet,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is all so hard to comprehend.鈥�

The vendors were hoping they would be exempt from restrictions being implemented to stop the spread of coronavirus. They question why they have to shut down when grocery stores are still open.

鈥淲e are also like a shopping center, but this is outside,鈥� McCLoughlin said. 鈥淚f anything, it鈥檚 safer, we鈥檙e all wearing gloves and because we鈥檙e outdoors, there is a lot of distance between customers.鈥�

The Seattle Farmer鈥檚 Markets operates the markets in Ballard, Capitol Hill, the University District and West Seattle.

My thoughts:

As we navigate through this coronavirus pandemic, one of my biggest concerns is the economic impact on small businesses and gig workers who could be financially wiped out during this crisis.

Earlier this week, I visited the owner of Jennell鈥檚 Flowers and Pies shop in Milton. Her business has dropped 75% since people have been hunkering down at home. Some very generous Gee and Ursula show listeners visited her shop and she sold more than 50 pies in three days! Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion.

As we learn more about the virus and face even tighter restrictions, it will be even more challenging to find ways to support our neighborhood businesses. But based on what I have witnessed so far, these challenging times will bring out the helpers, and that is very comforting.