ARLINGTON (1080 KRLD) - Restaurants, movie theaters and malls can reopen Friday with reduced capacity, and Jeff Williams, the mayor of Arlington, says people should consider visiting a small business. He says the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys and Six Flags may grab headlines, but small businesses make up the "backbone" of the every local economy.
"If we're able to get our small businesses back and start working, suddenly, that generates jobs. People get back to work," Williams says.
The Texas Restaurant Association says 61 percent of restaurant employees have been laid off or furloughed since February. The group also says most restaurants cannot operate long-term at 25 percent capacity.
Governor Greg Abbott says if health officials believe COVID-19 is still contained, restaurants could expand to 50 percent May 18. The restaurant association says only an addition 20 percent of restaurants said they would open then.
Williams says he hopes people will visit businesses and restaurants that do reopen. He says Arlington will have to budget for a drop in sales tax revenue because of COVID-19.
"Revenue starts being generated for our businesses and then also, it's revenue for the city so we can continue taking care of picking the up the trash, repairing our streets, and most importantly, public safety," he says.
Major League Baseball has not selected a date to begin the 2020 season. Globe Life Field is being considered as a potential "hub" for games, but the Texas Rangers say MLB is considering several options.
When the season does start, the Rangers will move into the the $1.2 billion ballpark.
Six Flags Over Texas plans to stay closed until mid-May but not has not set a date to open.
The Parks at Arlington will not open Friday. Brookfield Properties says curbside pick-up will continue, and stores with exterior exits may choose to open. Brookfield Properties has not chosen a date to open the mall itself or Hulen Mall in Fort Worth.