This letter is in response to the May 2 letter directed to visitors and second homeowners. With restaurants, motels and retail stores closed I am confident that most people do not have Grand Marais as a destination. Second homeowners have all the rights and responsibilities of permanent Grand Marais residents.
That said, Jennifer Shultz’ letter is a naive response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus will not go away once the stay at home order is lifted. The virus is here to stay. As we await the availability of a vaccine, every community, including Grand Marais, should focus its energies on good public health initiatives including hand washing, social distancing, wearing a mask, contact tracing, and when people exhibit Coronavirus symptoms that they be triaged to Duluth for follow-up care.
Telling people to stay away is not a realistic nor acceptable strategy for any community, particularly Grand Marais, which literally relies on dollars from outside the community for survival.
I have owned a second home in the Arrowhead for 24 years. Now that I am retired, I spend time equally between my two homes. I don’t see that changing. I am equally invested in the wellbeing of the two communities I reside in.
Respectfully, Robert Stevens,
Mound and Hovland
Leave a Reply