On Monday, President and CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Cory Skeates, and President/CEO of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, Katie Worthington Decker, sent Governor Ron DeSantis a letter seeking the immediate reopening of bars and microbreweries.

In the letter, Skeates and Decker stated:

“As you are aware, the hospitality industry has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic with more jobs lost every day, many of which may never return. Bars and microbreweries are a key thread in weaving the intricate fabric that makes each of our communities unique.

Further, bars and microbreweries consistently operate at the same level, or greater, of sanitation as those performed by restaurants and can operate to create an environment at least on par with those provided by much larger businesses that currently host many more customers per day and where six feet distance is often impossible.

As one of the cleanest, most regulated industries, many owners work directly in their stores, meaning safety measures directly impact them personally, creating a vested interest.”

Read the full letter from Skeates and Decker to Governor Ron DeSantis, below.