“When you go seven, eight weeks without a paycheck and you just have a job, that’s one thing,” said Derek Lee. “It’s a lot different when you have a business because you have double the bills.”
Lee owns D&J Costumes in Frankford. He said he shut his store down March 13 at a loss in the tens of thousands of dollars and said he hasn’t received any support from the government.
Lee applied for SBA grants, the paycheck protection payment and unemployment. So far, he said he’s received zero dollars — not even his $1,200 stimulus check.
Lee is both frustrated and without any money.
“The food stamp people haven’t even called me,” said Lee. “I’d take some food stamps.”
He said the governor is working with lawmakers to allocate billions in CARES Act stimulus dollars sent to Pennsylvania.
“There’s about $4 billion that comes to Pennsylvania that allows discretion at the state level about how those dollars can be spent,” he said, noting that small businesses are a top priority.
“We are working to get funding to those who are most impacted by this pandemic,” said Hughes, noting that first responders, testing groups like the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, education and others are also on the list.
“I went from 25 years of serving my community to now not knowing where my next dime is going to come from,” said Ed Ianucci. “It’s ridiculous.”
Iannucci owns Kim’s Karate and Philadelphia Night Club Training in Mount Airy. He also shut down his business on March 13.
“The only solace is knowing that I am not alone,” he said. “I have not been singled out.”
In recent days, barbers, hair stylists and nail technicians organized around Pennsylvania HB 2459, which would provide a waiver for those in the beauty industry so that they could get back to work.
They’d be required to implement certain safety precautions to prevent COVID-19, but it would allow many of them to get back to work.
Some barbers and stylists had been sneaking around taking clients or doing house calls, which many say is even more dangerous given how the coronavirus spreads.
Lee said he can relate.
“You work, save your money, provide for your children, that’s what you want to do,” Lee said.
He believes Pennsylvania could begin to allow non-essential businesses to operate.
“We can wear our masks,” said Lee. “We can take people by appointment, people can line up outside.”
So far, it’s unclear when Pennsylvania will be open again for business. Hughes said lawmakers are working to get a plan in place and get relief where it’s needed.
“By Memorial Day,” said Hughes. “That’s a good time frame. We’re talking about $4 billion that needs to be programmed.”
For Iannucci, time is of the essence.
“It’s not much longer before I have to make some very serious decisions about my future,” Iannucci said.